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| Open AccessThe IncP-1 plasmid backbone adapts to different host bacterial species and evolves through homologous recombination
Plasmids are present in many bacteria and are often transferred between different species causing horizontal gene transfer. By comparing the sequences of 25 plasmid DNA backbones, the authors show that homologous recombination is prevalent in plasmids and that the plasmids have adapted to persist in different host bacteria.
- Peter Norberg
- , Maria Bergström
- & Malte Hermansson
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A bacterial proteorhodopsin proton pump in marine eukaryotes
Proteorhodopsin is used by prokaryotes to generate energy from light. In this study, the authors describe a prokaryote-to-eukaryote horizontal gene transfer of a bacterial proteorhodopsin gene to dinoflagellates, suggesting that these eukaryotes can also use proteorhodopsin to obtain light and produce energy.
- Claudio H. Slamovits
- , Noriko Okamoto
- & Patrick J. Keeling
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Article
| Open AccessRegulation of the co-evolved HrpR and HrpS AAA+ proteins required for Pseudomonas syringae pathogenicity
HrpR and HrpS enhancer-binding proteins ofPseudomonas syringae activate σ54-dependent transcription of the HrpL promoter and are required for type-three secretion pathogenicity. Here, the authors demonstrate that, despite being co-regulated, HrpR and HrpS each have distinct functions for activating σ54.
- Milija Jovanovic
- , Ellen H. James
- & Jörg Schumacher
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| Open AccessAncient origins determine global biogeography of hot and cold desert cyanobacteria
Microorganisms are abundant in many environments and understanding their dispersal between ecosystems is important for ecology and conservation. These authors demonstrate that cyanobacterial populations are specific to hot or cold deserts and that gene flow between different populations does not occur.
- Justin Bahl
- , Maggie C. Y. Lau
- & Stephen B. Pointing
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Insertion sequence-excision enhancer removes transposable elements from bacterial genomes and induces various genomic deletions
Insertion sequences are transposable elements that are found in the genomes of many bacteria. Here, the authors identify an enhancer element that results in a high frequency of excision of insertion elements, and suggest that the excision enhancer element coevolved with the insertion sequences.
- Masahiro Kusumoto
- , Tadasuke Ooka
- & Tetsuya Hayashi
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Article
| Open AccessCryptic prophages help bacteria cope with adverse environments
Up to 20% of bacterial genomes are made up of cryptic prophages, but their function is relatively unknown. In this study, the authors demonstrate that prophages influence the response of the host cell to stress and provide a competitive growth advantage in the presence of antibiotics.
- Xiaoxue Wang
- , Younghoon Kim
- & Thomas K. Wood
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Article
| Open AccessSystems-wide temporal proteomic profiling in glucose-starved Bacillus subtilis
Identifying the transcripts and proteins that fluctuate in response to stimuli provides important information for understanding cell physiology. In this study, 52% of theBacillus subtilispredicted proteome is identified following glucose starvation, revealing further insight into protein dynamics at a global scale.
- Andreas Otto
- , Jörg Bernhardt
- & Dörte Becher
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High rates of photobiological H2 production by a cyanobacterium under aerobic conditions
Hydrogen production using photosynthetic bacteria is an appealing energy source, but typically the bacteria require anaerobic conditions. Here, the authors report a wild-type cyanobacterium strain that shows very high rates of hydrogen production under aerobic environmental conditions.
- Anindita Bandyopadhyay
- , Jana Stöckel
- & Himadri B. Pakrasi
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Article
| Open AccessStretching fibronectin fibres disrupts binding of bacterial adhesins by physically destroying an epitope
Bacteria express adhesive proteins on their surface that recognize fibronectin. Using a mechanical stretch assay and steered molecular dynamics, Chabriaet al. demonstrate that the binding of a bacterial adhesin to fibronectin is mechanoregulated, suggesting that bacteria can sense tissue fibre stretching.
- Mamta Chabria
- , Samuel Hertig
- & Viola Vogel
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| Open AccessA chemical genetic screen in Mycobacterium tuberculosis identifies carbon-source-dependent growth inhibitors devoid of in vivo efficacy
Candidate anti-tuberculosis drugs are often identified in whole-cell screens. Here, Petheet al. show that inappropriate carbon-source selection can lead to the identification of compounds devoid of efficacy in vivo, underlining the importance of developing predictive in vitroscreens.
- Kevin Pethe
- , Patricia C. Sequeira
- & Thomas Dick
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Biogeography and habitat modelling of high-alpine bacteria
The spatial distribution and parameters that affect soil microorganism communities are largely unknown. In this study, bacterial communities up to 240 metres apart are shown to be similar and are affected by soil pH, plant abundance and snow depth.
- Andrew J. King
- , Kristen R. Freeman
- & Steven K. Schmidt
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Peptidoglycan architecture can specify division planes in Staphylococcus aureus
To ensure correct cell division Staphylococci must remember which plane they previously divided along, but the mechanism by which this is achieved is unclear. In this article, using atomic force microscopy, peptidoglycan ribs are reported to mark previous planes of division.
- Robert D. Turner
- , Emma C. Ratcliffe
- & Simon J. Foster
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Article
| Open AccessImaging the nanoscale organization of peptidoglycan in living Lactococcus lactis cells
Peptidoglycans provide bacterial cell walls with mechanical strength. The spatial organization of peptidoglycan has previously been difficult to study. Here, atomic force microscopy, together with cells carrying mutations in cell-wall polysaccharides, has allowed an in-depth study of these molecules.
- Guillaume Andre
- , Saulius Kulakauskas
- & Yves F. Dufrêne
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