Proteins Build "Cages" Around Bacteria

ananyo writes "Research in human cells shows that proteins called septins are able to build cages around pathogens to prevent them from infecting other cells. According to the researchers, the newly discovered defense system could lead to new therapies for diseases. The microbes trapped in the cage are later broken down by the cell."

Our amazing bodies

[wvmarle]

Our bodies continue to amaze me. So complex systems, so adaptable and flexible. And the second amazing part is of course that we are able to "see" those molecular processes, can figure out how it happens, and subsequently manipulate it.

And of course this complexity and flexibility is not limited to the human body but basically all life forms on this planet. The more we learn about life, the more amazing it becomes.

Re:Our amazing bodies

[Anonymous Coward]

Our bodies continue to amaze me.

They continue to disappoint me.

If you take a single bullet in a seemingly insignificant area and don't receive treatment, you'll probably die. Your teeth are incredibly fragile (brushing too hard is bad, most people get cavities, etc). Your bones are fragile. Everything about the human body is fragile.

Weak and pathetic. That probably applies to most other creatures as well.

Bacterial Lobster Traps

[Joe Torres]

If you think this is cool, then you should look up the work of Dr. Jason Shear at the University of Texas (http://jshear.cm.utexas.edu/jshear/). His laboratory designs cages/houses/traps for bacteria. One of his papers that I am familiar with is "Probing Prokaryotic Social Behaviors with Bacterial 'Lobster Traps'" (http://mbio.asm.org/content/1/4/e00202-10.full).

Re:Our amazing bodies - amazingly FLAWED

[fnj]

The body has two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, two kidneys, two lungs, two testes or ovaries. Makes sense.

OK, so why does it have only ONE HEART and ONE TRACHEA? Huh? Huh? How much sense does that make? Whether you believe in evolution or intelligent design, makes no difference, that just doesn't figure. Just about the two most short term vital organs in the body. Yeah, I know, the brain. That's why I said "just about." But I can see why there is only one brain. Think about it.

Actually, it seems to me that this fact boosts intelligent design. It's very possible to conceive an intelligent designer who plays tricks. But since when does evolution play tricks? Two hearts and two tracheae would be a very strong survival trait. Even a single trachea completely SEPARATE FROM THE GODDAM FOOD INTAKE would be a strong survival trait. Just imagine the man in the restaurant who has two trachea and inhales a chunk of food and gets one of his two tracheae plugged. "Oh damn! I've gone and plugged a trachea again. I'll have to get that looked at next week."