Latest Articles
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyCirculation of a Quorum-Sensing-Impaired Variant of Vibrio cholerae Strain C6706 Masks Important PhenotypesPhenotypic diversity between laboratory-domesticated bacterial strains is a common problem and often results in the failed reproduction of published data. However, researchers rarely compare such strains to elucidate the underlying mutation(s). In this study, we tested one of the best-studied V. cholerae isolates, O1 El Tor strain C6706 (a patient isolate from Peru),...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondrion Tether ERMES Orchestrates Fungal Immune Evasion, Illuminating Inflammasome Responses to Hyphal SignalsThe yeast Candida albicans causes human infections that have mortality rates approaching 50%. The key to developing improved therapeutics is to understand the host-pathogen interface. A critical interaction is that with macrophages: intracellular Candida triggers the NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome for escape through lytic host cell death, but this also...
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologyLessons Learned from Probing for Impacts of Triclosan and Triclocarban on Human Microbiomes
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionEngineering Recombinant Reoviruses To Display gp41 Membrane-Proximal External-Region Epitopes from HIV-1Vaccines to protect against HIV-1, the causative agent of AIDS, are not approved for use. Antibodies that neutralize genetically diverse strains of HIV-1 bind to discrete regions of the envelope glycoproteins, including the gp41 MPER. We engineered recombinant reoviruses that displayed MPER epitopes in attachment protein σ1 (REO-MPER vectors). The REO-MPER vectors replicated with wild-type efficiency, were genetically stable, and...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyCrossover Control Study of the Effect of Personal Care Products Containing Triclosan on the MicrobiomeTriclosan and triclocarban are commonly used commercial microbicides found in toothpastes and soaps. It is unknown what effects these chemicals have on the human microbiome or on endocrine function. From this randomized crossover study, it appears that routine personal care use of triclosan and triclocarban neither exerts a major influence on microbial communities in the gut and mouth nor alters markers of endocrine function in humans...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyRole of VicRKX and GlnR in pH-Dependent Regulation of the Streptococcus salivarius 57.I Urease OperonDental plaque rich in alkali-producing bacteria is less cariogenic, and thus, urease-producing Streptococcus salivarius has been considered as a therapeutic agent for dental caries control. Being one of the few ureolytic microbes in the oral cavity, S. salivarius strain 57.I promotes its competitiveness by mass-producing urease only at acidic growth pH. Here...
Minireview | Host-Microbe BiologyMetabolic and Community Synergy of Oral Bacteria in Colorectal Cancer
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionThe Response Regulator BfmR Is a Potential Drug Target for Acinetobacter baumanniiIncreasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria, particularly Gram-negative bacilli, has significantly affected the ability of physicians to treat infections, with resultant increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. In fact, some strains of bacteria are resistant to all available antibiotics, such as Acinetobacter baumannii, which is the focus of this report...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyMutations in Encephalomyocarditis Virus 3A Protein Uncouple the Dependency of Genome Replication on Host Factors Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase IIIα and Oxysterol-Binding ProteinPositive-strand RNA viruses modulate lipid homeostasis to generate unique, membranous “replication organelles” (ROs) where viral genome replication takes place. Hepatitis C virus, encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), and enteroviruses have convergently evolved to hijack host phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (PI4Ks), which produce PI4P lipids, to recruit oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP), a PI4P-binding protein that shuttles cholesterol to...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIdentification and Characterization of Putative Translocated Effector Proteins of the Edwardsiella ictaluri Type III Secretion SystemThe bacterial pathogen Edwardsiella ictaluri causes enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), an economically significant disease of farm-raised channel catfish. Commercial catfish production accounts for the majority of the total fin fish aquaculture in the United States, with almost 300,000 tons produced annually, and ESC is the leading cause of disease loss in the...