Article
Immunology
Suborno Jati, Soham Sengupta, Malini Sen
Summary: The study found that the Wnt5A signaling pathway plays different roles in handling pathogenic and non-pathogenic infections, with a potentially crucial role in regulating intracellular actin organization of bacteria.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas Dumartinet, Sebastien Ravel, Veronique Roussel, Luis Perez-Vicente, Jaime Aguayo, Catherine Abadie, Jean Carlier
Summary: This study investigated the adaptive architecture underlying plant pathogen adaptation to quantitative resistance by combining genome scan and quantitative genetics approaches. The results suggest a complex adaptive structure with a polygenic basis and a low level of parallel evolution between pathogen populations. Candidate genes involved in quantitative pathogenicity and host adaptation were identified in genomic regions by combining annotation analysis with available biological data.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erik D. Enbody, Mats E. Pettersson, C. Grace Sprehn, Stefan Palm, Hakan Wickstrom, Leif Andersson
Summary: Research shows that European eels belong to a single panmictic population with no geographical genetic differentiation. The predominant mechanism for European eels to respond to diverse environmental conditions is phenotypic plasticity rather than genetic adaptation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Stefan Kusch, Justine Larrouy, Heba M. M. Ibrahim, Shantala Mounichetty, Noemie Gasset, Olivier Navaud, Malick Mbengue, Catherine Zanchetta, Celine Lopez-Roques, Cecile Donnadieu, Laurence Godiard, Sylvain Raffaele
Summary: This article discusses the importance of the host range of parasites in assessing disease epidemic dynamics, especially the evolutionary adaptation of pathogens to new hosts. It compares the global transcriptome reprogramming of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and S. trifoliorum on different hosts, as well as gene space conservation in the genome. The results show that there are differences in the regulation of resistance to Brassicaceae plants in S. trifoliorum, which may be related to its genetic adaptation in host range expansion.
Article
Immunology
Rachael E. Mahle, Sunil Suchindran, Ricardo Henao, Julie M. Steinbrink, Thomas W. Burke, Micah T. McClain, Geoffrey S. Ginsburg, Christopher W. Woods, Ephraim L. Tsalik
Summary: The study found that a host gene expression test for discriminating bacterial, viral, and noninfectious conditions had lower overall accuracy in immunocompromised patients compared to immunocompetent patients. However, with modified interpretive criteria, this strategy may still offer clinically useful diagnostic information for patients with immunocompromise.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Sravan Kumar Miryala, Anand Anbarasu, Sudha Ramaiah
Summary: The study of host-pathogen interactions and protein-protein interactions in cardiovascular diseases reveals dense interactions between human and E. coli genes, which play crucial roles in the onset and progression of the diseases and can be explored for new drug discovery.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jean Carlier, Francois Bonnot, Veronique Roussel, Sebastien Ravel, Reina Teresa Martinez, Luis Perez-Vicente, Catherine Abadie, Stephen Wright
Summary: This study revealed the genomic basis of adaptation to quantitative resistance in the banana pathogen Pseudocercospora fijiensis, detecting several genomic regions potentially involved in quantitative pathogenicity and highlighting specific host-pathogen interactions. The findings suggest a polygenic basis for fungal adaptation to quantitative plant resistance and complex molecular interactions between plants and pathogens in quantitative disease development.
Article
Microbiology
Hyun-Hee Lee, Jungwook Park, Hyejung Jung, Young-Su Seo
Summary: Burkholderia gladioli demonstrates high adaptability and versatility in various ecological niches, with niche-associated genomes playing important roles in competition with hosts, degradation of compounds, and DNA repair. The conservation of rhizomide biosynthetic gene cluster is observed in all strains, with a higher concentration in human isolates. Additionally, absence of CRISPR/Cas system in plant and human pathogenic strains, but presence in those living in nature, suggests a potential inverse relationship with virulence.
Review
Microbiology
Vera Vozandychova, Pavla Stojkova, Kamil Hercik, Pavel Rehulka, Jiri Stulik
Summary: Ubiquitination, similar to phosphorylation and acetylation, plays a crucial role in regulating various cell processes. Understanding how pathogens manipulate host ubiquitination processes is important for vaccine development and disease treatment. Pathogenic bacteria encode effector proteins targeting the host ubiquitin machinery to disrupt host defense processes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naazneen Khan, Aniruddha Sasmal, Zahra Khedri, Patrick Secrest, Andrea Verhagen, Saurabh Srivastava, Nissi Varki, Xi Chen, Hai Yu, Travis Beddoe, Adrienne W. Paton, James C. Paton, Ajit Varki
Summary: This study found that the evolution paths of A and B subunits of AB5 toxins are different and proposed a nomenclature for B subunits based on bacterial species names. The study also found poor correlation between phylogenetic trees of B subunits and species phylogeny, indicating ongoing lateral gene transfers between different species. These findings help explain the host range and pathogenesis of Yersinia pestis.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Qi Wang, Nadia Shakoor, Adam Boyher, Kira M. Veley, Jeffrey C. Berry, Todd C. Mockler, Rebecca S. Bart
Summary: The study used sorghum and Xanthomonas vasicola pv. holcicola as a model pathosystem to investigate plant defense and pathogen virulence responses. The findings show that genes related to plant defense and pathogen virulence are most induced during a resistance interaction. This supports the concept of fluidity between different stages of plant immunity and pathogen virulence.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Shani Cohen, Lior Rokach, Yair Motro, Jacob Moran-Gilad, Isana Veksler-Lublinsky
Summary: The study introduces a new methodology, minMLST, to minimize the number of genes in cgMLST schemes by identifying subsets of informative genes and analyzing the trade-off between gene reduction and typing performance. Results on eight bacterial species show that despite a reduction in the number of genes, typing performance remains high, which is expected to improve the implementation of cgMLST schemes.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alexandra Katz Kahn, Rodrigo P. P. Almeida
Summary: Xylella fastidiosa is a globally important bacterial plant pathogen with many hosts. This paper explores the history of host specificity and convergent evolution in the pan-genome of X. fastidiosa using phylogenetics. The findings are crucial in understanding the historical trends of host switching and predicting future host shifts. The study also highlights the limitations of using MLST genes for phylogenetic analysis in this system.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liron Zahavi, Amit Lavon, Lee Reicher, Saar Shoer, Anastasia Godneva, Sigal Leviatan, Michal Rein, Omer Weissbrod, Adina Weinberger, Eran Segal
Summary: This study developed a framework for metagenome-wide association studies (MWAS) to systematically detect bacterial SNPs and associate them with host phenotypes. The researchers discovered 1,358 statistically significant associations between a bacterial SNP and host body mass index (BMI), most of which were independent of diet, medications or physical exercise. Seventeen associations replicated in a geographically independent cohort. The study highlights the importance of considering nucleotide-level diversity in microbiome studies and reveals bacterial SNPs associated with BMI.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nathan S. Upham, Jorrit H. Poelen, Deborah Paul, Quentin J. Groom, Nancy B. Simmons, Maarten P. M. Vanhove, Sandro Bertolino, DeeAnn M. Reeder, Cristiane Bastos-Silveira, Atriya Sen, Beckett Sterner, Nico M. Franz, Marcus Guidoti, Lyubomir Penev, Donat Agosti
Summary: Lockdowns during the pandemic have highlighted the issue of biological dark data, where published data is disconnected from digital knowledge resources, limiting analysis. Building digitally connected knowledge graphs can help identify host-pathogen interactions quickly and strengthen human and planetary health systems.
LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vincent P. Richards, Annette Nigsch, Paulina Pavinski Bitar, Qi Sun, Tod Stuber, Kristina Ceres, Rebecca L. Smith, Suelee Robbe Austerman, Ynte Schukken, Yrjo T. Grohn, Michael J. Stanhope
Summary: This study conducted a prolonged longitudinal analysis of MAP isolates and dairy cow Johne's disease phenotypes from three commercial dairy farms, identifying several genes associated with the disease. The results provide insights for improving strategies to control Johne's disease.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Scott T. Henderson, Pallavi Singh, David Knupp, David W. Lacher, Galeb S. Abu-Ali, James T. Rudrik, Shannon D. Manning
Summary: In this study, PCR assays were used to examine the occupancy of Shiga toxin prophages in different loci among 346 E. coli O157 strains, revealing variations in occupancy profiles among different clades. Strains belonging to clade 8 were found to have unique prophage occupancy profiles that could impact toxin expression, providing insights into the complexity of prophage integration and its implications on virulence.
Article
Immunology
Jacky Lu, Miriam A. Guevara, Jamisha D. Francis, Sabrina K. Spicer, Rebecca E. Moore, Schuyler A. Chambers, Kelly M. Craft, Shannon D. Manning, Steven D. Townsend, Jennifer A. Gaddy
Summary: This study demonstrates that lactoferrin possesses antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties against a wide range of GBS isolates, with maternally isolated colonizing strains being the most susceptible.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Tyra M. Avery, RaNashia L. Boone, Jacky Lu, Sabrina K. Spicer, Miriam A. Guevara, Rebecca E. Moore, Schuyler A. Chambers, Shannon D. Manning, Leon Dent, Dana Marshall, Steven M. Damo, Steven D. Townsend, Jennifer A. Gaddy
Summary: A. baumannii, an opportunistic bacterial pathogen, forms biofilms to evade environmental challenges, and lactoferrin has shown potential as a biofilm-inhibiting molecule. Human lactoferrin exhibits slightly stronger antibacterial activities than bovine lactoferrin against certain strains of A. baumannii, with effects depending on the anatomical site of isolation.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kristen Noble, Jacky Lu, Miriam A. Guevara, Ryan S. Doster, Schuyler A. Chambers, Lisa M. Rogers, Rebecca E. Moore, Sabrina K. Spicer, Alison J. Eastman, Jamisha D. Francis, Shannon D. Manning, Lakshmi Rajagopal, David M. Aronoff, Steven D. Townsend, Jennifer A. Gaddy
Summary: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a Gram-positive pathogen causing ascending infections during pregnancy, with its cpsE gene product playing a crucial role in virulence and invasion of the reproductive tract.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Karla Vasco, Brian Nohomovich, Pallavi Singh, Cristina Venegas-Vargas, Rebekah E. Mosci, Steven Rust, Paul Bartlett, Bo Norby, Daniel Grooms, Lixin Zhang, Shannon D. Manning
Summary: The study found that farms with high-STEC prevalence had a richer microbial community compared to low-STEC prevalence farms, while cattle in low-STEC prevalence farms had higher microbial diversity. Furthermore, bacterial genera associated with STEC shedding in dairy farms were also correlated with differences in the percentage of forage in diet and risk factors of STEC carriage.
Article
Microbiology
Jamisha D. Francis, Miriam A. Guevara, Jacky Lu, Shabir A. Madhi, Gaurav Kwatra, David M. Aronoff, Shannon D. Manning, Jennifer A. Gaddy
Summary: This study found that the susceptibility or resistance to zinc intoxication in Streptococcus agalactiae strains varies based on their isolation source, capsular serotype, and sequence type. Invasive strains are less susceptible to zinc toxicity compared to colonizing strains. Moreover, capsular type III strains and the ST-17 and ST-19 strains exhibit the greatest resilience to zinc stress.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca E. Moore, Harrison C. Thomas, Shannon D. Manning, Jennifer A. Gaddy, Steven D. Townsend
Summary: The members of infant microbiome are influenced by feeding method and prebiotics, which can affect the interactions between commensals and pathogens. The study provides insights into how single species survive in the gut, the niche they occupy, and their interactions with other members of the microbiota.
Article
Microbiology
Rim Al Safadi, Michelle L. Korir, Shannon D. Manning
Summary: The virulence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 is influenced by a specific gene, norV, which affects toxin production. Variation in norV function and the impact of oxygen and nitric oxide (NO) on toxin production differ among different strains. This study contributes to understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of this strain.
Article
Microbiology
Jessica L. St. Charles, Phillip T. Brooks, Julia A. Bell, Husnain Ahmed, Mia Van Allen, Shannon D. Manning, Linda S. Mansfield
Summary: This study found a close relationship between C. jejuni strains from sick calves and those infecting family members, suggesting zoonotic transmission. Additionally, despite repeated exposure to C. jejuni strains with LOS known to elicit autoimmune reactions, the family members did not develop GBS.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lauren M. O'Connell, Thomas Blouin, Ashlyn Soule, Robert A. Burne, Marcelle M. Nascimento, Vincent P. Richards
Summary: The microbiota associated with dental caries is still not fully understood. This study aimed to develop a more reliable method for identifying oral streptococci at the species level. The results showed that the newly developed 30S-S11 rRNA gene locus provided improved taxonomic resolution over the traditional 16S rRNA V4 approach. Additionally, different amplicon sequence variants within a species were found to vary in abundance at different stages of caries progression, suggesting distinct roles of strains within a single species in health and disease.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Hayley B. Hassler, Brett Probert, Carson Moore, Elizabeth Lawson, Richard W. Jackson, Brook T. Russell, Vincent P. Richards
Summary: This study evaluates the phylogenetic performance of the 16S rRNA gene and finds that it exhibits recombination and horizontal gene transfer, with low concordance at the intra-genus level. The concordance is even lower for hypervariable regions, and SNP count is a major factor influencing concordance. In addition, there is a wide range of 16S rRNA gene copy numbers among genomes. Therefore, this study highlights the issues with the 16S rRNA gene and the need for caution when using related methods.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michelle L. Korir, Ryan S. Doster, Jacky Lu, Miriam A. Guevara, Sabrina K. Spicer, Rebecca E. Moore, Jamisha D. Francis, Lisa M. Rogers, Kathryn P. Haley, Amondrea Blackman, Kristen N. Noble, Alison J. Eastman, Janice A. Williams, Steven M. Damo, Kelli L. Boyd, Steven D. Townsend, C. Henrique Serezani, David M. Aronoff, Shannon D. Manning, Jennifer A. Gaddy
Summary: This study reveals that the gene cadD in Group B Streptococcus (GBS) enhances metal resistance in macrophages, reducing metal toxicity and promoting bacterial proliferation in the pregnant host. Deletion of cadD decreases GBS survival in macrophages and reduces invasion in gestational tissues.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Allison M. Mann, Lauren O'Connell, Esosa Osagie, Paul Akhigbe, Ozoemene Obuekwe, Augustine Omoigberale, Colton O. Kelly, Modupe P. Coker, Vincent Richards
Summary: Since its recognition as a global epidemic in the early 1980s, HIV has infected approximately 84.2 million people and caused 40.1 million deaths. Although antiretroviral treatment has reduced the mortality rate, 1.5 million new infections were reported in 2021, with a majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Children living with HIV have a higher prevalence of oral diseases, such as caries, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kelly M. Collins, Cole McCutcheon, Shannon D. Manning, Margaret Petroff
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2022)