Article
Infectious Diseases
Noriyasu Shikura, Emmanuelle Darbon, Catherine Esnault, Ariane Deniset-Besseau, Delin Xu, Clara Lejeune, Eric Jacquet, Naima Nhiri, Laila Sago, David Cornu, Sebastiaan Werten, Cecile Martel, Marie-Joelle Virolle
Summary: In Streptomyces, antibiotic biosynthesis is triggered in phosphate limitation and energetic stress. A gene encoding polyphosphate kinase is co-transcribed with two downstream genes, one encoding a CHAD domain-containing phosin and the other encoding a nudix hydrolase. The expression of this operon is under the control of the two-component system PhoR/PhoP and is mainly activated in condition of phosphate limitation.
Article
Microbiology
Devon M. Fitzgerald, Anne M. Stringer, Carol Smith, Pascal Lapierre, Joseph T. Wade
Summary: Genome-scale analyses have found that many transcription factor binding sites are located within genes rather than upstream, but their function remains unclear. In this study, we examined the regulon of the transcription factor PhoB in Escherichia coli and found that the majority of PhoB binding sites are within genes. Surprisingly, these intragenic sites do not regulate transcription and are not conserved evolutionarily, suggesting that they may be genomic noise.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hanyan Li, Bishav Bhattarai, Michael Barber, Ramesh Goel
Summary: This study investigates the role of stringent response in cyanobacteria and coexisting bacterioplankton during nutrient-deprived periods in a freshwater lake. The findings advance our understanding of the mechanisms by which toxic cyanobacteria survive and proliferate during nitrogen and phosphorus limitations. The study identifies and analyzes the metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of the dominant bloom-forming cyanobacteria and reveals the activation of multiple functions in response to nutrient depletion. The study also highlights the importance of stringent response, N and P metabolism, and regulation in sustaining cyanoHABs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nattawut Krasaesueb, Authen Promariya, Wuttinun Raksajit, Wanthanee Khetkorn
Summary: This study demonstrates that the lack of phosphate regulator (SphU) enables the mutant strain to accumulate more PHB, leading to higher PHB content and production efficiency in cyanobacteria.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xueling Peng, Congcong Ma, Yuxin Feng, Biao Zhang, Mengsen Zhu, Tianyu Ma, Qilin Yu, Mingchun Li
Summary: This study investigates the role of the vip1 gene in response to phosphate stress and lipid metabolism in yeast. The results show that the deletion of the vip1 gene leads to lipid droplet accumulation and cell membrane damage. However, supplementing phosphate or overexpressing phosphate transporters does not affect the energy balance in vip1 mutant strains. Furthermore, the study finds that the vip1 mutant strains have reduced activity in the PHO pathway.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ze-Wei Chen, Annamalai Pratheepkumar, Rekha Bai, Yongyi Hu, Satpal Singh Badsara, Kuo-Wei Huang, Chin-Fa Lee
Summary: A highly efficient and environmentally-friendly catalytic method for the synthesis of S-benzhydryl-phosphorothioates has been reported. This method involves the direct thiophilic addition reaction of phosphite nucleophiles with diarylmethanethione, without the need for transition metal catalysts. The reaction yields the corresponding phosphorothioates in good to excellent yields, with a wide variety of thioketones and phosphite derivatives.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hai Li, Kai-Cheng Yu, Jia-Kun Su, Wei Ouyang, Nai-Li Fan, Xiang-Guo Hu
Summary: We have developed a photo-mediated method for the synthesis of C2-phosphinylated carbohydrates from glycals and diarylphosphine oxides. This method avoids the use of over-stoichiometric transition-metal promoters and shows a broader range of substrate compatibility, including substrates with one or even three hydroxy groups. It can also be used for the late-stage modification of complex molecules and the introduction of the phosphorous group to the 6-position of carbohydrates.
Article
Ecology
Rebekah A. Jones, Holly Shropshire, Caimeng Zhao, Andrew Murphy, Ian Lidbury, Tao Wei, David J. Scanlan, Yin Chen
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa adapts to phosphorus-limited growth conditions by substituting membrane glycerophospholipids with sugar-containing glycolipids, leading to significant changes in antibiotic sensitivity. This adaptation highlights the link between environmental stress adaptation and antibiotic resistance in this bacterium.
Article
Microbiology
Holly Shropshire, Rebekah A. Jones, Maria M. Aguilo-Ferretjans, David J. Scanlan, Yin Chen
Summary: The Burkholderia cepacia complex consists of opportunistic pathogens that cause high mortality rates in cystic fibrosis patients. In response to phosphate limitation, a crucial environmental stress, differentially regulated proteins were identified in the cellular and extracellular proteome of B. cenocepacia. This study provides insight into the metabolic shifts in Burkholderia under phosphorus stress, with implications for further research in understanding the biology of these bacteria.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Soren K. Amstrup, Sui Ching Ong, Nicholas Sofos, Jesper L. Karlsen, Ragnhild B. Skjerning, Thomas Boesen, Jan J. Enghild, Bjarne Hove-Jensen, Ditlev E. Brodersen
Summary: Using cryogenic electron microscopy, researchers discovered that PhnJ mediates the binding of the ATP-binding cassette proteins PhnK and PhnL to the core complex, and ATP hydrolysis leads to structural rearrangement and opening of the complex. This study sheds light on the breakdown of phosphonate in bacteria and provides insights into the mechanism of the large carbon-phosphorus lyase enzyme.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Juan Francisco Martin, Paloma Liras
Summary: Phosphorous, in the form of phosphate, is essential for all living beings and is transported by various phosphate transport systems in bacteria. The transport of phosphate is highly regulated by the phosphate concentration in bacteria, affecting the expression of different transporter genes. Streptomyces species have unique systems for phosphate transport and metabolism, including the presence of multiple transport systems and regulatory mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ilyas Ahmad, Abdul Rawoof, Khushbu Islam, John Momo, Nirala Ramchiary
Summary: This study reports the identification and homology modelling of phosphate transporter genes in Capsicum species for the first time, revealing gene duplication and high collinearity with tomato and potato. Analysis of fruit transcriptomes and metabolites showed differential expressions of CaPHTs in various tissues and changes in metabolite content under P-stress conditions. The identified CaPHT genes could be a valuable resource for further research on phosphate uptake and homeostasis in Capsicum.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tobias Reinhardt, Eduard Rott, Philip A. Schneider, Ralf Minke, Harald Schoenberger
Summary: This study found that the introduction of an acidic regeneration step can improve the adsorption performance on GFH when treating real membrane concentrate, achieving 95% adsorption efficiency. However, in alkaline regeneration, desorption performance significantly decreases when the electrical conductivity of NaOH drops below 90 mS/cm. Regularly replacing NaOH can significantly improve desorption performance.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Andrew R. J. Murphy, David J. Scanlan, Yin Chen, Gary D. Bending, John P. Hammond, Elizabeth M. H. Wellington, Ian D. E. A. Lidbury
Summary: This study identified a dual regulatory mechanism for the utilization of 2-aminoethylphosphonate (2AEP) in pseudomonads, where utilization only occurs when carbon (C), nitrogen (N), or phosphorus (P) are depleted. The presence of 2AEP is necessary for full gene expression, indicating substrate inducibility. This is the first study to identify coordination between global stress response and substrate-specific regulators in phosphonate metabolism.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Bethany Grace Bowring, Pooja Sethiya, Desmarini Desmarini, Sophie Lev, Lisa Tran Le, Yong-Sun Bahn, Seung-Heon Lee, Akio Toh-e, Nicholas Proschogo, Tom Savage, Julianne Teresa Djordjevic
Summary: Invasive fungal diseases cause a significant number of deaths per year, with cryptococcal meningitis being a major contributor. Treatment options for these diseases are limited. Understanding the regulation of phosphate homeostasis in fungal pathogens provides opportunities for developing targeted drugs. In this study, researchers investigate the impact of PHO pathway mutations on fungal virulence and find that inhibiting the function of Pho81 has the most detrimental effect on fungal growth.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriela Torres Cruvinel, Henrique Iglesias Neves, Beny Spira
MOLECULAR GENETICS AND GENOMICS
(2019)
Review
Microbiology
Beny Spira, Katia Ospino
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Oncology
Rafael T. P. da Silva, Marcos Petri, Estela Y. Valencia, Pedro H. C. Camargo, Susana I. C. de Torresi, Beny Spira
PHOTODIAGNOSIS AND PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Henrique Iglesias Neves, Gabriella Trombini Machado, Taissa Cristina dos Santos Ramos, Hyun Mo Yang, Ezra Yagil, Beny Spira
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
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)
Article
Microbiology
Luciana Thomaz, Luiz Gustavo de Almeida, Flavia R. O. Silva, Mauro Cortez, Carlos P. Taborda, Beny Spira
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)