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Surface layers (S-layers) are proteinaceous, two-dimensional paracrystalline arrays that constitute a major component of the cell envelope in many prokaryotic species. Here, Herdman et al. investigate S-layer biogenesis in the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, providing insights into its coordination with the synthesis of other cell envelope components.
The bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a predator of other bacteria, invading the prey’s periplasm and forming a rounded killed cell where it replicates. Here, Tyson et al. identify a B. bacteriovorus protein that is important for successful invasion of prey, and show that prey killing can occur without invasion.
A Klebsiella pneumoniae peptide enters Streptococcus pneumoniae via its AmiA-AliA/AliB permease reducing pneumococcal growth, adherence to primary human airway epithelial cells, colonization of rat nasopharynx and genetic transformation.
Bacteriophage can be used to target bacterial infection and used as a therapeutic approach for antibiotic resistant bacteria. Here the authors show that the use of bacteriophage to target antibiotic resistant bacteria in a mouse model of infection can induce phage specific immune responses and may impair their therapeutic efficacy.
The nomenclature of prokaryotes is regulated by the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. In view of inconsistencies in the use of names of many prokaryotic taxa and confusion caused by recent nomenclature changes, this essay presents an overview of how to use correct names of taxa. It includes information on validly published names of prokaryotic phyla, the way to deal with names of species that were transferred to newly created genera, and the nomenclature of uncultivated Candidatus taxa. It also provides recommendations for databases that provide reliable nomenclature information.
This Genome Watch highlights how a tailor-made search through bacterial genomes revealed the widespread presence of a new class of bacterial signalling peptides that lack conventional characteristics.
In this Journal Club, Edmund Loh explores the pioneering work of Jun-Ichi Tomizawa and colleagues, which uncovers the importance of a small RNA in plasmid replication and elucidates its mechanism of action.
The beneficial rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis SQR9 secretes YukE by the type VII secretion system; YukE inserts into the plant root cell membrane to cause iron leakage, which benefits SQR9 and thus promotes its rhizosphere colonization.