biofilms
Research ArticleBiofilm Development on Urinary Catheters Promotes the Appearance of Viable but Nonculturable BacteriaSeveral antimicrobial urinary catheter materials have been developed, but, although laboratory studies may show a benefit, none have significantly improved clinical outcomes. The use of poorly designed laboratory testing and lack of consideration of the impact of VBNC populations may be responsible.
PerspectiveOne versus Many: Polymicrobial Communities and the Cystic Fibrosis AirwayCulture-independent studies have revealed that chronic lung infections in persons with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) are rarely limited to one microbial species. Interactions among bacterial members of these polymicrobial communities in the airways of pwCF have been reported to modulate clinically relevant phenotypes.
Research ArticleA Cyanobacterial Component Required for Pilus Biogenesis Affects the ExoproteomeCyanobacteria, environmentally prevalent photosynthetic prokaryotes, contribute ∼25% of global primary production. Cyanobacterial biofilms elicit biofouling, thus leading to substantial economic losses; however, these microbial assemblages can also be beneficial, e.g., in wastewater purification processes and for biofuel production.
Research ArticleUnderstanding the Basis of METH Mouth Using a Rodent Model of Methamphetamine Injection, Sugar Consumption, and Streptococcus mutans Infection“METH mouth” is characterized by severe tooth decay and gum disease, which often causes teeth to break or fall out. METH users are also prone to colonization by cariogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans.
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologySystematic Analysis of c-di-GMP Signaling Mechanisms and Biological Functions in Dickeya zeae EC1Dickeya zeae is the etiological agent of bacterial foot rot disease, which can cause massive economic losses in banana and rice plantations. Genome sequence analysis showed that D. zeae strain EC1 contains multiple c-di-GMP turnover genes, but their roles and regulatory mechanisms in bacterial physiology and virulence remain vague. By generating consecutive...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyA Giant Extracellular Matrix Binding Protein of Staphylococcus epidermidis Binds Surface-Immobilized Fibronectin via a Novel MechanismStaphylococcus epidermidis is a leading pathogen in implant-associated hospital infections. The pathogenesis critically depends on bacterial binding to ECM components, specifically fibronectin (Fn). The cell surface-localized, 1-MDa extracellular matrix binding protein (Embp) is essentially characterized by 10 F- and 40 FG-repeats. These repetitive units, each...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyMultiplex CRISPRi System Enables the Study of Stage-Specific Biofilm Genetic Requirements in Enterococcus faecalisEnterococcus faecalis causes multidrug-resistant life-threatening infections and is often coisolated with other pathogenic bacteria from polymicrobial biofilm-associated infections. Genetic tools to dissect complex interactions in mixed microbial communities are largely limited to transposon mutagenesis and traditional time- and labor-intensive allelic-exchange...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyCsrA-Mediated Translational Activation of ymdA Expression in Escherichia coliThe Csr system of E. coli controls gene expression and physiology on a global scale. CsrA protein, the central component of this system, represses translation initiation of numerous genes by binding to target transcripts, thereby competing with ribosome binding. Variations of this mechanism are so common that CsrA is sometimes called a translational repressor....
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyThe Nitrite Transporter Facilitates Biofilm Formation via Suppression of Nitrite Reductase and Is a New Antibiofilm Target in Pseudomonas aeruginosaBacterial biofilms play roles in infections and avoidance of host defense mechanisms of medically important pathogens and increase the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria. Nitric oxide (NO) is reported to be involved in both biofilm formation and dispersal, which are conflicting processes. The mechanism by which NO regulates biofilm dispersal is relatively understood, but there are no reports about how NO is involved in biofilm...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyThe Arginine Deiminase Pathway Impacts Antibiotic Tolerance during Biofilm-Mediated Streptococcus pyogenes InfectionsBiofilm-mediated bacterial infections are a major threat to human health because of their recalcitrance to antibiotic treatment. Through the study of Streptococcus pyogenes, a significant human pathogen that is known to form antibiotic-tolerant biofilms, we demonstrated the role that a bacterial pathway known for responding to acid stress plays in biofilm growth and...