Monthly Archives: January 2017

How do bacteria regulate the flagellar numbers ?

The ability to perceive a stimulus and respond appropriately is the hallmark of any living organism. Bacteria respond to environment stimulus by translocating to a more favorable milieu. Bacterial motility is mediated by the action of flagella that are complex dynamic structures composed of numerous proteins. A research paper published in Structureby Dr. Jain’s group […]

Share
Read more

The mechanism of platelet activation by extracellular hemoglobin in sickle cell disease

A recent study from the Disease Biology Lab led by Dr. Prasenjit Guchhait’s uncovered the mechanism of platelet activation by free-hemoglobin in circulation in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The group had already described the mechanism of activation of circulating platelets by free-Hb in PNH  patients. This study further shows that sickle hemoglobin Hb […]

Share
Read more

How monocytes become pro-inflammatory in hemolytic diseases

Dr. Prasenjit Guchhait’s lab explains the mechanism of developing pro-inflammatory pathophysiology of monocytes in hemolytic diseases such as PNH and SCD . In these hemolytic disorders, lysis of red blood cells releases huge amounts of free hemoglobin (Hb) into the plasma, which further activates platelets as shown earlier by the same group. The present study […]

Share
Read more

New insights about pilus formation in a probiotic bacterium

Bacterial attachment to the host surfaces is the first and key step in colonization, which may harm or benefit the host based on the natureof host-microbial relationship. Bacteria often assemble and use hair-like organelles known as pili or fimbriae on their cell surface to quickly and effectively mediate attachment. This initial recognition between the bacteria […]

Share
Read more

Antibiotics kill bacteria through induction of reactive oxygen species

Antimicrobial resistance represents a global health problem of escalating intensity. In order to develop new therapeutic strategies, it is important to understand- in fine molecular detail- how antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics achieve function. In the past few years, it has been suggested that antibiotics function through induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage […]

Share
Read more