How bacteria make syringes: Scientists reconstruct bacterial transport channel in test tube
Sunday, June 13, 2010 - 12:10
in Biology & Nature
For a successful infection, bacteria must outwit the immune system of the host. To this aim, they deliver so-called virulence factors through a transport channel located in the bacterial membrane. In some bacteria this transport channel is formed like a syringe, enabling them to inject virulence factors directly into the host cell.