Article
Microbiology
Stephan Brouwer, Magnus G. Jespersen, Cheryl-Lynn Y. Ong, David M. P. De Oliveira, Bernhard Keller, Amanda J. Cork, Karrera Y. Djoko, Mark R. Davies, Mark J. Walker
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that the ABC transporter substrate binding protein GshT is a crucial component of the glutathione salvage pathway in glutathione-auxotrophic GAS. Host-acquired glutathione is essential for the GAS antioxidant defense system, enabling it to evade the host innate immune response. This study provides mechanistic insights into how extracellular bacterial pathogens like GAS exploit host glutathione for their own benefit.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wei Peng, Xia Yang, Ningning Wang, Ting Gao, Zewen Liu, Wei Liu, Danna Zhou, Keli Yang, Rui Guo, Wan Liang, Huanchun Chen, Yongxiang Tian, Fangyan Yuan, Weicheng Bei
Summary: This study revealed that manganese increases the tolerance of Streptococcus suis to oxidative stress by upregulating the expression of troABCD genes. Moreover, PerR-regulated Mn import in S. suis and increased the tolerance of S. suis to oxidative stress by regulating troABCD genes.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Celine Yen Ling Choo, Pei-Ching Wu, Jonar I. Yago, Kuang-Ren Chung
Summary: In this study, the researchers discovered a microbody called peroxisomes that are involved in fatty acid and hydrogen peroxide metabolism in eukaryotes. They found that the AaPex3 gene is responsible for peroxisome biogenesis and resistance to peroxides and superoxide-generating compounds. AaPex3 also affects gene expression related to ROS resistance and is involved in maintaining cell wall integrity and various important functions in the phytopathogenic fungus.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Wei Peng, Xia Yang, Yanna Wang, Ningning Wang, Xiaoyue Li, Huanchun Chen, Fangyan Yuan, Weicheng Bei
Summary: This study reveals the importance of manganese in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis and the role of the manganese uptake system in resistance to calprotectin and oxidative stress. The study also identifies TroR as a transcriptional regulatory repressor of troABCD.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Hannah Tabakh, Adelle P. McFarland, Maureen K. Thomason, Alex J. Pollock, Rochelle C. Glover, Shivam A. Zaver, Joshua J. Woodward
Summary: Pathogens encounter various antimicrobial responses during infection, including the ROS burst. The toxic 4-HNE impacts the growth and survival of bacteria, with Listeria monocytogenes inducing gene expression in response to 4-HNE exposure. While Rha1 and Rha2 are not essential for 4-HNE resistance in L. monocytogenes, they can confer resistance to sensitive bacteria in vitro and in host cells.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Miriam A. Guevara, Jamisha D. Francis, Jacky Lu, Shannon D. Manning, Ryan S. Doster, Rebecca E. Moore, Jennifer A. Gaddy
Summary: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterium that can cause infections, and the G. mellonella model is an effective tool for studying the interactions between GBS and its host, providing valuable insights into GBS pathogenesis.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Xinchi Zhu, Shuoyue Wang, Yu Du, Zijing Liang, Huochun Yao, Xiang Chen, Zongfu Wu
Summary: This study utilized RNA-Seq to reveal the transcriptional landscape of Streptococcus suis under oxidative stress. Several novel genes responsible for resisting oxidative stress were identified, along with a novel aquaporin, Aagp, which plays a crucial role during hydrogen peroxide stress. Additionally, Aagp may be involved in glycerol transport and contributes to S. suis virulence.
Article
Microbiology
Srinivasan Ramakrishnan, Linn M. Unger, Rodrigo P. Baptista, Teresa Cruz-Bustos, Roberto Docampo
Summary: This study demonstrates that ablation of a Golgi-localized cation transporter in Trypanosoma cruzi prevents normal protein glycosylation, host cell invasion, and intracellular replication, while glycosylation can be rescued by Mn2+ but not by other cations. These findings highlight the crucial role of Mn2+ in host-parasite interaction and protein glycosylation.
Review
Cell Biology
Shifu Aggarwal, Muthiah Kumaraswami
Summary: Host restricts the access of manganese to pathogens during infection, while excess manganese also affects the virulence of streptococci. Streptococci employ a sensory system to counter host-induced manganese stress. Understanding the molecular details of host-streptococcal interactions and streptococcal effectors is important for bacterial pathophysiology.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yue-Han Huang, Yi-Hang Lee, Chi-Jan Lin, Li-Hang Hsu, Ying-Lien Chen
Summary: The DUB module of Candida glabrata plays important roles in gene regulation, drug tolerance, and biofilm formation.
Review
Cell Biology
Siva R. Uppalapati, Andres Vazquez-Torres
Summary: The metal ion manganese (Mn2+) is important for both hosts and bacterial pathogens. Hosts restrict Mn2+ to combat bacterial infection, while pathogens have mechanisms to counteract this restriction. Mn2+ serves as a cofactor in antioxidant defense and central metabolism. Bacterial pathogens prefer Mn2+-cofactored enzymes during oxidative stress. Mn2+ catalyzes metabolic pathways that provide outputs related to Salmonella's resistance against reactive oxygen species generated during the respiratory burst.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Jan Capek, Branislav Vecerek
Summary: The utilization of manganese in bacteria varies among species and is influenced by external conditions. The role of manganese in pathogens is linked to the accumulation of molecular oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere and its interference with iron, as well as the ability of manganese to replace iron in enzymes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mar Martinez Pastor, Saaz Sakrikar, Sungmin Hwang, Rylee K. Hackley, Andrew L. Soborowski, Julie A. Maupin-Furlow, Amy K. Schmid
Summary: Maintaining intracellular iron homeostasis is crucial for cellular metabolic needs and reducing oxidative stress. The transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) involved in iron response were studied in two haloarchaea, showing variations in regulatory complexity and metal specificity among different strains, likely influenced by environmental conditions and iron availability.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julia D. Meredith, Irina Chapman, Kathrin Ulrich, Caitlyn Sebastian, Frederick Stull, Michael J. Gray
Summary: Hypothiocyanite and hypothiocyanous acid (OSCN-/HOSCN) are acids released by the innate immune system that can damage bacteria and proteins. Certain bacteria can evade the harmful effects of HOSCN, leading to severe diseases. In Escherichia coli, the flavoprotein RclA can efficiently reduce HOSCN and protect the bacteria. This suggests HOSCN may have antimicrobial activity in the gut.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marcos Antonio de Oliveira, Carlos A. Tairum, Luis Eduardo Soares Netto, Ana Laura Pires de Oliveira, Rogerio Luis Aleixo-Silva, Vitoria Isabela Montanhero Cabrera, Carlos A. Breyer, Melina Cardoso dos Santos
Summary: The oxidative and nitrosative responses produced by animals and plants serve as crucial defenses against pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. Peroxiredoxins are enzymes that play a key role in decomposing hydroperoxides and can also function as molecular chaperones and phospholipases, contributing to microbial protection against host defenses. Some peroxiredoxins have been identified as virulence factors, indicating their significance in pathogenesis and potentially as targets for new antimicrobial drugs.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gen Li, David M. P. De Oliveira, Mark J. Walker
Summary: Ionophores are compounds that have antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, and can directly or indirectly act against various pathogens. However, issues such as toxicity, bioavailability, and lack of in vivo efficacy studies have hindered the clinical development of ionophores. Nevertheless, ionophores have potential therapeutic value in addressing global antimicrobial resistance and the need for new antimicrobial therapies.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
David M. P. De Oliveira, Brian M. Forde, Minh-Duy Phan, Bernhard Steiner, Bing Zhang, Johannes Zuegg, Ibrahim M. El-deeb, Gen Li, Nadia Keller, Stephan Brouwer, Nichaela Harbison-Price, Amanda J. Cork, Michelle J. Bauer, Saleh F. Alquethamy, Scott A. Beatson, Jason A. Roberts, David L. Paterson, Alastair G. McEwan, Mark A. T. Blaskovich, Mark A. Schembri, Christopher A. McDevitt, Mark von Itzstein, Mark J. Walker
Summary: This study explores the use of PBT2 to break the resistance of A. baumannii to tetracycline class antibiotics, showing promising results in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Article
Cell Biology
Erin B. Brazel, Aimee Tan, Stephanie L. Neville, Amy R. Iverson, Saumya R. Udagedara, Bliss A. Cunningham, Mwilye Sikanyika, David M. P. De Oliveira, Bernhard Keller, Lisa Bohlmann, Ibrahim M. El-Deeb, Katherine Ganio, Bart A. Eijkelkamp, Alastair G. McEwan, Mark von Itzstein, Megan J. Maher, Mark J. Walker, Jason W. Rosch, Christopher A. McDevitt
Summary: This study found that zinc intoxication disrupts central carbon metabolism, lipid biogenesis, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Furthermore, inhibition of the zinc efflux pathway increases the susceptibility of S. pneumoniae to antibiotics, providing a therapeutic modality to break antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant strains.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saleh Alquethamy, Katherine Ganio, Zhenyao Luo, Sheikh I. Hossain, Andrew J. Hayes, Thomas Ve, Mark R. Davies, Evelyne Deplazes, Bostjan Kobe, Christopher A. McDevitt
Summary: In this study, A. baumannii ZnuA, a zinc-recruiting protein, was characterized using genomic, biochemical, and structural approaches. The findings revealed the high conservation of ZnuA and provided insight into the mechanism of zinc recruitment by ZnuA, expanding our understanding of the functional diversity of zinc-recruiting proteins.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Stephan Brouwer, Magnus G. Jespersen, Cheryl-Lynn Y. Ong, David M. P. De Oliveira, Bernhard Keller, Amanda J. Cork, Karrera Y. Djoko, Mark R. Davies, Mark J. Walker
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that the ABC transporter substrate binding protein GshT is a crucial component of the glutathione salvage pathway in glutathione-auxotrophic GAS. Host-acquired glutathione is essential for the GAS antioxidant defense system, enabling it to evade the host innate immune response. This study provides mechanistic insights into how extracellular bacterial pathogens like GAS exploit host glutathione for their own benefit.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Dylan D. Barth, Marianne J. Mullane, Claudia Sampson, Coco Chou, Janessa Pickering, Mark P. Nicol, Mark R. Davies, Jonathan Carapetis, Asha C. Bowen
Summary: The Missing Piece Study aims to document the epidemiology of Group A beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis and impetigo among remote-living Australian children. The study includes screening and active surveillance, as well as the application of new diagnostic technologies and genomic evaluations to enhance primary prevention strategies.
Article
Infectious Diseases
David M. P. De Oliveira, Bernhard Keller, Andrew J. Hayes, Cheryl-Lynn Y. Ong, Nichaela Harbison-Price, Ibrahim M. El-Deeb, Gen Li, Nadia Keller, Lisa Bohlmann, Stephan Brouwer, Andrew G. Turner, Amanda J. Cork, Thomas R. Jones, David L. Paterson, Alastair G. McEwan, Mark R. Davies, Christopher A. McDevitt, Mark von Itzstein, Mark J. Walker
Summary: The combination of PBT2 with zinc has been shown to break intrinsic polymyxin resistance in various Gram-positive bacteria and could potentially be an effective treatment against streptococcal skin infections.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Lisa Barbaro, Gayathri Nagalingam, James A. Triccas, Lendl Tan, Nicholas P. West, Daniel L. Priebbenow, Jonathan B. Baell
Summary: The clinical use of bedaquiline has been limited due to safety concerns. Recent investigations have found that modification of the B- and C-ring units of bedaquiline can lead to the development of new compounds with potent anti-tubercular activity but improved safety. Concurrent modification of the A-, B-, and C-ring units in bedaquiline variants has been shown to result in compounds with relatively potent anti-tubercular activity and reduced safety issues.
Article
Microbiology
Hannah R. Frost, Julien Guglielmini, Sebastian Duchene, Jake A. Lacey, Martina Sanderson-Smith, Andrew C. Steer, Mark J. Walker, Anne Botteaux, Mark R. Davies, Pierre R. Smeesters
Summary: This study analyzed the protein sequences of M, Mrp, and Enn proteins from 1668 GAS genomes and found that they formed distinct groups. M and Enn proteins formed two groups, while Mrp proteins formed four groups. The co-occurrence of M and M-like proteins was identified, indicating that their evolution is constrained by functional and virulence attributes. Horizontal and vertical gene flow between different GAS strains was observed.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Kalindu D. Rodrigo, Aarti Saiganesh, Andrew J. Hayes, Alisha M. Wilson, Jack Anstey, Janessa L. Pickering, Jua Iwasaki, Jessica Hillas, Scott Winslow, Tabitha Woodman, Philipp Nitschke, Jake A. Lacey, Karen J. Breese, Mark P. G. van der Linden, Philip M. Giffard, Steven Y. C. Tong, Nicola Gray, Keith A. Stubbs, Jonathan R. Carapetis, Asha C. Bowen, Mark R. Davies, Timothy C. Barnett
Summary: The study describes a mechanism of sulfamethoxazole resistance in Group A Streptococcus that relies on acquiring host metabolites, bypassing the inhibition of folate biosynthesis by the antibiotic.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Stephan Brouwer, Tania Rivera-Hernandez, Bodie F. Curren, Nichaela Harbison-Price, David M. P. De Oliveira, Magnus G. Jespersen, Mark R. Davies, Mark J. Walker
Summary: Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) is highly adapted to the human host and can cause various infections. The fluctuating global epidemiology of GAS is characterized by the emergence of new clones with better adaptability to the infection niche or host immunity. The increasing antibiotic resistance in GAS poses a threat to treatment, highlighting the need for safe and effective vaccines. This review summarizes recent developments in understanding GAS, including epidemiology, clinical features, virulence, and drug resistance mechanisms.
NATURE REVIEWS MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark R. R. Davies, Nadia Keller, Stephan Brouwer, Magnus G. G. Jespersen, Amanda J. J. Cork, Andrew J. Hayes, Miranda E. E. Pitt, David M. P. De Oliveira, Nichaela Harbison-Price, Olivia M. M. Bertolla, Daniel G. G. Mediati, Bodie F. F. Curren, George Taiaroa, Jake A. A. Lacey, Helen V. V. Smith, Ning-Xia Fang, Lachlan J. M. Coin, Kerrie Stevens, Steven Y. C. Tong, Martina Sanderson-Smith, Jai J. J. Tree, Adam D. D. Irwin, Keith Grimwood, Benjamin P. P. Howden, Amy V. V. Jennison, Mark J. J. Walker
Summary: A new variant of Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M1 (M1(UK)) has been reported in the UK, which exhibits enhanced expression of the superantigen SpeA. A single SNP in the 5' leader sequence of ssrA is responsible for the upregulation of SpeA expression. This variant has also been observed in Australia and is associated with epidemic scarlet fever in Asia.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Mark R. Davies, Sebastian Duchene, Mary Valcanis, Aaron P. Jenkins, Adam Jenney, Varanisese Rosa, Andrew J. Hayes, Aneley Getahun Strobel, Liam McIntyre, Jake A. Lacey, Elizabeth J. Klemm, Vanessa K. Wong, Aalisha Sahukhan, Helen Thomson, Andrew Page, Dianna Hocking, Nancy Wang, Litia Tudravu, Eric Rafai, Gordon Dougan, Benjamin P. Howden, John A. Crump, Kim Mulholland, Richard A. Strugnell
Summary: Genomic analysis of Salmonella Typhi in Fiji revealed two non-H58 genotypes with genetic similarities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Low rates of international clone importation and minimal antibiotic resistance were observed in the endemic Fijian typhoid genotypes.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Eve A. Maunders, Katherine Ganio, Andrew J. Hayes, Stephanie L. Neville, Mark R. Davies, Richard A. Strugnell, Christopher A. McDevitt, Aimee Tan
Summary: This study revealed the critical role of the P-type ATPase ZntA in maintaining bacterial metal homeostasis and resisting extracellular zinc stress in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
David M. P. De Oliveira, Brian M. Forde, Minh-Duy Phan, Bernhard Steiner, Bing Zhang, Johannes Zuegg, Ibrahim M. El-Deeb, Gen Li, Nadia Keller, Stephan Brouwer, Nichaela Harbison-Price, Amanda J. Cork, Michelle J. Bauer, Saleh F. Alquethamy, Scott A. Beatson, Jason A. Roberts, David L. Paterson, Alastair G. McEwan, Mark A. T. Blaskovich, Mark A. Schembri, Christopher A. McDevitt, Mark von Itzstein, Mark J. Walker
Summary: The study found that the combination of PBT2 and zinc with tetracycline class antibiotics can effectively combat multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, potentially serving as a treatment for overcoming strain resistance.