Scientists at the University of York have helped to reveal more about the way bacteria can attach to human tissues. The study could help in the development of new treatments for serious heart conditions such as infective endocarditis.
Dr Jennifer Potts of the Departments of Biology and Chemistry at York, who led the research said: “Interactions of S. aureus with fibronectin were first reported more than 30 years ago, and yet we still don’t understand precisely how and why the bacteria target this human protein. Our studies provide a significant step toward solving that issue and could help the future development of new treatments for rare but serious conditions such as infective endocarditis, an infection of the lining or valves of the heart.”
The research is published in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
