Chlamydia loves fat
2006/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
The researchers have analyzed the reproductive strategy of a sexually transmitted bacteria, which has opened the way to clarify its relationship with the problems of the circulatory system.
The bacteria, called Chlamydia trachomatis, easily infect people, especially through sexual intercourse. Although usual, so far scientists did not know many aspects of the infection.
Now, researchers at Duke University have seen how it uses bacteria to benefit intracellular lipids. The bacteria reproduce in some cell organelles, vacuoles, accumulating lipids around. It seems that the infection causes the cell to produce more lipids, so two days after the infection there are five times more lipids.
In addition, they have shown that if lipid production is avoided, the bacteria cannot reproduce. On the other hand, researchers believe that increased lipid production can affect cardiovascular problems. In fact, chronic infections often find problems such as blockages of the arteries or heart disease.
