Latest Articles
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyPseudomonas Quinolone Signal-Induced Outer Membrane Vesicles Enhance Biofilm Dispersion in Pseudomonas aeruginosaTreatments that manipulate biofilm dispersion hold the potential to convert chronic drug-tolerant biofilm infections from protected sessile communities into released populations that are orders-of-magnitude more susceptible to antimicrobial treatment. However, dispersed cells often exhibit increased acute virulence and dissemination phenotypes.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyElucidation of DNA Repair Function of PfBlm and Potentiation of Artemisinin Action by a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of RecQ HelicaseMalaria continues to be a serious threat to humankind not only because of the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease but also due to the huge economic burden that it imparts. Resistance to all available drugs and the unavailability of an effective vaccine cry for an urgent discovery of newer drug targets.
Editor's Pick Research Article | Synthetic BiologyCombinatorial Biosynthesis of Sulfated Benzenediol Lactones with a Phenolic Sulfotransferase from Fusarium graminearum PH-1Sulfation is an expedient strategy to increase the solubility, bioavailability, and bioactivity of nutraceuticals and clinically important drugs. However, chemical or biological synthesis of sulfoconjugates is challenging.
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyConserved Genomic Terminals of SARS-CoV-2 as Coevolving Functional Elements and Potential Therapeutic TargetsThe CoV disease 2019 (COVID-19) infectious disease outbreak is having a dramatic global effect on public health and the economy. As of October 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in over 189 countries, has infected over 40 million people, and is responsible for more than 1 million deaths.
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceWhole-Genome Sequence Analysis of an Extensively Drug-Resistant Salmonella enterica Serovar Agona Isolate from an Australian Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) Reveals the Acquisition of Multidrug Resistance PlasmidsDefining environmental reservoirs hosting mobile genetic elements that shuttle critically important antibiotic resistance genes is key to understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from a One Health perspective. Gulls frequent public amenities, parklands, and sewage and other waste disposal sites and carry drug-resistant Escherichia coli.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyThe Clostridioides difficile Cysteine-Rich Exosporium Morphogenetic Protein, CdeC, Exhibits Self-Assembly Properties That Lead to Organized Inclusion Bodies in Escherichia coliThe endospore of Clostridioides difficile is the vehicle for transmission and persistence of the pathogen, and, specifically, the exosporium is the first contact between the host and the spore. The underlying mechanisms that govern exosporium assembly in C. difficile remain understudied, in part due...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyUnique Mode of Cell Division by the Mycobacterial Genetic Resister Clones Emerging De Novo from the Antibiotic-Surviving PopulationThe bacterial pathogens that are tolerant to antibiotics and survive in the continued presence of antibiotics have the chance to acquire genetically resistant mutations against the antibiotics and emerge de novo as antibiotic resisters. Once the antibiotic resister clone has emerged, often with compromise on growth characteristics, for the protection of the species, it is important to establish an antibiotic-resistant...
Observation | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyFunctional Characterization of Circulating Mumps Viruses with Stop Codon Mutations in the Small Hydrophobic ProteinMumps virus (MuV) outbreaks occur in the United States despite high coverage with measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Routine genotyping of laboratory-confirmed mumps cases has been practiced in the United States since 2006 to enhance mumps surveillance. This study reports the detection of unusual mutations in the small hydrophobic (SH) protein of contemporary laboratory-confirmed mumps cases and is the first to describe the impact...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyIdentification of Spacer and Protospacer Sequence Requirements in the Vibrio cholerae Type I-E CRISPR/Cas SystemBacterial CRISPR/Cas systems provide immunity by defending against phage and other invading elements. A thorough comprehension of the molecular mechanisms employed by these diverse systems will improve our understanding of bacteriophage-bacterium interactions and bacterial adaptation to foreign DNA. The Vibrio cholerae type I-E system was previously identified in an...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceHomologous Recombination in Clostridioides difficile Mediates Diversification of Cell Surface Features and Transport SystemsInfections with C. difficile result in up to half a million illnesses and tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States. The severity of C. difficile illness is dependent on both host and bacterial factors.