Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yi-Ywan M. Chen, Hsing-Yi Wang, Chia-Hua Wu, Yu-Juan Lin, Cheng-Hsun Chiu
Summary: Although gene clusters encoding Tfp are commonly found in Streptococcus sanguinis, not all strains exhibit surface-dependent twitching motility. Tfp can serve as a ligand for host cell colonization, and Tfp retraction is essential for biofilm stability. The twitching phenotype is strain-specific and sensitive to growth media.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga Tsaplina, Ekaterina Lomert, Yuliya Berson
Summary: Bacteria use cell surface proteins to interact with host cells, and E-cadherin plays a crucial role in bacterial invasion. Full-length E-cadherin is involved in S. proteamaculans invasion, while both full-length and truncated E-cadherin can promote S. grimesii invasion.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Dan Huang, Jingjing Luo, Xuan OuYang, Lei Song
Summary: This article reviews how different species of Rickettsia utilize their arsenal of effector proteins to impact host cellular processes in order to promote their own replication or evade destruction.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Edwin Lasonder, Kunal More, Shailja Singh, Malak Haidar, Daniela Bertinetti, Eileen J. Kennedy, Friedrich W. Herberg, Anthony A. Holder, Gordon Langsley, Chetan E. Chitnis
Summary: The review emphasizes the significance of signaling pathways in regulating key processes during Plasmodium falciparum infection, particularly highlighting the roles of cAMP and Ca2+ and the involvement of PKA in red blood cell invasion. Additionally, it suggests utilizing these pathways as potential therapeutic targets for treating malaria and other diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Huanhuan Deng, Leihong Deng, Haichao Chao, Zhaojun Yu, Jianbiao Huang, Zhen Song, Lifen Peng, Tao Zeng
Summary: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common cancer with high mortality ranking 9th. The relationship between autophagy and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BLCA is poorly understood. This study identified the autophagy-related gene RAB14 and demonstrated its promotion of EMT, migration, and invasion in bladder cancer cells through the Akt-associated autophagic pathway. Knocking down RAB14 inhibited EMT and autophagy in T24 cells, and RAB14 levels were positively correlated with key autophagy genes LC3B and Beclin1. These findings suggest the potential role of RAB14 in BLCA progression.
CELL DEATH DISCOVERY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Shiho Fukushima, Takaaki Shimohata, Yuri Inoue, Junko Kido, Takashi Uebanso, Kazuaki Mawatari, Akira Takahashi
Summary: Campylobacter jejuni infection activates the Rac1 signaling pathway to promote bacterial internalization, and LC3 plays a role in regulating the invasion signaling of C. jejuni, thereby participating in autophagy-mediated host immune response.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudia Tito, Ilaria Genovese, Flavia Giamogante, Anna Benedetti, Selenia Miglietta, Lucia Barazzuol, Loredana Cristiano, Alessia Iaiza, Sabatino Carolini, Luciana De Angelis, Silvia Masciarelli, Stefania Annarita Nottola, Giuseppe Familiari, Vincenzo Petrozza, Mattia Lauriola, Luca Tamagnone, Andrea Ilari, Tito Cali, Hector H. Valdivia, Carmen R. Valdivia, Gianni Colotti, Francesco Fazi
Summary: This study elucidates a functional mechanism that links calcium homeostasis to EGFR signaling in cancer. Sorcin directly binds EGFR protein in a calcium-dependent fashion, regulating calcium homeostasis and controlling EGFR proteostasis and signaling. This promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, malignant progression, and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Sorcin can also enhance the effectiveness of EGFR-targeting therapies.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Bennett M. Hardy, Erin Muths, David N. Koons
Summary: In this study, the authors integrated long-term mark-recapture data, focal measurements of reproductive effort, a population matrix model, and inferences on life-history variation to reveal differences in demographic response to disease in a susceptible frog species. They found that a high disease prevalence population compensated through recruitment, leading to positive population growth, while the low disease prevalence population did not compensate and had decreasing population growth. The high prevalence population also had faster generation times and a positive relationship between disease prevalence and the proportion of juveniles, suggesting increased reproductive effort as a pathway for compensatory recruitment.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tim Jager, Carla Holandino, Michelle Nonato de Oliveira Melo, Evelyn Maribel Condori Penaloza, Adriana Passos Oliveira, Rafael Garrett, Gaetan Glauser, Mirio Grazi, Hartmut Ramm, Konrad Urech, Stephan Baumgartner
Summary: This study compared the metabolic profiles of European mistletoe from different host trees, showing that the compounds in mistletoe vary depending on the host tree. Analysis revealed seven compounds that may serve as host-specific biomarkers for mistletoe.
Article
Fisheries
Se-Young Cho, Seok Ryel Kim, Bipin Vaidya, Joseph Kwon, Duwoon Kim
Summary: This study highlights that defective GLUT4 translocation-dependent glucose uptake increases the mortality of VHSV-infected olive flounders by inhibiting MPO activity.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hajer Habouria, Hicham Bessaiah, Pravil Pokharel, Sabin Dhakal, Segolene Maris, Julie Buron, Sebastien Houle, Charles M. Dozois
Summary: Fimbriae are important colonization factors in many bacterial species. This study investigated the identification of a new type of fimbriae encoded on some IncF plasmids in E. coli. The new fimbriae, named PL fimbriae, exhibited similar genetic organization and sequence to P fimbriae. They promoted adherence to host cells and improved competitive colonization of the mouse kidney.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Judith Mogouong, Philippe Constant, Pierre Legendre, Claude Guertin
Summary: The microbiome composition of living organisms is closely related to the fitness and adaptation of the host, with factors like development stage, diet, and host-microbe coevolution influencing changes in microbiome structures. This study focused on the emerald ash borer (EAB) and found that phyllosphere microbiome composition was a strong predictor of the EAB gut microbial community structure, explaining a significant portion of the variation in fungi and bacteria. The findings suggest a potential covariation between microorganisms associated with food sources and the insect gut microbiome.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Marina E. Kirkland, McKenzie Stannard, Caitlin H. Kowalski, Dallas Mould, Alayna Caffrey-Carr, Rachel M. Temple, Brandon S. Ross, Lotus A. Lofgren, Jason E. Stajich, Robert A. Cramer, Joshua J. Obar
Summary: This study investigates the genetic basis for A. fumigatus germination in the airways, revealing that SskA regulates fungal germination through the SakA pathway, driving disease initiation and inflammation in the lungs.
Article
Immunology
Shanshan Liang, Hui Dong, Shunhai Zhu, Qiping Zhao, Bing Huang, Yu Yu, Qingjie Wang, Haixia Wang, Shuilan Yu, Hongyu Han
Summary: A study investigated the interaction between a potential interactor, EteIF-5A, and EtCDPK4 in Eimeria tenella, as well as the expression patterns of EteIF-5A in different developmental stages. Results showed that anti-rEteIF-5A polyclonal antibodies effectively inhibited cell invasion by sporozoites, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Attinder Chadha, France Moreau, Shanshan Wang, Antoine Dufour, Kris Chadee
Summary: The study revealed a unique strategy employed by Eh to attenuate NF-kappa B-dependent pro-inflammatory responses by activating caspase-1 through NLRP3, leading to degradation of cullin-1/5 in macrophages.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karen Hoffmann, Hilmar Berger, Hagen Kulbe, Sukanija Thillainadarasan, Hans-Joachim Mollenkopf, Tomasz Zemojtel, Eliane Taube, Silvia Darb-Esfahani, Mandy Mangler, Jalid Sehouli, Radoslav Chekerov, Elena Braicu, Thomas F. Meyer, Mirjana Kessler
Article
Cell Biology
Cindrilla Chumduri, Rajendra Kumar Gurumurthy, Hilmar Berger, Oliver Dietrich, Naveen Kumar, Stefanie Koster, Volker Brinkmann, Kirstin Hoffmann, Marina Drabkina, Panagiota Arampatzi, Dajung Son, Uwe Klemm, Hans-Joachim Mollenkopf, Hermann Herbst, Mandy Mangler, Jorg Vogel, Antoine-Emmanuel Saliba, Thomas F. Meyer
Summary: The transition zones of squamous and columnar epithelia are prone to cancer, often associated with metaplasia. Through mouse models and single-cell RNA sequencing, it was discovered that the cervical epithelial cells in the endo- and ectocervix have distinct origins from stem cells regulated by opposing Wnt signals from the stroma. Additionally, a mouse model of cervical metaplasia showed that the stroma in the endocervix undergoes remodeling and increases expression of the Wnt inhibitor DKK2, promoting the outgrowth of ectocervical stem cells.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amina Iftekhar, Hilmar Berger, Nassim Bouznad, Julian Heuberger, Francesco Boccellato, Ulrich Dobrindt, Heiko Hermeking, Michael Sigal, Thomas F. Meyer
Summary: Genotoxic colibactin-producing pks+ Escherichia coli infection induces characteristics of colorectal cancer cells in organoids, including enhanced proliferation, Wnt independence, and impaired differentiation. Mutations in genes related to the p53 pathway contribute to Wnt-independence in these organoids, suggesting a functional interplay between p53 and Wnt pathways in promoting transformation. The basis of transformation in these organoids is proposed to be larger chromosomal alterations and aneuploidy, consistent with the early appearance of chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emanuel Wyler, Kirstin Moesbauer, Vedran Franke, Asija Diag, Lina Theresa Gottula, Roberto Arsie, Filippos Klironomos, David Koppstein, Katja Hoenzke, Salah Ayoub, Christopher Buccitelli, Karen Hoffmann, Anja Richter, Ivano Legnini, Andranik Ivanov, Tommaso Mari, Simone Del Giudice, Jan Papies, Samantha Praktiknjo, Thomas F. Meyer, Marcel Alexander Mueller, Daniela Niemeyer, Andreas Hocke, Matthias Selbach, Altuna Akalin, Nikolaus Rajewsky, Christian Drosten, Markus Landthaler
Summary: Detailed analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in comparison with SARS-CoV reveals a stronger induction of innate immune response, including the upregulation of miRNA-155. Infected cells show broad upregulation of genes, while interferon beta/lambda genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 are expressed in only a small subset of cells. Time analysis suggests that interferon regulatory factors are activated before nuclear factor kappa B in response to infection, with heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) identified as a relevant protein for viral replication and inflammatory cytokine expression.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sarah Woelffling, Alice Anna Daddi, Aki Imai-Matsushima, Kristin Fritsche, Christian Goosmann, Jan Traulsen, Richard Lisle, Monika Schmid, Maria del Mar Reines-Benassar, Lennart Pfannkuch, Volker Brinkmann, Jan Bornschein, Peter Malfertheiner, Jurgen Ordemann, Alexander Link, Thomas F. Meyer, Francesco Boccellato
Summary: The study identified signals inducing differentiation of surface mucus-, zymogen-, and gastric acid-producing cells using gastric glands as a model. Epidermal growth factor was shown to be the major fate determinant distinguishing different cell types in human gastric glands. This finding provides insights into the differentiation and patterning of human tissue and the signaling microenvironment in the gastric glands.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marion Rother, Christiane Dimmler, Friderike Weege, Hans-Joachim Mollenkopf, Thomas F. Meyer, Michael Naumann
Summary: Emerging mosquito-borne RNA viruses, such as the Zika virus, have caused significant health complications globally. The lack of antiviral therapy and vaccination has led to a focus on investigating ZIKV-host interactions to understand molecular infection mechanisms. A method for analyzing ZIKV host dependency factors has been established, with potential to identify essential factors for placental infection as targets for antiviral treatment.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Tobias C. Kunz, Marcel Ruhling, Adriana Moldovan, Kerstin Paprotka, Vera Kozjak-Pavlovic, Thomas Rudel, Martin Fraunholz
Summary: Expansion Microscopy (ExM) is a novel tool that improves the resolution of fluorescence microscopy by physically expanding the sample in a hydrogel, allowing visualization of various pathogens, including Gram-positive bacteria. A series of enzymatic treatments were developed to achieve isotropic 4x expansion of the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating the technique's suitability for imaging bacteria at a spatial resolution of approximately 60 nm with conventional confocal laser scanning microscopy.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gunter Maubach, Michelle C. C. Lim, Olga Sokolova, Steffen Backert, Thomas F. Meyer, Michael Naumann
Summary: The study identifies a dual function of TIFA in activating both classical and alternative NF-kappa B signaling pathways in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells, with TRAF6 and TRAF2 acting as the binding partners of TIFA to facilitate the process.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nils C. Gassen, Jan Papies, Thomas Bajaj, Jackson Emanuel, Frederik Dethloff, Robert Lorenz Chua, Jakob Trimpert, Nicolas Heinemann, Christine Niemeyer, Friderike Weege, Katja Hoenzke, Tom Aschman, Daniel E. Heinz, Katja Weckmann, Tim Ebert, Andreas Zellner, Martina Lennarz, Emanuel Wyler, Simon Schroeder, Anja Richter, Daniela Niemeyer, Karen Hoffmann, Thomas F. Meyer, Frank L. Heppner, Victor M. Corman, Markus Landthaler, Andreas C. Hocke, Markus Morkel, Nikolaus Osterrieder, Christian Conrad, Roland Eils, Helena Radbruch, Patrick Giavalisco, Christian Drosten, Marcel A. Mueller
Summary: Viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can manipulate cellular metabolism and suppress autophagy, leading to dysregulated immune responses. Studying SARS-CoV-2-infected cells revealed potential host pathways that can be targeted with specific compounds to inhibit virus propagation. This research highlights the importance of understanding host-virus interactions in developing treatment strategies against COVID-19.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Kathrin Stelzner, Aziza Boyny, Tobias Hertlein, Aneta Sroka, Adriana Moldovan, Kerstin Paprotka, David Kessie, Helene Mehling, Jan Potempa, Knut Ohlsen, Martin J. Fraunholz, Thomas Rudel
Summary: The bacterial cysteine protease staphopain A contributes to host cell death mediated by intracellular S. aureus, enhancing both bacterial survival in lung infection and tissue destruction. In epithelial cells, staphopain A induces cell death and intracellular replication without requiring bacterial proliferation. The role of staphopain A in facilitating colonization and dissemination of infection is highlighted in this study.
Article
Microbiology
David Krones, Marcel Ruehling, Katrin Anne Becker, Tobias C. Kunz, Carolin Sehl, Kerstin Paprotka, Erich Gulbins, Martin Fraunholz
Summary: Staphylococcal alpha-toxin induces an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ and p38 MAPK phosphorylation in endothelial cells, accompanied by the release of lysosomal protein acid sphingomyelinase. This suggests that the toxin may trigger membrane repair mechanisms in endothelial cells similar to those observed in other cell types after damage by different toxins.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rajendra Kumar Gurumurthy, Stefanie Koster, Naveen Kumar, Thomas F. Meyer, Cindrilla Chumduri
Summary: The cervix is a crucial part of the female reproductive system, playing important roles in fertility, pregnancy maintenance, and infection prevention. Current in vitro models for studying cervix biology are limited in reflecting the physiological and functional properties of the two types of cervical epithelium. This study presents a protocol for establishing adult epithelial stem cell-derived endocervical and ectocervical organoids, which recapitulate the native tissue architecture and can be used to study cervix biology, infections, and cancer evolution.
Article
Microbiology
Julia C. Lang, Elena A. Seiss, Adriana Moldovan, Mathias Muesken, Till Sauerwein, Martin Fraunholz, Andreas J. Mueller, Oliver Goldmann, Eva Medina
Summary: The capacity of Staphylococcus aureus to survive and persist within phagocytic cells has been associated with antibiotic treatment failure and recurrent infections. In this study, the researchers used a reporter system to distinguish between intracellular bacteria with high and low metabolic activity and found that as the infection progresses, intracellular S. aureus transitions from a high metabolic state to a low metabolic dormant-like state. This process seems to be driven by the level of stress encountered in the intracellular niche. The study suggests that effective therapies for S. aureus infections should target both high metabolic bacteria and intracellular dormant-like S. aureus.
Article
Immunology
Anke Siegmund, Muhammad Awais Afzal, Felix Tetzlaff, Daniela Keinhoerster, Fabio Gratani, Kerstin Paprotka, Martin Westermann, Sandor Nietzsche, Christiane Wolz, Martin Fraunholz, Christian A. Huebner, Bettina Loeffler, Lorena Tuchscherr
Summary: Research shows that certain strains of S. aureus are able to persist within endothelial cells due to their production of PSM proteins. Strains lacking PSM expression employ an alternative pathway for survival within endothelial cells.
Review
Oncology
Dongying Wang, Jiaxing He, Junxue Dong, Thomas F. Meyer, Tianmin Xu
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH
(2020)