Article
Microbiology
Andrew Hutchin, Charlotte Cordery, Martin A. Walsh, Jeremy S. Webb, Ivo Tews
Summary: PAS and Cache domains are prevalent in sensory systems, often carrying cofactors or binding ligands, and serving as dimerization domains in protein associations. Through analysis of the proteome of the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, the study sheds light on the wide distribution and functional diversification of these domains.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Xuerui Bao, Ellen Goeteyn, Aurelie Crabbe, Tom Coenye
Summary: D,L-malate enhances ciprofloxacin activity against P. aeruginosa, improving antibiotic therapy in infection environments. The choice of model system influences the outcome of the experiment, emphasizing the importance of using models that closely mimic the in vivo environment. This study confirms the potential of D,L-malate to enhance ciprofloxacin activity against P. aeruginosa-associated infections.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ruojun Wang, Weipeng Zhang, Wei Ding, Zhicong Liang, Lexin Long, Wai Chuen Wong, Pei-Yuan Qian
Summary: This study analyzed signal transduction genes in marine biofilms and seawater microbial metagenomes, and found that the abundance of signal transduction-related genes in biofilm microbial communities was significantly higher than in seawater microbial communities. In addition, the dominant source microbes of signal transduction genes in marine biofilms were different from those in seawater samples. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed potential inter-phyla interactions between microorganisms from marine biofilms and seawater microbial communities.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fadi Soukarieh, Alaa Mashabi, William Richardson, Eduard Vico Oton, Manuel Romero, Shaun N. Roberston, Scott Grossman, Tomas Sou, Ruiling Liu, Nigel Halliday, Irena Kukavica-Ibrulj, Roger C. Levesque, Christel A. S. Bergstrom, Barrie Kellam, Jonas Emsley, Stephan Heeb, Paul Williams, Michael J. Stocks, Miguel Camara
Summary: This study identified and optimized PqsR antagonists using virtual screening and whole cell assay validation, with compound 61 showing potential as a potent PqsR inhibitor. Compound 61 reduced virulence traits in various strains of P. aeruginosa and enhanced the effect of ciprofloxacin in treating biofilms and infections in Galleria mellonella. These findings suggest compound 61 as a promising lead for developing P. aeruginosa quorum sensing inhibitors for preclinical development.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michaela Prothiwa, Verena Filz, Sebastian Oehler, Thomas Boettcher
Summary: A novel substrate-based chemical probe was developed against the central quinolone biosynthesis enzyme HmqD in Burkholderia species, leading to the discovery of the first known HmqD inhibitors with single-digit micromolar efficacy in blocking quinolone production in Burkholderia cultures.
Article
Microbiology
David Zamorano-Sanchez, Jesus E. Alejandre-Sixtos, Adilene Arredondo-Hernandez, Raquel Martinez-Mendez
Summary: This study reveals the role of OpaR in the control of c-di-GMP metabolism and biofilm formation in V. parahaemolyticus. TpdA plays a dominant role in c-di-GMP degradation under typical conditions, while ScrC takes the lead on solid medium. The expression of OpaR has contrasting effects on cpsA expression and biofilm development.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yuhao Weng, Xinying Chen, Zhaodong Hao, Lu Lu, Xinru Wu, Jiaji Zhang, Jingxiang Wu, Jisen Shi, Jinhui Chen
Summary: The GRAS gene family in Liriodendron chinense was studied and 49 LcGRAS genes were identified. The expression of LcGRAS genes was mainly observed after the heart-stage embryo development, suggesting their potential role in somatic embryogenesis. Furthermore, the PAT subfamily genes were found to be activated under stress treatment, indicating their involvement in plant adaptation to stress.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Prerana Shrestha, Ali Razvi, Brittany L. Fung, Steven J. Eichinger, Karen L. Visick
Summary: This study reveals the genes and conditions that influence c-di-GMP-mediated control over motility in V. fischeri, providing insights into the functions of these enzymes and environmental factors that influence them. Understanding the roles of c-di-GMP-modulating enzymes in controlling motility has the potential to inform on microbe-host interactions.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Ella M. Meumann, Direk Limmathurotsakul, Susanna J. Dunachie, Willem J. Wiersinga, Bart J. Currie
Summary: This review explores the global burden, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, as well as current diagnostics, treatment recommendations, and preventive measures. Melioidosis is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and has been proposed as a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization. Climate change and environmental disturbance are expected to increase the number of cases.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Courtney N. Dial, Brittany L. Fung, Karen L. Visick
Summary: The marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri forms and disperses biofilms to initiate symbiotic colonization of its squid host. The study found that the combination of para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) and calcium induced wild-type strain ES114 to form biofilms. It was determined that the positive syp regulator RscS plays a crucial role in biofilm formation by recognizing pABA and calcium cues.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xuerui Bao, Mona Bove, Tom Coenye
Summary: The high tolerance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in respiratory tract infections in cystic fibrosis contributes to the failure of antibiotic therapy. This study identified carbon sources that could enhance the inhibiting and/or eradicating activity of tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime against P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms. The mechanisms underlying the enhanced biofilm eradicating activity were strain-dependent.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Devin Sindeldecker, Shaurya Prakash, Paul Stoodley
Summary: This study analyzed the zone of killing (ZOK) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms using both in vitro and in silico methods. The findings revealed that achieving a specific antibiotic concentration versus time constraint (AUC) could completely eradicate bacteria in the biofilms. This suggests that appropriate antibiotic concentrations and treatment duration may be effective against antibiotic-resistant and -tolerant biofilm infections.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Thomas James O'Brien, Wendy Figueroa, Martin Welch
Summary: The presence of diverse polymicrobial communities in the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis can hinder the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. A study showed that growth in a polymicrobial environment protects the target microorganism from the effects of specific antimicrobial agents. This decreased efficacy is found to have both physiological and genetic components.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lauren M. McKinnon, Justin B. Miller, Michael F. Whiting, John S. K. Kauwe, Perry G. Ridge
Summary: Ramp sequences play a crucial role in translation by increasing speed and accuracy. The analysis showed high congruence between the presence of ramp sequences and established phylogenies in vertebrates, with fewer parallelisms and reversals than random permutations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jeanne Trognon, Gonzalo Vera, Maya Rima, Jean-Luc Stigliani, Laurent Amielet, Salome El Hage, Barbora Lajoie, Christine Roques, Fatima El Garah
Summary: Biofilm formation is a major cause of therapeutic failure and poses significant challenges to public health and the economy. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in particular, is responsible for severe infections due to its ability to form resistant biofilms. In this study, chromone-based compounds were evaluated as potential ligands for PqsR, a receptor involved in biofilm formation, and a library of chromone carboxamides was synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit biofilm formation. Several compounds showed promising results as inhibitors of P. aeruginosa biofilms, highlighting the potential for new therapeutic approaches.
Article
Ecology
Eric L. Bruger, Daniel J. Synder, Vaughn S. Cooper, Christopher M. Waters
Summary: The study shows that quorum sensing mechanisms can prevent the invasion of defectors and promote stability of cooperation in mixed populations. Experimentally, it was found that well-functioning QS allowed the maintenance of cooperative variants, while defectors tended to outcompete unconditional cooperating lineages in long-term evolutionary experiments.
Article
Microbiology
Heiko T. Kiesewalter, Carlos N. Lozano-Andrade, Mario Wibowo, Mikael L. Strube, Gergely Maroti, Dan Snyder, Tue Sparholt Jorgensen, Thomas O. Larsen, Vaughn S. Cooper, Tilmann Weber, Akos T. Kovacs
Summary: The study isolated Bacillus subtilis strains from multiple sampling sites, compared their nonribosomal peptide production, and found variations in production among strains from the same soil sample. It also revealed the varying biocontrol properties of B. subtilis isolates in inhibiting plant pathogenic fungi.
Article
Microbiology
Abigail M. Rubio, Ellen G. Kline, Chelsea E. Jones, Liang Chen, Barry N. Kreiswirth, M. Hong Nguyen, Cornelius J. Clancy, Vaughn S. Cooper, Ghady Haidar, Daria Van Tyne, Ryan K. Shields
Summary: In this study, we compared the in vitro susceptibility of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates before and after exposure to ceftolozane-tazobactam and found treatment-emergent mutations in the AmpC gene, which were associated with altered resistance patterns. However, some ceftolozane-tazobactam-resistant isolates with AmpC mutations remained susceptible to imipenem-relebactam.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Michelle R. Scribner, Amelia C. Stephens, Justin L. Huong, Anthony R. Richardson, Vaughn S. Cooper
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces dangerous chronic infections that are characterized by rapid diversification and resistance to treatment. Our study reveals the importance of nutrient levels and surface attachment in driving the evolution of P. aeruginosa in the cystic fibrosis respiratory environment. These findings highlight the significance of nutrient conditions and biofilm selection in selecting mutants with problematic clinical phenotypes.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Wenwen Huo, Lindsay M. Busch, Juan Hernandez-Bird, Efrat Hamami, Christopher W. Marshall, Edward Geisinger, Vaughn S. Cooper, Tim van Opijnen, Jason W. Rosch, Ralph R. Isberg
Summary: The experiment revealed that neutrophil-depleted hosts facilitate the growth of drug persisters and act as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance variants. Additionally, it showed that antibiotic treatment failure in immunocompromised hosts may occur without clinically defined resistance, providing a model for how antibiotic failure can happen clinically in the absence of AMR.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Alfonso Santos-Lopez, Melissa J. Fritz, Jeffrey B. Lombardo, Ansen H. P. Burr, Victoria A. Heinrich, Christopher W. Marshall, Vaughn S. Cooper
Summary: This study investigates the resistance to the promising cationic peptide antibiotic WLBU2 and its evolution during treatment. By manipulating mutation supply and using whole genome sequencing, the genetic pathways and mechanisms of resistance to WLBU2 were identified. The results demonstrate the potential of experimental evolution and whole genome sequencing in understanding the targets and actions of new antimicrobial compounds and predicting resistance pathways to new antibiotics in clinical practice.
EVOLUTION MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Anton F. Evans, Meghan K. Wells, Jordan Denk, William Mazza, Raziel Santos, Amber Delprince, Wook Kim
Summary: In densely populated colonies of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1, diverse mutations in the rsmE gene are naturally selected to solve the problem of overcrowding. RsmE-regulated secretions work together to create and protect space of low cell density. These secretions are not regulated by RsmE's paralogs that share high sequence similarity.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kady D. Waggle, Marissa P. Griffith, Lei Zhu, Vaughn S. Cooper, Daniel J. Snyder, Vatsala Srinivasa, Tung Phan, Alan Wells, Graham M. Snyder, Daria Van Tyne, Lee H. Harrison, Jane W. Marsh
Summary: This study utilized whole genome sequencing to analyze individuals who were vaccinated but tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, revealing potential adaptive responses of the virus to the vaccine.
Article
Microbiology
Collin Kessler, Wook Kim
Summary: Modulation of intracellular c-di-GMP is crucial for the formation of bacterial communities. Through experimental evolution, 147 unique mutations in 33 lineages were found to impact c-di-GMP production. The study also identified unknown proteins that are associated with c-di-GMP production.
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer A. Grousd, Brooke P. Dresden, Abigail M. Riesmeyer, Vaughn S. Cooper, Jennifer M. Bomberger, Anthony R. Richardson, John F. Alcorn
Summary: Staphylococcus aureus can complicate preceding viral infections, and bacterial virulence factors play a role in single or superinfection.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marc J. Muraski, Emil M. Nilsson, Melissa J. Fritz, Anthony R. Richardson, Rebecca W. Alexander, Vaughn S. Cooper
Summary: When microbes grow in foreign nutritional environments, selection may enrich mutations in unexpected pathways connecting growth and homeostasis. An evolution experiment designed to identify beneficial mutations in Burkholderia cenocepacia captured six independent nonsynonymous substitutions in the essential gene tilS, which modifies tRNA(Ile2) by adding a lysine to the anticodon for faithful AUA recognition. Further, five additional mutants acquired mutations in tRNA(Ile2), which strongly suggests that disrupting the TilS-tRNA(Ile2) interaction was subject to strong positive selection. Mutated TilS incurred greatly reduced enzymatic function but retained capacity for tRNA(Ile2) binding.
Article
Microbiology
Mika Murata, Kosuke Kosai, Norihiko Akamatsu, Yumiko Matsuyama, Mitsuharu Oda, Atsushi Wakamatsu, Koichi Izumikawa, Hiroshi Mukae, Katsunori Yanagihara
Summary: BD Phoenix CPO Detect panels can perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing and detect and classify carbapenemase-producing organisms simultaneously. The panels showed good performance in detecting and classifying carbapenemase producers, accurately identifying IMP producers and OXA-23-like carbapenemase-producing A.baumannii strains. Compared to the comparator methods, the overall accuracy of BD Phoenix CPO Detect panels in detecting carbapenemase-producing organisms reached 96.7%.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Lorrie Maccario, Ana F. Silva, Joseph Nesme, Cristina I. Amador, Soren J. Sorensen, Vaughn S. Cooper, Henriette L. Roder
Summary: We present the draft genomes of seven bacterial strains from two wastewater facilities in Denmark, two of which potentially belong to new groups within the Pseudomonas and Pseudochrobactrum genera. These genomes serve as valuable references for studying bacterial interactions and horizontal gene transfer in bacterial communities.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Kelly E. Hurley, Srijon K. Banerjee, Amelia C. Stephens, Michelle R. Scribner, Vaughn S. Cooper, Anthony R. Richardson
Summary: This study investigates the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to nitric oxide and its repair mechanisms. The researchers found that S. aureus is highly resistant to nitric oxide and has several DNA repair mechanisms that contribute to its replication fidelity and fitness.