Latest Articles
Research Article | Therapeutics and PreventionVaccine Protection against Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Severe Lower Respiratory Tract InfectionMultidrug-resistant bacteria continue to be a major problem worldwide, especially among individuals with significant comorbidities and other risk factors for infection. K. pneumoniae is among the leading causes of health care-associated infections, and the organism is often resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. A carbapenem-resistant...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyRIP1, RIP3, and MLKL Contribute to Cell Death Caused by Clostridium perfringens EnterotoxinC. perfringens type F strains are a common cause of food poisoning and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Type F strain virulence requires production of C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE). In Caco-2 cells, high CPE concentrations cause necrosis while low enterotoxin concentrations induce apoptosis. The...
Author Reply | Host-Microbe BiologyReply to Rockey et al., “Genomics and Chlamydial Persistence In Vivo”
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyA Multiorgan Trafficking Circuit Provides Purifying Selection of Listeria monocytogenes Virulence GenesListeria monocytogenes maintains capabilities for free-living growth in the environment and for intracellular replication in a wide range of hosts, including livestock and humans. Here, we characterized an enterocolitis model of foodborne L. monocytogenes infection. This work highlights a multiorgan...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyAlanyl-tRNA Synthetase Quality Control Prevents Global Dysregulation of the Escherichia coli ProteomeErrors in protein synthesis have historically been assumed to be detrimental to the cell. While there are many reports that translational errors are consequential, there is a growing body of evidence that some mistranslation events may be tolerated or even beneficial. Using two models of mistranslation, we compare the direct phenotypic effects of these events in Escherichia...
Research Article | Clinical Science and EpidemiologyUnbiased Metagenomic Sequencing for Pediatric Meningitis in Bangladesh Reveals Neuroinvasive Chikungunya Virus Outbreak and Other Unrealized PathogensGlobally, there are an estimated 10.6 million cases of meningitis and 288,000 deaths every year, with the vast majority occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, many survivors suffer from long-term neurological sequelae. Most laboratories assay only for common bacterial etiologies using culture and directed PCR, and the majority of meningitis cases lack microbiological diagnoses, impeding institution of evidence-based...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyG Protein Pathway Suppressor 1 Promotes Influenza Virus Polymerase Activity by Activating the NF-κB Signaling PathwayIn the present study, we identified G protein pathway suppressor 1 (GPS1) to be a host cellular protein that is important for influenza virus replication. We also found that GPS1 plays a role in viral genome transcription through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, downregulation of GPS1 also affected the growth of vesicular stomatitis virus. Therefore, GPS1 may be a host target for antiviral drugs against influenza virus and...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyDiversity in Natural Transformation Frequencies and Regulation across Vibrio SpeciesNaturally transformable, or competent, bacteria are able to take up DNA from their environment, a key method of horizontal gene transfer for acquisition of new DNA sequences. Our research shows that Vibrio species that inhabit marine environments exhibit a wide diversity in natural transformation capability ranging from nontransformability to high transformation rates in which 10% of cells measurably incorporate new DNA. We...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyUbiquitination of Listeria Virulence Factor InlC Contributes to the Host Response to InfectionThe pathogenic potential of Listeria monocytogenes relies on the production of an arsenal of virulence determinants that have been extensively characterized, including surface and secreted proteins of the internalin family. We have previously shown that the Listeria secreted internalin InlC interacts with IκB kinase α to interfere with the host immune...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Unfolded Protein Response Regulates Pathogenic Development of Ustilago maydis by Rok1-Dependent Inhibition of Mating-Type SignalingThe unfolded protein response (UPR) is crucial for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and disease development in fungal pathogens. In the plant-pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis, the UPR supports fungal proliferation in planta and effector secretion for plant defense suppression. In this study, we uncovered that UPR activity, which is normally restricted...