Latest Articles
Research ArticleDevelopment and Characterization of a Highly Sensitive NanoLuciferase-Based Immunoprecipitation System for the Detection of Anti-Influenza Virus HA AntibodiesInfluenza virus HA-specific antibodies can be detected via the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, the neutralization (NT) assay, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, these assays have some drawbacks, including narrow dynamic range and the requirement for large amounts of sera.
CommentarymSphere of Influence: Surface Sensing in Biofilm FormationKara B. De Leόn works in the field of microbial ecology, environmental biofilms, and microbial genetics.
Research ArticleCovariation of the Fecal Microbiome with Diet in Nonpasserine BirdsOur study identified food source, rather than host phylogeny, as the main factor modulating the gut microbiome diversity of nonpasserine birds, after minimizing the effects of other complex interfering factors such as weather, season, and geography. Adaptive evolution of microbes to food types formed a dietary-microbiome-host interaction reciprocal state.
Research ArticleLsr2 and Its Novel Paralogue Mediate the Adjustment of Mycobacterium smegmatis to Unfavorable Environmental ConditionsNucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) are the most abundant proteins involved in bacterial chromosome organization and global transcription regulation. The mycobacterial NAP family includes many diverse proteins; some are unique to actinobacteria, and many are crucial for survival under stress (e.g., HupB and Lsr2) and/or optimal growth conditions (e.g., mycobacterial integration host factor [mIHF]).
Research ArticleScorpion Venom Antimicrobial Peptides Induce Siderophore Biosynthesis and Oxidative Stress Responses in Escherichia coliThe development of life-threatening resistance of pathogenic bacteria to the antibiotics typically in use in hospitals and the community today has led to an urgent need to discover novel antimicrobial agents with different mechanisms of action. As an ancient host defense mechanism of the innate immune system, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are attractive candidates to fill that role.
Research ArticleHuman Respiratory Syncytial Virus Subgroup A and B Infections in Nasal, Bronchial, Small-Airway, and Organoid-Derived Respiratory CulturesHuman respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is the major cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young infants and causes almost 200,000 deaths per year. Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment available, only a prophylactic monoclonal antibody (palivizumab).
Research ArticleMicrobiome Analysis Reveals Diversity and Function of Mollicutes Associated with the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginicaDespite their biological and ecological significance, a mechanistic characterization of microbiome function is frequently missing from many nonmodel marine invertebrates. As an initial step toward filling this gap for the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, this study provides an integrated taxonomic and functional analysis of the oyster microbiome using samples from a coastal salt pond in August 2017.
Research ArticleStaphylococcus epidermidis Phages Transduce Antimicrobial Resistance Plasmids and Mobilize Chromosomal IslandsMultidrug-resistant strains of S. epidermidis emerge in both nosocomial and livestock environments as the most important pathogens among coagulase-negative staphylococcal species. The study of transduction by phages is essential to understanding how virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes spread in originally commensal bacterial populations.
Opinion/HypothesisAntibody (Serology) Tests for COVID-19: a Case StudySerology (antibody) tests to detect previous SARS-CoV-2 infection have been in high demand from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial shortage of diagnostic tests coupled with asymptomatic infections led to a significant demand for serology tests to identify past infections.
Research ArticleA Cytopathic Effect-Based Tissue Culture Method for HCoV-OC43 Titration Using TMPRSS2-Expressing VeroE6 CellsHCoV-OC43 rarely shows a cytopathic effect (CPE) in infected cell lines, and thus the plaque and TCID50 assays by CPE observation are not applicable for titration; the indirect immunoperoxidase assay (IPA) is used instead. However, the IPA is relatively complex, time-consuming, costly, and not suitable for simultaneous titration of many samples.