Host-Microbe Biology
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyGenetic Similarity of Gonococcal Homologs to Meningococcal Outer Membrane Proteins of Serogroup B VaccineGonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease, causes substantial global morbidity and economic burden. New prevention and control measures for this disease are urgently needed, as strains resistant to almost all classes of antibiotics available for treatment have emerged. Previous reports demonstrate that cross-protection from gonococcal infections may be conferred by meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-based...
Letter to the Editor | Host-Microbe BiologyFurther Mechanisms and Locations in Which Antisporozoite Antibodies Neutralize Malaria Sporozoites
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAnalytical Treatment Interruption after Short-Term Antiretroviral Therapy in a Postnatally Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Infant Rhesus Macaque ModelNovel interventions that do not rely on daily adherence to ART are needed to achieve sustained viral remission for perinatally infected children, who currently rely on lifelong ART. Considering the risks and expense associated with ART interruption trials, the identification of biomarkers of viral rebound will prioritize promising therapeutic intervention strategies, including anti-HIV Env protein therapeutics. However, comprehensive...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIdentification of Virulence-Associated Properties by Comparative Genome Analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. pseudopneumoniae, S. mitis, Three S. oralis Subspecies, and S. infantisStreptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most important human pathogens but is closely related to Streptococcus mitis, with which humans live in harmony. The fact that the two species evolved from a common ancestor provides a unique basis for studies of both infection-associated properties and...
Letter to the Editor | Host-Microbe BiologyComplex Scenario of Homotypic and Heterotypic Zika Virus Immune Enhancement
Author Reply | Host-Microbe BiologyReply to Marques and Drexler, “Complex Scenario of Homotypic and Heterotypic Zika Virus Immune Enhancement”
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyISG15 Deficiency Enhances HIV-1 Infection by Accumulating Misfolded p53HIV-1 has evolved many strategies to circumvent the host’s antiviral innate immune responses and establishes disseminated infection; the molecular mechanisms of these strategies are not entirely clear. We showed previously that USP18 contributes to HIV-1 replication by abrogating p21 antiviral function. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism by which USP18 mediates p21 downregulation in myeloid cells. USP18, by its protease activity,...
Perspective | Host-Microbe BiologyEvolutionary Perspectives on the Moonlighting Functions of Bacterial Factors That Support Actin-Based MotilityVarious bacterial pathogens display an intracellular lifestyle and spread from cell to cell through actin-based motility (ABM). ABM requires actin polymerization at the bacterial pole and is mediated by the expression of bacterial factors that hijack the host cell actin nucleation machinery or exhibit intrinsic actin nucleation properties.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyCRISPR/Cas9 Mutagenesis in Phlebotomus papatasi: the Immune Deficiency Pathway Impacts Vector Competence for Leishmania majorSand flies are the natural vectors of Leishmania parasites. Studies of sand fly/Leishmania interactions have been limited by the lack of successful genomic manipulation of these insects. This paper shows the first example of successful targeted mutagenesis in sand flies via adaptation of the CRISPR/Cas9 editing technique. We generated transmissible null mutant alleles of relish, a gene known to be...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyInteraction of the Ankyrin H Core Effector of Legionella with the Host LARP7 Component of the 7SK snRNP ComplexFor intracellular pathogens to thrive in host cells, an environment that supports survival and replication needs to be established. L. pneumophila accomplishes this through the activity of the ∼330 effector proteins that are injected into host cells during infection. Effector functions range from hijacking host trafficking pathways to altering host cell machinery,...