Archive
Perspectives
PerspectiveWhy Are Viruses Spiked?Many viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), have a structure consisting of spikes protruding from an underlying spherical surface. Research in biological and colloidal sciences has revealed secrets of why spikes exist on virus surfaces.
Perspective | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyTuberculosis under the Influence of COVID-19 Lockdowns: Lessons from Tehran, IranThis study investigates the short-term effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown on tracing and detection of tuberculosis (TB) patients in Tehran, Iran. Results of this study have demonstrated that due to the significant decrease in the identification of patients with suspected TB during the COVID-19 outbreak in Tehran, it is imperative that patients with suspected TB be tracked and diagnosed more quickly to...
Minireview
Meeting Highlights | Therapeutics and PreventionThe Fifth International Neonatal and Maternal Immunization Symposium (INMIS 2019): Securing Protection for the Next Generation...Despite significant progress in reaching some milestones of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, neonatal and early infant morbidity and mortality remain high, and maternal health remains suboptimal in many countries. Novel and improved preventative strategies with the potential to benefit pregnant women and their infants are needed, with maternal and neonatal immunization representing effective approaches.
Observations
Observation | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyAn Observational Laboratory-Based Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostics in Benin, Western AfricaMonths after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, case numbers from Africa are surprisingly low, potentially because the number of SARS-CoV-2 tests performed in Africa is lower than in other regions. Here, we show an overload of COVID-19-related diagnostics in the central laboratory of Benin, Western Africa, with a stagnating average number of positive samples irrespective of daily sample counts.
Observation | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Role of the Histone Methyltransferase PfSET10 in Antigenic Variation by Malaria Parasites: a Cautionary TaleThe identification of specific epigenetic regulatory proteins in infectious organisms has become a high-profile research topic and a focus for several drug development initiatives. However, studies that define specific roles for different epigenetic modifiers occasionally report differing results, and we similarly provide evidence regarding the histone methyltransferase PfSET10 that is in stark contrast with previously published results...
Research Articles
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyAbsence of KpsM (Slr0977) Impairs the Secretion of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) and Impacts Carbon Fluxes in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803Most cyanobacteria produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that fulfill different biological roles depending on the strain/environmental conditions. The interest in the cyanobacterial EPS synthesis/export pathways has been increasing, not only to optimize EPS production but also to efficiently redirect carbon flux toward the production of other compounds, allowing the implementation of industrial systems based on cyanobacterial...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceGenomic Background Governs Opposing Responses to Nalidixic Acid upon Megaplasmid Acquisition in PseudomonasNumerous studies have demonstrated that gene transfer events (e.g., plasmid acquisition) can entail a variety of costs that arise as by-products of the incorporation of foreign DNA into established physiological and genetic systems. These costs can be ameliorated through evolutionary time by the occurrence of compensatory mutations, which stabilize the presence of a horizontally transferred region within the genome but which also may...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyTranscription Repressor Protein ZBTB25 Associates with HDAC1-Sin3a Complex in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Macrophages, and Its Inhibition Clears Pathogen by AutophagyFollowing infection with M. tuberculosis, levels of HDAC1 go up in macrophages, and it is recruited to the promoter of IL-12B where it hypoacetylates histone H3, leading to the downregulation of the gene. Here, we show that host transcriptional repressor protein ZBTB25 and transcriptional corepressor Sin3a associate with HDAC1 in the silencing complex.
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Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyLight Capture, Skeletal Morphology, and the Biomass of Corals’ Boring EndolithsMicrobial communities living inside the skeletons of living corals play a variety of important roles within the coral meta-organism, both symbiotic and parasitic. Properly contextualizing the contribution of these enigmatic microbes to the life history of coral reefs requires knowledge of how these endolithic biofilms vary between coral species.
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceExtensive Genetic Diversity and Widespread Azole Resistance in Greenhouse Populations of Aspergillus fumigatus in Yunnan, ChinaThe origin and prevalence of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus have been attracting increasing attention from biologists, clinicians, and public health agencies. Current evidence suggests agricultural fungicide use as a major cause.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyCoexpression of MmpS5 and MmpL5 Contributes to Both Efflux Transporter MmpL5 Trimerization and Drug Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosisIt has been reported that mycobacterial membrane protein large 5 (MmpL5), a resistance-nodulation-division (RND)-type inner membrane transporter in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is involved in the transport of antimycobacterial drugs. However, the functional roles of the membrane fusion protein mycobacterial membrane protein small 5 (MmpS5), organized as...
Research Article | Applied and Environmental SciencePhenoGMM: Gaussian Mixture Modeling of Cytometry Data Quantifies Changes in Microbial Community StructureMicroorganisms are vital components in various ecosystems on Earth. In order to investigate the microbial diversity, researchers have largely relied on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences from DNA.
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyClinical and Molecular Epidemiology of an Emerging Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-Positive ST5 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clone in Northern AustraliaStaphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that causes a wide range of clinical infections. In the past 2 decades, an epidemic of community-associated skin and soft tissue infections has been driven by S. aureus strains with specific virulence factors and resistance to beta-lactam...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyA Secreted NlpC/P60 Endopeptidase from Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida Cleaves the Peptidoglycan of Potentially Competing BacteriaPeptidoglycan (PG) is a major component of the bacterial cell wall formed by long chains of two alternating sugars interconnected by short peptides, generating a mesh-like structure that enwraps the bacterial cell. Although PG provides structural integrity and support for anchoring other components of the cell envelope, it is constantly being remodeled through the action of specific enzymes that cleave or join its components.
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Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGenomic Epidemiology and Evolution of Escherichia coli in Wild Animals in MexicoEscherichia coli is a clinically important bacterial species implicated in human- and livestock-associated infections worldwide. The bacterium is known to reside in the guts of humans, livestock, and wild animals.
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionStaphylococcus aureus Tolerance and Genomic Response to Photodynamic InactivationStaphylococcus aureus can cause disease at most body sites, with illness ranging from asymptomatic infection to death. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains results in treatment failures and high mortality rates. S. aureus acquires resistance to antibiotics through multiple...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyMolecular Evolution of Human Coronavirus 229E in Hong Kong and a Fatal COVID-19 Case Involving Coinfection with a Novel Human Coronavirus 229E GenogroupSince its first appearance in the 1960s, the genetic diversity and evolution of human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) have been relatively understudied. In this study, we report a fatal case of COVID-19 coinfected with HCoV-229E in Hong Kong.
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceAmplicon Sequencing-Based Bipartite Network Analysis Confirms a High Degree of Specialization and Modularity for Fungi and Prokaryotes in DeadwoodDeadwood is important for our forest ecosystems. It feeds and houses many organisms, e.g., fungi and prokaryotes, with many different species contributing to its decomposition and nutrient cycling.
Research ArticleThe Cytospora chrysosperma Virulence Effector CcCAP1 Mainly Localizes to the Plant Nucleus To Suppress Plant Immune ResponsesThe data presented in this study provide a key resource for understanding the biology and molecular basis of necrotrophic pathogen responses to Nicotiana benthamiana resistance utilizing effector proteins, and CcCAP1 may be used in future studies to understand effector-triggered susceptibility processes in the Cytospora chrysosperma-poplar interaction system...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionPharmacokinetics and Efficacy of a Potential Smallpox Therapeutic, Brincidofovir, in a Lethal Monkeypox Virus Animal ModelPreparedness activities against highly transmissible viruses with high mortality rates have been highlighted during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Smallpox, caused by variola virus (VARV) infection, is highly transmissible, with an estimated 30% mortality.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAcquisition of Host Cytosolic Protein by Toxoplasma gondii BradyzoitesChronic infection of humans with Toxoplasma gondii is common, but little is known about how this intracellular parasite obtains the resources that it needs to persist indefinitely inside neurons and muscle cells. Here, we provide evidence that the chronic-stage form of T. gondii can internalize...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyRandomized Controlled Trial of Oral Vancomycin Treatment in Clostridioides difficile-Colonized PatientsA gold standard diagnostic for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) does not exist. An area of controversy is how to manage patients whose stool tests positive by nucleic acid amplification tests but negative by toxin enzyme immunoassay.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologySingle-Molecule Dynamics at a Bacterial Replication Fork after Nutritional Downshift or Chemically Induced Block in ReplicationAll cells need to adjust DNA replication, which is achieved by a well-orchestrated multiprotein complex, in response to changes in physiological and environmental conditions. For replication forks, it is extremely challenging to meet with conditions where amino acids are rapidly depleted from cells, called the stringent response, to deal with the inhibition of one of the centrally involved proteins or with DNA modifications that arrest...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyNovel Immune Modulators Enhance Caenorhabditis elegans Resistance to Multiple PathogensTrends moving in opposite directions (increasing antimicrobial resistance and declining novel antimicrobial development) have precipitated a looming crisis: a nearly complete inability to safely and effectively treat bacterial infections. To avert this, new approaches are needed.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIdentification and Characterization of Novel Antibody Epitopes on the N2 NeuraminidaseThe influenza virus neuraminidase is an emerging target for universal influenza virus vaccines. However, in contrast to influenza virus hemagglutinin, we know little about antibody epitopes and antigenic sites on the neuraminidase. Characterizing and defining these sites is aiding vaccine development and helping to understand antigenic drift of NA.
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionComprehensive Bioinformatic Assessments of the Variability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Vaccine CandidatesNeisseria gonorrhoeae, the Gram-negative bacterium responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea, is categorized as a high-priority pathogen for research and development efforts. N. gonorrhoeae’s “superbug” status, its high morbidity, and the serious health impact associated with...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceDecreased Ecological Resistance of the Gut Microbiota in Response to Clindamycin Challenge in Mice Colonized with the Fungus Candida albicansCandida albicans is the most common fungal member of the human gut microbiota, yet its ability to interact with and affect the bacterial gut microbiota is largely uncharacterized. Previous reports showed limited changes in microbiota composition as defined by bacterial species abundance as a consequence of...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyHuman Cytomegalovirus UL7, miR-US5-1, and miR-UL112-3p Inactivation of FOXO3a Protects CD34+ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells from ApoptosisHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) causes serious disease in immunocompromised individuals and is a significant problem during transplantation. The virus can establish a latent infection in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and periodically reactivate to cause disease in the absence of an intact immune system.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyEffects of Seasonal Anoxia on the Microbial Community Structure in Demosponges in a Marine Lake in Lough Hyne, IrelandThe oceans have an uncertain future due to anthropogenic stressors and an uncertain past that is becoming clearer with advances in biogeochemistry. Both past and future oceans were, or will be, deoxygenated in comparison to present conditions.
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionDichloroacetate and Pyruvate Metabolism: Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinases as Targets Worth Investigating for Effective Therapy of ToxoplasmosisCurrently, the drugs used for toxoplasmosis have severe toxicity to human cells, and the treatment still lacks effective and safer alternatives. The search for novel drug targets is timely.
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyOuter Membrane Structural Defects in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Affect Neutrophil Chemokinesis but Not ChemotaxisNeutrophils are the first responders to invading pathogens; thus, understanding their migratory response to live pathogens is crucial. We developed a microfluidic assay that separates bacteria from phagocytic neutrophils while maintaining chemical communication between the two populations.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIdentification of Nasal Gammaproteobacteria with Potent Activity against Staphylococcus aureus: Novel Insights into the “Noncarrier” StateNasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a risk factor for infection, but it is not yet understood why some individuals carry nasal S. aureus persistently, intermittently, or seemingly not at all when tested via culture methods. This study compared the nasal microbiomes of established...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDisentangling the Relative Roles of Vertical Transmission, Subsequent Colonizations, and Diet on Cockroach Microbiome AssemblyWhen host fitness is dependent on gut microbiota, microbial community flexibility and reproducibility enhance host fitness by allowing fine-tuned environmental tracking and sufficient stability for host traits to evolve. Our findings lend support to the importance of vertically transmitted early-life microbiota as stabilizers through interactions with potential colonizers that may contribute to ensuring that the microbiota aligns within...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyCeftolozane/Tazobactam Resistance and Mechanisms in Carbapenem-Nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosaPseudomonas aeruginosa infection is one of the most difficult health care-associated infections to treat due to the ability of the organism to acquire a multitude of resistance mechanisms and express the multidrug resistance phenotype. Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T), a novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination, addresses an unmet medical need in...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyNext-Generation Sequencing Analysis of the Within-Host Genetic Diversity of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses in the Upper and Lower Respiratory Tracts of Patients with Severe InfluenzaThe D222G/N substitution in the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus has been reported to be associated with disease severity and mortality in numerous previous studies. In the present study, 75% of lower respiratory samples contained heterogeneous influenza populations that carried different amino acids at position 222 of the HA protein, whereas all upper respiratory samples only contained the wild-type 222D....
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologySmall RNAs Are Implicated in Regulation of Gene and Transposable Element Expression in the Protist Trichomonas vaginalisTrichomoniasis, caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection in humans. The millions of cases each year have sequelae that may include complications during pregnancy and increased risk of HIV infection.
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyMonitoring COVID-19 Transmission Risks by Quantitative Real-Time PCR Tracing of Droplets in Hospital and Living EnvironmentsSeveral studies evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the environment. Saliva and nasopharyngeal droplets can land on objects and surfaces, creating fomites.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyTranscription Profiles Associated with Inducible Adhesion in Candida parapsilosisInvasive Candida infections are frequent complications of the immunocompromised and are associated with substantive morbidity and mortality. Although C. albicans is the best-studied species, emerging infections by non-albicans Candida species have led to increased efforts to understand aspects of their pathogenesis that are unique from...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyComplete Genome Sequencing of Acinetobacter baumannii AC1633 and Acinetobacter nosocomialis AC1530 Unveils a Large Multidrug-Resistant Plasmid Encoding the NDM-1 and OXA-58 CarbapenemasesBacteria of the genus Acinetobacter are important hospital-acquired pathogens, with carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii listed by the World Health Organization as the one of the top priority pathogens. Whole-genome sequencing of carbapenem-resistant...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyConvergent Evolution of a Promiscuous 3-Hydroxypropionyl-CoA Dehydratase/Crotonyl-CoA Hydratase in Crenarchaeota and ThaumarchaeotaInorganic carbon fixation is the most important biosynthetic process on Earth and the oldest type of metabolism. The autotrophic HP/HB cycle functions in Crenarchaea of the order Sulfolobales and in ammonia-oxidizing Archaea of the phylum Thaumarchaeota that are highly abundant in marine, terrestrial, and geothermal environments.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyStructure-Guided Design of a Synthetic Mimic of an Endothelial Protein C Receptor-Binding PfEMP1 ProteinVaccines train our immune systems to generate antibodies which recognize pathogens. Some of these antibodies are highly protective, preventing infection, while others are ineffective.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyAPEX2 Proximity Proteomics Resolves Flagellum Subdomains and Identifies Flagellum Tip-Specific Proteins in Trypanosoma bruceiSleeping sickness is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The disease disrupts the sleep-wake cycle, leading to coma and death if left untreated. T. brucei motility, transmission, and virulence depend on its flagellum (cilium), which consists of several...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyCoexistence of Communicating and Noncommunicating Cells in the Filamentous Cyanobacterium AnabaenaMulticellularity is found in bacteria as well as in eukaryotes, and the filamentous heterocyst-forming (N2-fixing) cyanobacteria represent a simple and ancient paradigm of multicellular organisms. Multicellularity generally involves cell-cell adhesion and communication.
Research ArticleStreptococcus pneumoniae, S. mitis, and S. oralis Produce a Phosphatidylglycerol-Dependent, ltaS-Independent Glycerophosphate-Linked GlycolipidThe cell wall is a critical structural component of bacterial cells that confers important physiological functions. For pathogens, it is a site of host-pathogen interactions.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAn Expanded Gene Catalog of Mouse Gut MetagenomesWe established an expanded gene catalog of the mouse gut metagenome not only to increase the sample size compared to that in existing catalogs but also to provide a more comprehensive reference data set of the mouse gut microbiome for bioinformatic analysis. The expanded gene catalog comprises more than 5.8 million unique genes, as well as a wide range of taxonomic and functional information.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyPhosphorylation of the Canonical Histone H2A Marks Foci of Damaged DNA in Malaria ParasitesPlasmodium falciparum is the deadliest human parasite that causes malaria when it reaches the bloodstream and begins proliferating inside red blood cells, where the parasites are particularly prone to DNA damage. The molecular mechanisms that allow these pathogens to maintain their genome integrity under such conditions are also the driving force for acquiring genome...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyNew Insights and Enhanced Human Norovirus Cultivation in Human Intestinal EnteroidsHuman noroviruses (HuNoVs) are highly contagious and cause acute and sporadic diarrheal illness in all age groups. In addition, chronic infections occur in immunocompromised cancer and transplant patients.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAssociation of Zinc Finger Antiviral Protein Binding to Viral Genomic RNA with Attenuation of Replication of Echovirus 7We recently discovered that the OAS3/RNase L antiviral pathway is essential for restriction of CpG- and UpA-enriched viruses, in addition to the requirement for zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP). The current study provides evidence for the specific dinucleotide and wider recognition contexts associated with virus recognition and attenuation.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAnalysis of Apoptosis-Related Genes Reveals that Apoptosis Functions in Conidiation and Pathogenesis of Fusarium pseudograminearumThe plant-pathogenic fungus F. pseudograminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium crown rot (FCR) in wheat and barley, resulting in substantial yield losses worldwide. Particularly, in the Huanghuai wheat-growing region of China, F. pseudograminearum was reported as the dominant Fusarium species in FCR infections.
Research ArticleAntibody Response against SARS-CoV-2 and Seasonal Coronaviruses in Nonhospitalized COVID-19 PatientsThere is strong interest in the nature of the neutralizing antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 in infected individuals. For vaccine development, it is especially important which antibodies confer protection against SARS-CoV-2, if there is a phenomenon called antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection, and if there is cross-protection by antibodies directed against seasonal coronaviruses.
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyStaphylococcal Enterotoxin C Subtypes Are Differentially Associated with Human Infections and Immunobiological ActivitiesStaphylococcal enterotoxin C has four subtypes that cause human diseases, designated SEC-1 to -4. This study shows that SEC-2 and SEC-3 are the most toxic subtypes in a rabbit model and are associated with human vaginal infections or colonization in association with another superantigen, toxic shock syndrome toxin 1.
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyOXA-181-Like Carbapenemases in Klebsiella pneumoniae ST14, ST15, ST23, ST48, and ST231 from Septicemic Neonates: Coexistence with NDM-5, Resistome, Transmissibility, and Genome DiversityNeonatal sepsis is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Treatment of sepsis in this vulnerable population is dependent on antimicrobials, and resistance to these life-saving antimicrobials is worrisome.
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceEscherichia coli Genomic Diversity within Extraintestinal Acute Infections Argues for Adaptive Evolution at PlayLittle is known about the dynamics of adaptation in acute bacterial infections. By sequencing multiple isolates from monoclonal extraintestinal Escherichia coli infections in several patients, we were able to uncover traces of selection taking place at short time scales compared to chronic infection.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologySpecific Norovirus Interaction with Lewis x and Lewis a on Human Intestinal Inflammatory Mucosa during Refractory Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseInflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are progressive diseases affecting millions of people each year. Flare-ups during IBD result in severe mucosal alterations of the small intestine (in CD) and in the colon and rectum (in CD and UC).
Research ArticlePrimer, Pipelines, Parameters: Issues in 16S rRNA Gene SequencingIn 16S rRNA gene sequencing, certain bacterial genera were found to be underrepresented or even missing in taxonomic profiles when using unsuitable primer combinations, outdated reference databases, or inadequate pipeline settings. Concerning the last, quality thresholds as well as bioinformatic settings (i.e., clustering approach, analysis pipeline, and specific adjustments such as truncation) are responsible for a number of observed...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyChromatin-Associated Protein Complexes Link DNA Base J and Transcription Termination in LeishmaniaLeishmania parasites cause a variety of serious human diseases, with no effective vaccine and emerging resistance to current drug therapy. We have previously shown that a novel DNA base called J is critical for transcription termination at the ends of the polycistronic gene clusters that are a hallmark of Leishmania and related trypanosomatids.
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologySeroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Children and Adults in St. Louis, Missouri, USAThis study determined the percentages of both children and adult samples from the greater St. Louis metropolitan area who had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in late April to early May 2020.
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyA Novel N4-Like Bacteriophage Isolated from a Wastewater Source in South India with Activity against Several Multidrug-Resistant Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa IsolatesIn India, multidrug resistance determinants are much more abundant in community-associated bacterial pathogens due to the improper treatment of domestic and industrial effluents. In particular, a high bacterial load of the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa in sewage and water bodies in India is well documented.
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionPhenotypic and Genotypic Adaptations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms following Long-Term Exposure to an Alginate Oligomer TherapyThe emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens within biofilms in the cystic fibrosis lung results in increased morbidity. An inhalation therapy derived from alginate, OligoG CF-5/20, is currently in clinical trials for cystic fibrosis patients.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyInvestigation of Heterochromatin Protein 1 Function in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum Using a Conditional Domain Deletion and Swapping ApproachMalaria is caused by unicellular Plasmodium species parasites that repeatedly invade and replicate inside red blood cells. Some blood-stage parasites exit the cell cycle and differentiate into gametocytes that are essential for malaria transmission via the mosquito vector.
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionShielding Effect of Escherichia coli O-Antigen Polysaccharide on J5-Induced Cross-Reactive AntibodiesDespite intensive research, mastitis remains an important disease in dairy cattle with a significant impact on animal welfare, use of antibiotics, and, in the end, the economy of dairy farms. Although vaccines available so far have shown limited efficacy against coliform mastitis, vaccination is considered one of the measures that could limit the consequences of mastitis.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyGlucose-6-Phosphate Acts as an Extracellular Signal of SagS To Modulate Pseudomonas aeruginosa c-di-GMP Levels, Attachment, and Biofilm FormationPathogens sense and respond to signals and cues present in their environment, including host-derived small molecules to modulate the expression of their virulence repertoire. Here, we demonstrate that the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa responds to glucose-6-phosphate.
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceSoil Health Management Enhances Microbial Nitrogen Cycling Capacity and ActivityConservation agriculture practices that promote soil health have distinct and lasting effects on microbial populations involved with soil nitrogen (N) cycling. In particular, using a leguminous winter cover crop (hairy vetch) promoted the expression of key functional genes involved in soil N cycling, equaling or exceeding the effects of inorganic N fertilizer.
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyDeORFanizing Candida albicans Genes using CoexpressionCandida albicans is a common and deadly fungal pathogen of humans, yet the genome of this organism contains many genes of unknown function. By determining gene function, we can help identify essential genes, new virulence factors, or new regulators of drug resistance, and thereby give new targets for antifungal development.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAspergillus fumigatus Strain-Specific Conidia Lung Persistence Causes an Allergic Broncho-Pulmonary Aspergillosis-Like Disease PhenotypeAllergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) patients often present with long-term colonization of Aspergillus fumigatus. Current understanding of ABPA pathogenesis has been complicated by a lack of long-term in vivo fungal persistence models.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Majority of Typhoid Toxin-Positive Salmonella Serovars Encode ArtB, an Alternate Binding SubunitWhile previous reports had suggested that the typhoid toxin (TT) could potentially use ArtB as an alternate binding subunit, this was thought to play a minor role in the evolution and biology of the toxin. In this study, we establish that both TT genes and artB are widespread among Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, suggesting that TT likely plays...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyGenomic Diversity of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Ceara, BrazilB. pseudomallei causes significant morbidity and mortality, but its geographic prevalence and genetic diversity are not well characterized, especially in the Western Hemisphere. A better understanding of the genetic relationships among clinical and environmental isolates will improve knowledge of the population structure of this bacterium as well as the ability to...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyPredominance of Atopobium vaginae at Midtrimester: a Potential Indicator of Preterm Birth Risk in a Nigerian CohortGiving birth too soon accounts for half of all newborn deaths worldwide. Clinical symptoms alone are not sufficient to identify women at risk of giving birth too early, as such a pragmatic approach to reducing the incidence of preterm birth entails developing early strategies for intervention before it materializes.
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceGenes Influencing Phage Host Range in Staphylococcus aureus on a Species-Wide ScaleStaphylococcus aureus is a widespread, hospital- and community-acquired pathogen, many strains of which are antibiotic resistant. It causes diverse diseases, ranging from local to systemic infection, and affects both the skin and many internal organs, including the heart, lungs, bones, and brain.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyGlucan Unmasking Identifies Regulators of Temperature-Induced Translatome Reprogramming in C. neoformansCryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes devastating morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. It possesses several virulence factors that aid in its evasion from the host immune system, including a large polysaccharide capsule that cloaks the antigenic cell wall.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyEngineering a Cysteine-Deficient Functional Candida albicans Cdr1 Molecule Reveals a Conserved Region at the Cytosolic Apex of ABCG Transporters Important for Correct Folding and Trafficking of Cdr1Overexpression of the fungal pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) transporter Cdr1 is a major cause of antifungal drug resistance in Candida albicans, a significant fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals. To date, no structure for any PDR ABC transporter has been solved.
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceTargeted Conservative Cointegrate Formation Mediated by IS26 Family Members Requires Sequence Identity at the Reacting EndThe IS26 family includes the ISs that are commonly found associated with antibiotic resistance genes in multiply resistant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. IS26 is most prevalent in Gram-negative species and can generate the clusters of antibiotic resistance genes interspersed with directly oriented IS26 seen in multiply resistant pathogens.
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyInterplay of Antibody and Cytokine Production Reveals CXCL13 as a Potential Novel Biomarker of Lethal SARS-CoV-2 InfectionThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is continuing to impact the global population, and knowledge of the immune response to COVID-19 is still developing. This study assesses the interplay of different parts of the immune system during COVID-19 disease.
Research Article | Applied and Environmental ScienceGenetic Modification of Sodalis Species by DNA TransductionA large number of economically important insects maintain intimate associations with maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria. Due to the inherent nature of these associations, insect endosymbionts cannot be usually isolated in pure culture or genetically manipulated.
Commentaries
Pascale Guiton works in the field of parasitology at a primarily undergraduate institution. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on her difficulties as a faculty of color to discuss socioscientific issues in her classrooms. T.
Melinda A. Brindley works in the field of virology with specific interests in understanding how viruses enter cells. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the paper “Vaccinia virus uses macropinocytosis and apoptotic mimicry to enter host cells” by J. Mercer and A. Helenius (Science 320:531–535, 2008, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1155164) made an impact on her...
Ching-Hsuan Lin works in the field of Candida biology. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how the papers “Use of ichip for high-throughput in situ cultivation of uncultivable microbial species” by D.
Bryan D. Bryson works in the field of biological engineering with a specific interest in host-mycobacterium interactions.
Patients with toxin-negative Clostridioides difficile-positive diarrhea are often treated with oral vancomycin with the assumption that treatment is more beneficial than harmful. However, this hypothesis has never been formally tested, and recent studies suggest that most such patients recover quickly without treatment and can be colonized rather than infected.
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