Article
Microbiology
Joshua M. Thiede, Nicholas A. Dillon, Michael D. Howe, Ranee Aflakpui, Samuel J. Modlin, Sven E. Hoffner, Faramarz Valafar, Yusuke Minato, Anthony D. Baughn
Summary: This study revealed the regulatory role of the cell envelope stress response in the action of PZA. Further research demonstrated that potentiation of PZA can be achieved by deleting the anti-Sigma factor gene rseA or exposing bacilli to drugs targeting the cell wall, independently of environmental pH. These findings necessitate a paradigm shift in the understanding of PZA action and offer new avenues for enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic tools for tuberculosis.
Article
Microbiology
Joshua M. Thiede, Nicholas A. Dillon, Michael D. Howe, Ranee Aflakpui, Samuel J. Modlin, Sven E. Hoffner, Faramarz Valafar, Yusuke Minato, Anthony D. Baughn
Summary: Pyrazinamide (PZA) is an important drug in the treatment of tuberculosis and requires an acidic environment to exert its action. This study identified mutations in various genes associated with PZA resistance and revealed that constitutive activation of the cell envelope stress response can enhance PZA susceptibility regardless of environmental pH. In addition, exposure to certain drugs that target the cell wall can potentiate PZA action through triggering this response.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alvaro Chiner-Oms, G. Mariana, Miguel Moreno-Molina, Victoria Furio, Inaki Comasa
Summary: This study used a dataset of MTBC strains to determine the impact of past and present selective forces on the variability of the pathogen population. It identified genome regions relevant for host-pathogen interaction and potential determinants of drug resistance in second-line tuberculosis treatments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicoletta Commins, Mark R. Sullivan, Kerry McGowen, Evan M. Koch, Eric J. Rubin, Maha Farhat
Summary: The molecular clock rate of Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) slows down coincident with the emergence of phylogenetic clusters, challenging the model of person-to-person transmission and providing insights into transmission inference in emerging pathogens.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna G. Green, Roger Vargas Jr, Maximillian G. Marin, Luca Freschi, Jiaqi Xie, Maha R. Farhat
Summary: Pathogenic microorganisms face challenges in adapting to changing host environments, leading to changes in their virulence, antibiotic resistance, and transmissibility. This study developed a phylogenetic method to investigate genetic dependencies that promote pathogen adaptation using Mycobacterium tuberculosis genomes sampled in vivo. The results revealed that mutations in genes related to antigenic and antibiotic resistance functions often exhibit dependencies, and identified 23 mutations that enhance antibiotic resistance development. Additionally, a significant percentage of resistant strains acquired a dependent mutation after the emergence of a resistance-conferring variant. This research highlights the prevalence of genetic dependency in the adaptation of naturally evolving populations and demonstrates the usefulness of the computational approach proposed.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Francisco J. Silva, Diego Santos-Garcia, Xiaofeng Zheng, Li Zhang, Xiang Y. Han
Summary: This study constructed and analyzed the complete genome sequence of M. lepromatosis FJ924 and performed comparative genomic analyses with related mycobacteria. The results provide new insights into various aspects of the genome and its role in pathogenesis. The availability of the complete genome of M. lepromatosis may be useful for future research and care for leprosy.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sylvia Soldatou, Grimur Hjorleifsson Eldjarn, Andrew Ramsay, Justin J. J. van der Hooft, Alison H. Hughes, Simon Rogers, Katherine R. Duncan
Summary: In this study, molecular networking of metabolite extracts from 25 Polar bacterial strains using the OSMAC approach revealed growth media specificity and potential chemical novelty. The metabolite extracts showed antibacterial activity and selective bioactivity against drug-persistent pathogens. The integration of genome sequencing data and metabolomics experiments with the computational approach NPLinker prioritized strains for further investigation based on biosynthetic and chemical information, potentially accelerating the discovery of new specialized metabolites.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chris Amemiya
Summary: Genome sequencing and analysis of genomic interactions have revealed new insights into the evolution of the wing shapes in skates and rays, dating back over 200 million years.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Shanmugasundaram Karuppusamy, Lucy Mutharia, David Kelton, Brandon Plattner, Sanjay Mallikarjunappa, Niel Karrow, Gordon Kirby
Summary: Using ELISAs based on different MAP cell envelope proteins to detect antibodies against MAP in cattle serum showed that ELISA using total cell envelope proteins had higher sensitivity and specificity, while commercial serum ELISA had lower sensitivity. Immunohistochemical analysis and immunomagnetic separation experiments further validated the potential of different cell envelope proteins and antibodies in detecting MAP infection in dairy cattle.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ewen Callaway
Summary: Genetic material collected from permafrost reveals that northern Greenland was once a thriving forest.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martha I. Nelson, Elodie Ghedin
Summary: The evolutionary steps taken by the 1918 flu pandemic virus have been revealed through the analysis of lung samples stored in medical archives. Three genomes of the influenza A virus responsible for the global pandemic have been obtained, showing mutations that may have triggered the devastating second wave.
Review
Microbiology
Xinyue Xu, Baoyu Dong, Lijun Peng, Chao Gao, Zhiqun He, Chuan Wang, Jumei Zeng
Summary: The dynamic cell envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis regulates the immune response and is a crucial target for drug and vaccine development.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Elora H. Lopez-Nandam, Rebecca Albright, Erik A. Hanson, Elizabeth A. Sheets, Stephen R. Palumbi
Summary: In many animals, the germline differentiates early in embryogenesis, so only mutations that accumulate in germ cells are inherited by offspring. Stony corals, however, have been thought to produce gametes from somatic tissue. To clarify this, researchers sequenced the genomes of parent coral branches and their sperm pools and found that a significant portion of mutations were not shared between the parent and the sperm, indicating the presence of self-renewing stem cells in coral. Understanding the evolution and diversity of germlines in animals and corals can provide insights for adaptation in the face of climate change.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Tanim Arpit Singh, Ajit Kumar Passari, Anjana Jajoo, Sheetal Bhasin, Vijai Kumar Gupta, Abeer Hashem, Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi, Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah
Summary: Advancements in genome sequencing, metabolomics, and bioinformatics have provided a plethora of information about actinobacterial physiology and genetic regulation, enhancing our understanding of their ability to synthesize bioactive molecules. Developments in genomic approaches have opened new opportunities to discover and manipulate novel antibiotic gene clusters.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Alyssa Schami, M. Nurul Islam, John T. Belisle, Jordi B. Torrelles
Summary: Drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis pose a threat to global public health and are difficult to treat. Limited research has been conducted on the changes in the cell envelope composition of drug-resistant strains and their impact on infection outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Monique Turmel, Christian Otis, Antony T. Vincent, Claude Lemieux
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Monique Turmel, Antony T. Vincent, Christian Otis, Claude Lemieux
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES
(2020)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antony T. Vincent, Nava Hosseini, Steve J. Charette
Summary: This literature review provides an overview of the plasmidome of Aeromonas salmonicida, focusing on antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and cryptic plasmids with unknown biological functions.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Gabrielle R. Leduc, Valerie E. Paquet, Antony T. Vincent, Steve J. Charette
Summary: Aeromonas salmonicida strains cause bacterial infections in aquaculture, and study shows that a phage, T7-Ah, can infect various strains of this bacterium, potentially offering a treatment option for these infections.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Juan F. Guerra Maldonado, Antony T. Vincent, Martin Chenal, Frederic J. Veyrier
Article
Microbiology
Pierre-Etienne Marcoux, Antony T. Vincent, Marie-Ange Massicotte, Valerie E. Paquet, Emilie J. Doucet, Nava Hosseini, Melanie V. Trudel, Gabriel Byatt, Mathilde Laurent, Michel Frenette, Steve J. Charette
Summary: European strains of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida are more prone to losing the TTSS locus compared to Canadian strains. A cluster of genes encoding putative proteins with DNA binding capacity and phage proteins was found to be almost perfectly correlated with the susceptibility of different strains to lose the locus. This discovery opens up new opportunities for studying the thermosensitivity of pAsa5.
Article
Microbiology
Antony T. Vincent, Steve J. Charette
Summary: Aeromonas salmonicida, a bacterial species known as a feared pathogen in fish farming, is not exclusively aquatic. It includes psychrophilic and mesophilic strains, and the study of its dual lifestyle is becoming increasingly important and relevant for speciation research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sammy Nyongesa, Philipp M. Weber, Eve Bernet, Francisco Pulido, Cecilia Nieves, Marta Nieckarz, Marie Delaby, Tobias Viehboeck, Nicole Krause, Alex Rivera-Millot, Arnaldo Nakamura, Norbert O. E. Vischer, Michael vanNieuwenhze, Yves Brun, Felipe Cava, Silvia Bulgheresi, Frederic J. Veyrier
Summary: This study investigates the evolution of cell shape, multicellularity, and division mode within the Neisseriaceae family by using genomic, phylogenetic, and microscopy techniques. The researchers discover that certain bacteria within the Neisseriaceae family can divide longitudinally, and identify genes and alleles associated with multicellularity and longitudinal division. The findings shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms of multicellularity and longitudinal division in bacteria.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lucie Galiot, Xavier C. Monger, Antony T. Vincent
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a widespread issue that challenges the study and control of bacterial communities due to the mobility of resistance genes. This study investigates the relationship between insertion sequences and antibiotic resistance genes in microbiomes using two datasets. Statistically significant correlations were found in both datasets, but further research is needed to fully understand the contribution of insertion sequences to gene mobility.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sammy Nyongesa, Martin Chenal, Eve Bernet, Florian Coudray, Frederic J. Veyrier
Summary: The development of simple and efficient genetic modification strategies is crucial for post-genetic studies and various applications. In this study, we established a reliable system for Neisseria species that allows for unmarked and multiple genetic modifications in a single strain. Our three-gene cassettes, RPLK and RPCC, significantly reduce false positives and can be efficiently transformed into various Neisseria species. Demonstrating their versatility, we successfully obtained unmarked luminescent strains or mutants in different pathogenic and commensal species, as well as cumulative deletion of multiple loci in a Neisseria elongata strain.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Juliet O. Awori, Alice Kamau, Susan Morpeth, Sidi Kazungu, Micah Silaba, Joyce Sande, Angela Karani, Sammy Nyongesa, Salim Mwarumba, Robert Musyimi, Anne Bett, Siti Wande, Mohammed Shebe, Mwanajuma Ngama, Patrick K. Munywoki, Neema Muturi, D. James Nokes, Daniel R. Feikin, David R. Murdoch, Christine Prosperi, Katherine L. O'Brien, Maria Deloria Knoll, Laura L. Hammitt, J. Anthony G. Scott
Summary: The study investigated the causes of severe childhood pneumonia in Kilifi, Kenya, and found that respiratory syncytial virus was the main cause of CXR-positive pneumonia, with a small contribution from Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae, possibly reflecting the impact of vaccine introductions in the population.
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Antony T. Vincent, Laurent Intertaglia, Victor Loyer, Valerie E. Paquet, Emilie Adouane, Patrick Martin, Celine Berard, Raphael Lami, Steve J. Charette
Summary: The study identified a new genomic island, AsaGEJ2d, in sick salmon isolates from France, which is distinct from known AsaGEI variants. This suggests diversity of AsaGEIs and their distribution in different regions.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robert A. Gaultney, Antony T. Vincent, Celine Lorioux, Jean-Yves Coppee, Odile Sismeiro, Hugo Varet, Rachel Legendre, Charlotte A. Cockram, Frederic J. Veyrier, Mathieu Picardeau
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Alice Levesque, Mary Thaler, Simon J. Labrie, Catherine Marois, Antony T. Vincent, Anne-Marie Lapointe, Alexander Culley
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Eve Bernet, Marthe Lebughe, Antony T. Vincent, Mohammad Mehdi Haghdoost, Golara Golbaghi, Steven Laplante, Annie Castonguay, Frederic J. Veyrier
Summary: The study suggests that a boron-based salt, sodium tetraphenylborate (NaBPh4), displays high bactericidal activity against Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, with limited impact on closely related commensal species. The drug candidate's target(s) are likely located intracellularly or within the cell envelope, and mutants with decreased susceptibility show reduced virulence. This narrow selectivity of NaBPh4 is observed to have potential therapeutic importance.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)