Scientists 'see' detailed make-up of deadly toxin for the first time

(University of Leicester) Exciting advance provides hope for developing novel potential method of treating pneumococcal diseases such as bacterial pneumonia, meningitis and septicaemia. University of Leicester uses technique called X-ray crystallography at Diamond Light Source, the UK's national synchrotron science facility, to see the individual atoms of the toxin. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 1.6 million people every year die from pneumococcal infections, including more than 800,000 children under 5 years old.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news