Medical research

Toxin responsible for Legionella growth identified

A team of scientists led by EMBL group leader Sagar Bhogaraju and Ivan Dikic of Goethe University, Frankfurt, discovered that the toxin SidJ in Legionella bacteria enforces a unique modification on human proteins and helps ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Discovery suggests new route to fight infection, disease

New research reveals how a single protein interferes with the immune system when exposed to the bacterium that causes Legionnaires' disease, findings that could have broad implications for development of medicines to fight ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Research presents new information about the Flint water crisis

Based on a detailed statistical analysis of multiple datasets, the Flint Area Community Health and Environment Partnership (FACHEP) research team found that the majority of Legionnaires' disease cases that occurred during ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Simple maintenance can reduce hospital Legionella risks

Hospital water systems are a significant source of Legionella, resulting in the potentially fatal Legionnaires' disease—but Flinders University researchers have proven simple maintenance that involves running hot water ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Water systems study finds Legionella in 41% of samples

A new study of domestic and hospital drinking water systems found Legionella in 41% of samples—with Flinders University researchers making a key connection between the pathogen's co-existence with a "host" microorganism ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Home and hospital health care could be in 'hot water'

Hospitals and homes are havens for germs and disease—but a well-regulated hot water system can prevent the spread of waterborne pathogens, including an emerging infectious disease problem from "superbugs" which can be resistant ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Legionnaires' disease outbreak hits Long Island, N.Y.

(HealthDay)—Health officials say they are trying to track down the source of 10 reported cases of Legionnaires' disease within a one-mile radius in a Long Island, N.Y., neighborhood.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Legionella bacteria forces CDC office closures

(HealthDay)—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed employees that office space it rents in the Atlanta area would be closed after Legionella, the bacteria that causes legionnaires disease, was found ...

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Legionella

Legionella is a pathogenic Gram negative bacterium, including species that cause legionellosis or Legionnaires' disease, most notably L. pneumophila. It may be readily visualized with a silver stain.

Legionella is common in many environments, with at least 50 species and 70 serogroups identified. The side-chains of the cell wall carry the bases responsible for the somatic antigen specificity of these organisms. The chemical composition of these side chains both with respect to components as well as arrangement of the different sugars determines the nature of the somatic or O antigen determinants, which are essential means of serologically classifying many Gram-negative bacteria.

Legionella acquired its name after a July, 1976 outbreak of a then-unknown "mystery disease" sickened 221 persons, causing 34 deaths. The outbreak was first noticed among people attending a convention of the American Legion - an association of U.S. military veterans. The convention in question occurred in Philadelphia during the U.S. Bicentennial year. This epidemic among U.S. war veterans, occurring in the same city as – and within days of the 200th anniversary of – the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was widely publicized and caused great concern in the United States. On January 18, 1977 the causative agent was identified as a previously unknown bacterium, subsequently named Legionella. See Legionnaires' Disease for full details.

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