Novel method found to kill dormant TB bacteria in stem cells

The bacteria hide inside lipid droplets and so the stem cells do not kill them, say the researchers.

Delhi-based researchers have found that inhibiting lipid synthesis inside stem cells that produce bone cells (mesenchymal stem cells) can help in killing TB bacteria that are found inside the stem cells in a dormant state and safely shielded from the host immune system and TB drugs.While TB bacteria inside the macrophages actively divide, microbes inside stem cells lie dormant and also make the stem cells less likely to replicate thus surviving for an extended period of time. Ex vivo studies with human stem cells and work on mice showed that the two cells are programmed very differently to support active and dormant TB bacteria infection. 

A team of researchers found that TB bacteria are free in the intracellular fluid (cytosol) of the mesenchymal stem cells while they are surrounded by the macrophage cell membrane on being engulfed. This allows the bacteria to promote rapid synthesis of lipids inside the stem cells and hide within the lipid droplets so created.

That mesenchymal stem cells serve as reservoirs of dormant TB bacteria was known but the mechanism by which the bacteria survive for a long period was not known. 

 Studies using human mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages and mice model studies helped us understand how TB bacteria hijack the cellular mechanism to stop the stem cells from replicating and turn themselves dormant,” says the Prof.  “The bacteria instruct the stem cells to synthesise lipids and hide inside them. The stem cells don’t kill microbes that are inside lipid droplets.

”There was sustained expression of genes controlling dormancy in the bacteria isolated from stem cells while genes that promote replication were expressed in bacteria isolated from macrophages. Mouse mesenchymal stem cells and macrophages too showed similar behaviour.In vitro studies using human stem cells showed the bacteria inhibiting stem cell replication. 

When inhibitors to block lipid synthesis were used, there was reduced expression of genes that regulate dormancy of TB bacteria and replication of stem cells. “This helped confirm that TB bacteria induce lipid synthesis in stem cells and hide inside the lipid cells to escape from anti-TB drugs,” says the first author of the paper. 

“Using a drug that inhibits lipid synthesis will prevent TB bacteria dormancy and make them susceptible to anti-TB drugs,” says Fatima. But killing the bacteria and preventing disease reactivation can be achieved by inducing autophagy (mechanism by which cells removes unnecessary or dysfunctional components) along with anti-TB drugs. 

Inhibiting autophagy is one of the ways by which TB bacteria survive inside host cells. The researchers treated human macrophages and stem cells infected with TB bacteria with an anti-TB drug (isoniazid) and/or rapamycin. While isoniazid eliminated replicating bacteria found in macrophages, rapamycin induced autophagy in stem cells to kill the microbes. Similar results were obtained in mouse models too. 

“In mouse models, inducing autophagy led to elimination of TB bacteria from stem cells. Addition of autophagy-inducing drug along with isoniazid led to sterile cure of TB and prevention of disease reactivation,” says the researcher.

“This discovery paves the way for finally getting to grips with the scourge that is tuberculosis in its dormant state, and whose resurgence poses a threat to not only treating TB but also to disease control,” says another researcher.

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Reputed Medicinal Soil Yields a Superbug-killing Bacterium

It’s no secret that antibiotic resistance is a problem that already poses a serious threat to public health, and it’s expected to get worse. That’s sent researchers searching for new antibiotics. One place that they can look is in soil. Bacteria have to compete against one another in the fight for survival, so some have developed highly competitive strategies, including creating antibiotics that will kill other microbes. Soil is rich with microbial life, so it's an excellent place to look for new antibiotics.

Scientists studying Irish soil that has a reputation for having medicinal properties have now found a strain of bacteria that can kill superbugs. When tested against the top pathogens that are resistant to drugs, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the newly-identified bacterium stopped the growth of all of them. The researchers named the new bacterial strain Streptomyces sp.myrophorea.

"This new strain of bacteria is effective against four of the top six pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics, including MRSA. Our discovery is an important step forward in the fight against antibiotic resistance,” said a Prof.

The soil came from the region around Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, known as the Boho Highlands. Locally, it’s thought that the soil has a healing effect.

“Our results show that folklore and traditional medicines are worth investigating in the search for new antibiotics. Scientists, historians, and archaeologists can all have something to contribute to this task. It seems that part of the answer to this very modern problem might lie in the wisdom of the past,” he added.

Dr. is a member of the research team who was formerly a resident of Boho, County Fermanagh, and was aware of the soil. Traditionally, a bit of this soil would be placed in cloth and then applied to toothaches and throat infections. Of note -ethnopharmacology is a field of study that explores new places for medicines, including folklore.

The new bacterial strain was able to inhibit the growth of six pathogens that are resistant to drugs and often sicken hospital patients: MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), Klebsiella pneumonia, and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii. It also stopped the growth of gram-negative bacteria. 

The team is currently working to determine how the bacterium prevents the growth of those deadly microbes.

"The discovery of antimicrobial substances from Streptomyces sp.myrophorea will help in our search for new drugs to treat multi-resistant bacteria, the cause of many dangerous and lethal infections,” said the Prof..

“We will now concentrate on the purification and identification of these antibiotics. We have also discovered additional antibacterial organisms from the same soil cure which may cover a broader spectrum of multi-resistant pathogens," he concluded.

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Moringa ( drumstick): The Herb That Can Stop Cancer?

Moringa is a herb that I had never really heard of until quite recently. Yet, it’s been used for many millennia by people across Africa, Asia and India for culinary purposes (tasting something like radish). But what has got scientists very excited is its cancer healing properties potential. Research has found that the plant’s cytotoxic effects that harm living cells can actually be deployed as a weapon against cancerous cells. 

Read on to learn more about this exciting medical breakthrough…

 

 

 

What is Moringa?

Moringa is a genus of flowering plants, of which there are 13 extant species. The most cultivated and relevant Moringa tree is the moringa oleifera, which is native to the foothills of the Himalayan mountains of India. The name Moringa is thought to derive from several related local languages and means 'drumstick', due to the appearance of the plant – though I’m not sure if they were often used for rhythmic purposes.

You can take Moringa once a day, either in powder or capsule form. It’s also possible to apply Moringa oil topically onto the skin to ward off skin cancer and the growth of fungus.

Anti-Cancer properties
The main reason why Moringa has been getting a lot of attention among scientific circles is due to the presence of three key compounds which are found in the herb. Each of these has been shown in studies to inhibit, reduce, stop or kill cancerous cells, making Moringa an incredibly potent adversary against cancer.

1. Kaempferol: is an antioxidant that is also present in healthy foods such as strawberries, teas, beans, broccoli and apples. This compound is understood to be adept at stopping cancerous cells from spreading and reducing inflammation.
2. Rhamnetin: research has suggested that this compound is able to kill prostate cancer cells. It's also found in annual wormwood, orchard grass, green veg, sweet Annie and cloves.
3. Isoquercetin: is a compound that inhibits bladder cancer. It’s also found in cranberries, tomatoes, onions, red grapes and cherries.

Application against Cancer
Aside from the above three properties, studies have found that eugenol is also found in the leaves and bark of Moringa. This means the plant may also be a very good anti-cancer medicine for leukemia, bone, gastric and skin cancer. There has also been promising research conducted on mice, in relation to liver cancer. This research has shown that oxidants in Moringa can repair liver tissue and provide virtually complete protection. 
  Interestingly, these anti-cancer properties can only be extracted from the leaves and bark. The seeds don’t seem to offer any similar medical hope.

Other health benefits of Moringa
Compared to other similar foods, Moringa is amazingly nutritious. The nutritionist advises that a single cup of chopped Moringa leaves provides:
• 3g protein
• 19% RDA of vitamin B6
• 12% RDA of vitamin C
• 11% RDA of iron
• 9% RDA of vitamin A
• 8% RDA of magnesium

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                             PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

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