zinc
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIdentification of Zinc-Dependent Mechanisms Used by Group B Streptococcus To Overcome Calprotectin-Mediated StressGroup B Streptococcus (GBS) asymptomatically colonizes the female reproductive tract but is a common causative agent of meningitis. GBS meningitis is characterized by extensive infiltration of neutrophils carrying high concentrations of calprotectin, a metal chelator. To persist within inflammatory sites and cause invasive disease, GBS must circumvent host starvation attempts. Here, we identified global requirements for GBS...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyModulation of Symbiotic Compatibility by Rhizobial Zinc Starvation MachineryThe rhizobium-legume symbiosis contributes around 65% of biological nitrogen fixation in agriculture systems and is critical for sustainable agriculture by reducing the amount of chemical nitrogen fertilizer being used. Rhizobial inocula have been commercialized for more than 100 years, but the efficiency of inoculation can vary among legume cultivars, field sites, and years. These long-lasting challenging problems impede the...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Immune Protein Calprotectin Impacts Clostridioides difficile Metabolism through Zinc LimitationClostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of postantibiotic nosocomial infection. Antibiotic therapy can be successful, yet up to one-third of individuals suffer from recurrent infections. Understanding the mechanisms controlling C. difficile colonization is paramount in...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyA Single Salt Bridge in VIM-20 Increases Protein Stability and Antibiotic Resistance under Low-Zinc ConditionsAntibiotic resistance is a growing clinical threat. One of the most serious areas of concern is the ability of some bacteria to degrade carbapenems, drugs that are often reserved as last-resort antibiotics. Resistance to carbapenems can be conferred by a large group of related enzymes called metallo-β-lactamases that rely on zinc ions for function and for overall stability. Here, we studied an extensive panel of 45 different metallo-β-...