Staph Strain Explodes Immune Cells

Part of puzzle explains infection's deadly punch

By Colleen Barry, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 12, 2007 4:30 AM CST

(Newser) – A key reason why a powerful strain of drug-resistant staph infections known as MRSA has proven so deadly is because it produces a compound that causes immune cells to explode, a new study in Nature concludes. The finding helps explain why MRSA, usually found in hospitals in patients with weakened immune systems, has also recently caused fatal infections in otherwise healthy people.

Both what's called "hospital-associated" and "community-associated" MRSA contain genes for the peptides, researchers found, but they were much more common in the latter. "Specifically identifying a factor which seemingly makes CA-MRSA more pathogenic than HA-MRSA is a real find," said one biologist. The information will be critical as researchers develop new vaccines and treatments.

Workers wipe down surfaces in a high school classroom to fight the spread of Staph infections, including the serious MRSA. (Associated Press)

Hector Rivera cleans the floor of a bathroom at Walter Payton College Prep High School on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, in Chicago. Staph infections, including the serious Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus... (Associated Press)

Deadly Drug-Resistant Staph Infections On The Rise In U.S (Getty Images)

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Staph Strain Explodes Immune Cells

Part of puzzle explains infection's deadly punch

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Gonorrhea Becoming 'Incurable'

STD mutating so fast that antibiotics can't keep up

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Scary new form of MRSA found in dairy herds

Scientists Find Bedbugs Carrying Nasty Surprise

Drug-resistant MRSA bacteria found on bedbugs in Vancouver

'Miracle' Era of Antibiotics Is Ending

Modern medicine can't fight off superbugs for long

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It's traced to cheap cosmetic surgeries

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Part of puzzle explains infection's deadly punch

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

hospitals • staph infections • antibiotics • vaccine • immune system • drug resistant • MRSA

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Gonorrhea Becoming 'Incurable'

STD mutating so fast that antibiotics can't keep up

Cow Superbug Jumping to Humans

Scary new form of MRSA found in dairy herds

Scientists Find Bedbugs Carrying Nasty Surprise

Drug-resistant MRSA bacteria found on bedbugs in Vancouver

'Miracle' Era of Antibiotics Is Ending

Modern medicine can't fight off superbugs for long

UK Sees New Superbug, Blames Medical Tourism in India

It's traced to cheap cosmetic surgeries

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