Engineers Revolutionize CO2 Conversion: Turning Emissions into Valuable Resources

A new electrode design developed at MIT boosts the efficiency of electrochemical reactions that turn carbon dioxide into ethylene and other products. As the world struggles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, researchers are seeking practical, economical ways to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into useful products, such as transportation fuels, chemical feedstocks, or even
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Unveiling the Power of E. coli in Causing Urinary Tract Infections: Understanding the Pathogen’s Mechanism

New research has investigated the⁣ ability of the bacteria Escherichia coli, also known as⁤ E. coli, to⁢ rapidly ⁤reproduce using host nutrients during urinary ‌tract infections (UTIs), despite the typically sterile​ environment of fresh‌ urine. This is especially‍ relevant for women, as almost half of them ‌experience a UTI‍ at some point ‌in ⁢their lives. Scientists have ⁣spent years ⁤researching how bacteria are able to ⁤infect healthy individuals, examining factors‍ such as their movement and ability to adhere to ​surfaces⁢ inside the body.The research published in ⁤the ‍PNAS investigates how‍ the bacteria Escherichia coli, ⁣or E. ⁣coli, which is responsible‍ for most⁢ UTIs, ⁤can reproduce rapidly during ‍infection ​despite the sterile environment of fresh urine. Dr. Harry Mobley⁣ and his team at the University of Michigan Medical School started by studying mutant strains that were not as effective at replicating in ​mouse ⁣models ‌to identify bacterial genes⁤ that could be crucial for establishing infection.⁢ They studied various ⁢aspects of the ​bacteria’s⁢ behavior, from its ability‌ to adhere to the bladder to its method of deploying toxins to⁣ cause ​uncomfortable and​ painful symptoms.The researchers ⁢at the‍ University of Michigan discovered a set ⁣of genes that are⁤ essential⁢ in⁤ controlling transport systems⁢ that allow bacteria to obtain the nutrients ⁣they ‍need ‍to grow. According to ⁤Dr. Mobley, a professor ⁢of Microbiology and Immunology, bacteria can acquire the necessary nutrients⁣ for growth in two ways: by producing it⁣ themselves, or by stealing it from their host⁢ using transport ‌systems. ‌Their ⁤previous‌ research showed that about 25% of bacterial genes are involved in replication strategies, such‌ as ⁢the transport systems that are used by ‌E.⁣ coli to bring in ​various amino acids.Mobley stated that the bacteria​ can release hundreds⁣ of molecules per second. The​ first author of⁢ the study, Allyson Shea, Ph.D., who used to work in Mobley’s lab and is now ‍an assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of South Alabama, compared a library of ⁢transport proteins from ‍E. coli with other species ⁤of UTI pathogens to identify important proteins for infection. She found that ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters were crucial for the process. Using ⁢organ agar made from the mouse urinary tract,⁣ she confirmed that ABC⁢ transporters were indeed essential ‌for⁣ infection.Bacterial strains that do ‍not ⁢have⁢ these‌ nutrient import systems ⁢struggled to grow on bladder and kidney organ agar. According to Shea,‍ it seems⁤ that bacteria invest in these ATP transport systems in order‍ to have a greater attraction to the energy sources they need. These systems are⁤ highly efficient at bringing nutrients into the cell. The ‍discovery of these findings could lead to the creation ‍of new treatments, which is crucial in ​a time when ⁢antibiotic resistance is on⁤ the rise. Inhibiting these ‍transport‌ systems may be a ⁤way to ⁣slow down the rapid growth of these ⁤bacteria.”Doing so won’t be easy,” notes Shea, as bacteria have evolved multiple ⁢backup systems for this⁣ important class of ‌transporters. According to Shea, all members ⁣of the ⁤ATP-binding family have an ATP binding subunit that provides ‌the energy ​needed⁢ to transport nutrients across the cell membrane. Targeting this subunit could potentially render‌ the entire family of transporters⁣ dysfunctional. While this wouldn’t necessarily replace antibiotics, Shea says it could slow down growth, allowing antibiotics⁣ and the host immune system to be more effective.Preventing the bugs.