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Article
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An experimental framework to assess biomolecular condensates in bacteria
The small cell size of bacteria is a key hurdle in studying condensates. To address this challenge, the authors develop an experimental framework to assess bacterial condensates based on how they form, dissolve, tune shape and size, and transition between material states.
- Y Hoang
- , Christopher A. Azaldegui
- & Anthony G. Vecchiarelli
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Article
| Open Access
Sm-like protein Rof inhibits transcription termination factor ρ by binding site obstruction and conformational insulation
Said et al. used cryoEM, biochemistry and bioinformatics to uncover how the Sm-like protein Rof regulates transcription termination. Rof binds termination factor ρ, inhibiting ρ ring closure and its association with RNA or transcription complexes.
- Nelly Said
- , Mark Finazzo
- & Markus C. Wahl
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Article
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KdpD is a tandem serine histidine kinase that controls K+ pump KdpFABC transcriptionally and post-translationally
KdpD is known as the sensory histidine kinase of two-component system KdpDE that controls the transcription of the kdpFABC genes. Here, the authors show that KdpD acts as atypical serine kinase, which post-translationally regulates KdpFABC.
- Jakob M. Silberberg
- , Sophie Ketter
- & Inga Hänelt
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A widely conserved protein Rof inhibits transcription termination factor Rho and promotes Salmonella virulence program
Bacterial protein Rof (Rho-off) directly interacts with bacterial factor Rho and inhibits Rho-dependent transcription termination. Here, authors report cryo-EM structure of Rho-Rof antitermination complex and reveal their role in bacterial pathogenesis.
- Jing Zhang
- , Shuo Zhang
- & Chengyuan Wang
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Article
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Genetically encoded transcriptional plasticity underlies stress adaptation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Transcriptional plasticity (TP) governs gene expression variability, yet remains unexplored in prokaryotes. This study examines Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes’ TP via RNA-seq meta-analysis, uncovering genetic and functional traits impacting mycobacterial TP.
- Cheng Bei
- , Junhao Zhu
- & Qingyun Liu
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The assembly platform FimD is required to obtain the most stable quaternary structure of type 1 pili
Type 1 pili are crucial cell surface bacterial virulence factors. Here, the authors show that FimD is required to assemble the most stable quaternary pilus structure by ensuring that the resulting protein polymer is free of structural defects.
- Dawid S. Zyla
- , Thomas Wiegand
- & Rudi Glockshuber
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Patchy and widespread distribution of bacterial translation arrest peptides associated with the protein localization machinery
Regulatory arrest peptides interact with the bacterial ribosome to halt their own translation. Here, Fujiwara et al. analyse thousands of bacterial genome sequences and identify additional arrest peptides, revealing sequence diversity and patchy, but widespread, distribution across the bacterial domain.
- Keigo Fujiwara
- , Naoko Tsuji
- & Shinobu Chiba
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A commensal protozoan attenuates Clostridioides difficile pathogenesis in mice via arginine-ornithine metabolism and host intestinal immune response
Faecal microbiome transplant has been shown to be able to reduce Clostridioides difficile infection. Here the authors show that an intestinal commensal protozoan reduces C. difficile infection by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and affecting arginine-ornithine metabolism.
- Huan Yang
- , Xiaoxiao Wu
- & Bing Gu
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Article
| Open Access
Mitochondrial injury induced by a Salmonella genotoxin triggers the proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype
Chen et al. probe the role of a genotoxin of Salmonella typhi in triggering a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, via mitochondrial DNA damage.
- Han-Yi Chen
- , Wan-Chen Hsieh
- & Shu-Jung Chang
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Article
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Colonisation of hospital surfaces from low- and middle-income countries by extended spectrum β-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing bacteria
In hospitals, surfaces present as a reservoir for bacteria pathogens, potentially leading to nosocomial infections. In this work, authors aim to profile extended-spectrum β lactamase- and carbapenemase-carrying bacterial species colonising neonatal hospital wards and causing neonatal sepsis.
- Maria Nieto-Rosado
- , Kirsty Sands
- & Timothy R. Walsh
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Structural basis of Acinetobacter type IV pili targeting by an RNA virus
Here, the authors structurally characterise the interaction between Acinetobacter phage AP205 and the type IV Acinetobacter pili using cryo-electron microscopy, uncovering the mechanistic determinants of this interaction.
- Ran Meng
- , Zhongliang Xing
- & Junjie Zhang
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Article
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Microevolution, reinfection and highly complex genomic diversity in patients with sequential isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus
Mycobacterium abscessus is considered an emerging pathogen, given its prevalence in patients with pulmonary diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. Here, authors perform a genomic analysis on sequential isolates obtained from patients with persistent infections of M. abscessus.
- Sergio Buenestado-Serrano
- , Miguel Martínez-Lirola
- & Darío García de Viedma
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Direct observation of a crescent-shape chromosome in expanded Bacillus subtilis cells
The spatial structure of the bacterial chromosome is resolved in the absence of confinement by the cell boundary. Size-expanded cells reveal a crescent-shaped Bacillus subtilis chromosome and the effects of ParB and SMC proteins on chromosome shape.
- Miloš Tišma
- , Florian Patrick Bock
- & Cees Dekker
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Article
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Synthetically-primed adaptation of Pseudomonas putida to a non-native substrate D-xylose
Pseudomonas putida is becoming a host of choice for the valorization of lignocellulosic substrates. Here, the authors provide insight into the adaptation of this bacterium to the non-native substrate D-xylose, enabled by metabolic engineering and adaptive laboratory evolution.
- Pavel Dvořák
- , Barbora Burýšková
- & Martin Benešík
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Legionella metaeffector MavL reverses ubiquitin ADP-ribosylation via a conserved arginine-specific macrodomain
The pathogen Legionella pneumophila mediates NAD+-dependent ubiquitination pathways upon infection. Here, the authors show the Legionella effector MavL reverses ubiquitin ADP-ribosylation to regulate these pathways. MavL represents a new macrodomain class specific for reversal of arginine ADP-ribosylation with distinct ADP-ribose binding features.
- Zhengrui Zhang
- , Jiaqi Fu
- & Chittaranjan Das
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Article
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Cryo-EM structures of type IV pili complexed with nanobodies reveal immune escape mechanisms
Bacterial type IV pili are filamentous cell surface structures and candidate targets for vaccine development. Here, authors determine how antibodies interact with pili at the structural level providing insight into immune escape mechanisms and potential countermeasures.
- David Fernandez-Martinez
- , Youxin Kong
- & Guillaume Duménil
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Article
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Bacteria can compensate the fitness costs of amplified resistance genes via a bypass mechanism
Antibiotic heteroresistance, in which a susceptible bacterial population includes a small resistant subpopulation, can arise by tandem amplification of resistance genes, which often carry fitness costs. Here, Pal and Andersson show that these fitness costs can be ameliorated by the acquisition of compensatory mutations and a reduction in copy number of the resistance genes.
- Ankita Pal
- & Dan I. Andersson
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Article
| Open Access
Inter-species gene flow drives ongoing evolution of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) is an emerging cause of human infection closely related to Streptococcus pyogenes. Here the authors investigate the degree of genomic similarity between the two species and assess implications for development of vaccines.
- Ouli Xie
- , Jacqueline M. Morris
- & Mark R. Davies
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Article
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The global speciation continuum of the cyanobacterium Microcoleus
The relative importance of the various mechanisms that can drive microbial speciation is poorly understood. Here, Stanojković et al. explore the diversification of the soil cyanobacterium Microcoleus, showing that this genus represents a global speciation continuum of at least 12 lineages, with lineage divergence driven by selection, geographical distance, and the environment.
- Aleksandar Stanojković
- , Svatopluk Skoupý
- & Petr Dvořák
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| Open Access
The defensome of complex bacterial communities
Bacteria have evolved numerous innate and adaptive defence mechanisms. Here, Beavogui et al characterise the impact of biogeography, genetic mobility, and clustering in defense islands, on the defence systems of soil, marine, and human gut bacterial populations genomes.
- Angelina Beavogui
- , Auriane Lacroix
- & Pedro H. Oliveira
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bacLIFE: a user-friendly computational workflow for genome analysis and prediction of lifestyle-associated genes in bacteria
Many bacteria live in close association with eukaryotic hosts, exhibiting detrimental, neutral or beneficial effects on host growth and health. Here, the authors present a streamlined computational workflow for bacterial genome annotation, large-scale comparative genomics, and prediction of genes potentially involved in niche adaptation.
- Guillermo Guerrero-Egido
- , Adrian Pintado
- & Víctor J. Carrión
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ProTInSeq: transposon insertion tracking by ultra-deep DNA sequencing to identify translated large and small ORFs
Identifying small proteins is challenging. ProTInSeq uses modified transposons to express markers inserted in-frame to protein-coding genes. This method identifies 153 unannotated small proteins in M. pneumoniae and additional proteomic information.
- Samuel Miravet-Verde
- , Rocco Mazzolini
- & Luis Serrano
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Article
| Open Access
Cell-lysis sensing drives biofilm formation in Vibrio cholerae
Bacteria form matrix-encapsulated communities, called biofilms, which protect resident cells from environmental challenges. Here, the authors show that Vibrio cholerae cells detect environmental threats by sensing a cellular component released through kin cell lysis, which induces formation of biofilms by surviving cells.
- Jojo A. Prentice
- , Robert van de Weerd
- & Andrew A. Bridges
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| Open Access
Molecular basis of TMPRSS2 recognition by Paeniclostridium sordellii hemorrhagic toxin
Paeniclostridium sordellii hemorrhagic toxin (TcsH) targets TMPRSS2 to enter the host cells. Here, authors showed the cryo-EM structures of the TcsH-TMPRSS2 complex, providing a toxin-receptor interaction model for large clostridial toxins.
- Ruoyu Zhou
- , Liuqing He
- & Liang Tao
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Article
| Open Access
Protein NirP1 regulates nitrite reductase and nitrite excretion in cyanobacteria
Some cyanobacteria excrete nitrite when the supply of inorganic carbon is limiting, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, Kraus et al. identify a conserved protein that interacts with nitrite reductase, thus regulating nitrogen metabolism and promoting nitrite excretion.
- Alexander Kraus
- , Philipp Spät
- & Wolfgang R. Hess
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Article
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Nonpathogenic Pseudomonas syringae derivatives and its metabolites trigger the plant “cry for help” response to assemble disease suppressing and growth promoting rhizomicrobiome
Upon pathogen attack, plants can trigger the “cry for help” response and assemble beneficial rhizobacteria. Here, the authors use nonpathogenic Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 derivatives to elicit a similar “cry for help” response as the wild-type pathogenic DC3000 in Arabidopsis.
- Yunpeng Liu
- , Huihui Zhang
- & Ruifu Zhang
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Article
| Open Access
The Deinococcus protease PprI senses DNA damage by directly interacting with single-stranded DNA
Lu et al. show that single-stranded DNA produced as a result of DNA damage may directly activate PprI in Deinococcus species, triggering the DNA damage response.
- Huizhi Lu
- , Zijing Chen
- & Yuejin Hua
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Article
| Open Access
A c-di-GMP signaling module controls responses to iron in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
The second messenger c-di-GMP regulates various processes in bacteria, including biofilm formation and motility. Here, the authors show that iron regulates c-di-GMP levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by modulating the interaction between an iron-sensing protein and a diguanylate cyclase.
- Xueliang Zhan
- , Kuo Zhang
- & Haihua Liang
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Article
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Influence of microbiota-associated metabolic reprogramming on clinical outcome in patients with melanoma from the randomized adjuvant dendritic cell-based MIND-DC trial
MIND-DC was a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of adjuvant blood-derived natural dendritic cell (nDC)-based therapy in patients with stage III melanoma, showing that nDC-induced immune responses did not translate into survival benefit. Here the authors report that, despite randomization, baseline differences in fecal metagenomics and serum metabolomics profiles between treatment arms might have influenced the clinical outcome of the trial.
- Carolina Alves Costa Silva
- , Gianmarco Piccinno
- & I. Jolanda M. de Vries
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Article
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Bacteria employ lysine acetylation of transcriptional regulators to adapt gene expression to cellular metabolism
The mechanisms underlying adaptation of bacteria to changing environmental conditions remain poorly understood. Here, the authors show bacteria using lysine acetylation of transcriptional regulators to adjust gene expression to changing conditions.
- Magdalena Kremer
- , Sabrina Schulze
- & Michael Lammers
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Article
| Open Access
Immune signature of Chlamydia vaccine CTH522/CAF®01 translates from mouse-to-human and induces durable protection in mice
Authors present a comparative immunological characterisation of Chlamydia vaccine, CTH522/CAF®01, in mice and humans. Findings suggest the mouse to be a good predictor of human immunity to the Chlamydia vaccine CTH522/CAF®01, and long-lasting protection in the mouse further supports the development of this promising vaccine candidate.
- Anja W. Olsen
- , Ida Rosenkrands
- & Frank Follmann
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Article
| Open Access
TcrXY is an acid-sensing two-component transcriptional regulator of Mycobacterium tuberculosis required for persistent infection
Stupar et al. describe a new role for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis two-component system, TcrXY, in the modulation of up to 70 genes, including two effectors, TarA and TarB which mitigate intracellular redox stress.
- Miljan Stupar
- , Lendl Tan
- & Nicholas P. West
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Article
| Open Access
Porphyromonas gingivalis aggravates colitis via a gut microbiota-linoleic acid metabolism-Th17/Treg cell balance axis
Periodontitis is closely linked with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may have overlapping characteristics. Here the authors show that a periodontal pathogen P. gingivalis promotes intestinal inflammation by affecting the microbiome metabolite linoleic acid and Th17/Treg cell balance in the intestine.
- Lu Jia
- , Yiyang Jiang
- & Yi Liu
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Article
| Open Access
Genomic epidemiology reveals geographical clustering of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli ST131 associated with bacteraemia in Wales
Escherichia coli ST131 is a globally dominant multidrug resistant clone associated with high rates of recurring urinary tract infections. In this genomic epidemiology study, the authors describe the evolution, population structure, and antimicrobial resistance in 142 E. coli ST131 samples from Wales, UK.
- Rhys T. White
- , Matthew J. Bull
- & Scott A. Beatson
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Article
| Open Access
A distinctive family of L,D-transpeptidases catalyzing L-Ala-mDAP crosslinks in Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria
The cell-wall peptidoglycan in model bacteria typically includes 4,3- and 3,3-crosslinks, catalysed by DD- and LD-transpeptidases, respectively. Here, the authors identify and characterise the activity and structure of an LD-transpeptidase that generates a new type of crosslink (1,3).
- Akbar Espaillat
- , Laura Alvarez
- & Felipe Cava
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Article
| Open Access
Hormonal steroids induce multidrug resistance and stress response genes in Neisseria gonorrhoeae by binding to MtrR
Transcriptional regulator MtrR inhibits the expression of the multidrug efflux pump operon mtrCDE in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Here, Hooks et al. show that hormonal steroids bind to MtrR and decrease its affinity for cognate promoters, thus leading to increased mtrCDE expression and enhanced antimicrobial resistance.
- Grace M. Hooks
- , Julio C. Ayala
- & Richard G. Brennan
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Article
| Open Access
HIV-associated gut microbial alterations are dependent on host and geographic context
Here, the authors compare the fecal microbial community of individuals in the U.S., Uganda, and Botswana, and identify significant bacterial taxa alterations with both treated and untreated HIV infection although with a high degree of uniqueness in each cohort, and also significant differences between populations that report men who have sex with men (MSM) behavior and non-MSM populations.
- Muntsa Rocafort
- , David B. Gootenberg
- & Douglas S. Kwon
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Article
| Open Access
Longitudinal quantification of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis reveals late colonization in the infant gut independent of maternal milk HMO composition
Here, the authors develop a high-throughput method to quantify Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (BL. infantis), a proficient HMO-utilizer, from metagenomic sequencing, and applied it to a longitudinal cohort consisting of 21 mother-infant dyads, suggesting BL. infantis colonization to start late in the breast-feeding period.
- Dena Ennis
- , Shimrit Shmorak
- & Moran Yassour
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Article
| Open Access
A nanoparticle-based sonodynamic therapy reduces Helicobacter pylori infection in mouse without disrupting gut microbiota
Here, the authors develop a non-antibiotic approach using sonodynamic therapy mediated by a lecithin bilayer-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic) nanoparticle preloaded with verteporfin, Ver-PLGA@Lecithin, to treat Helicobacter pylori.
- Tao Liu
- , Shuang Chai
- & Lihua Yang
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Article
| Open Access
Lsr2 acts as a cyclic di-GMP receptor that promotes keto-mycolic acid synthesis and biofilm formation in mycobacteria
Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a second messenger that promotes biofilm formation through unclear mechanisms in several bacterial species. Here, Ling et al. report that c-di-GMP promotes biofilm formation in mycobacteria by binding to protein Lsr2, which upregulates the synthesis of keto-mycolic acid and thus biofilm formation.
- Xiaocui Ling
- , Xiao Liu
- & Weihui Li
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Article
| Open Access
Natural reversion promotes LPS elongation in an attenuated Coxiella burnetii strain
In vitro propagation of the pathogenic bacterium Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, leads to attenuated virulence and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) truncation. Here, Long et al. show that a strain considered to be avirulent (NMII) can be recovered from infected animals, and these isolates display increased virulence and an elongated LPS due to reversion of a 3-bp mutation in a gene.
- Carrie M. Long
- , Paul A. Beare
- & Robert A. Heinzen
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Article
| Open Access
LOX-1 acts as an N6-methyladenosine-regulated receptor for Helicobacter pylori by binding to the bacterial catalase
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA regulates gene expression in eukaryotes. Here, Zeng et al. show that m6A modification of mRNAs contributes to protection against the pathogen Helicobacter pylori by downregulating a host protein that acts as receptor for the pathogen.
- Judeng Zeng
- , Chuan Xie
- & William K. K. Wu
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Article
| Open Access
Structure-guided discovery of anti-CRISPR and anti-phage defense proteins
Bacteria use various defense systems to protect themselves from phage infection, and phages have evolved diverse counter-defense measures to overcome host defenses. Here, the authors use protein structural similarity and gene co-occurrence analyses for identification of new anti-phage and counter-defense systems.
- Ning Duan
- , Emily Hand
- & Akintunde Emiola
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Article
| Open Access
Towards estimating the number of strains that make up a natural bacterial population
What a microbial strain is and how many strains make up a natural bacterial population remain elusive concepts. Here, Viver et al. analyse Salinibacter ruber isolates and metagenomes from two solar salterns, revealing gaps within the species sequence space that they use to define and quantify sub-species categories, such as genomovars and strains, that co-exist in a saltern pond.
- Tomeu Viver
- , Roth E. Conrad
- & Ramon Rossello-Mora
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Article
| Open Access
Global emergence of a hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli ST410 clone
In this work, the authors identified a hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli ST410 clone which carries a high pathogenicity island and an O-antigen gene cluster. The findings highlight the ongoing evolution of ST410 towards increased resistance and virulence.
- Xiaoliang Ba
- , Yingyi Guo
- & Chao Zhuo
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Article
| Open Access
Commensal lifestyle regulated by a negative feedback loop between Arabidopsis ROS and the bacterial T2SS
The plant immune output reactive oxygen species tames a detrimental bacterial commensal from native microbiota by suppressing a bacterial secretion system, allowing the co-existence and turning it into a beneficial bacterium to the host.
- Frederickson Entila
- , Xiaowei Han
- & Kenichi Tsuda
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Article
| Open Access
Assembly of a unique membrane complex in type VI secretion systems of Bacteroidota
The type VI secretion system (T6SS) of Gram-negative bacteria is typically anchored to the cell envelope through a membrane complex (MC), but Bacteroidota appear to lack genes encoding canonical MC components. Here, Bongiovanni et al. identify the Bacteroidota MC and study its biogenesis and connections with the conserved T6SS components.
- Thibault R. Bongiovanni
- , Casey J. Latario
- & Eric Durand
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Article
| Open Access
Defining the biogeographical map and potential bacterial translocation of microbiome in human ‘surface organs’
Given that the human body is composed of many microbial niches, and there have been few reports on the biogeography of the microbiome, the authors analyse the intra-individual inter-organ and intra-organ microbiome of seven surface organs of deceased individuals.
- Jun-Jun She
- , Wei-Xin Liu
- & Jun Yu
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Article
| Open Access
Genomic and panproteomic analysis of the development of infant immune responses to antigenically-diverse pneumococci
By combining genome sequencing and antibody binding (to all common pneumococcal proteins) data, Croucher et al. present a high-resolution analysis of the emergence of immune responses in children that can protect against pneumonia.
- Nicholas J. Croucher
- , Joseph J. Campo
- & David Goldblatt
Host response during unresolved urinary tract infection alters female mammary tissue homeostasis through collagen deposition and TIMP1Browse broader subjects
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