Latest Articles
Observation | Applied and Environmental ScienceAsymptomatic COVID-19 Patients Can Contaminate Their Surroundings: an Environment Sampling StudyAlthough it has been well recognized that the virus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can be acquired by exposure to fomites, surprisingly, the contamination of patients’ surroundings by SARS-CoV-2 is largely unknown, as there have been few studies. We performed an environmental sampling study for 13 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients and found extensive contamination of patients’ surroundings. In particular, we found...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceRampant C→U Hypermutation in the Genomes of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses: Causes and Consequences for Their Short- and Long-Term Evolutionary TrajectoriesThe wealth of accurately curated sequence data for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), its long genome, and its low substitution rate provides a relatively blank canvas with which to investigate effects of mutational and editing processes imposed by the host cell. The finding that a large proportion of sequence change in SARS-CoV-2 in the initial months of the pandemic comprised C→U mutations in a host APOBEC-...
Observation | Host-Microbe BiologyToxoplasma Uses GRA16 To Upregulate Host c-MycThe proto-oncogene c-Myc plays a crucial role in the growth and division of many animal cells. Previous studies have identified an active upregulation of c-Myc by Toxoplasma tachyzoites, suggesting the existence of one or more exported “effector” proteins. The identity of such an effector, however, has not previously been known. Here, we show that a previously known secreted protein, GRA16, plays a crucial role in c-...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyDihydrofolate Reductase Is a Valid Target for Antifungal Development in the Human Pathogen Candida albicansThe folate biosynthetic pathway is a promising and understudied source for novel antifungals. Even dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a well-characterized and historically important drug target, has not been conclusively validated as an antifungal target. Here, we demonstrate that repression of DHFR inhibits growth of Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen....
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyCandida auris Phenotypic Heterogeneity Determines Pathogenicity In VitroCandida auris has recently emerged as an important cause of concern within health care environments due to its ability to persist and tolerate commonly used antiseptics and disinfectants, particularly when attached to a surface (biofilms). This yeast is able to colonize and subsequently infect patients, particularly those that are critically ill or immunosuppressed,...
Opinion/Hypothesis | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyCOVID-19 Hyperinflammation: What about Neutrophils?COVID-19 is often related to hyperinflammation that drives lung or multiorgan injury. The immunopathological mechanisms that cause excessive inflammation are under investigation and constantly updated. Here, a gene network approach was used on recently published data sets to identify possible COVID-19 inflammatory mechanisms and bioactive genes. First, network analysis of putative SARS-CoV-2 cellular receptors led to the mining of a...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyHERQ-9 Is a New Multiplex PCR for Differentiation and Quantification of All Nine Human HerpesvirusesBy adulthood, almost all humans become infected by at least one herpesvirus (HHV). The maladies inflicted by these microbes extend beyond the initial infection, as they remain inside our cells for life and can reactivate, causing severe diseases. The diagnosis of active infection by these ubiquitous pathogens includes the detection of DNA with sensitive and specific assays. We developed the first quantitative PCR assay (HERQ-9) designed...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyCharacterization of a Type II-A CRISPR-Cas System in Streptococcus mutansCRISPR-Cas is one of the mechanisms used by bacteria to defend against viral predation. Increasing our knowledge of the biology and diversity of CRISPR-Cas systems will also improve our understanding of virus-bacterium interactions. As CRISPR-Cas systems acquiring novel immunities under laboratory conditions are rare, Streptococcus mutans strain P42S provides an...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionSecretion of Recombinant Interleukin-22 by Engineered Lactobacillus reuteri Reduces Fatty Liver Disease in a Mouse Model of Diet-Induced ObesityIn humans, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent liver disease due to the increased prevalence of obesity. While treatment of NAFLD is often geared toward lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, the use of dietary supplements such as probiotics is underinvestigated. Here, we report that probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri reduces fatty liver...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyRevealing Differentially Expressed Genes and Identifying Effector Proteins of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in Response to High-Temperature Seedling Plant Resistance of Wheat Based on Transcriptome SequencingIn the present study, we performed transcriptomic analysis to identify differentially expressed genes and effector proteins of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) in response to the high-temperature seedling-plant (HTSP) resistance in wheat. Experimental validation confirmed the function of the highest upregulated effector protein, PstCEP1....