Article
Microbiology
Guixia Yang, Lingkang Yang, Xianxuan Zhou
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified the flagellin protein FliC of Escherichia coli Nissle1917 (EcN) as a heparin binding protein. They found that heparin's ability to bind FliC was 48 times higher than its ability to bind other proteins. The results demonstrate that interaction between heparin and EcN's flagellin FliC inhibits bacterial swimming.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashley L. Nord, Anais Biquet-Bisquert, Manouk Abkarian, Theo Pigaglio, Farida Seduk, Axel Magalon, Francesco Pedaci
Summary: Bacterial motility relies on the mechanics of the hook, which stiffens when twisted by the rotation of the flagellum. This study reveals the double functionality of the hook - it is flexible when needed but rigid enough to withstand high hydrodynamical forces, enabling high-speed motility.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Joao Pedro Rueda Furlan, Micaela Santana Ramos, Rafael da Silva Rosa, Eduardo Angelino Savazzi, Eliana Guedes Stehling
Summary: Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates recovered from aquatic ecosystems showed resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, polymyxins, and fluoroquinolones. Multiple antimicrobial resistance genes and metal tolerance genes were found. Additionally, virulence genes and genetic diversity were present among these isolates. The emergence of multidrug-resistant and metal-tolerant potentially pathogenic E. coli strains at the human-animal-environment interface is a global health concern.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Shuai Jiang, Heyun Wu, Zhuoyue Yao, Ran Li, Qian Ma, Xixian Xie
Summary: The improvement of industrial microbes' production phenotype is necessary and challenging. Optimizing environmental factors helps to activate potential genetic determiners and enhance production. This study dissected the mechanism of L-arginine overproduction triggered by betaine and identified beneficial genes for further improvement. It also revealed the role of betaine in modulating gene transcription and developed a superior L-arginine overproducer that does not require betaine.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Istvan Toth, Eva Bagyinszky, Domonkos Svab
Summary: A new molecular detection method has been proposed in this study for rapid, reliable, and easy identification, typing, and phylogenetic classification of Escherichia coli strains in the O157 serogroup. The method can be used in epidemiologic tracing and preliminary phylogenetic grouping of these diverse pathogens.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sarah A. Blackburn, Mark Shepherd, Gary K. Robinson
Summary: The study focused on the production of OMVs in various Escherichia coli strains, revealing that mutations in genes involved in fimbriae biosynthesis can lead to the packaging of different proteins into OMVs. The research also demonstrated that the packaging of major proteins in OMVs is reciprocally regulated, and disruption of this process can occur through genetic mutations. The findings highlight the importance of structural appendage co-expression in OMV production.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Maad Tohmaz, Mahdi Askari Badouei, Hamideh Kalateh Rahmani, Gholamreza Hashemi Tabar
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance in bacterial isolates from food producing animals poses challenges to veterinary medicine and public health. This study found associations between genomic backbone, plasmids, and antimicrobial resistance. Certain genetic lineages potentially host specific groups of plasmids. Significant associations were observed between specific phylogroups and antimicrobial resistance.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Remy Colin, Bin Ni, Leanid Laganenka, Victor Sourjik
Summary: Swimming bacteria can follow gradients of nutrients and signaling molecules for optimal growth, with chemotaxis enhancing efficiency in environmental colonization. The balance between individual and collective behaviors is crucial, with multiple roles of motility and chemotaxis in bacterial swarming, biofilm formation, and interactions with hosts.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jyot D. Antani, Rachit Gupta, Annie H. Lee, Kathy Y. Rhee, Michael D. Manson, Pushkar P. Lele
Summary: The bacterial flagellar motor is able to adapt its switching between clockwise and counterclockwise rotation in response to changes in mechanical load by controlling the binding affinity of the chemotaxis response regulator, CheY-P. This allows the motor to maintain optimal function in environments of varying viscosities. The interplay between mechanical forces and CheY-P binding tunes the chemotactic function to match the load, resembling proprioceptive feedback in neuromuscular systems.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Qun Han, Shao-Feng Wang, Xin-Xin Qian, Lu Guo, Yi-Feng Shi, Rui He, Jun-Hua Yuan, Yan-Jie Hou, De-Feng Li
Summary: In E. coli and related species, the flagellar brake protein YcgR responds to increased levels of c-di-GMP and regulates bacterial swimming by decreasing flagellar rotation speed and biasing rotation direction. The target proteins involved and the role of motor proteins in this regulation are still unclear. This study found that YcgR interacts with both MotA and FliG, with enhanced affinities upon c-di-GMP binding. Furthermore, specific residues in YcgR were found to be necessary for binding to FliG. Mutations in these binding residues restored flagellar rotation speed and bias in wild-type cells. Thus, c-di-GMP-activated YcgR regulates flagellar rotation speed and direction through interactions with motor proteins MotA and FliG.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Navish Wadhwa, Yuhai Tu, Howard C. Berg
Summary: Motility is crucial for the survival and dispersal of many bacteria, and plays a role during infections. Recent research has shown that the bidirectional flagellar motor of E. coli adjusts torque-generating units in response to changes in load, representing a robust strategy for quickly regulating output.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yohannes E. Messele, Darren J. Trott, Mauida F. Hasoon, Tania Veltman, Joe P. McMeniman, Stephen P. Kidd, Steven P. Djordjevic, Kiro R. Petrovski, Wai Y. Low
Summary: The genetic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from cattle, pigs, poultry, and humans were analyzed using whole genome sequencing data. Most cattle and pig isolates belonged to phylogroups A and B1, while avian and human isolates belonged to B2 and D. Some cattle isolates carried extended-spectrum and AmpC beta-lactamase genes. The results indicate that cattle isolates from feedlots pose a reduced risk of being a source of clinically important antimicrobial-resistant E. coli.
Review
Microbiology
Lindsey Dzierozynski, Jessica Queen, Cynthia L. Sears
Summary: This commentary discusses the influence of host genetics on the microbiome and highlights the need for mechanistic experimental studies to understand the interplay between host genes and the microbiome.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruben Perez-Carrasco, Maria-Jose Franco-Onate, Jean-Charles Walter, Jerome Dorignac, Fred Geniet, John Palmeri, Andrea Parmeggiani, Nils-Ole Walliser, Ashley L. Nord
Summary: This article focuses on the dynamics of bacterial flagellar motors, revealing a stoichiometry-dependent asymmetry in stator remodeling kinetics and proposing a two-state catch-bond mechanism to explain the observed asymmetry.
Article
Biology
Farha Naaz, Megha Agrawal, Soumyadeep Chakraborty, Mahesh S. Tirumkudulu, K. V. Venkatesh
Summary: Bacteria have the ability to modulate motor speed by sensing ligands, temporarily increasing speed with non-metabolizable ligands, and maintaining higher speeds for longer durations with metabolizable ligands. Experiments with mutant strains demonstrate how sensing and metabolism play roles in the modulation of motor speed to enhance responses to environmental changes.
Article
Entomology
Yan-Qun Liu, Dong-Bin Chen, Huan-Huan Liu, Hua-Lei Hu, Hai-Xu Bian, Ru-Song Zhang, Rui-Sheng Yang, Xing-Fu Jiang, Sheng-Lin Shi
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hua-Lei Hu, Jing-Yu Zhang, Yu-Ping Li, Lu Xie, Dong-Bin Chen, Qun Li, Yan-Qun Liu, Shu-Rong Hui, Li Qin
CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES
(2019)
Article
Entomology
Miao-Miao Chen, Liang Zhong, Chun-Shan Zhao, Feng-Cheng Wang, Wan-Jie Ji, Bo Zhang, Shu-Yu Liu, Yan-Qun Liu, Xi-Sheng Li
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huan Wang, Jing-Yu Zhang, Xiao-Meng Wang, Hua-Lei Hu, Run-Xi Xia, Qun Li, Xu-Wei Zhu, Tian-Mao Wang, Yan-Qun Liu, Li Qin
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Entomology
Dong-Bin Chen, Ru-Song Zhang, Xiang-Dong Jin, Jian Yang, Peng Li, Yan-Qun Liu
Summary: This study determined the mitochondrial genome of Rhodinia fugax and analyzed its characteristics and phylogenetic relationships within the Rhodinia genus. The mitochondrial genome of R. fugax is similar to other Saturniidae species and belongs to the Attacini tribe. This research provides valuable insights into the biology and evolution of wild silkmoths.
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
J-C Huang, X-Y Li, Y-P Li, R-S Zhang, D-B Chen, R-X Xia, Y-Q Liu
Summary: This study analyzed the mitochondrial COI gene sequences from 13 Samia species and provided a DNA barcode-based phylogenetic framework for species identification. The results showed a close relationship between S. ricini and S. canningi, but a distant relationship between S. ricini and S. cynthia.
JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Gui-Zheng Zhang, Yu-Li Zhang, Wei Wei, Yu-Ping Li, Yan-Qun Liu, Li-Hui Bi, Cheng Lu
Summary: The Yao silkworm is a unique silkworm resource that has been exclusively reared by the Baiku Yao ethnic group in Nandan County, Guangxi Province, China for a thousand years. This study reveals that the Yao silkworm shares a common ancestor with the domestic silkworm, but possesses distinct mitochondrial genome variations. The Yao silkworm represents an ancient population of the domestic silkworm.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wanfeng Ai, Yanqun Liu, Mei Mei, Xiaolin Zhang, Enguang Tan, Hanzhang Liu, Xiaoyi Han, Hao Zhan, Xiujun Lu
Summary: A chromosome-scale reference genome assembly of the ecologically and economically important Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch.) was created using multiple technologies, providing valuable insights into its biology and evolution.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sheng-Lin Shi, Yan-Qun Liu, Run-Xi Xia, Li Qin
Summary: This study examined the codon usage of oak chloroplast genomes and found no significant differences between genomes, but significant differences within genomes. Oak chloroplast genomes prefer T/A-ending codons.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
T. Jiang, X. -Y. Li, M. -M. Chen, S. -T Liu, Y. -P. Li, R. -X. Xia, Y. -R. Jiang, Q. Li, Y. -Q. Liu
Summary: In this study, candidate chemosensory genes were characterized from the genomes of two wild silkmoths. The study found that the number of genes related to olfaction and taste varied between the two species. Furthermore, most of these genes were expressed in the antennal transcriptome, while some gustatory receptor genes showed no expression.
JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Dongbin Chen, Xu Yang, Dehong Yang, Yujia Liu, Yaohui Wang, Xingyu Luo, Linmeng Tang, Meiyan Yi, Yongping Huang, Yanqun Liu, Zulian Liu
Summary: By using CRISPR genome editing, researchers found that mutation of BmDicer1 in silkworms resulted in arrested larval development and dysregulation of gene expression. Additionally, they observed the critical roles of BmDicer1 in miRNA biogenesis and larval development in silkworms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Fu, Miaomiao Chen, Runxi Xia, Xinyu Li, Qun Li, Yuping Li, Huiying Cao, Yanqun Liu
Summary: In this study, the cuticular proteins (CPs) in the genome of Antheraea pernyi were identified and compared with those of Bombyx mori. It was found that A. pernyi expressed more RR-2 genes during the pupal stage compared to B. mori, but expressed less RR-2 genes in the prothoracic gland. This suggests that the difference in hardness between the pupal skin and prothoracic gland of the two species may be caused by the number of expressed RR-2 genes. Additionally, it was revealed that B. mori expressed a higher number of CP genes in the antennae and prothoracic gland of the fifth instar larva than in the larval epidermis. This study provides an overall framework for functional research on CP genes in Saturniidae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dong-Bin Chen, Run-Xi Xia, Qun Li, Yu-Ping Li, Hui-Ying Cao, Yan-Qun Liu
Summary: This study identified 281 detoxification genes in the commercial wild silkworm, and found that certain genes play a role in detoxification of insecticides at safe concentrations, highlighting the importance of detoxification gene repertoire in insect pesticide tolerance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qun Li, Yang Xu, Yan-Qun Liu, Li Qin
Summary: Cold is an important environmental stress that affects the growth, productivity, and geographic distribution of tree species. In this study, the physiological and metabolic responses of two oak species to cold stress were compared, and it was found that Quercus wutaishanica was more cold-tolerant than Q. acutissima. Metabolomic analysis revealed that carbohydrate and flavonoid metabolites played important roles in the cold tolerance of both oak species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hai-Xu Bian, Dong-Bin Chen, Xi-Xi Zheng, Hong-Fang Ma, Yu-Ping Li, Qun Li, Run-Xi Xia, Huan Wang, Yi-Ren Jiang, Yan-Qun Liu, Li Qin
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)