CCMB scientists develop genetic toolkit to shine light on TB’s inner workings
The scientists created a collection of 40 new shuttle vectors equipped with fluorescent markers, which make proteins glow under a microscope
Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have created a collection of 40 new shuttle vectors, which are genetic tools designed to carry selected genes into bacterial cells. These vectors have fluorescent markers, such as Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and 'mCherry', that make proteins glow under a microscope, allowing researchers to observe protein locations and movements within bacterial cells.
Led by Vinay Kumar Nandicoori, Director of CCMB, the research team developed these shuttle vectors to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for tuberculosis (TB), one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. Despite decades of research, many genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis remain poorly understood.
The new genetic toolkit simplifies the study of how different proteins work together inside bacterial cells. It enables scientists to switch genes on, track proteins inside bacterial cells, and investigate complex protein interactions. The toolkit was tested in Mycobacterium smegmatis, a harmless relative of the TB bacterium, and successfully highlighted key proteins involved in cell growth and division.
This genetic toolkit could significantly accelerate efforts to understand the inner workings of TB bacteria, potentially leading to innovative strategies to eliminate this deadly disease.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
