HANOVER, N.H., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Dartmouth University scientists say they've discovered how the bacterium that causes cholera becomes infectious.
The researchers said they have detailed the structure of a protein called ToxT that controls the virulent nature of Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera. Buried within ToxT, the researchers said they were surprised to find a fatty acid that appears to inhibit ToxT, preventing the bacteria from causing cholera.
Cholera, which causes acute diarrhea, can be life threatening, and, according to the World Health Organization, remains a serious threat to global health.
"Finding a fatty acid in the structure was quite a surprise," said Associate Professor F. Jon Kull, who led the research. "The exciting thing about this finding is that we might be able to use a small, natural molecule to treat and/or prevent cholera. We will also use the structure of the fatty acid as a framework to try and design a small molecule inhibitor of ToxT."
The study that included Michael Lowden, Maria Pellegrini, Michael Chiorazzo, Karen Skorupski and Ronald Taylor appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
