mitochondria
Research ArticleMitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier Subunits Are Essential for Pyruvate-Driven Respiration, Infectivity, and Intracellular Replication of Trypanosoma cruziTrypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. Pyruvate is the end product of glycolysis, and its transport into the mitochondrion is mediated by the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) subunits.
Research ArticleRegulation of the Mitochondrion-Fatty Acid Axis for the Metabolic Reprogramming of Chlamydia trachomatis during Treatment with β-Lactam AntimicrobialsThe mitochondrion generates most of the ATP in eukaryotic cells, and its activity is used for controlling the intracellular growth of Chlamydia trachomatis. Furthermore, mitochondrial activity is tightly connected to host fatty acid synthesis that is indispensable for chlamydial membrane biogenesis.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyLoss of the Conserved Alveolate Kinase MAPK2 Decouples Toxoplasma Cell Growth from Cell DivisionToxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite that can cause severe and fatal disease in immunocompromised patients and the developing fetus. Rapid parasite replication is critical for establishing a productive infection. Here, we demonstrate that a Toxoplasma protein kinase called MAPK2 is conserved throughout the Alveolata and essential...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyMitochondrial Targeting of the Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Map Triggers Calcium Mobilization, ADAM10-MAP Kinase Signaling, and Host Cell ApoptosisEnteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) is an important human diarrhea-causing bacterium. The pathogenic effects of EPEC largely depend upon its ability to inject a series of proteins, termed effectors, into the host cells. One such effector is the mitochondrion-associated protein (Map). Map has been shown to induce actin-rich projections (i.e., filopodia) on the infected...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyA Cytoplasmic Heme Sensor Illuminates the Impacts of Mitochondrial and Vacuolar Functions and Oxidative Stress on Heme-Iron Homeostasis in Cryptococcus neoformansInvasive fungal diseases are increasing in frequency, and new drug targets and antifungal drugs are needed to bolster therapy. The mechanisms by which pathogens obtain critical nutrients such as iron from heme during host colonization represent a promising target for therapy. In this study, we employed a fluorescent heme sensor to investigate heme homeostasis in Cryptococcus...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyAspergillus fumigatus Transcription Factors Involved in the Caspofungin Paradoxical EffectAspergillus fumigatus, one of the most important human-pathogenic fungal species, is able to cause aspergillosis, a heterogeneous group of diseases that presents a wide range of clinical manifestations. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is the most serious pathology in terms of patient outcome and treatment, with a high mortality rate ranging from 50% to 95% primarily...
Observation | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceComparing Early Eukaryotic Integration of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts in the Light of Internal ROS Challenges: Timing is of the EssenceThe early eukaryotic evolution was deeply influenced by the acquisition of two endosymbiotic organelles - the mitochondrion and the chloroplast. Here we discuss the possibly important role of reactive oxygen species in these processes.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyTREM-1 Protects HIV-1-Infected Macrophages from Apoptosis through Maintenance of Mitochondrial FunctionThe major challenge to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment is the development of strategies that lead to viral eradication. A roadblock to accomplishing this goal is the lack of an approach that would safely eliminate HIV from all resting/latent reservoirs, including macrophages. Macrophages are a key part of the innate immune system and are responsible for recognizing invading microbes and sending appropriate signals to other...
Commentary | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyNew Mitochondrial Targets in Fungal PathogensIn eukaryotic cells, mitochondria are responsible for the synthesis of ATP using power generated by the electron transport chain (ETC). While much of what is known about mitochondria has been gained from a study of a small number of model species, including the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the general mechanisms of mitochondrial respiration have been recognized as...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyMicrosporidia Interact with Host Cell Mitochondria via Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels Using Sporoplasm Surface Protein 1Microsporidia are important opportunistic human pathogens in immune-suppressed individuals, such as those with HIV/AIDS and recipients of organ transplants. The sporoplasm is critical for establishing microsporidian infection. Despite the biological importance of this structure for transmission, there is limited information about its structure and composition that could be targeted for therapeutic intervention. Here, we identified a...