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Single-molecule imaging reveals that peptidoglycan synthesis and synthase activity, rather than FtsZ treadmilling, are rate limiting and drive septum constriction in Staphylococcus aureus.
Live-cell single-molecule imaging reveals a single population of processive septal peptidoglycan synthases moving asynchronously with FtsZ that drive Bacillus subtilis cell constriction in a manner partially dependent upon FtsZ treadmilling.
Mycobacteria have a unique cell envelope that includes characteristic lipoglycans, such as lipoarabinomannan. Here, Sparks et al. show that this lipoglycan plays roles in maintenance of local cell envelope integrity and septal placement during cell division.
Bacteriophage strain DS6A efficiently eradicates intracellular Mtb in human macrophages, while humanized mice treated with DS6A show improved pulmonary function and reduced Mtb load in mouse organs with greater efficacy in the spleen.
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.