All cell wall articles
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NewsToxic tail: Biologists find a hidden weak spot in how bacteria build the tails they use to move
New research has uncovered a previously unknown vulnerability in how bacteria build the whip-like tails they use to move. Building these tails can put stress on the protective wall surrounding a bacterial cell, and uncovered systems bacteria use to keep that stress from becoming destructive.
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NewsSilencing a fungal wall protein cuts powdery mildew on melon leaves
Powdery mildew fungi survive on living plants behind a cell wall that provides both structural support and a shield against host immunity. Researchers have now identified the fungal cell wall assembly protein ECM33 as a weak point in that defense.
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NewsStudy reveals how bacteria assemble their envelope
Researchers have discovered a key process for how the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria attaches to the cell wall, advancing the understanding of how these bacteria frequently manifest resistance to antibiotics.
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NewsScientists determine how mysterious acids give bacteria their shape
Researchers have discovered how acids on the surface of bacteria give these microscopic organisms their characteristic “rod” shape—by keeping an enzyme at bay that would otherwise turn the cylindrical cells into shape-shifting blobs.
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NewsScientists uncover mechanism used by three bacteria-killing viruses to target transporter
Biochemists have homed in on an underexplored small transporter called MurJ that is a vital part of the pathway bacteria use to build their chain-mail-like cell wall. Using advanced tools, the scientists have determined the common mechanism used by three different bacteria-killing viruses to block MurJ from doing its job.
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NewsHow superfungus Candida auris rebuilds its cell walls to withstand antifungal treatment
A groundbreaking study has revealed how the multidrug-resistant superfungus Candida auris uniquely reconstructs its cell wall to survive antifungal treatments.
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NewsBiologist examines growth patterns in bacteria to help develop more targeted, effective antibiotics
Among the new investigative projects at the University of Texas at Arlington is one headed by Dr. Cara Boutte, who is studying how certain bacteria grow by examining how they build their cell walls, an effort that could lead to the development of more effective antibiotics.
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NewsStudy unveals a novel protective mechanism in bacterial cell wall
Researchers from Umeå University, Sweden, and Cornell University, USA, have discovered a widespread mechanism in bacteria that enhances the bacteria’s defense against environmental threats. Source: Umeå University Sara Hernandez and Laura Alvarez, two of the researchers behind the study in the lab. The discovery, which may be ...