ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) \u2014 What began as an undergraduate research project at the University of North Carolina Asheville has resulted in a discovery that has landed the team a recognition in an accredited peer-reviewed journal.<\/p>\n
‘It was very surreal’: UNC Asheville researchers make discovery in drug-resistant staph. (WLOS)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The team uncovered a weakness in a protein that drug-resistant, or methicillin-resistant, Staphylococcus aureus relies on during infection \u2014 a finding that could point to a new way to fight the bacteria.<\/p>\n
Jenna Vidaud, a recent UNC Asheville graduate, was recognized with first-author credit on the paper.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought that something like that would happen in undergrad,\u201d Vidaud said. \u201cI didn\u2019t really know that these kind of opportunities were available before I came to college.\u201d<\/p>\n
UNC ASHEVILLE AWARDED $1.2M IN GRANT FUNDS FOR OLDER ADULT PROGRAM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cKnowing what that has done for the paper and what that finding did for the paper – It was very surreal,\u201d senior biology major Garrett Davidson, another student who is part of the research team, said.<\/p>\n The four-year project, led by UNC Asheville Associate Professor Melinda R. Grosser was published Aug. 20 in the Journal of Bacteriology<\/a>.<\/p>\n Grosser said a dozen undergraduate students helped her uncover a weakness in an enzyme called YqeK, which Staphylococcus aureus relies on to respond to stressful conditions it can encounter during an infection. <\/p>\n Researchers found that disabling the enzyme left the bacteria able to grow normally under everyday laboratory conditions but less able to withstand hostile conditions and cause damage, Grosser said. The bacteria became noticeably less toxic, losing much of their ability to destroy red blood cells, a strong signal that they would cause milder disease during a real infection, she said.<\/p>\n Grosser said targeting the enzyme could lead to an anti-virulence approach \u2014 one that weakens the bacteria rather than directly killing it.<\/p>\n UNC ASHEVILLE ADVANCES CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT PLANS DESPITE COMMUNITY CONCERNS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIf drugs were to be developed to target this protein, they would not directly kill the bacteria,\u201d Grosser said. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t pressure the bacteria to evolve resistance in the same way, because it\u2019s not making them fight for their lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The research comes as antimicrobial-resistant infections continue to create a major health care burden.<\/p>\n