Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 30th October 2014
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Bacteria are built for survival, E. coli study suggests
e. coli
"E. coli has a robust approach to recover from DNA damage, which ensures an excellent survival rate."

Discovery helps to explain why bacteria are so widespread and why they are so hard to kill

A study by the University of Edinburgh has revealed that some bacteria flourish even when under continued attack. The development could help to explain how our immune systems can't always prevent infections.

An examination of the common E. coli bug has shown that it is able to recover continually from potentially fatal harm to its genetic material, without slowing down the rate at which it grows.

The team who led the study say that the finding helps to explain why bacteria are so widespread and why they are so hard to kill.

The researchers studied how E. coli responded when its DNA strands were deliberately broken as it tried to carry out its everyday function of dividing and reproducing.

They were astonished to find that the bug was able to use a combination of methods to survive repeated DNA damage. It has an in-built emergency response to ensure that DNA damage is quickly repaired. It also carries out overlapping rounds of DNA replication, which enables its cells to continue to divide and reproduce. This ensures E. coli keeps multiplying as it recovers.

A series of experiments revealed that bacteria were able to thrive indefinitely and grow at almost identical rates, even if repeated DNA breaks took place.

Damage to DNA occurs in most organisms, for example from exposure to harmful chemicals or UV radiation. Bacteria which cause disease have to survive attacks from our immune system, which can lead to DNA damage. If not repaired, this can be fatal to bacteria.

Dr Elise Darmon of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who led the study, said: "E. coli has a robust approach to recover from DNA damage, which ensures an excellent survival rate. This study shows how tough bacteria are and why they are the most populous independent life form on Earth. More work is needed to determine whether their appetite for recovery is linked to bacteria's ability to get the better out of our immune system."

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE

Image (C) Mattosaurus

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.