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Rocky Mountain Lab – Hardy strains of staph infection defy defenses

Hamilton scientists have discovered that certain strains of staph bacteria have the ability to evade human immune defenses.

In a study by researchers at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, strains of Staphylococcus aureus acquired in community settings proved to be more deadly than more common staph strains that originate in hospitals and other health-care settings.

These strains of staph are difficult to treat and increasing nationally at an alarming rate, experts say. Research at RML indicates the strains are very good at avoiding being killed by white blood cells called neutrophils, which make up 60 percent of all white blood cells and are the first line of defense against bacteria.

Because the strains are also resistant to antibiotics, they are difficult to treat. Scientists know that community-acquired strains differ from hospital strains, but they don’t know why the community strains cause more serious infection in otherwise health people.

"The reason that some mild infections become severe or fatal is not well understood, but virulence is often associated with certain strains," said Jovanka Voyich, lead author on the study published last week in The Journal of Immunology.

by JENNY JOHNSON – Ravalli Republic Staff Reporter

Full Story: http://www.ravallinews.com/articles/2005/09/12/news/news01.txt

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