Review
Immunology
Alexis Hope Branch, Julie L. Stoudenmire, Kate L. Seib, Cynthia Nau Cornelissen
Summary: Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis, human-specific pathogens, have evolved similar mechanisms to survive and adapt in a metal-restricted host. This review discusses the host's regulation of zinc, manganese, and copper levels, and the pathogenic Neisseria's ability to sense and respond to such changes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Rosanna Herold, Lea Denzer, Walter Muranyi, Carolin Stump-Guthier, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Horst Schroten, Christian Schwerk
Summary: This study investigates the phosphoproteome of human epithelial choroid plexus cells during infection with Neisseria meningitidis and reveals that the capsule-deficient mutant has a stronger impact on the cells' phosphoproteome.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Caiyun Huo, Lijiao Jiao, Guiping Li, Donghai Li, Wutong Lin, Yingjian Sun, Huiling Sun
Summary: This study provides in-depth insight into the essential roles of HutZ in iron homeostasis and pathogenesis of Av. paragallinarum. Mutation of HutZ significantly affects bacterial growth and iron acquisition, as well as compromises tolerance to acid stress. Moreover, the mutation of HutZ weakens the ability of bacteria to invade and reproduce in host cells, resulting in decreased bacterial virulence in chickens.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Caiyun Huo, Lijiao Jiao, Guiping Li, Donghai Li, Wutong Lin, Yingjian Sun, Huiling Sun
Summary: This study provides insights into the essential roles of HutZ in iron homeostasis and pathogenesis of Av. paragallinarum, and suggests its potential as a therapeutic target for the development of prophylactic vaccines against this pathogen.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mogens Kilian, Steffen Husby, Jesper Andersen, Zina Moldoveanu, Uffe B. Skov Sorensen, Jesper Reinholdt, Herve Tettelin
Summary: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b are the main bacteria causing bacterial meningitis. This study suggests that patients may be primed for infection by acquiring different bacteria, an immunogenic commensal followed by the pathogen, both expressing the same capsular polysaccharide. The IgA1 protease common to the three pathogens cleaves preexisting IgA1 antibodies induced by the commensal, releasing capsule-binding monomeric Fab fragments that enhance bacterial adherence and block other isotypes of antibody molecules.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meagan Belcher Dufrisne, Nicole Swope, Marissa Kieber, Jeong-Yeh Yang, Ji Han, Jason Li, Kelley W. Moremen, James H. Prestegard, Linda Columbus
Summary: Carcinoembryonic cellular adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) play diverse roles in cell signaling, proliferation, and survival. Understanding the physiological oligomeric state of CEACAMs and its contribution to protein function is crucial for cellular research.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Javier O. Cifuente, Julia Schulze, Andrea Bethe, Valerio Di Domenico, Christa Litschko, Insa Budde, Lukas Eidenberger, Hauke Thiesler, Isabel Ramon Roth, Monika Berger, Heike Claus, Cecilia D'Angelo, Alberto Marina, Rita Gerardy-Schahn, Mario Schubert, Marcelo E. Guerin, Timm Fiebig
Summary: This study investigates the biosynthesis pathway of Haemophilus influenzae serotype b capsule and reveals the structure of the key enzyme. The findings provide insights into the critical role of the capsule in bacterial survival.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Patrick M. Schlievert, Samuel H. Kilgore, Andrea Benavides, Aloysius J. Klingelhutz
Summary: Bacterial and fungal pathogens can cause diseases across mucosal and skin surfaces. This study reveals that potential vaginal pathogens stimulate the production of chemokine IL-8 through CD40, while Neisseria gonorrhoeae does not. The findings provide a potential therapeutic target for disease treatment.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meenakshi Venkatesan, Michael Fruci, Lou Ann Verellen, Tatiana Skarina, Nathalie Mesa, Robert Flick, Chester Pham, Radhakrishnan Mahadevan, Peter J. Stogios, Alexei Savchenko
Summary: The acquisition of sul genes, which code for sulfa-insensitive enzymes, is the main mechanism of bacterial resistance to sulfonamide antibiotics. This study reveals the molecular basis for Sul-mediated drug resistance and provides insights for the development of new sulfonamide drugs with reduced propensity for resistance.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Matthew Vassey, Rininta Firdaus, Akhmed Aslam, Lee M. Wheldon, Neil J. Oldfield, Dlawer A. A. Ala'Aldeen, Karl G. Wooldridge
Summary: This study demonstrates that the interaction between the meningococcal surface protein PorA-Loop4 and the host cell receptor 37LRP disrupts cell cycle control proteins, leading to inhibited cell migration and G1 cell cycle arrest. This finding suggests a potential role of cell cycle modulation in the pathogenesis of meningococcal disease.
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Francesca Micoli, Roberto Adamo, Usman Nakakana
Summary: Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are important virulence factors spontaneously released by many gram-negative bacteria. They have been used as a viable platform for vaccine development, with several licensed OMV vaccines and candidates in clinical development. Advances in genetic manipulation and chemical conjugation have improved the versatility of OMVs as carriers for heterologous protein and polysaccharide antigens, but challenges still remain.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Randi L. Guest, Steven T. Rutherford, Thomas J. Silhavy
Summary: The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is a crucial component that provides cell rigidity and acts as a permeability barrier. The regulation of lipid A biogenesis is essential in maintaining asymmetrical bilayer structure of the membrane. Disruption of this process can lead to new targets for antibiotics to combat resistance mechanisms.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Archana Joon, Shipra Chandel, Sujata Ghosh
Summary: This study found that EAEC infection can induce an inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells through the activation of EGFR pathway and the mediation of downstream effectors.
MICROBES AND INFECTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Neelam Dave, Raed S. Albiheyri, Joseph J. Wanford, Luke R. Green, Neil J. Oldfield, David P. J. Turner, Luisa Martinez-Pomares, Christopher D. Bayliss
Summary: Colonization and invasion of mucosal tissues by Neisseria meningitidis rely on adhesion mediated by the type IV pilus and multiple outermembrane proteins. Disruption of epithelial monolayers occurs in multiple meningococcal lineages and is intimately linked to pilus-mediated adhesion. Inactivation of the main pilus sub-unit gene abolishes both adhesive capacity and ability to disrupt epithelial monolayers, while inactivation of opa or nadA genes reduces adhesion and invasion but not monolayer disruption.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Ann-Kathrin Mix, Griseldis Goob, Erik Sontowski, Christof R. Hauck
Summary: Pathogenic bacteria have evolved highly selective adhesins to engage specific surface determinants of host cells, triggering localized communication and potentially leading to changes in cell morphology and physiology. These bacteria also utilize adhesins to diffuse nitric oxide into host tissues, offering an unconventional approach to prevent infectious diseases by interfering with microscale communication on the host side.
GENES AND IMMUNITY
(2021)