Article
Microbiology
Linnea J. Ritchie, Erin R. Curtis, Kimberly A. Murphy, Roy D. Welch
Summary: Myxococcus xanthus is a bacterium that forms predatory biofilm swarms on surfaces, displaying dynamic multicellular patterns controlled by coordinated cell movement. The two motility systems, adventurous (A) and social (S), play roles in swarm expansion and pattern formation. Genetic and environmental perturbations have been identified to influence phenotype variations within the M. xanthus swarming phenome.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Juana Perez, Francisco Javier Contreras-Moreno, Jose Munoz-Dorado, Aurelio Moraleda-Munoz
Summary: Myxococcus xanthus is a complex multicellular bacterium that preys on microorganisms using a collaborative strategy. The bacterium undergoes unique developmental programs and gene regulation to form environmentally resistant spores. This study analyzes the transcriptomic changes of M. xanthus when encountering a prey, revealing the molecular mechanisms involved in the predatory process.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Jose Soto, Juana Perez, Jose Munoz-Dorado, Francisco Javier Contreras-Moreno, Aurelio Moraleda-Munoz
Summary: Bacterial predation has both positive and negative effects on microbial community structures, plant and animal health, and environmental sustainability. A study on the interaction between Myxococcus xanthus and Sinorhizobium meliloti reveals that the predator induces significant transcriptional changes in the prey, leading to up-regulation of processes such as protein synthesis, energy generation, and fatty acid synthesis, as well as down-regulation of genes involved in fatty acid degradation and carbohydrate metabolism. The induction of various defense mechanisms, including changes in cell envelop composition and iron-uptake machinery, reflects the adaptations made by the prey to protect itself from the predatory attack.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Allison S. Zwarycz, Thomas Page, Gabriela Nikolova, Emily J. Radford, David E. Whitworth
Summary: Predatory outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) secreted by myxobacteria can fuse with the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria, but the re-fusion of OMVs with producing organisms is inhibited. The OMV killing activity against different prey is correlated with the predatory activity of myxobacterial cells, but not with their propensity to fuse with different prey. The enzymes GAPDH and PGK inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and may be involved in OMV-mediated predation.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Honghong Dong, Ruixiang Gao, Yijie Dong, Qing Yao, Honghui Zhu
Summary: This study presented the high-quality genome assembly of Myxococcus xanthus R31, a strain with good biocontrol efficacy against tomato bacterial wilt. Comparative genomics analysis revealed the phylogenetic relationship between R31 and other M. xanthus strains, and identified strain-specific genes that may contribute to its predatory ability. These findings provide new insights into R31 and related species, and lay the foundation for further genetic studies on the predation mechanism of myxobacteria.
Article
Microbiology
Honghong Dong, Xin Xu, Ruixiang Gao, Yueqiu Li, Anzhang Li, Qing Yao, Honghui Zhu
Summary: This study reports the discovery of a myxobacteria strain, Myxococcus xanthus R31, that exhibits high antagonistic activity against the pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. The study reveals that the strain can efficiently predate and secrete lytic proteins to control tomato bacterial wilt.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fares Saidi, Razieh Bitazar, Nicholas Y. Bradette, Salim T. Islam
Summary: The integrity of the cell-surface EPS glycocalyx plays an important role in the tolerance of M. xanthus to harmful compounds. However, the effect of glycocalyx integrity on tolerance to different compounds is unclear.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew R. Burns, Rachel J. Baker, Megan Kitner, Jessica Knox, Brittany Cooke, Jonathan R. Volpatti, Aditya S. Vaidya, Emily Puumala, Bruna M. Palmeira, Elizabeth M. Redman, Jamie Snider, Sagar Marwah, Sai W. Chung, Margaret H. MacDonald, Jens Tiefenbach, Chun Hu, Qi Xiao, Constance A. M. Finney, Henry M. Krause, Sonya A. MacParland, Igor Stagljar, John S. Gilleard, Leah E. Cowen, Susan L. F. Meyer, Sean R. Cutler, James J. Dowling, Mark Lautens, Inga Zasada, Peter J. Roy
Summary: Parasitic nematodes pose a major threat to global food security, especially as the world population is set to reach 10 billion. Traditional nematicides have been banned due to their poor selectivity, leaving farmers with limited means of pest control. This study identifies a family of selective imidazothiazole nematicides, called selectivins, which undergo cytochrome P450-mediated bioactivation in nematodes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shiling Feng, Chunyan Zhang, Tao Chen, Lijun Zhou, Yan Huang, Ming Yuan, Tian Li, Chunbang Ding
Summary: The study found that OLE significantly prolongs the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans and increases their resistance to lethal heat shock and oxidative stress. OLE regulates stress resistance and lifespan extension in nematodes through the activation of the IIS and SKN-1/Nrf2 signaling pathways.
Article
Biology
Albert Alonso, Julius B. Kirkegaard
Summary: A deep learning approach is developed to extract precise shape trajectories of motile and overlapping slender bodies, which is applicable to dense experiments of swimming nematodes. The approach works in low resolution settings and can track thousands of overlapping organisms simultaneously. The model training is achieved with synthetic data and shows the ability to generalize from simulations to experimental videos.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yan Wang, Tingyi Li, Weiwei Xue, Yue Zheng, Yipeng Wang, Ning Zhang, Yue Zhao, Jing Wang, Yuezhong Li, Chuandong Wang, Wei Hu
Summary: Extracellular DNA plays a critical role in bacterial biofilms by interacting with exopolysaccharides to form a complex that facilitates biofilm formation and provides stress resistance to the cells. Understanding these mechanisms can help develop strategies against biofilm-related risks.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carlos Lopez-Viso, Gassan Hodaifa, Manuel J. Munoz
Summary: This study discovered that Caenorhabditis elegans can grow on urban sludge and convert it into nematode biomass while removing organic matter. By conducting different experiments, the feasibility of using nematodes to reduce urban sludges was demonstrated. This work presents a new method for valorizing urban sludge and obtaining by-products with high added value.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Virology
Mark G. Sterken, Lisa van Sluijs, Yiru A. Wang, Wannisa Ritmahan, Mitra L. Gultom, Joost A. G. Riksen, Rita J. M. Volkers, L. Basten Snoek, Gorben P. Pijlman, Jan E. Kammenga
Summary: Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, this study dissected the genetic architecture of Orsay virus infection and identified two loci on chromosome IV associated with susceptibility. Additionally, it was found that other genetic elements may also influence viral infection susceptibility.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Emily Schifano, Alberta Tomassini, Adele Preziosi, Jorge Montes, Walter Aureli, Patrizia Mancini, Alfredo Miccheli, Daniela Uccelletti
Summary: Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria isolated from carrots showed promising probiotic potential both in vitro and in vivo, exhibiting antibiotic susceptibility and the ability to inhibit the growth of various pathogens. Through experiments conducted in a nematode model, it was found that these LAB strains could induce longevity effects, protect against pathogen infections, and stimulate innate immunity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kun-Ching Cheng, Chin-Fu Chen, Chin-Chuan Hung, Sio-Hong Lam, Hsin-Yi Hung, Yue-Chiun Li, Fu-An Chen, Po-Chuen Shieh, Ping-Chung Kuo, Tian-Shung Wu
Summary: The study identified several undescribed compounds from Taiwanofungus salmoneus, some of which showed inhibitory effects on multidrug resistance and potential for cancer therapy.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)