King's College London scientists map deadly bacteria for new treatment hope

April 24, 2026

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

Terrifying bacteria that cause life-threatening infections like cholera are now mapped in incredible detail by scientists at King's College London. This breakthrough could unlock new ways to fight these dangerous bugs, especially those resisting our current medicines.

A microscopic propeller with a secret shield

Many nasty bacteria have a tiny "propeller" called a flagellum. It helps them swim and get into our bloodstream, causing serious illness. Vibrio bacteria have an extra defence: a protective sheath around this propeller.

This sheath shields the bacteria from our immune system, making them incredibly hard to fight. The King's College London team's detailed map shows exactly how this propeller spins inside its shield and how the shield itself is built.

A new way to disarm the enemy

Instead of trying to kill the bacteria outright, which can lead to them becoming resistant to antibiotics, this new approach aims to disable their movement. By interfering with the flagellum or its protective sheath, scientists believe they could stop the bacteria from causing infections. This could also reduce the pressure for bacteria to develop resistance.

Dr Julien Bergeron, from the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King's College London, said: "Understanding these dangerous bacteria at this level of detail gives us the best chance to develop targeted interventions to stop them from causing severe infections."

Kailin Qin, a PhD student and co-author, added: "By revealing the architecture of this system at atomic resolution, we can now see how the flagellum rotates within the sheath and how this protective layer is assembled."

This research, published in Nature Communications, offers a critical step towards developing new treatments for cholera and other Vibrio infections, including the most dangerous antibiotic-resistant strains.

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South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

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