Breathing easier

UQ researchers have identified a way of disrupting the formation of a bacterial layer responsible for chronic and persistent infections in the lungs of Cystic Fibrosis patients.

Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) researchers have led a team to a significant discovery with implications for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

Published in the US journal Science, the IMB and Technical University of Denmark researchers described a possible way of preventing a particular bacterial infection experienced by many CF patients.

The researchers discovered that the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa may be prevented by disrupting the formation of biofilms ­- an important element in the development of chronic and persistent infections.

IMB Co-Director and paper co-author Professor John Mattick (pictured right) said infection by this bacteria resulted in inflammation and tissue damage in the lungs of CF patients.

"CF is a genetic disease affecting one in 2500 Australian babies. It causes a build-up of thick sticky mucus in the lungs and pancreas leading to breathing difficulties and nutritional problems," Professor Mattick said.

"During lung infection, the bacteria creates a biofilm, a soup rich in proteins, complex sugars and DNA. This biofilm plays a vital role in establishing bacterial colonies that are resistant to antibiotics and the host's immune response.

"Scientists have known for a while that the biofilm has a high DNA content. Our research showed that treating it with an enzyme called DNaseI, which breaks down DNA into its component molecules, destroys the biofilm and restricts the establishment of infectious colonies. DNaseI is already used as a CF therapy to help clear the lungs of fluid and using DNaseI as a prophylactic may be another string in the bow for the management of this disease."

Research team

Professor John Mattick (IMB) www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/mattickjs.html
Dr Cynthia Whitchurch (IMB)
Dr Tim Tolker-Neilsen and Dr Paula Ragas (Molecular Microbial Ecology Group at the Technical University of Denmark)

Funding
2001­-2003 National Health and Medical Research Council ($405,000)
2000­-2008 Infrastructural support supplied by the Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Functional and Applied Genomics ($1 million per year subject to triennial reviews)

Email
j.mattick@imb.uq.edu.au

Web link
www.imb.uq.edu.au/mattick.html

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