Latest Articles
Research ArticleNirA Is an Alternative Nitrite Reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Potential as an Antivirulence TargetThe emergence of widespread antimicrobial resistance has led to the need for development of novel therapeutic interventions. Antivirulence strategies are an attractive alternative to classic antimicrobial therapy; however, they require identification of new specific targets which can be exploited in drug discovery programs.
Research ArticlePeptidoglycan Contribution to the B Cell Superantigen Activity of Staphylococcal Protein AThe LysM domain is found in all kingdoms of life. While their function in mammals is not known, LysM domains of bacteria and their phage parasites are associated with enzymes that cleave or remodel peptidoglycan.
Research ArticlePhylogenomic Analyses of Nucleotide-Sugar Biosynthetic and Interconverting Enzymes Illuminate Cell Wall Composition in FungiThis study provides new insights into the complex evolutionary history of the fungal cell wall. We analyzed fungal enzymes that convert sugars acquired from the environment into the diverse sugars that make up the fundamental building blocks of the cell wall.
Research ArticleA Translation-Aborting Small Open Reading Frame in the Intergenic Region Promotes Translation of a Mg2+ Transporter in Salmonella TyphimuriumTranslation initiation regions in mRNAs that include the ribosome-binding site (RBS) and the start codon are often sequestered within a secondary structure. Therefore, to initiate protein synthesis, the mRNA secondary structure must be unfolded to allow the RBS to be accessible to the ribosome.
Research ArticleThe Small t Antigen of JC Virus Antagonizes RIG-I-Mediated Innate Immunity by Inhibiting TRIM25’s RNA Binding AbilityThe innate immune response is the first line of defense against viral pathogens, and in turn, many viruses have evolved strategies to evade detection by the host’s innate immune surveillance machinery. Investigation of the interplay between viruses and the innate immune response provides valuable insight into potential therapeutic targets against viral infectious diseases.
Research ArticleAn Infection-Tolerant Mammalian Reservoir for Several Zoonotic Agents Broadly Counters the Inflammatory Effects of EndotoxinAnimals that are natural carriers of pathogens that cause human diseases commonly manifest little or no sickness as a consequence of infection. Examples include the deer mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, which is a reservoir for Lyme disease and several other disease agents in North America, and some types of bats, which are carriers of viruses with pathogenicity for humans...
Research ArticleInterferon-Independent Restriction of RNA Virus Entry and Replication by a Class of Damage-Associated Molecular PatternsIn this work, we explored how a class of oxidized lipids, spontaneously created during tissue damage and unprogrammed cell lysis, block the earliest events in RNA virus infection in the human epithelium. This gives us novel insight into the ways that we view infection models, unveiling a built-in mechanism to slow viral growth that neither engages the interferon response nor is subject to known viral antagonism.
MinireviewReframing Nutritional Microbiota Studies To Reflect an Inherent Metabolic Flexibility of the Human Gut: a Narrative Review Focusing on High-Fat DietsThere is a broad consensus in nutritional-microbiota research that high-fat (HF) diets are harmful to human health, at least in part through their modulation of the gut microbiota. However, various studies also support the inherent flexibility of the human gut and our microbiota’s ability to adapt to a variety of food sources, suggesting a more nuanced picture.
Research ArticleDynamics of the Bacillus subtilis Min SystemThe molecular mechanisms that help to place the division septum in bacteria is of fundamental importance to ensure cell proliferation and maintenance of cell shape and size. The Min protein system, found in many rod-shaped bacteria, is thought to play a major role in division site selection.
ObservationExtreme C-to-A Hypermutation at a Site of Cytosine-N4 MethylationMutation produces the raw material for adaptive evolution but also imposes a burden because most mutations are deleterious. The rate of mutation at a particular site is affected by a variety of factors.