Blocking bacteria's 'death signal' could treat severe bone disease

Scientists have discovered that a surface molecule on bacteria which instructs bone cells to die could be the target for new treatments for bone disease.

Blocking the death signal from bacteria could be a way of treating painful bone infections that are resistant to antibiotics, such as those caused by Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Bone disease, or osteomyelitis is usually caused by the bacterium MRSA that lives commonly on human skin and in the nose. It can reach the bones through open wounds or during surgery and most often causes infections in people with compromised immune systems.

Dr Steve Kerrigan from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin conducted the study.

"Bacteria that do not have the Spa protein on their surface are unable to bind to bone cells, which prevents them from sending suicide messages," she said.

"Blocking bacterial attachment to cells via Spa could therefore be a way of treating osteomyelitis, or even preventing it in the first place," Kerrigan added.

Current treatment involves prolonged aggressive antibiotic therapy, which is often less than successful and requires surgical debridement.

"The findings of this study will help develop better diagnostic tools and treatments for osteomyelitis that will not over-rely on antibiotics," Kerrigan concluded.

The study was presented at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting.