For years, scientists and even ordinary people believe that diabetes is primarily caused by genetics and unhealthy lifestyle practices. A recent research, however, revealed that this metabolic disease can be brought about by a very inconspicuous cause: a common bacteria.
Researchers from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine found out that exposure to toxins produced by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria for prolonged periods of time can develop symptoms of diabetes.
The discovery was made through several experiments involving rabbits, which showed insulin resistance and glucose intolerance after exposure to the bacteria's toxins.
The study, considered to be a medical breakthrough, was published recently in the journal mBio.
Professor Patrick Schlievert, head of the UI Carver College of Medicine's microbiology department, said the findings of the study provide insights as to why obesity is one of the leading risk factors for diabetes.
"What we are finding is that as people gain weight, they are increasingly likely to be colonized by staph bacteria – to have large numbers of these bacteria living on the surface of their skin," Schlievert, who led the research, said.
"People who are colonized by staph bacteria are being chronically exposed to the superantigens the bacteria are producing," he added.
The head researcher also believes the findings on Staphylococcus aureus bacteria can pave the way for more research on how to treat diabetes, which is the eighth leading cause of death in the world.
Since his team was essentially able to reproduce diabetes in rabbits, Schlievert said it may be possible to cure this disease by producing vaccine or medicine to eliminate this bacteria or to neutralize the toxins they release.
"I think we have a way to intercede here and alter the course of diabetes. We are working on a vaccine against the superantigens, and we believe that this type of vaccine could prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes," Schlievert said.
