Bacteria Can Morph Host Cells Into Stem Cells

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Stem Cell Research Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;Biology / Biochemistry Article Date: 18 Jan 2013 - 14:00 PST

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Researchers at the University of Edinburgh made this remarkable discovery while studying mice infected with bacteria that cause leprosy, an infectious disease that attacks the nerve system.

They propose the finding will help stem cell researchers use similar mechanisms to develop new stem cell treatments for degenerative conditions.

They write about their findings in the 17 January issue of the journal Cell.

Senior researcher Anura Rambukana, Chair of Regeneration Biology at Edinburgh, says in a press statement:

"Bacterial infections can completely change a cell's make up, which could have a wide-range of implications, including in stem cell research."

But once the infection is established, the bacterium then sets about reprogramming the Schwann cells to become like stem cells.

This is how the disease sets in and causes nerve damage: once the Schwann cells are reprogrammed into stem cells they lose their ability to protect nerve cells, which in turn prevents nerve signals travelling to the brain.

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Bacteria Can Morph Host Cells Into Stem Cells