Community Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome Toxin (VIDEO)
Caption
Researchers from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have revealed the molecular structure of the cytotoxin from Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a widespread, highly contagious bacterium that infects the lungs. The determination of the structure of the protein, called Community Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome toxin, will facilitate drug and vaccine development in asthma and other airway diseases, two members of the research team said. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2 million new cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections occur each year in the US, but the true extent of the health problem is not known and is probably underestimated.
Credit
P. John Hart, Ph.D., X-ray Crystallography Core Laboratory, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content