Science / Medicine : Gene Behind Common Pneumonia Identified

Scientists announced that they have succeeded in identifying a gene that is partially responsible for the most common form of pneumonia among young people.

University of North Carolina researchers said their finding is a step toward developing a vaccine against mycoplasma pneumonia, an illness that can become epidemic, especially in schools and among military personnel. Pneumonia can also be caused by viruses or fungi.

In an effort to come up with a vaccine, the North Carolina scientists are using recombinant DNA technology in another type of bacteria in an effort to produce the genes in large quantities.

The team, whose research was published recently in the journal Gene, determined both the nucleotide sequence of the gene and its amino acid sequence. Amino acids are the building blocks of the proteins found in all living things. Nucleotides are basic components of DNA.