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Zika virus infection of human brain pericytes triggers maturation of an osteogenic factor, thereby resulting in osteogenic gene expression and calcification.
The architecture and molecular composition of the rhoptry secretion system in Apicomplexa evolved from an Alveolata-specific fusion machinery ancestry.
Metagenomics and electron microscopy are combined to analyse the diversity of episymbiotic CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea in eight groundwater communities.
Single-molecule tracking of the septal peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase FtsW reveals two populations: a fast-moving one that follows treadmilling FtsZ and a slow-moving one that is involved in peptidoglycan synthesis.
Chemical and biological features of the ocean environment that impact on survival of heterotrophic bacteria are identified by invasion experiments with Ruegeria pomeroyi.
A CRISPR interference platform to compare the essentiality of core genes in different genetic backgrounds of Escherichia coli and growth conditions reveals that the essentiality of core genes can substantially vary at the strain level, and can be modulated by HGT and gene loss events.
The co-crystal structure of VSGsur with the trypanocidal compound suramin directly links the binding of the drug to the resistance phenotype displayed by strains of Trypanosoma brucei expressing VSGsur. Therefore, VSGs can have a function beyond that of antigenic variation.
The cryo-electron microscropy structures of the full-length ectodomain of VAR2CSA in both ligand-binding and ligand-free states reveal the sequestration mechanism of placental malaria.
The authors characterize two phages against Acinetobacter baumannii, both in vitro and in vivo. A. baumannii strains develop resistance against both phages, but are in turn resensitized to different antimicrobial compounds.
A comparative proteomics approach identifies substrates of viral antagonists and reveals host factors that act on viral DNA genomes to restrict infection.
The spatial integration of transcription and mRNA splicing in a dedicated sub-nuclear compartment underpins monogenic antigen expression in trypanosomes.
An analysis of gut microbiomes of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer reveals an association between Bifidobacterium bifidum abundance and response to cancer therapy. In murine models of syngeneic tumours, administration of commercial B. bifidum strains synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade to reduce tumour burden, but the therapeutic potential of B. bifidum is affected by strain-level variation.
Here, the authors present the upstream pathway that controls the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome during bacteraemia. The CNF1 toxin from Escherichia coli activates the Rho GTPase Rac2 and its activity is sensed by NLRP3, which is activated by a signalling cascade involving p21-activated kinases 1 and 2.
Using cryo-electron microscopy, the authors describe the structure and function of a molecular motor powering both the Bacteroidetes type 9 protein secretion system and the associated gliding motility apparatus.