Host-Microbe Biology
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologymSphere of Influence: Learning from Nature—Antibody Profiles Important for Protection of Young InfantsEsther Ndungo works in the field of maternal-infant immunity against enteric pathogens. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the paper “Fc glycan-mediated regulation of placental antibody transfer” by Jennewein et al. (M. F. Jennewein, I. Goldfarb, S. Dolatshahi, C. Cosgrove, et al., Cell 178:202–215.e14, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2019.05.044)...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyFour-Dimensional Characterization of the Babesia divergens Asexual Life Cycle, from the Trophozoite to the Multiparasite StageBabesiosis is a disease caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites, which possess many clinical features that are similar to those of malaria. This worldwide disease is increasing in frequency and geographical range and has a significant impact on human and animal health. Babesia divergens is one of the species responsible for human and cattle babesiosis causing death unless treated promptly. When B. divergens...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyFunctional Analysis of the Collagen Binding Proteins of Streptococcus parasanguinis FW213Bacteria generally can utilize multiple adhesins to establish themselves in the host. We found that Streptococcus parasanguinis, a dominant oral commensal and an opportunistic pathogen for subacute endocarditis, possesses at least three collagen-binding proteins that enable S. parasanguinis to successfully colonize damaged heart tissues and escape innate...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyHuman Keratinocyte Response to SuperantigensStaphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes are common human pathogens, causing infections that include the skin. Both pathogens produce a family of secreted toxins called superantigens, which have been shown to be important in human diseases. The first cell types encountered by superantigens...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAssessing the Variation within the Oral Microbiome of Healthy AdultsThe human oral cavity is inhabited by a diverse community of microbes, known as the human oral microbiome. These microbes play a role in maintaining both oral and systemic health and, as such, have been proposed to be useful biomarkers of disease. However, to identify these biomarkers, we first need to determine the composition and variation of the healthy oral microbiome. In this report, we investigate the oral microbiome of 1,049...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyStaphylococcus aureus Releases Proinflammatory Membrane Vesicles To Resist Antimicrobial Fatty AcidsThe nares of one in three humans are colonized by Staphylococcus aureus. In these environments, and arguably on all mucosal surfaces, bacteria encounter fatty acids with antimicrobial properties. Our study uncovers that S. aureus releases membrane vesicles (MVs) that act as decoys to protect the...
Editor's Pick Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologymSphere of Influence: Frameshift—a Vision for Human Microbiome ResearchAriangela J. Kozik studies the respiratory microbiome as it relates to asthma. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how two papers, “Time’s up to adopt a biopsychosocial model to address racial and ethnic disparities in asthma outcomes” (E. C. Matsui, A. S. Adamson, and R. D. Peng, Allergy Clin Immunol 143:2024–2025, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2019.03.015...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyNutrition and the Gut Microbiota in 10- to 18-Month-Old Children Living in Urban Slums of Mumbai, IndiaThe impact of comprehensive nutritional status, defined as growth, nutritional blood biomarkers, dietary intakes, and feeding practices, on the gut microbiome in children living in low-resource settings has remained underreported in microbiome research. Among undernourished children living in urban slums of Mumbai, India, we observed a high relative abundance of Proteobacteria, a phylum including many potentially pathogenic...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyImmune Response Characterization after Controlled Infection with Lyophilized Shigella sonnei 53GCorrelate(s) of immunity have yet to be defined for shigellosis. As previous disease protects against subsequent infection in a serotype-specific manner, investigating immune response profiles pre- and postinfection provides an opportunity to identify immune markers potentially associated with the development of protective immunity and/or with a reduced risk of developing shigellosis postchallenge. This study is the first to report such...
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologymSphere of Influence: 3-D Culture Models Influence Studies on Epstein-Barr Virus Molecular Pathogenesis in the EpitheliumKathy Shair works in the field of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cancers, with emphasis on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the paper “Efficient replication of Epstein-Barr virus in stratified epithelium in vitro” by Temple et al. (R. M. Temple, J. Zhu, L. Budgeon, N. D. Christensen, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:16544–16549, 2014,...