Latest Articles
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyTetrasodium EDTA Is Effective at Eradicating Biofilms Formed by Clinically Relevant Microorganisms from Patients’ Central Venous CathetersThe colonization of catheters by microorganisms often precludes their long-term use, which can be a problem for human patients that have few body sites available for new catheters. The colonizing organisms often form biofilms, and increasingly these organisms are resistant to multiple antibiotics, making them difficult to treat. In this article, we have taken microorganisms that are associated with biofilm formation in catheters from...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyRegulation of Epstein-Barr Virus Life Cycle and Cell Proliferation by Histone H3K27 Methyltransferase EZH2 in Akata CellsThe life cycle of EBV is regulated by epigenetic modifications, such as CpG methylation and histone modifications. Here, we found that the expression of EZH2, which encodes a histone H3K27 methyltransferase, was induced by EBV infection; therefore, we generated EZH2-KO cells to investigate the role of EZH2 in EBV-infected Akata B cells. Disruption of EZH2 resulted in increased expression of EBV genes during the lytic phase and,...
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionImproving Our Understanding of Salmonella enterica Serovar Paratyphi B through the Engineering and Testing of a Live Attenuated Vaccine StrainWe developed a live attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi B vaccine that conferred protection in mice against challenge with S. Paratyphi B sensu stricto and S. Paratyphi B Java, which are the causes of enteric fever and gastroenteritis, respectively. Currently, the incidence of invasive S. Paratyphi B sensu stricto...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyLabel-Free Digital Holo-tomographic Microscopy Reveals Virus-Induced Cytopathic Effects in Live CellsThis study introduces label-free digital holo-tomographic microscopy (DHTM) and refractive index gradient (RIG) measurements of live, virus-infected cells. We use DHTM to describe virus type-specific cytopathic effects, including cyclic volume changes of vaccinia virus infections, and cytoplasmic condensations in herpesvirus and rhinovirus infections, distinct from apoptotic cells. This work shows for the first time that DHTM is...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionGlycerol Monolaurate (GML) and a Nonaqueous Five-Percent GML Gel Kill Bacillus and Clostridium SporesBacillus and Clostridium spores are known to be highly resistant to killing, persisting on environmental and human body surfaces for long periods of time. In favorable environments, these spores may germinate and cause human diseases. It is thus important to identify agents that can be used on both environmental and human skin and mucosal surfaces and that are effective in killing spores. We previously showed that the...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyImpact of Amoxicillin-Clavulanate followed by Autologous Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Fecal Microbiome Structure and Metabolic PotentialThe spread of multidrug resistance among pathogenic organisms threatens the efficacy of antimicrobial treatment options. The human gut serves as a reservoir for many drug-resistant organisms and their resistance genes, and perturbation of the gut microbiome by antimicrobial exposure can open metabolic niches to resistant pathogens. Once established in the gut, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria can persist even after antimicrobial...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyGenetic Analysis of NDT80 Family Transcription Factors in Candida albicans Using New CRISPR-Cas9 ApproachesTranscription factors play key roles in regulating virulence of the human fungal pathogen C. albicans. In addition to regulating the expression of virulence factors, they also control the ability of C. albicans to switch to filamentous hyphal growth, which facilitates biofilm formation on medical...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Protective Role of Bacteroides fragilis in a Murine Model of Colitis-Associated Colorectal CancerThe incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is rapidly growing worldwide, and there is therefore a greater emphasis on studies of the treatment or prevention of CRC pathogenesis. Recent studies suggested that consideration of the microbiota is unavoidable to understand inflammation and tumorigenesis in the gastrointestinal tract. We demonstrate, using a mouse model of colitis-associated CRC, that human commensal...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyNucleolar Relocalization of RBM14 by Influenza A Virus NS1 ProteinInfluenza A virus (IAV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) present major global disease burdens. There are high economic costs associated with morbidity as well as significant mortality rates, especially in developing countries, in children, and in the elderly. There are currently limited therapeutic options for these viruses, which underscores the need for novel research into virus biology that may lead to the discovery of new...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyEchinocandin-Induced Microevolution of Candida parapsilosis Influences Virulence and Abiotic Stress ToleranceCandida parapsilosis is an opportunistic fungal pathogen with the ability to cause infections in immunocompromised patients. Echinocandins are the currently recommended first line of treatment for all Candida species. Resistance of Candida albicans to this drug type is well characterized....