The new fusion protein still has killing effect on infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria

Recently, published in the latest issue of Journal of immunology, researchers from Lund University in Sweden and researchers from the University of Massachusetts Medical School found that the protein killing Gram-negative bacteria had the same bactericidal effect on Gram-positive bacteria Complement system is an important part of our body's natural immune system, which can protect us from the infection of pathogenic microorganisms, but because it is too strong, it needs to be carefully controlled to avoid damage to the body's own cells Factor H is a kind of regulatory element that controls complement reaction The protein can circulate in the blood system and protect the body from the attack of complement molecules: when the cell surface is covered with factor H, it can successfully avoid the recognition of complement system Previous studies have shown that a special fusion protein designed by Professor Sanjay ram from Massachusetts Medical College can effectively resist the infection of mice caused by gram-negative bacteria (gonorrhea, meningitis, respiratory tract infection, etc.), while pathogenic bacteria can use factor H to escape the immune killing of the organism Now, researchers have found that these fusion proteins can still kill infection caused by Gram-positive bacteria In fact, the protein can block the activity of factor H molecule covered on the surface of bacteria, thus activating the immune response The researchers hope to study whether the protein can have the same therapeutic effect on infections caused by multiple drug-resistant bacteria.