Host-Microbe Biology
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyHuman Clade 2.3.4.4 A/H5N6 Influenza Virus Lacks Mammalian Adaptation Markers and Does Not Transmit via the Airborne Route between FerretsAvian influenza A viruses are a threat to human health, as they cross the species barrier and infect humans occasionally, often with severe outcome. The antigenic and genetic diversity of A/H5 viruses from the A/goose/Guangdong/1/96 lineage is increasing, due to continued circulation and reassortment in poultry, posing a constant risk for public health and requiring regular risk assessments. Here we performed an in-depth...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDifferential Ability of Pandemic and Seasonal H1N1 Influenza A Viruses To Alter the Function of Human NeutrophilsA long-standing notion is that IAV inhibits normal neutrophil function and thereby predisposes individuals to secondary bacterial infections. Here we report that seasonal H1N1 IAV primes human neutrophils for enhanced killing of Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, we provide a comprehensive view of the changes in neutrophil gene expression during interaction with...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyMicrobiota Reconstitution Does Not Cause Bone Loss in Germ-Free MiceThe microbiota has been shown to be an important regulator of health and development. With regard to its effect on bone health, a previous study has suggested that gut microbes negatively impact bone density. However, we show here that this is not generalizable to all microbial communities and mouse strain backgrounds. Our results demonstrate that colonization of mice, both outbred and inbred strains, did not have a major impact on bone...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyEffect of Environmental Factors and an Emerging Parasitic Disease on Gut Microbiome of Wild Salmonid FishCohabiting microorganisms play diverse and important roles in the biology of multicellular hosts, but their diversity and interactions with abiotic and biotic factors remain largely unsurveyed. Nevertheless, it is becoming increasingly clear that many properties of host phenotypes reflect contributions from the associated microbiome. We focus on a question of how parasites, the host genetic background, and abiotic factors influence the...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyComparison of Zoonotic Bacterial Agents in Fleas Collected from Small Mammals or Host-Seeking Fleas from a Ugandan Region Where Plague Is EndemicFleas play critical roles in transmitting some infections among animals and from animals to humans. Detection of pathogens in fleas is important to determine human risks for flea-borne diseases and can help guide diagnosis and treatment. Our findings of high prevalence rates of B. elizabethae and R. felis in fleas in the Arua and Zombo districts of Uganda implicate these agents as potential causative agents of...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Human Gut Microbial Metabolome Modulates Fungal Growth via the TOR Signaling PathwayCandida albicans is a natural component of the human microbiota but also an opportunistic pathogen that causes life-threatening infections. The human gastrointestinal tract is the main reservoir of C. albicans, from where systemic infections originate as a consequence of the disruption of the...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyMolecular Mechanisms for Microbe Recognition and Defense by the Red Seaweed Laurencia dendroideaMarine bacteria are part of the healthy microbiota associated with seaweeds, but some species, such as Vibrio spp., are frequently associated with disease outbreaks, especially in economically valuable cultures. In this context, the ability of seaweeds to recognize microbes and, when necessary, activate defense mechanisms is essential for their survival. However, studies dedicated to understanding the molecular components of...
Minireview | Host-Microbe BiologyNovel Concepts for HIV Vaccine Vector DesignThe unprecedented challenges of developing effective vaccines against intracellular pathogens such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis have resulted in more rational approaches to vaccine development. Apart from the recent advances in the design and selection of improved epitopes and adjuvants, there are also ongoing efforts to optimize delivery platforms.
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyPersistence of Supplemented Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis EVC001 in Breastfed InfantsThe gut microbiome in early life plays an important role for long-term health and is shaped in large part by diet. Probiotics may contribute to improvements in health, but they have not been shown to alter the community composition of the gut microbiome. Here, we found that breastfed infants could be stably colonized at high levels by provision of B. infantis EVC001, with significant changes to the overall microbiome...
Observation | Host-Microbe BiologyFaecalibacterium Gut Colonization Is Accelerated by Presence of Older SiblingsFaecalibacterium prausnitzii has been suggested to constitute a key marker of a healthy gut, yet the factors shaping the colonization of this highly oxygen-sensitive, non-spore-forming species in the intestinal environment remain poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence from three separate infant study populations that F. prausnitzii colonization in the...