Discovery of Key Protein in Bacteria Could Lead to New Antibiotics

Johns Hopkins researchers identify the role of OpgH in cell envelope integrity, offering potential targets for drug development.

Loss of the OpgH protein in Caulobacter crescentus disrupts cell shape and leads to cell death.
OpgH is crucial for producing osmoregulated periplasmic glucans (OPGs), which are essential for bacterial survival.
Understanding OpgH and OPGs could help develop drugs targeting harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella.
Manipulating OpgH and CenR proteins reveals their critical roles in maintaining bacterial cell envelope integrity.
Future research aims to explore enzymes that interact with OPGs, paving the way for novel antibiotic therapies.