Chinese scientists have successfully analyzed the structure of bacterium shigella flexneri, a breakthrough that may lead to a better understanding of drug-resistant illnesses.

The research team headed by Huang Yihua from the Institute of Biophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences has analyzed lipopolysaccharide structure of the external membrane of the germ.

The Gram-negative bacteria is part of the lineage of more than half of drug-resistant bacteria and its outer membrane is the main source of the microbe's success.

According to Huang, the finding could open the door to new antibiotic strategies that target bacterial membranes.

Vocational Education

The total number of students at vocational education institutions across China will reach 38.3 million by 2020, a new government guideline announced on June 22. The document was released to help boost vocational education and was issued by the State Council, China's cabinet.

In 2020, it is expected that approximately 23.5 million students will study at vocational schools, which will take in students after they finish the first three years in middle schools. There will be 14.8 million students at vocational colleges that admit students from ordinary high schools and vocational schools and offer two or three years of further vocational education, according to the document.

Currently a total of 29.34 million students study at 13,600 vocational schools and colleges across China.

Higher Education

Kashgar University, the first comprehensive university in south Xinjiang, is already under construction, local authorities said on June 25.

The southern part of Xinjiang borders Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, has a population of around 10 million, mainly ethnic Uygur people. It is substantially less developed than the northern part of the region.

South Xinjiang currently has only two higher learning institutions—Kashgar Normal University and Alar Tarim University. Kashgar Normal University offers 27 disciplines, mainly linguistics and teaching.

Erken Umer, President of Kashgar University, said that the new university will provide courses in international trade, business administration, architecture, tourism and hotel management as well as basic sciences and arts.