Article
Microbiology
Zhi Xiong Zeng, Lu Yi Liu, Shui Bing Xiao, Jin Fang Lu, Ying Li Liu, Jing Li, Yuan Ze Zhou, Li Jing Liao, Duan You Li, Ying Zhou, Pin Nie, Hai Xia Xie
Summary: This study reveals the interaction between EscE and EsaH in Edwardsiella piscicida, and their role in stabilizing the T3SS needle protein EsaG. The EscE-EsaH complex acts as cochaperones and controls the secretion of T3SS needle protein EsaG, which in turn leads to the secretion of middle and late T3SS substrates. This research provides new insights into the regulation of protein secretion in E. piscicida.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irene Jimenez-Guerrero, Carlos Medina, Jose Maria Vinardell, Francisco Javier Ollero, Francisco Javier Lopez-Baena
Summary: Rhizobia establish a symbiotic association with legumes, forming plant nodules where they fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. The type 3 secretion system (T3SS) plays a crucial role in several rhizobium-legume symbioses by injecting effectors into host cells to alter host pathways or suppress host defense responses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chiara Guidi, Xevi Biarnes, Antoni Planas, Marjan De Mey
Summary: Glycosyltransferases (GT) catalyze the biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates, playing important roles in many cellular mechanisms. Understanding the mechanism of GTs is valuable for studying the structure-function relationships and improving enzyme engineering for various applications. This review focuses on the recent advances in understanding processive enzymes and their engineering strategies, as well as the chain length-controlling mechanisms in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic enzymes.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanna Liwocha, David T. Krist, Gerbrand J. van der Heden van Noort, Fynn M. Hansen, Vinh H. Truong, Ozge Karayel, Nicholas Purser, Daniel Houston, Nicole Burton, Mark J. Bostock, Michael Sattler, Matthias Mann, Joseph S. Harrison, Gary Kleiger, Huib Ovaa, Brenda A. Schulman
Summary: The study reveals that the aliphatic side chain specifying reactive amine geometry is a determinant of the ubiquitin code, affecting the assembly of ubiquitin chains by replacing the acceptor site.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Daisuke Nakane, Kohki Murata, Tsuyoshi Kenri, Keigo Shibayama, Takayuki Nishizaka
Summary: The coiled-coil domains of the 200-kDa protein HMW2 are aligned in parallel along the cell axis and act as a molecular ruler, which can be genetically modified to produce attachment organelles of varying lengths. This simple design principle highlights insights into bacterial cellular organization in parasitic lifestyles.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lu-Lu He, Xin Wang, Dylan O'Neill Rothenberg, Xiaoli Xu, Hai-Hong Wang, Xin Deng, Zi-Ning Cui
Summary: In this study, a high-throughput screening reporter system was constructed to screen for imidazole, oxazole, and thiazole compounds. The screening identified three compounds that significantly inhibited the activity of hrpW and hrpL gene promoters in P. syringae without affecting its growth. These compounds were found to suppress the expression of T3SS genes and inhibit the pathogenicity of P. syringae in tomato and bean. The findings suggest the potential of novel P. syringae T3SS inhibitors for disease prevention and control.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Dongni Gao, Hui Li, Jiang Shao, Lulu He, Chen Fu, Hongyu Lai, Dylan O'Neill Rothenberg, Xiaoli Xu, Gaopeng Song, Xin Deng, Zi-Ning Cui
Summary: Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a highly destructive bacterial disease. Traditional prevention methods using antibiotics have led to the emergence of resistant strains. New prevention techniques involving Type III secretion system (T3SS) inhibitors that target bacterial virulence factors without affecting bacterial growth have been developed. The study focused on the design and synthesis of ethyl-3-aryl-2-nitroacrylate derivatives for T3SS inhibition. Compounds B9 and B10 showed significant inhibition of hypersensitive response (HR) and T3SS gene expression in tobacco, and in vivo assays demonstrated their effectiveness in controlling BLB when combined with the quorum quenching bacteria F20.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chao Lv, Ying Li, Yuxia Wei, Jiayu Wang, Hui Yu, Feng Gao, Chao Zhu, Xiangdi Jia, Mingqiong Tong, Pingxuan Dong, Qianqian Gao, Longlong Geng
Summary: The overuse of antibiotics has resulted in increased bacterial drug resistance, and it is important to find new ways to combat this resistance. Blocking pathogen virulence devices is an effective approach, and T3SS inhibitors may serve as powerful weapons in this regard.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sajjad Hussain, Ping Ouyang, Yingkun Zhu, Abdul Khalique, Changliang He, Xiaoxia Liang, Gang Shu, Lizi Yin
Summary: The failure of traditional vaccination against Salmonella necessitates the development of novel therapeutics. Understanding the role of T3SS in bacterial pathogenesis and the development of anti-virulence agents is crucial, and the inhibition of T3SS at different stages of infection can help in controlling the disease progression. Insights into T3SS inhibitors of Salmonella can mitigate antibiotic resistance and lead to the development of new therapeutics.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Qiao-Qiao Guo, Yu-Zhen Li, Hua-Bin Shi, Ao-Yun Yi, Xiao-Li Xu, Hai-Hong Wang, Xin Deng, Zhi-Bing Wu, Zi-Ning Cui
Summary: A series of mandelic acid derivatives containing 2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiazole moiety were synthesized as potential inhibitors of Ralstonia solanacearum type III secretion system (T3SS). Among them, compound F-24 significantly inhibited the transcription of hrpY gene and attenuated hypersensitive response (HR) without inhibiting bacterial growth. F-24 showed better inhibitory activity than previously reported inhibitors and had the potential to control R. solanacearum.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Adrian Wallner, Lionel Moulin, Nicolas Busset, Isabelle Rimbault, Gilles Bena
Summary: This study identified two new T3SS types, BCI and PSI, in Burkholderia sensu lato species, with different distribution patterns in various Burkholderia and Paraburkholderia strains. These T3SS types play important roles in plant interactions, as demonstrated through experiments showing the impact of a BCI deficient mutant on rice colonization capacity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Niek van Hilten, Kai Steffen Stroh, Herre Jelger Risselada
Summary: This study introduces an efficient method for quantifying peptide sensing of lipid packing defects in lipid bilayers and highlights the relationship between this sensing and the peptide's ability to induce tension. The research demonstrates that lipid packing defect sensing and a peptide's ability to induce excess leaflet area and elastic softening are two sides of the same coin. By conducting free energy calculations in atomistic simulations, different force fields can be compared in terms of their impact on the relative binding free energies of peptides.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lidia A. Perez-Marquez, Marcelle D. Perretti, Raul Garcia-Rodriguez, Fernando Lahoz, Romen Carrillo
Summary: 3-Nitrotyrosine (NT) is an important biomarker of renal damage, but lacks an appropriate sensing method for clinical diagnosis. This study presents a fluorescent supramolecular sensor that selectively detects NT in human blood serum, providing a sensitive detection limit within physiological concentrations observed in chronic kidney disease.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yiben Fu, Wade F. Zeno, Jeanne C. Stachowiak, Margaret E. Johnson
Summary: In this study, a deformable continuum model is used to predict the curvature sensing behavior of protein domains on curved membranes, with validation against experimental datasets. The insertion of helices is modeled as a local change to the membrane's spontaneous curvature, showing good agreement with energetics extracted from experiments. An empirical expression is formulated to accurately capture membrane energies as a function of basic membrane properties and stresses applied by the inserted helix.
Article
Mechanics
Wanho Lee, Yongsam Kim, Sookkyung Lim
Summary: We propose a microswimmer that mimics the peritrichous bacteria, E.coli, which can move by spinning their flagellar motors counterclockwise or clockwise. Our simulations show that the material properties of the hook and the counterrotation of the cell body play important roles in efficient flagellar bundling, and longer hooks in mutant cells disrupt the bundling process and limit the range of movement. In the presence of a planar wall, microswimmers can explore the near-surface environment by performing various tumble events, but the cells tend to stay close to the surface even after tumbles, suggesting that tumble motion may promote biofilm formation instead of escaping confinement.
Article
Ecology
Christina L. Wiesmann, Yue Zhang, Morgan Alford, Corri D. Hamilton, Manisha Dosanjh, David Thoms, Melanie Dostert, Andrew Wilson, Daniel Pletzer, Robert E. W. Hancock, Cara H. Haney
Summary: Members of the bacterial genus Pseudomonas can form mutualistic, commensal, and pathogenic associations with diverse hosts. The study found that the regulatory gene ColR/S is functionally conserved between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens, but there are differences in the regulon. ColR/S allows Pseudomonas to sense and respond to a host, and the divergence of the ColR regulon may be related to different lifestyles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arjun Baghela, Andy An, Peter Zhang, Erica Acton, Jeff Gauthier, Elsa Brunet-Ratnasingham, Travis Blimkie, Gabriela Cohen Freue, Daniel Kaufmann, Amy H. Y. Lee, Roger C. Levesque, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Severely-afflicted COVID-19 patients can exhibit sepsis-like disease manifestations, and the diagnostic tools used in managing sepsis may also be applicable to COVID-19 patients. This study analyzed the blood transcriptome of COVID-19 patients and identified gene expression signatures that are associated with severity and potential therapeutic opportunities. The expression of sepsis gene expression signatures in severely-afflicted COVID-19 patients indicates the importance of considering severe sepsis classification and using these signatures for mechanistic characterization, diagnosis, and guidance of treatment using repurposed drugs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Kristen I. Gibson, Britt Drogemoller, Dirk M. Foell, Susanne Benseler, Jinko Graham, Robert E. W. A. Hancock, Raashid A. Luqmani, David L. Cabral, Kelly J. Brown, Colin Ross
Summary: This study conducted a genome-wide association study of pediatric ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and found a significant genetic association between HLA-DPB1*04:01 allele and pediatric AAV. The study also suggested that childhood- and adult-onset vasculitis may share a common genetic predisposition. These findings contribute to improved classification tools and treatment strategies for AAV.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shahid Chaudhary, Zahir Ali, Muhammad Tehseen, Evan F. Haney, Aaron Pantoja-Angles, Salwa Alshehri, Tiannyu Wang, Gerard J. Clancy, Maya Ayach, Charlotte Hauser, Pei-Ying Hong, Samir M. Hamdan, Robert E. W. Hancock, Magdy Mahfouz
Summary: This study demonstrates the efficient production of bioactive amidated AMPs through transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana line expressing the mammalian enzyme peptidylglycine alpha-amidating mono-oxygenase. The AMPs purified from plants exhibit robust killing activity against highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant pathogens, and can prevent their biofilm formation when used in combination with antibiotics. The techno-economic analysis also shows the potential economic advantages and scalability for industrial use of this platform.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Arjun S. Baghela, Jasmine Tam, Travis M. Blimkie, Bhavjinder K. Dhillon, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: In this study, a compendium of 103 gene sets related to sepsis was built by collecting data from transcriptomic studies. The gene sets comprise 20,899 unique genes, and the study describes the commonly involved molecular mechanisms. A database called SeptiSearch was created to provide bioinformatic tools for the sepsis community to explore and validate these gene sets.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Andy Y. An, Arjun Baghela, Peter Zhang, Reza Falsafi, Amy H. Lee, Uriel Trahtemberg, Andrew J. Baker, Claudia C. dos Santos, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: This study compared the gene expression trajectories between severe COVID-19 patients and contemporaneous non-COVID-19 severe sepsis patients during hospitalization. COVID-19 patients had 1,215 differentially expressed genes compared to non-COVID-19 sepsis patients at ICU admission, but the number dropped to 9 genes after one week. The findings highlight the importance of early antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and the potential for heme-related therapeutics.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hashem Etayash, Fione Yip, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: In this study, the impacts of pegylation and glycosylation on the biocompatibility and biological properties of host defense peptides (HDPs) were investigated. It was found that both modifications significantly reduced aggregation, hemolysis, and cytotoxicity, and enhanced immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of the peptides. However, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity was partially reduced.
Article
Microbiology
Anais Lemaire, Jennifer Varin-Simon, Fabien Lamret, Marie Dubus, Halima Kerdjoudj, Frederic Velard, Sophie C. Gangloff, Fany Reffuveille
Summary: Infections are a critical issue during the development of biomimetic materials for bone regeneration. Calcium phosphate and collagen substrates may favor bacterial adhesion. Staphylococcus aureus possesses adhesins that allow binding to these substrates, leading to the development of biofilms highly tolerant to immune system attacks or antibiotic treatments. Therefore, choosing the right material for bone substitutes is crucial to prevent bacterial adhesion and reduce the risk of bone and joint infections.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, Angela Cesaro, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Despite advances in antibiotic discovery, millions of people still die from infections every year. Antibiotic failure is not solely due to antibiotic resistance, but also related to biofilm formation, sepsis, and the microbiome. To address the crisis of antibiotic failure, it is necessary to explore treatment strategies beyond antibiotics and develop new anti-infectives or host-directed therapies.
DRUG RESISTANCE UPDATES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Cristina Allende-Prieto, Lucia Fernandez, Seila Agun, Pablo Rodriguez-Gonzalvez, Beatriz Martinez, Pilar Garcia, Ana Rodriguez
Summary: This article discusses the application of near-infrared spectroscopy combined with multivariate classification methods in the dairy industry for detecting bacterial contamination in milk. The study found that NIR was accurate and reliable in detecting the presence of biofilms in milk, and it was effective in distinguishing between contaminated and uncontaminated samples. Additionally, the technology was able to classify samples belonging to different strains of bacteria. The results demonstrated the potential of this technology as a rapid and accurate method for identifying bacterial contamination in the dairy sector.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Olivia Youssef, Seila Agun, Lucia Fernandez, Samy A. Khalil, Ana Rodriguez, Pilar Garcia
Summary: This study investigates the combination therapy of bacteriophage, engineered lytic protein, and bacteriocin in eliminating Staphylococcus aureus contamination in cheese production. The results show that the combination treatment leads to a greater reduction in the pathogen population, but the effect is additive rather than synergistic. Moreover, increasing the calcium concentration enhances the activity of the lytic protein, reducing the required protein amount.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Jinghao Hu, Jian Yu, He Liu, Zhejun Wang, Markus Haapasalo, Evan F. Haney, Robert E. W. Hancock, Shuli Deng, Ya Shen
Summary: This study evaluated the antimicrobial effects of commercially available mouthrinses and a D-enantiomeric peptide on oral multispecies biofilms. The results showed that DJK-5 demonstrated the highest percentage of dead bacteria and may be a potential candidate for future mouthrinses.
JOURNAL OF DENTISTRY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Andy Y. An, Arjun Baghela, Peter Zhang, Reza Falsafi, Amy H. Lee, Uriel Trahtemberg, Andrew J. Baker, Claudia C. dos Santos, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Transcriptional evidence showed persistent immune dysfunction in both severe COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 septic patients, associated with increased mortality. This highlights the potential for immunomodulatory therapies targeting common mechanisms of immune dysfunction in both diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fabien Lamret, Anais Lemaire, Manon Lagoutte, Jennifer Varin-Simon, Laura Abraham, Marius Colin, Julien Braux, Frederic Velard, Sophie C. Gangloff, Fany Reffuveille
Summary: The importance and implications of bacterial biofilms in bone and prosthesis infections have been examined, particularly in relation to implant colonization. Current management strategies for these difficult-to-treat infections involve surgery and antibiotic treatment, but relapse rates remain high, especially when Staphylococcus aureus is involved. This study aimed to characterize biofilms of S. aureus strains on different surfaces that mimic the periprosthetic environment. The results highlighted the need for improved biofilm models that better reflect the infectious environment for evaluating therapeutic strategies.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Dan Wang, Jian Yu, He Liu, Tian Zhang, Evan F. Haney, Robert E. W. Hancock, Lin Peng, Ya Shen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of DJK-5-D enantiomeric antibiofilm peptide on the corrosion resistance of titanium with different surface roughness. The results showed that DJK-5 effectively enhanced the corrosion resistance of titanium while killing S. mutans biofilms, with smooth surfaces more susceptible to peptide treatment.
JOURNAL OF DENTISTRY
(2023)
