Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Zhongyun Jiang, Sidi Liu, Xiang Xiao, Guimei Jiang, Qing Qu, Xingxing Miao, Renfei Wu, Rui Shi, Ruochen Guo, Jian Liu
Summary: In this study, a technique using droplet biosensors for the detection of nitric oxide (NO) secreted by a single macrophage under inflammatory stimuli was reported. The approach allows for studying the interactions between bacteria and macrophages at the single cell level.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily Masters-Clark, Amelia J. Clark, Claire E. Stanley
Summary: Filamentous fungi play a major role in soil ecosystems and can interact with bacteria and other fungi. Studying these interactions is challenging due to the nature of soil. Microfluidic tools are being developed to study fungal interactions and have provided new biological insights.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sheeana Gangadoo, Chenglong Xu, Daniel Cozzolino, Kay Latham, Enrico Della Gaspera, James Chapman, Vi Khanh Truong
Summary: The study demonstrates the efficient antimicrobial activity of 5 nm zinc oxide quantum dots against resistant bacteria and pathogenic yeast cells under both non-photocatalytic and photocatalytic conditions. The antimicrobial response is achieved through adhesion and clustering around microbial cell surfaces, leading to cell membrane damage, which is further escalated with the introduction of ultraviolet-A light.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Z. Ruan, Jianchen Lu, Baijin Li, Qizan Chen, Zhenliang Hao, Lei Gao, Jinming Cai
Summary: In this study, a comprehensive investigation of intrinsic defects in single-layer WS2 grown by chemical vapor deposition was conducted. The results provide guidance for future targeted defect engineering and doping of single-layer transition metal dichalcogenides.
MATERIALS TODAY PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ziga Pandur, Jure Zevnik, Darjan Podbevsek, Biljana Stojkovic, David Stopar, Matevz Dular
Summary: Cavitation is a potentially useful phenomenon with extreme conditions that can be used to remove wall-bound bacteria. This paper presents a method to study the interaction between bubbles and bacteria at a nano-to microscale resolution. The results show that the mechanical removal or destruction of bacterial cells can be achieved by triggering violent microscale cavitation events. Numerical simulations reveal that a water jet resulting from near-wall bubble implosion is the primary mechanism of cell damage. Understanding cavitation at a fundamental level will help optimize water treatment and surface cleaning technologies.
Review
Microbiology
Florian C. Marro, Frederic Laurent, Jerome Josse, Ariel J. Blocker
Summary: The concept of heterogeneity in bacterial growth and replicative rates within a population was proposed a century ago to explain bacterial persisters. Recent technical innovations have allowed for monitoring of population growth and replicative rates heterogeneity at the single-cell level, using methods such as time-lapse microscopy and fluorescence dilution. These tools are used to study drug-persistent bacteria and bacteria from specific ecological niches or patients, providing insights into their growth behavior and division capacity.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shuaishuai Yan, Jingxuan Qiu, Liang Guo, Dezhi Li, Dongpo Xu, Qing Liu
Summary: Understanding metabolic interactions between bacteria at the single-cell level and the contribution of individual cells is crucial for exploring uncultured bacteria. The combination of RACS and SCRS with unique fingerprint characteristics has allowed microbiology research to enter the single-cell era. This review summarizes current research progress on recognizing and assessing single bacterial cells based on RACS, highlighting the importance of RACS platforms in linking cell genotype and phenotype, as well as methods for distinguishing single-cell phenotype.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meng Xu, Jinsong Tao, Zhengjie Wei, Qian Cheng, Hongmei Yang, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Kathy Qian Luo, Wei Ge, Ruibing Wang, Ying Zheng
Summary: The clinical translation of anticancer nanomedicine is limited due to nonspecific accumulation and low targeting efficiency in tumor. A bioorthogonal targeting strategy based on supramolecular recognition between β-cyclodextrin-modified tumor cells and adamantane-modified nanomedicine was established. The host-guest interactions driven targeting process was visualized in vivo at the single-cell level for the first time, providing direct evidence of bioorthogonal homing effects.
Article
Ecology
Patrick Baudy, Jochen P. Zubrod, Marco Konschak, Sara Kolbenschlag, Annika Pollitt, Christiane Baschien, Ralf Schulz, Mirco Bundschuh
Summary: Fungi play a critical role in decomposing dead organic matter in ecosystems. Using biomolecular tools, researchers investigated fungal interactions in aquatic environments, finding that fungal diversity significantly impacts leaf colonization.
Review
Microbiology
Saima Khalid, Nancy P. Keller
Summary: Microorganisms interact through chemical communication, particularly between fungi and bacteria. Understanding these signals helps predict community development in various environments. Research focuses on the role of small signaling molecules in fungal-bacterial interactions in agricultural and medicinal settings for potential drug discovery applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cassio Lima, Shwan Ahmed, Yun Xu, Howbeer Muhamadali, Christopher Parry, Rachel J. McGalliard, Enitan D. Carrol, Royston Goodacre
Summary: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that causes approximately 11 million deaths worldwide. Raman and infrared spectroscopy, as diagnostic tools, have the potential to rapidly detect bacterial infections. This study introduces a new technology that combines infrared and Raman spectra, and demonstrates its similarity and reproducibility in analyzing bacterial samples. The findings show different clustering patterns between the two methods, highlighting the complementary information provided by microbial pigments in Raman spectra. Overall, the combination of Raman and infrared spectroscopy has promising applications in clinical microbiology.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wenzhe Liu, Jie Li, Yongping Xu, Dongbao Yin, Xin Zhu, Huanyan Fu, Xiaodong Su, Xuefeng Guo
Summary: The study utilized high-gain silicon nanowire field-effect transistors for label-free detection of DNA-protein interaction, visualizing the binding process with single-base resolution. The swinging of hydrogen bonds between amino acid residues and DNA bases induced dynamic collective motion between DNA-binding protein and DNA.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fen Ma, Siwei Zhang, Lianhao Song, Bozhi Wang, Lanlan Wei, Fengmin Zhang
Summary: This study reviewed the history and databases of ligand-receptor interactions, as well as the applications and research tools for cell communication using single cell RNA sequencing. Analyzing cell communication at the single cell level has advantages and disadvantages in the tools available, which can greatly aid in developing new target drugs and personalized treatments.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adil Safeer, Fleur Kleijburg, Salima Bahri, David Beriashvili, Edwin J. A. Veldhuizen, Jacq van Neer, Martin Tegelaar, Hans de Cock, Han A. B. Wosten, Marc Baldus
Summary: This article demonstrates the application of solid-state NMR spectroscopy in characterizing the composition and structure of the cell wall of Schizophyllum commune. The study reveals the binding preferences of Cu(II) ions, the antifungal peptide Cathelicidin-2, and glucans to cell wall proteins at different concentrations. The presence of polysaccharides containing N-acetyl galactosamine and hydrophobin proteins SC3 is also discovered, providing insights into the molecular make-up and arrangement of cell walls.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Eun Sun Lyou, Min Sung Kim, Soo Bin Kim, Minji Park, Kyong-Dong Kim, Won Hee Jung, Tae Kwon Lee, Amelia-Elena Rotaru
Summary: Microbial interactions are determined by the transcriptional response to each other's secreted metabolites, resulting in competition, cooperation, or inaction. These interactions are reflected in the cell phenotype, including the composition of lipids, nucleotides, and proteins. Using Raman spectroscopy, we studied the phenotypic plasticity of single cells involved in microbial interactions and linked phenotypes to transcriptional profiles to evaluate the types of interactions.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmanuel Matabaro, Hannelore Kaspar, Paul Dahlin, Daniel L. V. Bader, Claudia E. Murar, Florian Staubli, Christopher M. Field, Jeffrey W. Bode, Markus Kuenzler
Summary: Backbone N-methylation and macrocyclization enhance the pharmacological properties of peptides by improving their proteolytic stability, membrane permeability, and target selectivity. Borosins are backbone N-methylated peptide macrocycles derived from a precursor protein, with some homologous peptide natural products showing different nematotoxic activities against plant parasitic nematodes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Aboubakr Moradi, Tina Austerlitz, Paul Dahlin, Christelle Am Robert, Corina Maurer, Katja Steinauer, Cong van Doan, Paul Anton Himmighofen, Krzysztof Wieczorek, Markus Kuenzler, Felix Mauch
Summary: The study demonstrates that the fungal lectin MOA has significant nematocidal and insecticidal effects on two plant-parasitic nematodes and one herbivorous insect, showing promise for effective pest control in genetically modified crops.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmanuel Matabaro, Hannelore Kaspar, Paul Dahlin, Daniel L. V. Bader, Claudia E. Murar, Florian Staubli, Christopher M. Field, Jefrey W. Bode, Markus Kunzler
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jose C. Mateus, Sean Weaver, Dirk van Swaay, Aline F. Renz, Julian Hengsteler, Paulo Aguiar, Janos Voeroes
Summary: This research utilizes electron beam lithography and photolithography to create microstructures that control neuronal connectivity, and demonstrates the formation of functional synapses in vitro.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Eva Vogt, Christopher M. Field, Lukas Sonderegger, Markus Kuenzler
Summary: In recent years, various fungal cyclic peptides with interesting bioactivities have been discovered. The biosynthetic pathways of these peptides often hold surprises, with potential NRPS gene clusters being identified as candidates responsible for their biosynthesis, showing high research value.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Bi-Jing Xiong, Claire E. Stanley, Christian Dusny, Dietmar Schlosser, Hauke Harms, Lukas Y. Wick
Summary: Using a microfluidic system and pH-sensitive whole-cell bioreporters, researchers studied the dynamic changes of surface pH along growing hyphae of Coprinopsis cinerea. The pH along hyphal surfaces varied significantly, with the pH at hyphal tips being lower compared to more mature hyphal parts. This study provides important insights into the spatial and pH-dependent hyphal processes, such as organic matter degradation or mineral weathering.
Article
Biology
Orane Guillaume-Gentil, Christoph G. Gaebelein, Stefanie Schmieder, Vincent Martinez, Tomaso Zambelli, Markus Kuenzler, Julia A. Vorholt
Summary: Guillaume-Gentil et al. present a method that utilizes a modified AFM tip to selectively sample and inject into fungal cells of different morphology. The authors made extensive modifications on their existing system for mammalian cells to overcome challenges encountered when working on single fungal cells. They demonstrate the effectiveness of fluidic force microscopy in injecting solutions and extracting cytoplasmic fluid from individual fungal cells, providing new opportunities for manipulating and analyzing fungi.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jonathan M. Plett, Jerica Sabotic, Eva Vogt, Fridtjof Snijders, Annegret Kohler, Uffe N. Nielsen, Markus Kuenzler, Francis Martin, Claire Veneault-Fourrey
Summary: Fungivory of mycorrhizal hyphae has a significant impact on fungal fitness and nutrient transfer. Mycorrhizal fungi have evolved mycocypins to protect their hyphal tissues from being eaten. The ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor has a high number of mycocypin-encoding genes. This study characterizes the evolution and properties of L. bicolor mycocypins, showing their differential expression during symbiosis and their toxic effects on nematodes and collembolans.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Thierry Kuhn, Matteo Buffi, Saskia Bindschedler, Patrick S. Chain, Diego Gonzalez, Claire E. Stanley, Lukas Y. Wick, Pilar Junier, Xiang-Yi Li Richter
Summary: Researchers have developed 3D printed devices that can be used as abiotic controls to study bacterial dispersal on hydrated surfaces. By separating biotic and abiotic elements, these devices will stimulate further research on microbial dispersal in soil and other water-unsaturated environments.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emmanuel Matabaro, Hannelore Kaspar, Paul Dahlin, Daniel L. V. Bader, Claudia E. Murar, Florian Staubli, Christopher M. Field, Jeffrey W. Bode, Markus Kunzler
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Eva Vogt, Lukas Sonderegger, Ying-Yu Chen, Tina Segessemann, Markus Kuenzler
Summary: Fungal peptides derived from KEPs have potential bioactivities and are of interest for drug development. This study provides the first detailed analysis of KEPs in a basidiomycete, showing their presence in different species of mushrooms and suggesting their role in fungal interactions with the environment and in mycelial growth and differentiation.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Mycology
L. G. Nagy, P. J. Vonk, M. Kunzler, C. Foldi, M. Viragh, R. A. Ohm, F. Hennicke, B. Balint, A. Csernetics, B. Hegedus, Z. Hou, X. B. Liu, S. Nan, M. Pareek, N. Sahu, B. Szathmari, T. Varga, H. Wu, X. Yang, Z. Merenyi
Summary: This study aims to comprehensively identify conserved genes related to fruiting body morphogenesis and propose novel functional hypotheses. Through analysis, 921 conserved developmentally expressed gene families were identified, only a few dozens of which have previously been reported to be involved in fruiting body development. Based on literature data, conserved expression patterns and functional annotations, hypotheses on the potential role of these gene families in fruiting body development were provided, yielding the most complete description of molecular processes in fruiting body morphogenesis to date. This gene compendium provides a roadmap for guiding functional analyses of fruiting related genes in the Agaricomycetes.
STUDIES IN MYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ingrid Richter, Philipp Wein, Zerrin Uzum, Claire E. Stanley, Jana Krabbe, Evelyn M. Molloy, Nadine Moebius, Iuliia Ferling, Falk Hillmann, Christian Hertweck
Summary: As a symbiotic partner of the fungus Rhizopus microsporus, the bacterium Mycetohabitans rhizoxinica faces challenges in evading the host's defense mechanisms. The role of a transcription activator-like (TAL) effector released by the endobacteria as an essential symbiosis factor has been discovered.
Review
Microbiology
Felix Richter, Saskia Bindschedler, Maryline Calonne-Salmon, Stephane Declerck, Pilar Junier, Claire E. Stanley
Summary: This article highlights the advancements in the field of 'Fungi-on-a-Chip' microfluidics for single-cell studies on fungi and discusses future frontiers where microfluidic technology can aid in understanding fungal biology.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Mycology
Annageldi Tayyrov, Chunyue Wei, Celine Fetz, Aleksandr Goryachkin, Philipp Schachle, Laura Nystrom, Markus Kunzler
Summary: The study identified two novel nematotoxic proteins in the model mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea, which showed toxicity to nematodes when expressed in E. coli. The lipase activity of these proteins was found to be crucial for their nematotoxicity. These findings suggest that cytoplasmic lipases may serve as a novel class of fungal defense proteins against predatory nematodes, with potential applications in agriculture and medicine.
FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
