Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Viktoria Hentschel, Frank Arnold, Thomas Seufferlein, Ninel Azoitei, Alexander Kleger, Martin Mueller, Yujing Li
Summary: Enteric infections, particularly prevalent in resource-limited countries, are often caused by bacterial species. Intestinal organoids are considered a versatile and naturalistic in vitro model, allowing for comprehensive study of disease pathogenesis and host immune responses.
STEM CELLS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Qiangde Duan, Shengmei Pang, Lili Feng, Jiaqi Liu, Linfen Lv, Baoliang Li, Yuxuan Liang, Guoqiang Zhu
Summary: Heat-labile enterotoxin enhances bacterial adherence by upregulating adhesin and enterotoxin expression in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. These findings provide insights into the pathogenic mechanism of heat-labile enterotoxin and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Farha Naaz, Megha Agrawal, Soumyadeep Chakraborty, Mahesh S. Tirumkudulu, K. V. Venkatesh
Summary: Bacteria have the ability to modulate motor speed by sensing ligands, temporarily increasing speed with non-metabolizable ligands, and maintaining higher speeds for longer durations with metabolizable ligands. Experiments with mutant strains demonstrate how sensing and metabolism play roles in the modulation of motor speed to enhance responses to environmental changes.
Article
Biology
Yamal Al-ramahi, Akos Nyerges, Yago Margolles, Lidia Cerdan, Gyorgyi Ferenc, Csaba Pal, Luis Angel Fernandez, Victor de Lorenzo
Summary: The study utilized ssDNA recombineering and bacterial surface display to evolve a nanobody recognizing the EHEC antigen TirM towards the EPEC antigen TirM by targeting the CDRs of the VHH gene sequence. This method demonstrated the power of combining bacterial evolutionary properties with oligonucleotide synthesis to focus diversification on specific gene segments of interest, bypassing the need for laborious cloning and mutagenesis procedures.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher J. Anderson, Christopher B. Medina, Brady J. Barron, Laura Karvelyte, Tania Love Aaes, Irina Lambertz, Justin S. A. Perry, Parul Mehrotra, Amanda Goncalves, Kelly Lemeire, Gillian Blancke, Vanessa Andries, Farzaneh Ghazavi, Arne Martens, Geert van Loo, Lars Vereecke, Peter Vandenabeele, Kodi S. Ravichandran
Summary: The study demonstrates how nutrients released from apoptotic cells can promote the growth of Enterobacteriaceae and highlights the role of pyruvate formate-lyase-encoding pflB gene in bacterial colonization in various contexts. These findings provide new insights into host-pathogen interactions and have implications for gut inflammation and chemotherapy treatment.
Review
Microbiology
Aditya Kamat, Anjana Badrinarayanan
Summary: Cells have specialized pathways to sense and respond to DNA damage, with bacteria having the well-studied SOS response and other SOS-independent DNA damage responses. The diversity in response and repair mechanisms raises important questions about their influence on genomes and vice versa. This review discusses recent insights on three SOS-independent bacterial DNA damage responses, exploring the mysteries of their diversity generation and regulation in cells for genome integrity maintenance.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haixiu Wang, Eric Cox, Bert Devriendt
Summary: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains recognize and respond to factors secreted by gut epithelial cells, leading to transcriptional modulation of key ETEC virulence genes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Justin E. Silpe, Joel W. H. Wong, Sian Owen, Michael Baym, Emily P. Balskus
Summary: Colibactin is a chemically unstable small-molecule genotoxin produced by various bacteria, and it induces bacterial cell death by targeting bacteria containing prophages. Exogenous DNA or expression of Colibactin resistance protein can protect bacteria from the toxic effects of Colibactin. This study reveals the potential impact of Colibactin production on microbiomes and highlights the role of microbial natural products in influencing population-level events.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jennifer Lising Roxas, Shylaja Ramamurthy, Katie Cocchi, Ilga Rutins, Anusha Harishankar, Al Agellon, John Scott Wilbur, Gresa Sylejmani, Gayatri Vedantam, V. K. Viswanathan
Summary: Bacterial pathogens manipulate host cell structures and functions, contributing to disease symptoms. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) secretes proteins that alter host cell behavior. Two secreted proteins, EspZ and EspH, have contrasting effects on host mitochondria. EspZ interacts with FIS1 and protects the host mitochondrial network, enhancing host cell viability. In contrast, EspH increases FIS1 and leads to significant mitochondrial fragmentation and host cell death, facilitating pathogen dispersal.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Iman Yassine, Sophie Lefevre, Elisabeth E. Hansen, Corinne Ruckly, Isabelle Carle, Monique Lejay-Collin, Laetitia Fabre, Rayane Rafei, Dominique Clermont, Maria Pardos de la Gandara, Fouad Dabboussi, Nicholas R. Thomson, Francois-Xavier Weill
Summary: The study applies a core genome multilocus sequence typing scheme to Shigella sequence data and describes its population structure.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorge Soria-Bustos, Zeus Saldana-Ahuactzi, Partha Samadder, Jorge A. Yanez-Santos, Ygnacio Martinez Laguna, Maria L. Cedillo-Ramirez, Jorge A. Giron
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between flagella expression and the type III secretion system (T3SS) in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). The results suggest that the assembly of an intact T3SS is required for flagella production, and certain regulator genes play a role in activating or inhibiting flagella expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Danil S. Serdyukov, Tatiana N. Goryachkovskaya, Irina A. Mescheryakova, Sergei A. Kuznetsov, Vasiliy M. Popik, Sergey E. Peltek
Summary: A fluorescent biosensor E. coli/pTdcR-TurboYFP sensitive to terahertz (THz) radiation was developed by transforming Escherichia coli cells with plasmid containing the tdcR gene promotor controlling the expression of yellow fluorescent protein TurboYFP. The biosensor's fluorescence threshold and dynamics were found to be dependent on irradiation conditions, with heat shock or chemical stress resulting in absence of fluorescence induction. It is applicable for studying the influence of THz radiation on the tdcR gene promotor activity involved in threonine and serine transport and metabolism in E. coli.
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Dennis J. Doorduijn, Dani A. C. Heesterbeek, Maartje Ruyken, Carla J. C. de Haas, Daphne A. C. Stapels, Piet C. Aerts, Suzan H. M. Rooijakkers, Bart W. Bardoel
Summary: This study demonstrates that polymerization of C9 enhances bacterial damage and accelerates killing, requiring an excess of C9 per C5b-8, and complement-resistant E. coli can specifically block C9 polymerization. Additionally, all tested complement-resistant E. coli strains express LPS O-antigen (O-Ag), while only a minority of sensitive strains do.
Article
Biophysics
Maojin Tian, Chi Zhang, Rongjing Zhang, Junhua Yuan
Summary: When bacteria perform chemotaxis in a swarm, cell crowding enhances chemotaxis by increasing cell body alignment, leading to collective motion and increased drift velocity toward attractants. However, the enhancement of chemotaxis depends on whether the cell-cell interactions induce alignment or collisions that randomize cell moving direction in the simulation.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Guillaume de Timary, Clothilde J. J. Rousseau, Laurence Van Melderen, Benoit Scheid
Summary: In this paper, the influence of flow rate on the trajectory of Elliptical and filamentous bacterial cells of E. coli in a low aspect ratio pinch flow fractionation device is experimentally investigated. The results show that at low flow rates, filamentous cells exhibit multiple rotational motions in the pinched segment due to shear rate and their interactions with the nearest wall. As the flow rate increases, particles align vertically in the pinch, reducing the lateral deviation caused by rotation. The position of filamentous cells at the outlet depends on flow rate and the length of their major axis.
Letter
Hematology
Amanda F. de Figueiredo, Marcelo G. P. Land, Gerson M. Ferreira, Andre Mencalha, Renata Binato, Roberto R. Capela de Matos, Thomas Liehr, Maria Luiza M. Silva, Eliana Abdelhay
BRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Microbiology
Beny Spira, Katia Ospino
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Estela Ynes Valencia, Jackeline Pinheiro Barros, Thomas Ferenci, Beny Spira
Summary: A trade-off between reproduction and survival is common in many organisms, with Escherichia coli featuring RpoS as a key factor in this balance. Studying strains in a natural environment, it was found that RpoS levels vary widely, leading to a diverse range of stress resistance responses in E. coli strains.
Article
Microbiology
Gabriella Trombini Machado, Claudia Ramos de Carvalho Pinto, Luisa Andrea Villanueva da Fonseca, Taissa Cristina dos Santos Ramos, Tuanny Fernanda Pereira Paggi, Beny Spira
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked discussions on virus transmission routes and assessment of risks. Research on virus spread in open air showed that transmission rate decreases exponentially with distance, indicating the importance of implementing measures and evaluating risks.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bruno R. B. Pires, Renata Binato, Gerson M. Ferreira, Stephany Correa, Barbara Du Rocher, Daniel Bulzico, Susanne Crocamo, Everton Cruz dos Santos, Luize G. Lima, Eliana Abdelhay
Summary: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease composed of multiple subtypes with different molecular characteristics and clinical outcomes. The role of Twist1 in HER2+ breast cancer beyond epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been investigated, and findings suggest that Twist1 may play a role in IL-17 signaling pathway in HER2+ breast cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Roberto R. C. de Matos, Gerson M. Ferreira, Claus Meyer, Rolf Marschalek, Patrizia Larghero, Raul C. Ribeiro, Thomas Liehr, Moneeb Othman, Mariana T. de S. M. Bizarro, Elaine Sobral da Costa, Marcelo G. P. Land, Eliana Abdelhay, Renata Binato, Maria Luiza M. Silva
Summary: A rare three-way translocation was found in a patient with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, leading to fusions of KMT2A-MLLT1 and SEC16A-KMT2A, associated with poor prognosis. This highlights the importance of molecular cytogenetic tests in selecting cases for further investigation of poor prognosis leukemias.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Renata Binato, Stephany Correa, Carolina Panis, Gerson Ferreira, Igor Petrone, Igor Rodrigues da Costa, Eliana Abdelhay
Summary: Using chip array assays, C-JUN and C-FOS transcription factors were identified as potential upstream regulators of differentially expressed genes in luminal A breast cancer subtype. The NRIP1 gene was found to be targeted by C-JUN and C-FOS, which regulate breast cancer-related genes PR, ESR1, and CCND1. Knockdown of NRIP1 further confirmed its role in PGR, ESR1, and CCND1 transcriptional regulation, suggesting its importance in breast cancer ductal cell initiation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
R. R. Capela De Matos, M. A. K. Othman, G. M. Ferreira, K. C. A. Monteso, M. T. De Souza, M. Rouxinol, J. B. Melo, I. M. Carreira, E. Abdelhay, T. Liehr, R. C. Ribeiro, M. L. M. Silva
Summary: This study describes a rare genetic variation in an adolescent with iAMP21-B-ALL, including amplification of the RUNX1 gene, deletion of the SH2B3 gene, chromothripsis of chromosome 21, and a somatic t(15;21)(q25.3;q22.1) with NTRK3 gene rearrangement. Molecular cytogenetic studies revealed further genomic imbalances and identified potential poor prognosis in patients with these secondary genetic changes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bruna Palma Matta, Renan Gomes, Daniel Mattos, Renata Olicio, Caroline Macedo Nascimento, Gerson Moura Ferreira, Ayslan Castro Brant, Mariana Boroni, Carolina Furtado, Valdirene Lima, Miguel Angelo Martins Moreira, Anna Claudia Evangelista dos Santos
Summary: This study estimated the prevalence of pathogenic germline variants in BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53 genes in Brazilian patients suspected of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC). The study found that 15.9% of the tested patients carried pathogenic variants, with TP53 c.1010G > A (p.Arg337His) being the most common mutation. The use of familial history of cancer was found to improve patient selection for genetic testing in settings with limited resources.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vanessa Emmel, Bianca Gama, Alessandra de Paula, Gerson Ferreira, Renata Binato, Eliana Abdelhay
Summary: Cancer patients have a similar detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA compared to non-cancer controls. Among SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, cancer patients have a higher detection rate of TTV compared to controls. The presence of TTV in cancer patients is correlated with higher COVID-19 mortality rate and TTV DNA load.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Katia Ospino, Beny Spira
Summary: This study investigated the effects of glyphosate on the resistance, tolerance, or persistence of bacteria towards antibiotics, as well as the role of (p)ppGpp in this process. The results showed that glyphosate did not affect the minimum inhibitory concentration of tested antibiotics, but it enhanced bacterial tolerance and/or persistence towards them. The increase in ciprofloxacin and kanamycin tolerance was partially dependent on the presence of relA, while the strong increase in ampicillin tolerance caused by glyphosate was independent of relA. The study concluded that glyphosate contributes to the temporary increase in E. coli tolerance or persistence by inducing aromatic amino acid starvation, but does not affect antibiotic resistance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abdelaaty Hamed, Lydia Fumiko Yamaguchi, Estela Ynes Valencia Morante, Beny Spira, Hans Georg Stammler, Menna El Gaafary, David Ziegler, Tatiana Syrovets, Thomas Simmet, Massuo Jorge Kato
Summary: Ten new metabolites were discovered in Peperomia incana, including chromene-containing compounds, meroterpene lactones, and cannabinoid-like compounds. Their chemical structures were determined using various spectroscopic methods, and their cytotoxic activity against seven human cancer cell lines was evaluated. Some of the compounds showed promising cytotoxicity, with incanachromenes B and incanabinoids A and C exhibiting the highest activity. In addition, incanachromene C and incanabinoid C showed significant antibacterial effects against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.
Article
Microbiology
Luis R. Pizzolato-Cezar, Beny Spira, M. Teresa Machini
Summary: New research has explored the functions of toxin-antitoxin systems (TASs) in bacteria and found that these systems can cause heterogeneity in bacterial growth, thus aiding bacteria in survival and reproduction in different environments.
CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Beny Spira
Summary: This retrospective study analyzes the epidemiology of the COVID-19 second wave in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and investigates the factors that led to the emergence and propagation of the gamma variant. The study finds that the second wave resulted in a higher number of deaths compared to the previous months, with a significant increase in case fatality rates among young adults.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Beny Spira
Summary: This study analyzed the correlation between mask usage and COVID-19 outcomes in Europe during the winter of 2020-2021. The findings suggest that there is no clear relationship between high mask compliance and better disease outcomes.
CUREUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)