Host-Microbe Biology
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyTemporal Variability of Escherichia coli Diversity in the Gastrointestinal Tracts of Tanzanian Children with and without Exposure to AntibioticsThis study increases the number of resident Escherichia coli genome sequences, and explores E. coli diversity through longitudinal sampling. We investigate the genomes of E. coli isolated from human gastrointestinal tracts as part...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyComplement Susceptibility in Relation to Genome Sequence of Recent Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Thai HospitalsMultidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is responsible for an increasing proportion of nosocomial infections, and emerging hypervirulent K. pneumoniae clones now cause severe community-acquired infections in otherwise healthy individuals. These bacteria are adept at circumventing immune defenses,...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Buoyancy of Cryptococcus neoformans Is Affected by Capsule SizeThe buoyancy of a microbial cell is an important physical characteristic that may affect its transportability in fluids and interactions with tissues during infection. The polysaccharide capsule surrounding C. neoformans is required for infection and dissemination in the host. Our results indicate that the capsule has a significant effect on reducing cryptococcal cell...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyModeling Ebola Virus Transmission Using FerretsOur knowledge regarding transmission of EBOV between individuals is vague and is mostly limited to spreading via direct contact with infectious bodily fluids. Studying transmission parameters such as dose and route of infection is nearly impossible in naturally acquired cases—hence the requirement for a laboratory animal model. Here, we show as a proof of concept that ferrets can be used to study EBOV transmission. We also show that...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyA Nonribosomal Peptide Synthase Gene Driving Virulence in Mycobacterium tuberculosisOver 10 million people developed tuberculosis (TB) in 2016, and over 1.8 million individuals succumbed to the disease. These numbers make TB the ninth leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause from a single infectious agent. Therefore, finding novel therapeutic targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen that causes most cases of human TB, is...
Observation | Host-Microbe BiologyClostridial Butyrate Biosynthesis Enzymes Are Significantly Depleted in the Gut Microbiota of Nonobese Diabetic MiceAlterations of the gut microbiota early in age have been hypothesized to impact T1D autoimmune pathogenesis. In the NOD mouse model, protection from T1D has been found to operate via modulation of the composition of the intestinal microbiota during a critical early window of ontogeny, although little is known about microbiota functions related to T1D development. Here, we show which gut microbial functions are specifically associated...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyCyclic Diguanylate Regulates Virulence Factor Genes via Multiple Riboswitches in Clostridium difficileIn Clostridium difficile, the signaling molecule c-di-GMP regulates multiple processes affecting its ability to cause disease, including swimming and surface motility, biofilm formation, toxin production, and intestinal colonization. In this study, we used RNA-seq to define the transcriptional regulon of c-di-GMP in...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Cloacal Microbiome of Five Wild Duck Species Varies by Species and Influenza A Virus Infection StatusWaterfowl are natural reservoir species for influenza A virus (IAV). Thus, they maintain high levels of pathogen diversity, are asymptomatic to the infection, and also contribute to the risk of a global influenza pandemic. An individual’s microbiome is a critical part in how a vertebrate manages pathogens and illness. Here, we describe the cloacal microbiome of 300 wild ducks, from five species (four with previously undescribed...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIsolation and Characterization of the Novel Botulinum Neurotoxin A Subtype 6Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) have proved to be an effective treatment for a large number of neuropathic conditions. BoNTs comprise a large family of zinc metalloproteases, but BoNT/A1 is used nearly exclusively for pharmaceutical purposes. The genetic inactivation of a second BoNT gene in the native strain enabled expression and isolation of a single BoNT/A6 from cultures. Its characterization indicated that BoNT/A subtype A6 has a...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGenome-Wide Association Analyses in the Model Rhizobium Ensifer melilotiGenome-wide association analyses are a powerful approach for identifying gene function. These analyses are becoming commonplace in studies of humans, domesticated animals, and crop plants but have rarely been conducted in bacteria. We applied association analyses to 20 traits measured in Ensifer meliloti, an agriculturally and ecologically important bacterium because...