Scientists have discovered a fascinating bacterial defence mechanism that detects viral attacks and triggers a self-destruct response. When a virus infects a bacterium, an enzyme produced by the virus cuts a bacterial sensor protein, activating an immune response that destroys the infected cell and prevents the virus from spreading. This discovery could have important implications for phage therapy, which uses viruses called bacteriophages to target harmful bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. Understanding how bacteria recognise viral attacks may help researchers develop more effective treatments against difficult-to-treat infections. The findings also offer insights into ancient immune mechanisms that may share similarities with defence systems found in humans.
Read more at ScienceDaily