Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicky O'Boyle, Gillian R. Douce, Gillian Farrell, Nicholas J. W. Rattray, Mark A. Schembri, Andrew J. Roe, James P. R. Connolly
Summary: The ability of bacterial pathogens to adapt to host niches is driven by the carriage and regulation of genes. The Escherichia coli TF YhaJ exhibits distinct genome-binding dynamics and transcriptome control in different host niches. YhaJ coordinates the activation of fimbriae and the biosynthesis of amino acids.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chiara Guidi, Lien De Wannemaeker, Jasmine De Baets, Wouter Demeester, Jo Maertens, Brecht De Paepe, Marjan De Mey
Summary: A dynamically regulated feedback circuit was developed to improve cell growth and production by downregulating the expression of membrane proteins. This strategy was effective in countering membrane stress and showed potential for addressing metabolic burden in general.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Christopher J. Day, Alvin W. Lo, Lauren E. Hartley-Tassell, M. Pilar Argente, Jessica Poole, Nathan P. King, Joe Tiralongo, Michael P. Jennings, Mark A. Schembri
Summary: This study focused on dissecting the receptor specificity of different CU fimbriae in Escherichia coli using a glycan array analysis approach with whole-bacterial-cell surface plasmon resonance. The research revealed new information on fimbrial specificity and provided a rapid and scalable system to define novel adhesin-glycan interactions underlying bacterial colonization and disease. The findings contribute to a better understanding of bacterial adhesion mechanisms and offer a promising strategy to combat antibiotic resistance through blocking adhesion.
Article
Microbiology
Wen-Ying Guo, Hui Zhang, Ming Cheng, Min-Rui Huang, Qian Li, Yu-Wei Jiang, Ji-Xing Zhang, Ruan-Yang Sun, Min-Ge Wang, Xiao-Ping Liao, Ya-Hong Liu, Jian Sun, Liang-Xing Fang
Summary: Biofilms enable bacteria to resist disinfectants and antimicrobials, and hence are challenging to treat clinically. This study investigated the prevalence and transmission of plasmid-mediated types 1 and 3 fimbriae in Enterobacteriaceae, revealing that they are major contributors to enhanced biofilm formation in E. coli. These fimbriae are primarily located on specific types of plasmids and coexist with antimicrobial resistance genes.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Manisha Naskar, Viraj P. Parekh, Mathew A. Abraham, Zehra N. Alibasic, Min Jung Kim, Gyeongseo Suk, Joo Hwan Noh, Kwan Young R. Ko, Joonha Lee, Chungho R. Kim, Hana Yoon, Soman N. R. Abraham, Hae Woong Choi
Summary: Many recurrent urinary tract infections are caused by the persistence of uropathogens, such as UPEC, within the urinary tract. This study found that UPEC can persist in bladder epithelial cells even after apparent resolution of the infection, and the toxin HlyA plays a crucial role in this persistence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ningning Song, Henri De Greve, Quanjun Wang, Jean-Pierre Hernalsteens, Zhaoli Li
Summary: This study suggests that the parB gene of the endogenous plasmid pUTI89 in UPEC strains plays a crucial role in biofilm formation and gene expression, and can affect the virulence of the pathogen by influencing bacterial colonization in the bladder and kidneys.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Noble Selasi Gati, Imke Johanna Temme, Barbara Middendorf-Bauchart, Alexander Kehl, Ulrich Dobrindt, Alexander Mellmann
Summary: Hybrid Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains are positioned between STEC and UPEC, causing both diarrhea and urinary tract infections, with potential to adapt to both intestinal and extraintestinal environments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Munirah M. Alhammadi, Rita E. Godfrey, Joseph O. Ingram, Gurdamanjit Singh, Camilla L. Bathurst, Stephen J. W. Busby, Douglas F. Browning
Summary: Serine protease autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs) are virulence factors commonly found in enteric bacteria, such as E. coli and Shigella. One specific SPATE called Pic mucinase cleaves mucin, allowing bacteria to utilize it as a carbon source and penetrate the gut lining. The regulation of the pic gene in different strains of E. coli is controlled by the transcription factors CRP and Fis, with CRP activating transcription in nutrient-depleted conditions and Fis repressing expression in nutrient-rich environments. This regulation is consistent with Pic's role in scavenging mucin as a carbon source during colonization and infection.
Article
Microbiology
Rauf Salamzade, Christi L. McElheny, Abigail L. Manson, Ashlee M. Earl, Nader Shaikh, Yohei Doi
Summary: Escherichia coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children. However, the mechanisms of virulence and antibiotic resistance, as well as the population structure of this species, are poorly understood in this age group. This study examined the genetic markers and population structure of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) in children with UTIs. The results revealed similarities between UPEC populations in children and adults, with certain genetic markers being more common in pediatric pyelonephritis cases. Additionally, antibiotic resistance was correlated with known genetic markers, and a fimbrial gene allele was found to confer a selective advantage for UPEC.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yeseul Kim, Sanghun Kim, Kiu-Hyung Cho, Jin-Hyung Lee, Jintae Lee
Summary: Bacterial biofilm formation can be effectively inhibited by cinnamaldehyde and its derivatives, especially 4-nitrocinnamaldehyde. These compounds exhibit strong antibiofilm activities against UPEC and S. aureus, making them promising candidates for the treatment of biofilm-associated diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
George L. Katumba, Hung Tran, Jeffrey P. Henderson
Summary: This study reveals that extracellular copper ions can stimulate the production of multifunctional iron siderophore Ybt in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli, suggesting the important role of dual regulation in infection pathogenesis.
Article
Microbiology
George L. Katumba, Hung Tran, Jeffrey P. Henderson
Summary: Siderophores are iron chelators utilized by microbes to acquire iron, but the study found extracellular copper ions can rapidly stimulate Ybt production in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli. This stimulation pathway involves formation of a Cu(II)-Ybt complex, internalization through a TonB-dependent outer membrane transporter, and transcriptional regulation by the specialized transcription factor YbtA. The dual regulation by iron and copper indicates a multifunctional metallophore role for Ybt in stress responses during infection pathogenesis.
Article
Cell Biology
Timothy Kudinha, Fanrong Kong
Summary: The study found that the papGII gene is more closely associated with other VF genes compared to the papGIII gene in E. coli causing urinary tract infections, explaining the abundance of these genes in pyelonephritis and cystitis isolates.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Xian-liang Zhao, Zhuang-gui Chen, Tian-ci Yang, Ming Jiang, Jie Wang, Zhi-xue Cheng, Man-jun Yang, Jia-xin Zhu, Tian-tuo Zhang, Hui Li, Bo Peng, Xuan-xian Peng
Summary: Exogenous glutamine can enhance the killing effect of antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria, promote the influx of antibiotics, increase intracellular antibiotic concentrations, effectively prevent the development of antibiotic resistance, and provide new insights for the prevention or management of chronic, multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, bacterial persistence, and difficult-to-treat bacterial biofilms.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pallabi Basu, Shoshy Altuvia
Summary: RelA protein binds RNAs carrying the GGAG sequence to inhibit translation of specific mRNAs while also facilitating regulation of target genes by sRNA partners lacking GGAG. However, binding of mRNAs carrying GGAG at position -7 relative to the AUG by RelA protein renders sRNA-mRNA basepairing regulation ineffective.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Niklas Soderholm, Birendra Singh, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Linda Sandblad
CURRENT OPINION IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Microbiology
Nikola Zlatkov, Aftab Nadeem, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Sun Nyunt Wai
Summary: Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are extracellular organelles that play a crucial role in bacterial eco-evolutionary dynamics by delivering cargo in a protected and concentrated manner. They contribute to ecosystem stability and can help delay negative effects of evolutionary trade-offs, benefiting both bacterial populations and the ecosystem as a whole.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Aftab Nadeem, Kyaw Min Aung, Tanusree Ray, Athar Alam, Karina Persson, Amit Pal, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Sun Nyunt Wai
Summary: Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with APC gene mutations playing a key role in tumor development. The novel cytotoxin MakA induces apoptosis in cancer cells, with potent cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines while sparing nontransformed cells. MakA inhibits beta-catenin-mediated tumor cell proliferation, making it a promising candidate for therapeutic development against colon cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Aftab Nadeem, Athar Alam, Eric Toh, Si Lhyam Myint, Zia Ur Rehman, Tao Liu, Marta Bally, Anna Arnqvist, Hui Wang, Jun Zhu, Karina Persson, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Sun Nyunt Wai
Summary: Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, with recent findings identifying MakA as a potent virulence factor. MakA interacts with mammalian cells through phosphatidic acid, promoting macropinocytosis and leading to autophagy activation. This discovery sheds light on the potential role of MakA as an anti-colonization factor during late stages of cholera infection.
Review
Immunology
Jonathan Josephs-Spaulding, Thoger Jensen Krogh, Hannah Clara Rettig, Mark Lyng, Mariam Chkonia, Silvio Waschina, Simon Graspeuntner, Jan Rupp, Jakob Moller-Jensen, Christoph Kaleta
Summary: This article discusses the ecological interactions of human urogenital microbial communities, the mechanism of imbalance between microbial ecology and host physiology. A greater understanding of environmental mechanisms and microbial ecology is needed for the treatment and management of UTIs. The use of next generation and systems level methods is recommended to elucidate the systemic consequences of rUTIs.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Christina Ernstsen, Frederic H. Login, Anne-Sofie B. Schelde, Jacob R. Therkildsen, Jakob Moller-Jensen, Rikke Norregaard, Helle Praetorius, Lene N. Nejsum
Summary: This study found that the urinary concentration defect in patients with acute pyelonephritis may be related to abnormal cellular localization of AQP2. Pathogenic bacteria can induce membrane targeting of AQP2, and this effect does not depend on an increase in cAMP levels or phosphorylation of the S256 site.
Article
Microbiology
Kristian Staerk, Rasmus Birkholm Gronnemose, Thomas Kastberg Nielsen, Nicky Anuel Petersen, Yaseelan Palarasah, Sergi Torres-Puig, Jakob Moller-Jensen, Hans Jorn Kolmos, Lars Lund, Thomas Emil Andersen
Summary: Using an experimental porcine model of cystitis, this study found that low doses of UPEC are able to establish robust infections in pigs, similar to what is presumed in humans. T1F are critical for UPEC to surpass initial bottlenecks during infection but may be dispensable once infection is established.
Review
Immunology
Sergi Torres-Puig, Vanesa Garcia, Kristian Staerk, Thomas E. Andersen, Jakob Moller-Jensen, John E. Olsen, Ana Herrero-Fresno
Summary: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main cause of urinary tract infection (UTI), and the increase in antibiotic resistance poses challenges for UTI treatment. The use of 'omics' technologies in studying UPEC has revealed numerous factors that contribute to UPEC's ability to cause disease. This review summarizes the findings of 'omics' studies on UPEC pathogenesis and discusses current and future challenges.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Vanesa Garcia, Rasmus B. Gronnemose, Sergi Torres-Puig, Egle Kudirkiene, Mateo Piantelli, Shahana Ahmed, Thomas E. Andersen, Jakob Moller-Jensen, John E. Olsen, Ana Herrero-Fresno
Summary: The study using TraDIS approach identified essential and fitness genes of UPEC UTI89 during growth in different media and urinary tract infection, highlighting potential novel targets for UTI treatment/prevention strategies.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Saskia F. Erttmann, Patrycja Swacha, Kyaw Min Aung, Bjorn Brindefalk, Hui Jiang, Anetta Hartova, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Sun N. Wai, Nelson O. Gekara
Summary: This study revealed the modulation of systemic immunity and response to viral infection by gut commensals. Peripheral cGAS-STING activation plays a crucial role in promoting host resistance to systemic viral infections.
Article
Microbiology
Nikola Zlatkov, Moa Elsa Cecilia Nasman, Bernt Eric Uhlin
Summary: The cutoffs for the Escherichia coli species are the aerobic use of citrate and filamentous growth. This study compares atypical E. coli strains with different phenotypes to uncover the proteome and metabolome required for these phenotypes and reveals a trade-off between them.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jens Sivkaer Pettersen, Frida Fabricius Hog, Flemming Damgaard Nielsen, Jakob Moller-Jensen, Mikkel Girke Jorgensen
Summary: This study investigates the global transcriptional response of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human blood components and cerebrospinal fluid. The results show extensive transcriptional changes during early stages of interaction with blood components, with no specific response to active plasma proteins. The red blood cell-specific response involves multiple metabolic pathways and regulatory genes. Interestingly, most of the changes observed for cerebrospinal fluid were also observed for plasma.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Flemming Damgaard Nielsen, Jakob Moller-Jensen, Mikkel Girke Jorgensen
Summary: This study presents the complete pangenome of the important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae, including both genes and intergenic regions (IGRs). It reveals a clear linkage between core genes and core IGRs, suggesting horizontal regulatory transfer between isolates involving core IGRs.
FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sisse Andersen, Arkadiusz Nawrocki, Andreas Eske Johansen, Ana Herrero-Fresno, Vanesa Garcia Menendez, Jakob Moller-Jensen, John Elmerdahl Olsen
Summary: This study characterized the protein expression of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strain UTI89 during growth in human urine and inside bladder cells using quantitative proteomic profiling. The findings revealed that UPEC upregulated proteins associated with iron acquisition, amino acid metabolism, and sulfur compound turnover during growth in urine and bladder cells.
Article
Cell Biology
Dale P. Corkery, Aftab Nadeem, Kyaw Min Aung, Ahmed Hassan, Tao Liu, Ramon Cervantes-Rivera, Alf Hakon Lystad, Hui Wang, Karina Persson, Andrea Puhar, Anne Simonsen, Bernt Eric Uhlin, Sun Nyunt Wai, Yao-Wen Wu
Summary: The study describes a novel mechanism of autophagy modulation mediated by MakA of Vibrio cholerae, which affects noncanonical LC3 lipidation and leads to the formation of cholesterol-rich perinuclear membrane aggregates. This finding reveals a new mechanism of host autophagy modulation and immune modulation employed by V. cholerae during bacterial infection.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)