Article
Emergency Medicine
Jack Silva, Reynold Henry, Matthieu Strickland, Dandan Wang, Kazuhide Matsushima
Summary: Clostridium sordellii infections, particularly in injection drug users, can lead to rapidly fatal necrotizing soft tissue infections. Despite treatment with antibiotics and surgical debridement, the infection may progress quickly and be difficult to manage.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Dongxu Song, Yumei Jin, Youhui Shi, Yuxian Xia, Guoxiong Peng
Summary: Delta MaCreA strain lost its virulence in topical inoculation due to decreased penetration ability of appressoria, limited growth in hemolymph, and stronger insect immunostimulation. The conidial cell wall of Delta MaCreA became thicker with decreased mannan content and increased chitin content, and it was more sensitive to calcofluor white and Congo Red staining. The transcriptional activities of immune response genes Lmspatzle and Lmcactus were stronger at the early stage of Delta MaCreA invasion in the host Toll pathway. Phenoloxidase activity assay also showed stronger immunostimulation by Delta MaCreA in vitro.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
George S. Yap
Summary: The relationship between host and parasite is crucial for parasite transmission. The sustainability of host-parasite relationship relies on the development of immune resistance and induction of disease tolerance. This study proposes that coevolution of avirulence factors in pathogens, which promote host disease tolerance, is an essential characteristic of parasitic lifestyle.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Hakan Kalender, Hasan Ongor, Necati Timurkaan, Burcu Karagulle, Burak Karabulut, Canan Akdeniz Incili, Hatip Enfal Basar, Elif Ekinci, Aydin Cevik, Eray Atil, Burhan Cetinkaya
Summary: This study investigated the frequency and presence of virulence genes of Clostridium perfringens, Paeniclostridium sordellii, and Clostridium septicum in lambs and goat kids with hemorrhagic abomasitis in eastern Turkey. C. perfringens type A was the most frequently detected species, and the toxin gene cpb2 was found in some samples. Vaccination of pregnant animals with toxoid vaccines was suggested for the protection of newborn animals against Clostridial infections.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari, Jihong Li, Julian Rood, Bruce A. McClane
Summary: Regulation of epsilon-toxin (ETX) production in Clostridium perfringens is important for understanding the virulence of type D and type B strains. Previous studies suggested that the Agr quorum-sensing (QS) system regulates ETX production in type D strains, but subsequent research questioned this conclusion. In this study, new agrB null mutants were constructed in type D strains, showing that the Agr QS system does not regulate ETX production. However, these mutants produced lower levels of alpha-toxin, confirming the loss of functional AgrB. Combined with previous findings in type B strains, it can be concluded that the Agr-like QS system is usually not necessary for wild-type ETX production in C. perfringens.
Article
Microbiology
Li Tian, Jing Zhuang, Jun-Jiao Li, He Zhu, Steven J. Klosterman, Xiao-Feng Dai, Jie-Yin Chen, Krishna V. Subbarao, Dan-Dan Zhang
Summary: Understanding how Verticillium dahliae adapts to its host is crucial for crop productivity. In this study, researchers found that a protein called VdTrx1 plays a vital role in the pathogen's ability to invade and infect the host plant. VdTrx1 acts as an antioxidant, scavenging reactive oxygen species produced by the host, thus enhancing the virulence of V. dahliae. Deletion of VdTrx1 resulted in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and reduced ability to scavenge host-generated ROS, leading to decreased virulence.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kritsakorn Saninjuk, Adisak Romsang, Jintana Duang-nkern, Lampet Wongsaroj, Panithi Leesukon, James M. M. Dubbs, Paiboon Vattanaviboon, Skorn Mongkolsuk
Summary: The monothiol glutaredoxin GrxD plays an important role in iron homeostasis and virulence of the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Patricia Koenig, Beate Averhoff, Volker Mueller
Summary: Pathogenic bacteria need to survive outside the human host for successful transmission, and A. baumannii has adapted well to both the host and hospital environment. K+ uptake is involved in the challenges outside the host and affects the antibiotic resistance of A. baumannii. Mutants lacking major K+ importers showed impaired survival, reduced resistance to copper and disinfectants, and increased susceptibility to antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides.
INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katsuhiko Takahashi, Hitoshi Amano, Tomohiko Urano, Minqi Li, Meiko Oki, Kazuhiro Aoki, Norio Amizuka, Keiichi I. Nakayama, Keiko Nakayama, Nobuyuki Udagawa, Nobuaki Higashi
Summary: The study found that p57(Kip2) plays an important role in bone development and is associated with the vitamin D receptor (VDR). 1,25-(OH)(2)VD3 can promote the differentiation of osteoblasts by regulating p57(Kip2), and simultaneously reduce the generation of osteoclasts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jiaying Zou, Chunquan Jiang, Shanshan Qiu, Guohua Duan, Guanqun Wang, Dayong Li, Siwen Yu, Dan Zhao, Wenxian Sun
Summary: Rice false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens poses a significant threat to rice grain yield and quality globally. The GH42 protein UvGHF1, secreted by U. virens, not only acts as a crucial virulence factor during the infection process but also functions as a PAMP in rice and tobacco. Additionally, UvGHF1 induces cell death in tobacco and triggers pattern-triggered immunity in rice.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhifan Xie, Xian-Hu Ma, Qiu-Fang Bai, Jie Tang, Jian-He Sun, Fei Jiang, Wei Guo, Chen-Ma Wang, Rui Yang, Yin-Chuan Wen, Fang-Yuan Wang, Yu-Xia Chen, Hai Zhang, David Z. He, Matthew W. Kelley, Shiming Yang, Weiping J. Zhang
Summary: Very little is known about the transcriptional network governing cochlear late-stage maturation and particularly the differentiation of its lateral nonsensory region. ZBTB20 is abundantly expressed in the developing and mature cochlear nonsensory epithelial cells and is essential for cochlear terminal differentiation and maturation and hearing. The absence of ZBTB20 causes profound deafness and various structural defects in the cochlear epithelium.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Ling Ning Lam, Debra N. Brunson, Jonathan J. Molina, Ana L. Flores-Mireles, Jose A. Lemos
Summary: This study reveals the importance of zinc homeostasis in the pathogenesis of E. faecalis and identifies AdcA and AdcAII lipoproteins as potential therapeutic targets.
Article
Microbiology
Victor Brantl, Jana M. Boysen, Annie Yap, Evgeny Golubtsov, Dominik Ruf, Thorsten Heinekamp, Maria Strassburger, Karl Dichtl, Hubertus Haas, Falk Hillmann, Johannes Wagener
Summary: Aspergillus fumigatus protein Asp f3 plays a crucial role in overcoming iron limitation and compensating for the loss of iron-dependent antioxidant enzymes, rather than in immune cell killing. The avirulence of the Daspf3 mutant in a murine infection model is linked to a low-iron growth defect, while an Asp f3-like protein Af3l1 is partially functionally redundant with Asp f3. This study provides new insights into the biological role of peroxiredoxins in adaptation to iron limitation.
Article
Biology
Hina Khan, Partha Paul, Ritesh Rajesh Sevalkar, Sangita Kachhap, Balvinder Singh, Dibyendu Sarkar
Summary: This study identifies a new set of genes regulated by cyclic AMP (cAMP) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including virulence factors controlled by the major regulator PhoP. The results show that PhoP, as a DNA binding transcription factor, impacts gene expression and phosphorylated PhoP promotes recruitment of cAMP receptor protein (CRP) at target promoters. Additionally, a novel regulatory mechanism is uncovered, where activation of these genes requires direct recruitment of both PhoP and CRP at their target promoters.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tomasz Bogiel, Malgorzata Prazynska, Joanna Kwiecinska-Pirog, Agnieszka Mikucka, Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska
Summary: The study compared the frequency of selected enzymatic virulence factor genes among non-duplicated carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, finding a higher prevalence of alkaline protease gene and a 37.4% detection rate for neuraminidase-1 gene. Significant differences in the prevalence of lasB and nan1 were observed between MBL-positive and MBL-negative strains.
Article
Microbiology
Wei Gao, Romain Guerillot, Ya Hsun Lin, Jai Tree, Marie Beaume, Patrice Francois, Ian R. Monk, Torsten Seemann, Jacques Schrenzel, Benjamin P. Howden, Timothy P. Stinear
Article
Reproductive Biology
Anup P. Challa, Andrew L. Beam, Min Shen, Tyler Peryea, Robert R. Lavieri, Ethan S. Lippmann, David M. Aronoff
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Alison J. Eastman, Erin N. Vrana, Maria T. Grimaldo, Amanda D. Jones, Lisa M. Rogers, Donald J. Alcendor, David M. Aronoff
Summary: The study found that chorion-derived trophoblasts (CTBs) can suppress inflammation in macrophages (M phi) through an as-yet unknown cell-to-cell contact-mediated mechanism, and this immunosuppression is also influenced by physical contact.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alison J. Eastman, Rebecca E. Moore, Steven D. Townsend, Jennifer A. Gaddy, David M. Aronoff
Summary: This review examines how maternal obesity and associated fatty acids influence placental inflammation. Findings suggest that palmitate, commonly used in in vitro studies, induces negative effects on placental cells, while obesity as a whole may have more complex regulation mechanisms due to the presence of unsaturated fatty acids.
CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ben Vezina, Theo Allnutt, Anthony L. Keyburn, Ben Wade, Thi Thu Hao Van, Priscilla Johanesen, Dena Lyras, Robert J. Moore
Summary: Disease control in animal production systems necessitates constant vigilance. The widespread use of in-feed antibiotics is believed to increase the risk of antibiotic resistance, prompting the development of alternative methods. Live vaccination proves effective in preventing mucosa-dwelling pathogens by inducing mucosal immunity.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tuyet Hoang, Anders Goncalves da Silva, Amy Jennison, Deborah A. Williamson, Benjamin P. Howden, Torsten Seemann
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the development of Australia's pathogen genomics platform AusTrakka, enabling rapid data sharing and real-time genomic surveillance.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Charlie Higgs, Norelle L. Sherry, Torsten Seemann, Kristy Horan, Hasini Walpola, Paul Kinsella, Katherine Bond, Deborah A. Williamson, Caroline Marshall, Jason C. Kwong, M. Lindsay Grayson, Timothy P. Stinear, Claire L. Gorrie, Benjamin P. Howden
Summary: The researchers developed a standardized genomic method to identify transmission links of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm). They found that clustering by core genome multilocus sequence type (cgMLST) provided more informative population structure than traditional MLST, and pairwise genome comparisons using split k-mer analysis (SKA) were effective in inferring patient-to-patient transmission. This study provides a standardized genomic framework for VREfm transmission detection, which can be globally deployed for outbreak detection and investigation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Camille S. Westlake, David M. Aronoff
Summary: A scoping review was conducted to evaluate the safety of systemic ivermectin exposure during pregnancy in both human and vertebrate animal studies. High doses were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in mice, rats, and rabbits, but therapeutic doses did not show significant associations with adverse birth outcomes in humans. Further research is needed to address safety concerns regarding the use of ivermectin in pregnant women.
CURRENT DRUG SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Bin Ni, Erin Gettler, Rebecca Stern, Heather M. Munro, Mark Steinwandel, Melinda C. Aldrich, Debra L. Friedman, Maureen Sanderson, David Schlundt, David M. Aronoff, Deepak K. Gupta, Martha J. Shrubsole, Loren Lipworth
Summary: Disruptions to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic were primarily driven by health system-initiated deferrals and individual perceptions of COVID-19 risk, disproportionately affecting different population groups.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Ashleigh P. Rogers, Steven J. Mileto, Dena Lyras
Summary: The mucosal lining of the gut has evolved specialized mechanisms to limit the invasion of pathogens, but some microorganisms have adapted and breached the gut barrier. This breach not only leaks host factors but can also lead to detrimental systemic events. This review examines the impact of enteric bacterial infections on the gut barrier and beyond, including disruption of defenses, systemic dissemination, inflammatory processes, and barrier regeneration.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felicia Kuperwaser, Gal Avital, Michelle J. Vaz, Kristen N. Noble, Allison N. Dammann, Tara M. Randis, David M. Aronoff, Adam J. Ratner, Itai Yanai
Summary: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pathobiont that ascends to the placenta and causes adverse pregnancy outcomes by producing the toxin beta-hemolysin/cytolysin (beta-h/c). This study shows that GBS modulates the state of innate immune cells by subverting host inflammation through beta-h/c, leading to worse outcomes.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ryan R. Wick, Louise M. Judd, Ian R. Monk, Torsten Seemann, Timothy P. Stinear
Summary: This report presents an improved assembly of the genome sequence of a prominent community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone in Australia. The assembly was achieved through deep sequencing with multiple technologies and careful curation, resulting in an error-free sequence.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Review
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Sarah E. Lucas, Sarah L. Walton, Katrina M. Mirabito M. Colafella, Steven J. Mileto, Dena Lyras, Kate M. Denton
Summary: Gut dysfunction is identified as a contributor to hypertension and its related diseases. The breakdown of the homeostatic relationship involving intestinal epithelial function, microbiota and immune responses is crucial. Antihypertensive medications have shown potential in reversing intestinal dysfunction and dysbiosis but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joshua Soto Ocana, Nile U. Bayard, Jessica L. Hart, Audrey K. Thomas, Emma E. Furth, D. Borden Lacy, David M. Aronoff, Joseph P. Zackular
Summary: Clostridioides difficile damages the colonic mucosa through potent exotoxins. The factors contributing to C. difficile pathogenesis are not fully understood, but likely involve ecological, immune, and environmental factors. Recent studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exacerbate C. difficile infection, although the mechanism behind this is unclear.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
P. Challa Anup, Xinnan Niu, Etoi A. Garrison, Sara L. Van Driest, Lisa M. Bastarache, Ethan S. Lippmann, Robert R. Lavieri, Jeffery A. Goldstein, David M. Aronoff
Summary: Pregnant people have been systematically excluded from clinical trials, resulting in a lack of safety data for common drugs. This study used electronic health records to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to different drugs on neurodevelopmental defects in their children, and proposed an agile framework for improving medication regulations.
COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE
(2022)
