Researchers have made a significant discovery in fighting tuberculosis (TB), a deadly respiratory infection that has been around for over 9,000 years. Scientists found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria rely on a system called PrrAB to regulate its breathing function. When this system is disabled, the bacteria die.
A team led by Arizona State University’s infectious disease microbiologist Shelley Haydel used CRISPR interference to shut down PrrAB and eliminate TB bacteria in lab tests. The researchers also found that an experimental drug DAT-48 was more effective when combined with PrrAB inhibition.
This breakthrough is exciting because it suggests that TB could be cured using targeted therapy. If successful, it could lead to the eradication of this disease, which currently affects millions worldwide and claims thousands of lives every year.
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Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a69536299/wipe-out-worlds-deadliest-infectious-disease