Article
Microbiology
Mio Kawabata, Honoka Matsuo, Takumi Koito, Misaki Murata, Tomoko Kubori, Hiroki Nagai, Mitsuo Tagaya, Kohei Arasaki
Summary: The study revealed that Legionella pneumophila recruits GTPases Rab33B and Rab6 to promote the association of Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) with the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER), with the involvement of SidE family proteins. The interaction between Rab6 and ER-resident SNARE proteins was found to be crucial for this association.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marietta S. Kaspers, Vivian Pogenberg, Christian Pett, Stefan Ernst, Felix Ecker, Philipp Ochtrop, Michael Groll, Christian Hedberg, Aymelt Itzen
Summary: In this study, the authors uncover the mechanism and substrate recognition of Legionella effector Lem3, which removes a phosphocholine moiety from the human protein Rab1 during infection. They present the crystal structure of the stabilised Lem3:Rab1b complex, revealing the catalytic mechanism and substrate recognition of PPM phosphatases shaped Lem3. This research is of significant importance for understanding bacterial pathogenesis and protein substrate recognition.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bianca Striednig, Ulrike Lanner, Selina Niggli, Ana Katic, Simone Vormittag, Sabrina Brulisauer, Ramon Hochstrasser, Andres Kaech, Amanda Welin, Antje Flieger, Urs Ziegler, Alexander Schmidt, Hubert Hilbi, Nicolas Personnic
Summary: Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, replicates in a distinct compartment within amoebae and macrophages. The pathogen switches between replicative, non-virulent and non-replicating, virulent/transmissive phases. Individual motile and virulent L. pneumophila cells emerge in the cluster of non-growing bacteria within the Legionella-containing vacuole at late stages of infection, with distinct proteomes and phenotypic heterogeneity. The emergence and spreading of a subpopulation of transmissive L. pneumophila at the LCV periphery at the end of an infection cycle are regulated by the Legionella quorum sensing system.
Article
Parasitology
Min-Jeong Kim, Eun-Kyung Moon, Hye-Jeong Jo, Fu-Shi Quan, Hyun-Hee Kong
Summary: In this study, the differentially expressed genes of Acanthamoeba infected by Legionella were identified and their roles in the formation of excreted vesicles and escape of Legionella from the Acanthamoeba were examined. It was found that ACA1_114460, ACA1_091500, and ACA1_362260 genes were upregulated after Legionella ingestion in Acanthamoeba. Silencing of ACA1_114460 and ACA1_091500 genes resulted in the failure of Acanthamoeba to form Legionella-containing excreted vesicles, while silencing ACA1_362260 gene led to the fusion of Legionella-containing excreted vesicles with the lysosome. Therefore, ACA1_114460, ACA1_091500, and ACA1_362260 genes played important roles in the formation of Legionella-containing excreted vesicles and inhibition of the lysosomal co-localization with the phagosome.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Desiree Boeck, Dario Huesler, Bernhard Steiner, Joao M. Medeiros, Amanda Welin, Katarzyna A. Radomska, Wolf-Dietrich Hardt, Martin Pilhofer, Hubert Hilbi
Summary: Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, uses a type IV secretion system (T4SS) to translocate effector proteins into host cells and form Legionella-containing vacuoles (LCV). Research shows that a significant portion of L. pneumophila bacteria tether their cell poles to the LCV membrane, facilitating the establishment of contact sites between T4SS and the LCV membrane. This study provides new insights into the interactions between L. pneumophila T4SS and the LCV membrane.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lauren A. Bertocci, Jeffrey R. Rovatti, Alex Wu, Amber Morey, Diptiman D. Bose, Shannon R. M. Kinney
Summary: Calcium signaling and DNA methylation are connected in tumor development, potentially regulating apoptosis in cancer.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Dario Huesler, Pia Stauffer, Bernhard Keller, Desiree Boeck, Thomas Steiner, Anne Ostrzinski, Simone Vormittag, Bianca Striednig, A. Leoni Swart, Francois Letourneur, Sandra Maass, Doerte Becher, Wolfgang Eisenreich, Martin Pilhofer, Hubert Hilbi
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between Legionella pneumophila and lipid droplets (LDs) in the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. The researchers find that the fusion GTPase Sey1, the T4SS of L. pneumophila, and the Ran GTPase activator LegG1 all promote the interaction between LDs and the LCV. In addition, Sey1 and the L. pneumophila fatty acid transporter FadL are implicated in fatty acid metabolism and intracellular growth of the bacteria.
Article
Cell Biology
Dario Husler, Bernhard Steiner, Amanda Welin, Bianca Striednig, A. Leoni Swart, Virginie Molle, Hubert Hilbi, Francois Letourneur
Summary: The study reveals that D. discoideum Sey1 plays a crucial role in cell structure, proteolysis, cell motility, and intracellular bacterial replication, particularly in the context of Legionella pneumophila infection.
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Rafiatu Azumah, Menghe Liu, Katja Hummitzsch, Nicole A. Bastian, Monica D. Hartanti, Helen F. Irving-Rodgers, Richard A. Anderson, Raymond J. Rodgers
Summary: This study investigates the changes in TGF beta signalling during foetal ovary development and its potential influence on the expression of PCOS candidate genes. The findings suggest that TGF beta 1 inhibits the expression of certain PCOS candidate genes in foetal ovarian fibroblasts, while increasing the expression of an AR cofactor. The study highlights the importance of TGF beta signalling in the development of PCOS.
HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hannah Benisty, Xavier Hernandez-Alias, Marc Weber, Miquel Anglada-Girotto, Federica Mantica, Leandro Radusky, Gokce Senger, Ferriol Calvet, Donate Weghorn, Manuel Irimia, Martin H. Schaefer, Luis Serrano
Summary: Codon usage bias affects gene expression, with genes enriched in A/T-ending codons being more coordinately expressed across different tissues and developmental stages. This coordination is linked to the abundance of tRNA isoacceptors reading A/T-ending codons. Genes with similar codon composition, especially those with A/T-ending codons, are more likely to be part of the same protein complex. The codon preferences of genes with A/T-ending codons are conserved among mammals and other vertebrates, contributing to tissue-specific and ontogenetic-specific gene expression.
Article
Cell Biology
Won Young Choi, Seongok Kim, Philipp Aurass, Wenwen Huo, Elizabeth A. Creasey, Marc Edwards, Martin Lowe, Ralph R. Isberg
Summary: The study investigated the mechanism of intracellular growth of Legionella pneumophila and found that SdhA interacts with OCRL, affecting endosomal dynamics and interfering with endosomal trafficking, resulting in changes in intracellular growth.
Article
Cell Biology
Noopur Dave, Kaice LaFavers, Gustavo Arrizabalaga
Summary: Calcium signaling plays a crucial role in the regulation of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, and a novel EF-hand domain-containing protein, TgEFP1, has been identified in this calcium homeostasis network, localizing to the PLV/ELC and PV. Knockout of TgEFP1 results in faster parasite propagation, hypersensitivity to calcium ionophore-induced egress, and premature natural egress.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wei Yan, A. Brantley Hall, Xiaofang Jiang
Summary: This study investigates the origin, prevalence, and distribution of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) regulated by invertible promoters in the human gut microbiome. The results reveal that glycan-synthesis loci in Bacteroidales species are important hotspots for the emergence of clinically-relevant ARGs regulated by invertible promoters. Horizontal transfer via integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) contributes to the wide taxonomic distribution of these ARGs.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mio Iwasaki, Yuka Kawahara, Chikako Okubo, Tatsuya Yamakawa, Michiko Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Tabata, Yohei Nishi, Megumi Narita, Akira Ohta, Hirohide Saito, Takuya Yamamoto, Masato Nakagawa, Shinya Yamanaka, Kazutoshi Takahashi
Summary: By combining transcriptome and proteome profiling, this study reveals the crucial role of posttranscriptionally regulated genes in the survival of iPSCs, especially those genes specifically necessary for iPSC survival.
Article
Microbiology
Antonia R. Bass, Marisa S. Egan, Jasmine Alexander-Floyd, Natasha Lopes Fischer, Jessica Doerner, Sunny Shin
Summary: The inflammasome is critical for the host defense against intracellular bacterial pathogens. IFN and GBP1 play important roles in the inflammasome response to Legionella pneumophila infection in human macrophages, enhancing cytokine release and facilitating bacterial access to the host cell cytosol.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Adriana Torres Paniagua, Kiran Paranjape, Mengqi Hu, Emilie Bedard, Sebastien P. Faucher
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
McKenzie Carter, Stephanie Gomez, Sam Gritz, Stephen Larson, Eugenia Silva-Herzog, Hee-Sook Kim, Danae Schulz, Galadriel Hovel-Miner
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joseph Saoud, Marie-Claude Carrier, Eric Masse, Sebastien P. Faucher
Summary: The study reveals that Lpr10 in Legionella pneumophila can negatively regulate the expression of the RpoS gene and is involved in a negative regulatory feedback loop to maintain optimal levels of RpoS expression.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joseph Saoud, Thangadurai Mani, Sebastien P. Faucher
Summary: Legionella pneumophila is often found in water systems, such as hot water distribution systems, and heat treatment is used to reduce its concentration. However, Lp quickly recolonizes these systems, indicating an efficient heat shock response. This study shows that the protease Tsp and the two-component system CpxRA are crucial for Lp's survival under thermal stress in water and within host cells.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Emilie Bedard, Hana Trigui, Jeffrey Liang, Margot Doberva, Kiran Paranjape, Cindy Lalancette, Severine Allegra, Sebastien P. Faucher, Michele Prevost
Summary: This study evaluated the susceptibility of L. pneumophila isolates from different sites within building water systems to copper, finding variable tolerance in closely related strains from a healthcare facility hot water system. Biofilm isolates showed highest copper tolerance and copA expression levels, suggesting local adaptation to microenvironmental conditions. Relying solely on water sampling for assessing disinfection performance may underestimate the prevalence of L. pneumophila, posing risks for vulnerable patients.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Stephen Larson, McKenzie Carter, Galadriel Hovel-Miner
Summary: Trypanothione serves as the primary thiol redox carrier in Trypanosomatids, with melarsoprol directly inhibiting its function to suppress DNA synthesis, while other drugs have more subtle effects. These findings suggest that DNA synthesis may be a promising therapeutic target in the development of antitrypanosomal drugs.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Felix Bornier, Eline Zas, Damien Potheret, Maria-Halima Laaberki, Benedicte Coupat-Goutaland, Xavier Charpentier
Summary: This study found that the natural environment is a rich source of diverse amoebae with broad-spectrum predatory activities against human pathogens, including highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Anne-Sophie Godeux, Elin Svedholm, Samuel Barreto, Anais Potron, Samuel Venner, Xavier Charpentier, Maria-Halima Laaberki
Summary: Acinetobacter baumannii infection poses a major health threat with antibiotic resistance. Natural transformation is identified as the main mechanism for the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between different bacteria.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jean-Baptiste Vuillemenot, Maxime Bour, Racha Beyrouthy, Richard Bonnet, Maria-Halima Laaberki, Xavier Charpentier, Raymond Ruimy, Patrick Plesiat, Anais Potron
Summary: This study reveals the propensity of CC78 isolates to acquire multiple antibiotic resistance genes and transfer them to other strains via natural transformation.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sara Matthews, Hana Trigui, Marianne Grimard-Conea, Elliston Vallarino Reyes, Gabriel Villiard, Dominique Charron, Emilie Bedard, Sebastien Faucher, Michele Prevost
Summary: The study assessed the capability of Legiolert to detect diverse sequence types of Legionella pneumophila in water samples and validated a simple preservation method. The results demonstrated that Legiolert can detect multiple sequence types and important L. pneumophila subspecies, and it can be easily stored for further characterization.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hyeong Jin Kim, Mazzen Black, Ross A. Edwards, Flora Peillard-Fiorente, Rashmi Panigrahi, David Klinger, Reiner Eidelpes, Ricarda Zeindl, Shiyun Peng, Jikun Su, Ayat R. Omar, Andrew M. MacMillan, Christoph Kreutz, Martin Tollinger, Xavier Charpentier, Laetitia Attaiech, J. N. Mark Glover
Summary: This study investigates the structural basis for RNA recognition by ProQ/FinO proteins and the importance of this recognition in repressing the uptake of environmental DNA in L. pneumophila. The authors also discover that other ProQ/FinO domains recognize transcriptional terminators with different specificities for the length of the 3' ssRNA tail.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Correction
Microbiology
Sara Matthews, Hana Trigui, Marianne Grimard-Conea, Elliston Vallarino Reyes, Gabriel Villiard, Dominique Charron, Emilie Bedard, Sebastien P. Faucher, Michele Prevost
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joseph Saoud, Thangadurai Mani, Petra Rohrbach, Sebastien P. Faucher
Summary: Legionella pneumophila is a pathogenic bacterium causing severe pneumonia in humans. Its replication and virulence are influenced by host immune response, secretion system, and proteases.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Leo Hardy, Pierre-Alexandre Juan, Benedicte Coupat-Goutaland, Xavier Charpentier
Summary: Legionella pneumophila, a pathogenic bacterium causing severe pneumonia in humans, has environmental life traits crucial to its infectiousness. Transposon insertion sequencing (TIS) can be used to identify essential genes and genetic basis of life traits, though its application in L. pneumophila has been limited. Successful implementation of TIS in clinical isolates of L. pneumophila has provided insights into essential genes, potential drug targets, and genes involved in horizontal gene transfer. This represents a significant step towards understanding the genetic basis of this pathogenic species.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Anne-Sophie Godeux, Elfin Svedholm, Samuel Barreto, Anais Potron, Samuel Venner, Xavier Charpentier, Maria-Halima Laaberki
Summary: This study reports the detection of spontaneous recombination events in mixed bacterial populations, revealing that natural transformation is the main mechanism for genome recombination and horizontal gene transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in Acinetobacter baumannii.