Host-Microbe Biology
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyBacterial Lipopolysaccharide Destabilizes Influenza VirusesInfluenza A virus (IAV), transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route in wild birds, encounters high concentrations of bacteria and their products. Understanding the extent to which bacteria affect the infectivity of IAV will lead to a broader understanding of viral ecology in reservoir hosts and may lead to insights for the development of therapeutics in respiratory infection. Herein we show that bacteria and lipopolysaccharide (LPS...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyHigh-Fat Diet Changes Fungal Microbiomes and Interkingdom Relationships in the Murine GutRecent research shows that gut microbes are involved in the development of obesity, a growing health problem in developed countries that is linked to increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, studies showing links between microbes and metabolism have been limited to the analysis of bacteria and have ignored the potential contribution of fungi in metabolic health. This study provides evidence that ingestion of a high-fat diet...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Exported Chaperone PfHsp70x Is Dispensable for the Plasmodium falciparum Intraerythrocytic Life CycleHalf of the world’s population lives at risk for malaria. The intraerythrocytic life cycle of Plasmodium spp. is responsible for clinical manifestations of malaria; therefore, knowledge of the parasite’s ability to survive within the erythrocyte is needed to combat the deadliest agent of malaria, P. falciparum. An outstanding question in the field is how...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Gut Microbiota of Healthy Aged Chinese Is Similar to That of the Healthy YoungWe report the large-scale use of compositional data analysis to establish a baseline microbiota composition in an extremely healthy cohort of the Chinese population. This baseline will serve for comparison for future cohorts with chronic or acute disease. In addition to the expected difference in the microbiota of children and adults, we found that the microbiota of the elderly in this population was similar in almost all respects to...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyZebrafish (Danio rerio) as a Vertebrate Model Host To Study Colonization, Pathogenesis, and Transmission of Foodborne Escherichia coli O157Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a foodborne pathogen which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and, in some cases, severe complications such as kidney failure in humans. Up to 30% of cattle are colonized with EHEC, which can enter the food chain through contaminated meat, dairy, and vegetables. In order to control infections and stop transmission, it is...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Gut Commensal Microbiome of Drosophila melanogaster Is Modified by the Endosymbiont WolbachiaWolbachia bacteria are intracellular bacteria present in the microbiome of a large fraction of insects and parasitic nematodes. They can block mosquitos’ ability to transmit several infectious disease-causing pathogens, including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile viruses and malaria parasites. Certain extracellular bacteria present in the gut lumen of these insects can also block pathogen transmission. However, our...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyA Multicenter Study To Evaluate the Performance of High-Throughput Sequencing for Virus DetectionRecent high-throughput sequencing (HTS) investigations have resulted in unexpected discoveries of known and novel viruses in a variety of sample types, including research materials, clinical materials, and biological products. Therefore, HTS can be a powerful tool for supplementing current methods for demonstrating the absence of adventitious or unwanted viruses in biological products, particularly when using a new cell line. However,...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDistribution of O-Acetylated Sialic Acids among Target Host Tissues for Influenza VirusSialic acids (Sias) are key glycans that control or modulate many normal cell and tissue functions while also interacting with a variety of pathogens, including many different viruses. Sias are naturally displayed in a variety of different forms, with modifications at several positions that can alter their functional interactions with pathogens. In addition, Sias are often modified or removed by enzymes such as host or pathogen...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyN-Acetylglucosamine Metabolism Promotes Survival of Candida albicans in the PhagosomeCandida albicans is the most important medically relevant fungal pathogen, with disseminated candidiasis being the fourth most common hospital-associated bloodstream infection. Macrophages and neutrophils are innate immune cells that play a key role in host defense by phagocytosing and destroying C....
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyLactoferricin Peptides Increase Macrophages' Capacity To Kill Mycobacterium aviumThe genus Mycobacterium comprises several pathogenic species, including M. tuberculosis, M. leprae, M. avium, etc. Infections caused by these bacteria are particularly difficult to treat due to their intrinsic...