French scientists discovered a few days ago that the proteins called "InlA" and "InlB" in gerbils play an important role in the transmission of Listeria from embryos to embryos. This discovery is to develop drugs suitable for humans. It is of great significance.
The research team of the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France, published a report in a new issue of Nature magazine. They said that they had infected pregnant gerbils with the bacterium in the experiment and used fluorescent tracer to study the activity of the bacterium in gerbils. Follow up. It was found that the fluorescently labeled Listeria reached and passed through the placenta with the help of these two proteins, and the infection rate was 100%.
Unpasteurized dairy products, contaminated meat products, and unwashed vegetables may carry Listeria. When people are infected with Listeria, fever, headache, nausea, and diarrhea can occur. When the condition is severe, death can occur. Pregnant women are 20 times more likely to get Listeria infection than normal people, and germs can infect newborns.
The researchers pointed out that although the above findings are derived from animal experiments, the human body also has similar biochemical mechanisms. Therefore, this result has important implications for the development of anti-infective drugs for humans.