Latest Articles
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyRapid Replacement of Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Accompanied by Changes in Lipooligosaccharide Loci and Resistance Gene RepertoireMultidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii is a difficult-to-treat health care-associated pathogen. Knowing the resistance genes present in isolates causing infection aids in empirical treatment selection. Furthermore, knowledge of the genetic background can assist in tracking patterns of transmission to limit the spread of infections in hospitals. The appearance of a new...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyStress-Induced MazF-Mediated Proteins in Escherichia coliThe stress response, the strategy that bacteria have developed in order to cope up with all kinds of adverse conditions, is so far understood at the level of transcription. Our previous findings of a uniquely modified stress-induced translation machinery (STM) generated in E. coli under stress by the endoribonucleolytic activity of the toxin MazF opens a new chapter...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyEntry of Polarized Effector Cells into Quiescence Forces HIV LatencyCurrent primary cell models for HIV latency correlate poorly with the reactivation behavior of patient cells. We have developed a new model, called QUECEL, which generates a large and homogenous population of latently infected CD4+ memory cells. By purifying HIV-infected cells and inducing cell quiescence with a defined cocktail of cytokines, we have eliminated the largest problems with previous primary cell models of HIV...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyAntagonism of dsRNA-Induced Innate Immune Pathways by NS4a and NS4b Accessory Proteins during MERS Coronavirus InfectionMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is the second novel zoonotic coronavirus to emerge in the 21st century and cause outbreaks of severe respiratory disease. More than 2,200 cases and 800 deaths have been reported to date, yet there are no licensed vaccines or treatments. Coronaviruses encode unique accessory proteins that are not required for replication but most likely play roles in immune antagonism and/or...
Commentary | Host-Microbe BiologyEncephalomyocarditis Virus Entry UnveiledPicornaviruses are a widespread group of pathogens that can cause diverse pathologies. Pathogenesis is thought to be driven by the tissue-specific tropisms displayed by these viruses.
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyA Toxoplasma Prolyl Hydroxylase Mediates Oxygen Stress Responses by Regulating Translation ElongationBecause oxygen plays a key role in the growth of many organisms, cells must know how much oxygen is available. O2-sensing proteins are therefore critical cellular factors, and prolyl hydroxylases are the best-studied type of O2-sensing proteins. In general, prolyl hydroxylases trigger cellular responses to decreased oxygen availability. But, how does a cell react to high levels of oxygen? Using the protozoan...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyMitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cross-Talk Interaction Modulates the Production of Melanins in Aspergillus fumigatusAspergillus fumigatus is the most important airborne human pathogenic fungus, causing thousands of deaths per year. Its lethality is due to late and often inaccurate diagnosis and the lack of efficient therapeutics. The failure of efficient prophylaxis and therapy is based on the ability of this pathogen to activate numerous salvage pathways that are capable of...
Research Article | Ecological and Evolutionary ScienceMetabolism and Development during Conidial Germination in Response to a Carbon-Nitrogen-Rich Synthetic or a Natural Source of Nutrition in Neurospora crassaOne of the most remarkable successes of life is its ability to flourish in response to temporally and spatially varying environments. Fungi occupy diverse ecosystems, and their sensitivity to these environmental changes often drives major fungal life history decisions, including the major switch from vegetative growth to asexual or sexual reproduction. Spore germination comprises the first and simplest stage of vegetative growth. We...
Letter to the Editor | Applied and Environmental ScienceAcquired Antibiotic Resistance in Escherichia coli Exposed to Simulated Microgravity: Possible Role of Other Space Stressors and Adaptive Responses
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyA Klebsiella pneumoniae Regulatory Mutant Has Reduced Capsule Expression but Retains HypermucoviscosityKlebsiella pneumoniae continues to be a substantial public health threat due to its ability to cause health care-associated and community-acquired infections combined with its ability to acquire antibiotic resistance. Novel therapeutics are needed to combat this pathogen, and a greater understanding of its virulence factors is required for the development of new drugs...