Article
Microbiology
Myungseo Park, Sunyoung Hwang, Sangryeol Ryu, Byeonghwa Jeon
Summary: The study revealed that iron upregulates cosR transcription and subsequently positively regulates perR transcription in C. jejuni's defense against oxidative stress. This research provides insights into how C. jejuni coordinates oxidative stress defense by regulating the transcription of perR and cosR in response to iron.
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
Elizabeth L. Tinder, Roberta C. Faustoferri, Andrew A. Buckley, Robert G. Quivey, Jonathon L. Baker
Summary: This study examines the proteome of Streptococcus mutans during growth in acidic and oxidative stresses, as well as in deletion mutants, and identifies differentially expressed proteins and coexpressed protein modules responsive to stress conditions. The presence of the TreR protein is linked to mutacin production and oxidative stress. This dataset provides valuable insights for understanding S. mutans pathogenesis and developing improved strategies for dental caries prevention and treatment.
Article
Microbiology
Kassapa Ellepola, Xiaochang Huang, Ryan P. Riley, Jacob P. Bitoun, Zezhang Tom Wen
Summary: This study demonstrates that the absence of SufCDSUB in Streptococcus mutans results in significantly reduced growth rate, impaired stress tolerance responses, and decreased biofilm formation. The viability of the deficient mutant suggests that the SUF Fe-S cluster machinery may be non-essential in S. mutans. Further investigation is needed to explore how the bacterium compensates for Fe-S deficiency and if additional Fe-S assembly systems exist.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hao Kang, Wei Shu, Jin Yu, Yunpeng Wang, Xiaoli Zhang, Rubo Zhang, Jing Jing, Xiaoling Zhang
Summary: Nitroxyl (HNO) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are important in the pathological processes of Parkinson's disease (PD), but the relationship between HNO neurotoxicity and ER stress in PD is still unknown. To understand the pathogenic activity of HNO during ER stress and achieve early diagnosis of PD, a two-photon fluorescent probe (KD-HNO) with high selectivity and sensitivity for HNO was developed. Using KD-HNO, increased levels of HNO were detected in tunicamycin-stimulated PC12 cells and PD-model mice, indicating a positive correlation between PD and HNO levels.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chananwat Kortheerakul, Hakuto Kageyama, Rungaroon Waditee-Sirisattha
Summary: The study identified and characterized the GST gene family in the halotolerant cyanobacterium Halothece sp. PCC7418. One of the GSTs, H3557, showed significant upregulation under salt stress and exhibited GST activity towards CDNB and GSH with a broad range of enzymatic activity. This salt-adaptive enzyme remained catalytically active in the presence of NaCl and conferred tolerance to H2O2-induced oxidative stress and salt stress in heterologous expression systems.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tingting Yao, Guangyao Wang, Chunlin Li
Summary: This study measured the contents of metal(loid)s and oxidative stress biomarkers in feathers and plasma of three bird species in a polymetallic contaminated mining area in China. The results showed positive correlations between the metal(loid) contents and oxidative stress levels. Feathers and plasma can be used as nondestructive bioindicators to monitor oxidative stress induced by metal(loid)s for bird conservation and environmental monitoring.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentine Lagage, Victor Chen, Stephan Uphoff
Summary: Understanding the interplay between phenotypic and genetic adaptation is a focus of evolutionary biology. In this study, we found that the dynamics of stress response can affect the timing of genetic adaptation to oxidative stress in bacteria. By developing new microscopy methods, we revealed how these mutation dynamics arise from phenotypic adaptation mechanisms. Additionally, we discovered that mutation bursts are a general phenomenon associated with adaptation delays.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Shayeri Biswas, Sourav Sarkar, Avinash Dhamija, Vishnu Priya Murali, Kaustabh Kumar Maiti, Sankarprasad Bhuniya
Summary: The redox regulator glutathione (GSH) moves to the nucleus in the S-phase to protect DNA replication. Understanding the fluctuation of GSH during the cell cycle could provide insights into cancerogenesis and DNA replication abnormalities. The newly developed ratiometric fluorescent probe Nu-GSH was used for the first time to track time-dependent changes in the S-phase. This probe selectively detects GSH levels and showed reversible fluorescence from blue to green channels. It can provide quantitative information on GSH levels during DNA replication in the S-phase, and its two-photon ability allows noninvasive study of GSH dynamics in live cells/tissues.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Wan, Limei Piao, Shengnan Xu, Aiko Inoue, Xiangkun Meng, Yanna Lei, Zhe Huang, Hailong Wang, Xueling Yue, Guo-Ping Shi, Masafumi Kuzuya, Xian Wu Cheng
Summary: This study found that CTSS is involved in stress-induced skeletal muscle mass loss and dysfunction and regulates protein metabolic imbalance. CTSS deletion can improve the harmful changes caused by stress and shows promise as a new therapeutic target for chronic stress-related muscular diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Wan, Limei Piao, Shengnan Xu, Aiko Inoue, Xiangkun Meng, Yanna Lei, Zhe Huang, Hailong Wang, Xueling Yue, Guo-Ping Shi, Masafumi Kuzuya, Xian Wu Cheng
Summary: This study found that CTSS participates in stress-related skeletal muscle mass loss and dysfunction, mainly through protein metabolic imbalance. CTSS deletion can rectify the harmful changes induced by stress and improve the levels of glutamine metabolism pathway products. Therefore, CTSS is suggested to be a promising new therapeutic target for chronic stress-related muscular diseases.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Wenjuan Zhang, Tao Huang, Zhangbei Sun, Haibin Kuang, Yangyang Yuan, Weiying Zou, Fangming Liu, Fan Zhang, Bei Yang, Lei Wu, Dalei Zhang
Summary: This study demonstrates that exposure to BPS can cause cytotoxicity to Leydig cells through inducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, autophagic disturbance, and apoptosis.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dunfa Peng, Alexander Zaika, Jianwen Que, Wael El-Rifai
Summary: Esophageal adenocarcinoma is the dominant form of esophageal malignancies in industrialized countries, mainly associated with Barrett's esophagus as a precancerous condition, with risk factors including GERD, obesity, and smoking. Neoplastic cells adapt to oxidative stress by developing a pro-tumorigenic antioxidant response, promoting tumorigenesis, progression, and therapy resistance.
Article
Horticulture
Fei Ding, Chuang Wang, Shuoxin Zhang, Meiling Wang
Summary: This study reveals the critical role of a JA-responsive glutathione S-transferase gene (SlGSTU24) in alleviating cold stress in tomato. SlGSTU24 is expressed in all tissues and is responsive to both JA and cold stress. Upregulation of SlGSTU24 attenuates cold-induced oxidative stress, while its expression is dependent on the crucial regulator of JA signaling pathway, SlMYC2. These findings uncover a crucial module MYC2-SlGSTU24 that maintains ROS homeostasis in tomato under cold conditions.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sihong Liu, Lifeng Wang, Ke Chen, Haona Yang, Min Ling, Lamei Wu, Xiaomao Zhou, Guolan Ma, Lianyang Bai
Summary: This study assessed the combined toxicity of benoxacor and S-metolachlor in zebrafish embryo development and found that their mixture had an impact on embryo development, oxidative stress system, and cell apoptosis. Moreover, benoxacor had a greater effect on gene regulation. These findings are important for the risk assessment of herbicides and their safeners.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
T. Ganguly, A. M. Peterson, J. K. Kajfasz, J. Abranches, J. A. Lemos
Summary: This study identified AdcABC as the major high affinity zinc importer of Streptococcus mutans and provided preliminary evidence that zinc is a growth-limiting factor within the dental biofilm.
MOLECULAR ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nicholas M. di Cologna, Sandip Samaddar, Carolina A. Valle, Jonathan Vargas, Alejandro Aviles-Reyes, Joyce Morales, Tridib Ganguly, Roberta Pileggi, L. Jeannine Brady, Jose A. Lemos, Jacqueline Abranches
Summary: The gene cnm codes for the glycosylated collagen- and laminin-binding surface adhesin Cnm, found in approximately 20% of Streptococcus mutans clinical isolates, associated with systemic infections and increased caries risk. In silico analysis predicted that the N-terminal collagen-binding domain of Cnm has a propensity for amyloid aggregation, while the C-terminal domain was predicted to be disorganized. Thioflavin-T fluorescence and electron microscopy showed that Cnm forms amyloids and the amyloidogenic unit is its collagen-binding domain. Studies characterized the amylogenic properties of Cnm through various assays, indicating its role in recognition, initial binding to collagen-rich surfaces, and potential negative regulation through amyloid formation.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Shivani Kundra, Ling Ning Lam, Jessica K. Kajfasz, Leila G. Casella, Marissa J. Andersen, Jacqueline Abranches, Ana L. Flores-Mireles, Jose A. Lemos
Summary: The study reveals that c-di-AMP signaling is crucial for the pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecalis, and loss or accumulation of c-di-AMP significantly impairs cell fitness and virulence. Additionally, the attenuated virulence of the Delta cdaA strain is attributed to defective pilus production and impaired biofilm formation.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Peter Zuber, Michiko M. Nakano, Jessica K. Kajfasz, Jose A. Lemos
Summary: The study reveals vulnerabilities of Streptococcus mutans mutant strains lacking acetoin dehydrogenase, making them sensitive to modest pH increases and defective in carbohydrate utilization, while a commensal Streptococcal species shows resistance. This suggests that Adh could be a potential target for interfering with S. mutans colonization of the oral environment.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Casandra Ai Zhu Tan, Ling Ning Lam, Goran Biukovic, Eliza Ye-Chen Soh, Xiao Wei Toh, Jose A. Lemos, Kimberly A. Kline
Summary: This study reveals the inhibitory effect of Enterococcus faecalis on the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa under iron-restricted conditions, achieved by secreting lactic acid to lower the environmental pH and mediate iron chelation.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Tridib Ganguly, Alexandra M. Peterson, Marissa Burkholder, Jessica K. Kajfasz, Jacqueline Abranches, Jose A. Lemos
Summary: Zinc is widely used in oral healthcare, but the mechanism by which S. mutans overcomes zinc toxicity remains largely unknown. This study discovered that S. mutans has a higher tolerance to high zinc stress compared to other streptococci, and identified potential strategies used by S. mutans to overcome zinc toxicity. The study also revealed a previously uncharacterized P-type ATPase transporter and transcriptional regulator as responsible for the high zinc tolerance of S. mutans.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Debra N. Brunson, Ling Ning Lam, Jose A. Lemos
Summary: A new study reveals that the heme released by Staphylococcus aureus can enhance the growth and biofilm biomass of Enterococcus faecalis, supporting the theory of metabolite cross feeding in shaping polymicrobial biofilm interactions.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Debra N. Brunson, Cristina Colomer-Winter, Ling Ning Lam, Jose A. Lemos
Summary: Bacteria often encounter restricted access to essential trace metals like iron within the host. To overcome iron deficiency, they deploy multiple strategies to scavenge iron from host tissues. Enterococcus faecalis, a major nosocomial pathogen, utilizes three conserved iron uptake systems, with two novel ABC-type transporters identified in this study.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas de Mojana di Cologna, Silke Andresen, Sandip Samaddar, Stephanie Archer-Hartmann, Ashley Marie Rogers, Jessica K. Kajfasz, Tridib Ganguly, Bruna A. Garcia, Irene Saengpet, Alexandra M. Peterson, Parastoo Azadi, Christine M. Szymanski, Jose A. Lemos, Jacqueline Abranches
Summary: Streptococcus mutans is commonly associated with dental caries and the ability to form biofilms is essential for its pathogenicity. The study identified the Pgf glycosylation machinery of S. mutans and found that it is not only related to the glycosylation of Cnm and WapA, but also to other biosynthetic pathways. Phenotypic characterization of pgf mutants revealed that the Pgf system is important for biofilm formation, surface charge, membrane stability, and survival in human saliva. Deletion of the entire pgf operon resulted in significantly impaired colonization in a rat oral colonization model.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)