CAMBRIDGE, England, Dec 2, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A British-led group of
international scientists says a new drug resistant strain of Salmonella
Typhimurium is causing life-threatening disease in Africa.
The researchers, part of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and other Wellcome
Trust programs -- said S. Typhimurium normally causes diarrhea and is rarely
fatal. But the new strain, called ST313, leads to death in up to one in four
cases.
Scientists said genetic changes transformed the bacteria into a new
antibiotic-resistant form that appears to be better adapted to affect humans, is
resistant to several commonly used antibiotics and might spread from person to
person.
"Multi-drug resistant forms of this deadly type of S. Typhimurium emerged only
in the last decade," Dr. Robert Kingsley, lead author of the study, said. "It
seems to have evolved to acquire a unique armory that allows it to efficiently
infect vulnerable children and adults in some African regions. The results
highlight the power of in-depth genome sequence analysis to challenge basic
medical assumptions and distinguish closely related pathogens.
"This is a new form of pathogen," he said.
The study's findings are reported in the journal Genome Research.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International