Article
Biology
Xinfeng Li, Fang Chen, Xiaoyu Liu, Jinfeng Xiao, Binda T. Andongma, Qing Tang, Xiaojian Cao, Shan-Ho Chou, Michael Y. Galperin, Jin He
Summary: Under starvation conditions, Mycobacterium species regulate the translation rate by decreasing the level of CarD protein through induction of antisense RNA AscarD and degradation by Clp protease. This regulation mode helps the bacteria cope with nutritional stress and is important for their adaptation and persistence in the host environment.
Article
Microbiology
Nikita Mangla, Ramandeep Singh, Nisheeth Agarwal
Summary: M. tuberculosis is exposed to various extracellular stressful conditions and has mechanisms to endure and adapt to survive. mHtpG, in association with DnaJ2 cochaperone, assists the mycobacterial DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE chaperone system, suggesting its potential role in stress management of the pathogen.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Ziemski, Julia Leodolter, Gabrielle Taylor, Anne Kerschenmeyer, Eilika Weber-Ban
Summary: In Mtb, the Clp protease degradation pathway is essential for growth and is a promising drug target. Using a BACTH screening approach, protein interaction partners of the ClpC1 chaperone were identified, with a focus on type II toxin-antitoxin systems. Antitoxins from the Vap and Rel families were shown to be degraded by ClpCP in vitro, implicating ClpCP in the N-end rule pathway.
Article
Biology
Amelia E. Hinman, Charul Jani, Stephanie C. Pringle, Wei R. Zhang, Neharika Jain, Amanda J. Martinot, Amy K. Barczak
Summary: The study identified that phagosomal membrane damage caused by Mtb benefits invading pathogens by enhancing a late TLR2-dependent transcriptional response, which interferes with effective inflammation generation and promotes tuberculosis pathogenesis in both macrophage and murine infection models.
Article
Microbiology
Stefan Pan, Aaron A. Jensen, Nicholas A. Wood, Beate Henrichfreise, Heike Broetz-Oesterhelt, Derek J. Fisher, Peter Sass, Scot P. Ouellette
Summary: Bacterial AAA+ unfoldases, such as ClpC, play crucial roles in bacterial physiology by recognizing and unfolding specific substrates for degradation. In this study, we investigated the function of chlamydial ClpC using in vitro and cell culture approaches. We found that ClpC exhibits ATPase and chaperone activities, and can form a functional protease with ClpP1P2 complexes. Depletion or overexpression of ClpC significantly affected chlamydial growth, highlighting its essentiality in Chlamydia. These findings suggest that ClpC could be a potential target for the development of antichlamydial agents.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abhilash Bhattacharjee, Sangita Sarma, Tejosmita Sen, Anil Kumar Singh
Summary: This review provides an overview of ongoing research on the genome and transcriptome of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis. It explores the use of omics-based research to identify mutations and differential gene expression related to drug resistance. The study finds distinctive mutations in first- and second-line drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It also investigates the differences in expression of genes involved in fundamental cellular processes and their role in drug resistance. With the development of transcriptomics-based studies, new insights have been gained into gene expression changes in drug resistance. This information can be utilized to design the basic platform for anti-tuberculosis treatments and therapeutic approaches, and can be instrumental in disease diagnosis and global containment of resistant TB.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Emmanuel C. Ogbonna, Henry R. Anderson, Patrick C. Beardslee, Priyanka Bheemreddy, Karl R. Schmitz
Summary: Drug-resistant tuberculosis infections pose a major challenge to global public health. The ClpC1 unfoldase has been identified as a promising antibacterial target. By identifying interaction partners of ClpC1 in a model mycobacterium, we can gain a better understanding of its physiological function and develop compounds that inhibit its essential cellular activities.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Elisa Petruccioli, Linda Petrone, Teresa Chiacchio, Chiara Farroni, Gilda Cuzzi, Assunta Navarra, Valentina Vanini, Umberto Massafra, Marianna Lo Pizzo, Giuliana Guggino, Nadia Caccamo, Fabrizio Cantini, Fabrizio Palmieri, Delia Goletti
Summary: Patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), have a higher risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general population. Studying the M. tuberculosis (Mtb) specific T-cell response may help identify immune biomarkers of Mtb burden or clearance in different TB statuses and risk groups.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
David Pires, Sofia Valente, Marta Calado, Manoj Mandal, Jose Miguel Azevedo-Pereira, Elsa Anes
Summary: Despite the availability of antibiotics, tuberculosis has become a global threat due to co-infection with HIV, drug-resistant strains, and the lack of an effective vaccine. Host-directed strategies could improve treatment efficacy, contain drug-resistant strains, improve immune responses, and reduce disease severity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Annabel Itterbeek, Amber Possemiers, Yunus Colak, Leonard E. Backer, Abram Aertsen, Rob Lavigne, Jan Paeshuyse
Summary: This study screened Mycophage endolysins and identified CBDs with affinity to Mycobacterium bovis. The secondary structure analysis revealed the presence of potential new CBDs in other endolysins. Fusion proteins containing these CBDs were constructed and shown to have affinity to Mycobacterium bovis. Furthermore, two CBDs were able to fluorescently label Mycobacterium bovis in milk samples.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yurong Cai, Weifeng Gao, Pu Wang, Gang Zhang, Xiaoping Wang, Lingling Jiang, Jin Zeng, Yujiong Wang, Zhiwei Wu, Yong Li
Summary: This study investigated the differential responses of bovine alveolar macrophages to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis infection at the protein level. The results revealed different mechanisms used by the macrophages to resist the two pathogens, and identified activated proteins and signaling pathways associated with autophagy, inflammation, and energy metabolism. These findings provide critical insights into TB pathogenesis and potential biomarkers for more effective treatment strategies. The study also supports the hypothesis of cross-species transmission of MTB.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Renata Plocinska, Karolina Wasik, Przemyslaw Plocinski, Ewelina Lechowicz, Magdalena Antczak, Ewelina Blaszczyk, Bozena Dziadek, Marcin Slomka, Anna Rumijowska-Galewicz, Jaroslaw Dziadek
Summary: This study investigates the role of the orphan response regulator Rv3143 in the physiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis. The results suggest that Rv3143 interacts with NuoD and modulates its activity. Deletion of Rv3143 and msmeg_2064 leads to increased sensitivity to reactive nitrogen species and valinomycin, as well as increased reduction of the electron acceptor TTC. Silencing of ndh expression affects cell survival under limited oxygen conditions.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Khushpreet Kaur, Sumedha Sharma, Sudhanshu Abhishek, Prabhdeep Kaur, Uttam Chand Saini, Mandeep Singh Dhillon, Petros C. Karakousis, Indu Verma
Summary: Bone tuberculosis (TB) is the third most common type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that Mycobacterium tuberculosis alters its gene expression to establish infection in bone by upregulating certain virulence genes. These genes play a key role in disturbing bone homeostasis. Two of the identified virulence proteins significantly inhibit osteoblast differentiation in an in vitro model.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Alberti, Stefano Sainas, Erika Ronchi, Marco L. Lolli, Donatella Boschi, Menico Rizzi, Davide M. Ferraris, Riccardo Miggiano
Summary: Researchers have characterized the full-length MTB DHODH and discovered the first selective inhibitor. This study has significant implications for drug treatment of tuberculosis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hong Yingqi, Yanxi Lv, Jianyi Zhang, Naveed Ahmad, Youbao Li, Nan Wang, Liu Xiuming, Yao Na, Xiaokun Li
Summary: A newly discovered cysteine protease gene in plants was found to play a role in plant growth and stress responses. The study showed that this gene has a detrimental effect on transgenic plants under low-temperature stress, but its inhibitor can enhance plant tolerance to low temperature.