infection
- Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyA Grad-seq View of RNA and Protein Complexes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa under Standard and Bacteriophage Predation Conditions
Stable complexes by cellular proteins and RNA molecules lie at the heart of gene regulation and physiology in any bacterium of interest. It is therefore crucial to globally determine these complexes in order to identify and characterize new molecular players and regulation mechanisms.
- Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionMonoclonal Antibodies against Zika Virus NS1 Protein Confer Protection via Fcγ Receptor-Dependent and -Independent Pathways
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has been linked to congenital microcephaly during recent epidemics. No licensed antiviral drug or vaccine is available.
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyZn2+ Intoxication of Mycobacterium marinum during Dictyostelium discoideum Infection Is Counteracted by Induction of the Pathogen Zn2+ Exporter CtpC
Microelements are essential for the function of the innate immune system. A deficiency in zinc or copper results in an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections.
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Canonical Long-Chain Fatty Acid Sensing Machinery Processes Arachidonic Acid To Inhibit Virulence in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play important roles in host immunity. Manipulation of lipid content in host tissues through diet or pharmacological interventions is associated with altered severity of various inflammatory diseases.
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyA MicroRNA Network Controls Legionella pneumophila Replication in Human Macrophages via LGALS8 and MX1
Cases of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia occur worldwide, with potentially fatal outcome. When causing human disease, Legionella injects a plethora of virulence factors to reprogram macrophages to circumvent immune defense and create a replication niche. By analyzing Legionella-induced changes in miRNA expression and genomewide chromatin...
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyHost Mucin Is Exploited by Pseudomonas aeruginosa To Provide Monosaccharides Required for a Successful Infection
One of the first lines of defense present at mucosal epithelial tissues is mucus, which is a highly viscous material formed by mucin glycoproteins. Mucins serve various functions, but importantly they aid in the clearance of pathogens and debris from epithelial barriers and serve as innate immune factors. In this study, we describe a requirement of host monosaccharides, likely derived from host mucins, for the ability of...
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyModulation of Quorum Sensing as an Adaptation to Nodule Cell Infection during Experimental Evolution of Legume Symbionts
Rhizobia are soil bacteria from unrelated genera able to form a mutualistic relationship with legumes. Bacteria induce the formation of root nodules, invade nodule cells, and fix nitrogen to the benefit of the plant. Rhizobial lineages emerged from the horizontal transfer of essential symbiotic genes followed by genome remodeling to activate and/or optimize the acquired symbiotic potential. This evolutionary scenario was replayed in a...
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyQuantitative Framework for Model Evaluation in Microbiology Research Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Cystic Fibrosis Infection as a Test Case
Laboratory models have become a cornerstone of modern microbiology. However, the accuracy of even the most commonly used models has never been evaluated. Here, we propose a quantitative framework based on gene expression data to evaluate model performance and apply it to models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cystic fibrosis lung infection. We discovered that these models...
- Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologyLive and Diet by Your Gut Microbiota
Diet influences health in multiple ways. One important effect of diet is on the gut microbiota. The effects of diet are often related to an individual’s specific microbiota composition. The close links between health, diet, and gut microbiota are illustrated in a new mouse model of sepsis where the combination of a high-fat/low-fiber Western diet, antibiotics, and surgery promotes the development of lethal sepsis. Diet can also...
- Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyChlamydia trachomatis Inhibits Homologous Recombination Repair of DNA Breaks by Interfering with PP2A Signaling
Chlamydia trachomatis induces DNA double-strand breaks in host cells but simultaneously inhibits proper DNA damage response and repair mechanisms. This may render host cells prone to loss of genetic integrity and transformation. Here we show that C. trachomatis prevents activation of the key DNA...