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Article
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A conserved membrane protein negatively regulates Mce1 complexes in mycobacteria
Mycobacterial Mce systems are putative ABC transporters for lipids. Here, the authors revealed two distinct Mce1 complexes comprising different heterohexameric substrate binding assemblies that are negatively regulated via a novel mechanism.
- Yushu Chen
- , Yuchun Wang
- & Shu-Sin Chng
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Ecophysiology and interactions of a taurine-respiring bacterium in the mouse gut
Authors utilise a multi-omics approach for the ecophysiological characterization of a taurine-respiring mouse gut bacterium.
- Huimin Ye
- , Sabrina Borusak
- & Alexander Loy
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Mechanism of outer membrane destabilization by global reduction of protein content
The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria is an asymmetric bilayer, with phospholipids in the inner leaflet. Here the authors show that a reduction in OM proteins and the subsequent mislocalization of phospholipids weaken the OM and alter growth rate and cell shape, emphasizing the role of OM proteins in OM stiffness and cell shape.
- Irina V. Mikheyeva
- , Jiawei Sun
- & Thomas J. Silhavy
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Growth-rate dependency of ribosome abundance and translation elongation rate in Corynebacterium glutamicum differs from that in Escherichia coli
Bacterial growth rate depends on the number of active ribosomes and translation elongation rate. Matamouros et al. show that Corynebacterium glutamicum, a gram-positive model species, uses a different strategy than Escherichia coli during slow growth by strongly reducing the translation elongation rate while keeping a high number of active ribosomes.
- Susana Matamouros
- , Thomas Gensch
- & Michael Bott
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Multi-scale dynamic imaging reveals that cooperative motility behaviors promote efficient predation in bacteria
Myxococcus xanthus forages and moves collectively to prey and feed on other bacterial species. Here, the authors challenge the conventional idea that during Myxococcus xanthus predation, A- and S-motilities are limited to specific forager and swarm roles and reveal a synergistic interaction between these motilities to enhance predation efficiency.
- Sara Rombouts
- , Anna Mas
- & Marcelo Nollmann
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The RIX domain defines a class of polymorphic T6SS effectors and secreted adaptors
Bacteria use the type VI secretion system (T6SS) to deliver toxic effectors into bacterial or eukaryotic cells. Here, Kanarek et al. identify a protein domain, RIX, that defines a class of polymorphic T6SS effectors with antibacterial and anti-eukaryotic toxic domains, and that enables T6SS-mediated delivery of other effectors.
- Katarzyna Kanarek
- , Chaya Mushka Fridman
- & Dor Salomon
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Conformational restriction shapes the inhibition of a multidrug efflux adaptor protein
Multidrug efflux protein pumps are key players in bacterial antimicrobial resistance. Here, the authors show how dynamics of a periplasmic pump component can be targeted for efflux inhibition.
- Benjamin Russell Lewis
- , Muhammad R. Uddin
- & Eamonn Reading
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Molecular basis and design principles of switchable front-rear polarity and directional migration in Myxococcus xanthus
Cell polarity is key to many processes in bacteria. By focusing on the roadblock domain protein MglC, the authors elucidate the mechanistic basis and design principles of a system that spatiotemporally regulates switchable front-rear polarity and directional migration.
- Luís António Menezes Carreira
- , Dobromir Szadkowski
- & Lotte Søgaard-Andersen
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Extensive diversity in RNA termination and regulation revealed by transcriptome mapping for the Lyme pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi
Transcription termination can tune bacterial gene expression in response to diverse signals. Here, the authors use several RNA-seq approaches to map RNA ends for the transcriptome of the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, providing insights into various modes of transcription termination and identifying potential RNA regulators in this pathogen.
- Emily Petroni
- , Caroline Esnault
- & Philip P. Adams
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Biomolecular condensate drives polymerization and bundling of the bacterial tubulin FtsZ to regulate cell division
How cell division is regulated with spatiotemporal precision is not fully understood. Here the authors show that a bacterial protein undergoes phase separation through surface-assisted condensation to enrich the tubulin homolog FtsZ in M. xanthus cell division.
- Beatrice Ramm
- , Dominik Schumacher
- & Lotte Søgaard-Andersen
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Gut microbiota Turicibacter strains differentially modify bile acids and host lipids
Mechanisms by which the gut microbiota affects its host are a main research focus. Here, Lynch et al. characterize bile acid modifications performed by a prevalent bacterial taxon from the gut, the genus Turicibacter, and found they broadly altered host lipids, connecting Turicibacter functions and host physiology.
- Jonathan B. Lynch
- , Erika L. Gonzalez
- & Elaine Y. Hsiao
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A polyamine acetyltransferase regulates the motility and biofilm formation of Acinetobacter baumannii
Acinetobacter baumanii has an uncharacterized surface-associated motility which is a feature of its persistence. Here, Armalytė et al identify an acetyltransferase that affects this motility and present a functional and structural characterisation of it
- Julija Armalytė
- , Albinas Čepauskas
- & Dukas Jurėnas
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The divisome but not the elongasome organizes capsule synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae
The bacterial cell envelope consists of multiple layers, the synthesis of which is coordinated through unclear mechanisms. Here, Nakamoto et al. reveal a mechanism linking the synthesis of capsular polysaccharides and cell wall peptidoglycan in pneumococci.
- Rei Nakamoto
- , Sarp Bamyaci
- & Lok-To Sham
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Pulcherriminic acid modulates iron availability and protects against oxidative stress during microbial interactions
Microbes often produce molecules (termed siderophores) that bind iron and then are taken up using specific receptors for iron acquisition. Here, the authors show that a compound produced by Bacillus subtilis plays a more complex role, by modulating iron availability and conferring protection against oxidative stress during inter-species competition.
- Vincent Charron-Lamoureux
- , Lounès Haroune
- & Pascale B. Beauregard
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Bacterial capsular polysaccharides with antibiofilm activity share common biophysical and electrokinetic properties
Bacteria produce several high molecular weight polysaccharides with ill-defined anti-adhesion properties. Here, the authors identified key molecular and biophysical determinants of active antibiofilm polysaccharides, opening new perspectives to identify or engineer new compounds able to control bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation.
- Joaquín Bernal-Bayard
- , Jérôme Thiebaud
- & Jean-Marc Ghigo
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Comment
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A nonstop thrill ride from genes to the assembly of the T3SS injectisome
The type three secretion system (T3SS) is a membrane-anchored nano-machine utilized by many pathogenic bacteria to inject effector proteins and thus take control of host cells. In a recent article, Kaval et al. reveal a striking colocalization of a T3SS-encoding locus, its transcriptional activators, protein products, and the complete structure at the cell membrane, which they claim provides evidence for a mechanism known as ‘transertion’.
- Itzhak Fishov
- & Sharanya Namboodiri
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Modulation of MRSA virulence gene expression by the wall teichoic acid enzyme TarO
The two-component regulatory system VraRS regulates transcription of penicillin-binding protein 2 in response to cell wall antimicrobials. Here, Lu et al. show that an enzyme from the wall teichoic acid biosynthetic pathway of MRSA can also modulate the expression of virulence factors such as Staphylococcal protein A via VraRS.
- Yunfu Lu
- , Feifei Chen
- & Lefu Lan
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Lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and traffic in the envelope of the pathogen Brucella abortus
Pathogenic Brucella abortus, containing a mix of lipopolysaccharides with or without O-antigen, grows its envelope in a unipolar manner. Here, Servais et al, localize the LPS translocation machinery and identify the main O-antigen ligase in Brucella species, shedding light on the basic biology of this organism.
- Caroline Servais
- , Victoria Vassen
- & Xavier De Bolle
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Stringent response ensures the timely adaptation of bacterial growth to nutrient downshift
Bacteria undergo nutrient fluctuations during repeated feast and famine cycles and need to metabolically adapt to these changes. Using quantitative proteomics, Zhu & Dai show that the stringent response of (p)ppGpp is crucial for the timely adaption of bacterial growth to both amino acid and carbon downshift.
- Manlu Zhu
- & Xiongfeng Dai
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Real-time visualisation of the intracellular dynamics of conjugative plasmid transfer
Conjugation is a contact-dependent mechanism for the transfer of plasmid DNA between bacterial cells. Here, Couturier et al. use live-cell microscopy to visualise the intracellular dynamics of conjugation in real time, revealing a molecular strategy that allows the sequential production of factors involved in establishing, maintaining and disseminating the plasmid.
- Agathe Couturier
- , Chloé Virolle
- & Christian Lesterlin
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Genome-wide identification of genes required for alternative peptidoglycan cross-linking in Escherichia coli revealed unexpected impacts of β-lactams
β-lactam-induced bacterial killing is complex and not fully resolved. Authors carry out a genome-wide analysis, through penicillin-binding protein replacement, to identify genes essential for drug efficacy.
- Henri Voedts
- , Sean P. Kennedy
- & Jean-Emmanuel Hugonnet
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Genomic insights into the physiology of Quinella, an iconic uncultured rumen bacterium
Uncultured bacteria of the genus Quinella are found in the rumen of ruminant animals, especially in sheep that emit low amounts of methane. Here, Kumar et al. reconstruct genomic sequences from Quinella cells to provide insights into their metabolic capabilities, including lactate and propionate formation as major fermentation pathways and an apparent lack of production of H2, a major precursor of methane.
- Sandeep Kumar
- , Eric Altermann
- & Peter H. Janssen
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Promiscuity of response regulators for thioredoxin steers bacterial virulence
The response regulator SsrB, a master activator of the Salmonella pathogenicity island-2 gene cluster, is under allosteric control of thioredoxin. Authors utilise in vitro and in vivo models to investigate if other members of the response regulator family might have adopted thioredoxin as a regulator.
- Ju-Sim Kim
- , Alexandra Born
- & Andrés Vázquez-Torres
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McaA and McaB control the dynamic positioning of a bacterial magnetic organelle
Magnetotactic bacteria use intracellular chains of ferrimagnetic nanocrystals, produced within magnetosome organelles, to align and navigate along the geomagnetic field. Here, Wan et al. identify two proteins involved in magnetosome positioning in Magnetospirillum magneticum, homologs of which are widespread among magnetotactic bacteria.
- Juan Wan
- , Caroline L. Monteil
- & Arash Komeili
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Oral administration of Blautia wexlerae ameliorates obesity and type 2 diabetes via metabolic remodeling of the gut microbiota
Here, the authors inversely associate Blautia wexlerae with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans and further show that administration of B. wexlerae to mice decrease both high-fat diet–induced obesity and diabetes via modulating gut microbial metabolism.
- Koji Hosomi
- , Mayu Saito
- & Jun Kunisawa
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Regulatory mechanisms of lipopolysaccharide synthesis in Escherichia coli
Synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, essential components for most gram-negative bacteria, is under tight control. Here, authors use in vitro reconstitution and structural approaches to elucidate some of these regulatory mechanisms involving essential membrane proteins LapB and YejM.
- Sheng Shu
- & Wei Mi
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A unique class of Zn2+-binding serine-based PBPs underlies cephalosporin resistance and sporogenesis in Clostridioides difficile
Antibiotics of the β-lactam class inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by targeting penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). Here, Sacco et al. study the four PBPs present in the pathogen C. difficile, revealing unique structural features and shedding light on the mechanisms underlying β-lactam resistance in this organism.
- Michael D. Sacco
- , Shaohui Wang
- & Yu Chen
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A comprehensive resource for Bordetella genomic epidemiology and biodiversity studies
The genus Bordetella includes environmental bacteria as well as human pathogens. Here, the authors present a large database of environmental and clinical Bordetella isolates and genome sequences, and develop genotyping systems to facilitate evolutionary and epidemiological studies.
- Sébastien Bridel
- , Valérie Bouchez
- & Sylvain Brisse
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Laboratory evolution of synthetic electron transport system variants reveals a larger metabolic respiratory system and its plasticity
The bacterial respiratory electron transport system (ETS) is branched to allow condition-specific modulation of energy metabolism. Here the authors examine the systems level properties of aerobic electron transport system using adaptive laboratory evolution and multi-omics analyses.
- Amitesh Anand
- , Arjun Patel
- & Bernhard O. Palsson
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Assembly dynamics of FtsZ and DamX during infection-related filamentation and division in uropathogenic E. coli
A subset of uropathogenic Escherichia coli are able to halt division and grow into highly filamentous cells during infection of bladder epithelial cells. Here, authors aim to determine the mechanism, and understand the dynamics of cell division machinery during infection-related filamentation.
- Bill Söderström
- , Matthew J. Pittorino
- & Iain G. Duggin
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| Open Access
Frequency modulation of a bacterial quorum sensing response
Quorum-sensing bacteria produce and secrete autoinducers that trigger a behavioral change in the population when reaching a certain threshold. Here, Bettenworth et al. show that autoinducer synthase gene expression in Sinorhizobium meliloti occurs in asynchronous stochastic pulses, and that physiological cues modulate pulse frequency and, consequently, response behavior dynamics. Frequency-modulated pulsing in autoinducer synthase gene expression thus represents a time-based mechanism for information integration and collective decision-making.
- Vera Bettenworth
- , Simon van Vliet
- & Anke Becker
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A periplasmic cinched protein is required for siderophore secretion and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
The pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses the siderophores called mycobactins and carboxymycobactins to acquire iron from the host. Here, Zhang et al. identify a protein that is important for siderophore secretion and for the pathogen’s growth in low-iron medium.
- Lei Zhang
- , James E. Kent
- & Michael Niederweis
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Human serum triggers antibiotic tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus
The host environment can impact the outcomes of antimicrobial therapies through unclear mechanisms. Here, Ledger et al. show that human serum reduces the efficacy of the antibiotic daptomycin against Staphylococcus aureus by inducing specific pathways leading to changes in the composition of the bacterial membrane and cell wall.
- Elizabeth V. K. Ledger
- , Stéphane Mesnage
- & Andrew M. Edwards
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The induction of natural competence adapts staphylococcal metabolism to infection
Orthologs of natural competence genes are conserved in non-competent bacterial species, suggesting they have a role other than in transformation. Here, the authors show that competence induction in Staphylococcus aureus occurs in response to reactive oxygen species and host defenses that compromise bacterial respiration during infection, leading to increased DNA and glucose uptake and glycolytic flux.
- Mar Cordero
- , Julia García-Fernández
- & Daniel Lopez
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Asymmetric peptidoglycan editing generates cell curvature in Bdellovibrio predatory bacteria
Cells of the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, which invades and replicates within the periplasm of other bacteria, have a characteristic curved rod shape. Here, Banks et al. show that a peptidoglycan hydrolase is required for the curved shape, and this facilitates invasion of prey cells.
- Emma J. Banks
- , Mauricio Valdivia-Delgado
- & R. Elizabeth Sockett
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Antimicrobial resistance and population genomics of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in pig farms in mainland China
Use of antimicrobials in livestock contributes to development of antimicrobial resistance but there are few large-scale surveillance studies. Here, the authors describe E. coli surveillance in pig farms in China, reporting high levels of multidrug-resistance across all mainland provinces.
- Zhong Peng
- , Zizhe Hu
- & Xiangru Wang
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| Open Access
Translocated Legionella pneumophila small RNAs mimic eukaryotic microRNAs targeting the host immune response
Legionella pneumophila expresses a range of bacterial determinants that mimic eukaryotic functions. Here the authors show small RNAs of L.pneumophila mimic eukaryotic microRNA and modulate the host response to infection.
- Tobias Sahr
- , Pedro Escoll
- & Carmen Buchrieser
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| Open Access
Optimising genomic approaches for identifying vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium transmission in healthcare settings
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium is an important healthcare-associated pathogen and genomic analyses could inform targeted interventions. Here, the authors optimise an analysis pipeline for identification of putative transmission events using core genome multilocus sequence type clustering and split kmer analysis.
- Charlie Higgs
- , Norelle L. Sherry
- & Benjamin P. Howden
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| Open Access
Resolving the conflict between antibiotic production and rapid growth by recognition of peptidoglycan of susceptible competitors
Microbial communities employ a variety of strategies to compete against competitors sharing their niche, for instance, by producing antibiotics. This study reveals that antibiotics produced by Bacillus subtilis act synergistically to eliminate phylogenetically distinct competitors and are regulated accordingly.
- Harsh Maan
- , Maxim Itkin
- & Ilana Kolodkin-Gal
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| Open Access
A Slam-dependent hemophore contributes to heme acquisition in the bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii
Nutrient acquisition is crucial for the growth of pathogens within their hosts. Here, Bateman et al. identify a set of proteins required for heme uptake from host hemoglobin and serum albumin in the pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii.
- Thomas J. Bateman
- , Megha Shah
- & Trevor F. Moraes
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| Open Access
Gut bacteria identified in colorectal cancer patients promote tumourigenesis via butyrate secretion
Several bacteria in the gut microbiota have been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) but it is not completely clear whether they have a role in tumourigenesis. Here, the authors show enrichment of 12 bacterial taxa in two cohorts of CRC patients and that two Porphyromonas species accelerate CRC onset through butyrate secretion.
- Shintaro Okumura
- , Yusuke Konishi
- & Eiji Hara
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| Open Access
Structure and function relationship of OqxB efflux pump from Klebsiella pneumoniae
OqxB is an RND (Resistance-Nodulation-Division) transporter that contributes to the antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Here, the authors report structural and functional characterization of OqxB, with insights into its substrate binding pocket and the role in fluoroquinolone resistance.
- Nagakumar Bharatham
- , Purnendu Bhowmik
- & Satoshi Murakami
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| Open Access
Evolutionary dynamics of multidrug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:- in Australia
Salmonella enterica serovar 4,[5],12:i:- (Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:-) is a major pathogen of humans and animals with a reported incidence in Australia three times higher than the UK and USA. Here, the authors report the circulation, antimicrobial resistance signatures, and effects on host cells, of three Salmonella4,[5],12:i:- lineages within Australia.
- Danielle J. Ingle
- , Rebecca L. Ambrose
- & Deborah A. Williamson
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| Open Access
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 produces R-bodies, extendable protein polymers with roles in host colonization and virulence
R-bodies are long, extendable protein polymers formed in the cytoplasm of some bacteria. Here, Wang et al. show that Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces R-bodies during colonization of plant and nematode hosts, and R-bodies induce ribosome cleavage and translational inhibition in nematodes.
- Bryan Wang
- , Yu-Cheng Lin
- & Lars E. P. Dietrich
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| Open Access
Variability of plasmid fitness effects contributes to plasmid persistence in bacterial communities
The variability of plasmid fitness effects on wild-type bacterial hosts have been largely unknown until this study, which shows that plasmid persistence increases with bacterial diversity and becomes less dependent on conjugation. This could explain why plasmids remain so common in nature.
- Aida Alonso-del Valle
- , Ricardo León-Sampedro
- & Alvaro San Millán
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Biochemical and structural characterization of the BioZ enzyme engaged in bacterial biotin synthesis pathway
Biotin is an essential enzyme cofactor and two pathways for the generation of the biotin precursor pimeloyl-ACP are known. Here, the authors identify and characterize a third pathway for biotin precursor synthesis involving BioZ and they also present the Agrobacterium tumefaciens BioZ crystal structure.
- Sitao Zhang
- , Yongchang Xu
- & Youjun Feng
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| Open Access
Precise regulation of the relative rates of surface area and volume synthesis in bacterial cells growing in dynamic environments
Bacterial cells actively change their size and shape in response to external environments. Here, Shi et al. explore how cells regulate their morphology during rapid environmental changes, showing that the characteristic dynamics of surface area-to-volume ratio are conserved across genetic and chemical perturbations, as well as across species and growth temperatures.
- Handuo Shi
- , Yan Hu
- & Kerwyn Casey Huang
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| Open Access
The Burkholderia pseudomallei intracellular ‘TRANSITome’
Prokaryotic cell transcriptomics has been limited to mixed or sub-population dynamics and individual cells within heterogeneous populations. Here the authors develop a ‘TRANSITomic’ approach to profile transcriptomes of single Burkholderia pseudomallei cells as they transit through host cell infection.
- Yun Heacock-Kang
- , Ian A. McMillan
- & Tung T. Hoang
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| Open Access
A meet-up of two second messengers: the c-di-AMP receptor DarB controls (p)ppGpp synthesis in Bacillus subtilis
In several bacteria, cyclic di-AMP mediates potassium (K+) and osmotic homeostasis. Here, the authors show that DarB, a Bacillus subtilis protein previously reported to bind cyclic di-AMP, interacts with the (p)ppGpp synthetase/hydrolase Rel in a K+-dependent manner in turn leading to Rel-dependent accumulation of pppGpp under conditions of K+ starvation.
- Larissa Krüger
- , Christina Herzberg
- & Jörg Stülke
The leaderless communication peptide (LCP) class of quorum-sensing peptides is broadly distributed among Firmicutes