Article
Immunology
Renzo Alfini, Brunella Brunelli, Erika Bartolini, Martina Carducci, Enrico Luzzi, Francesca Ferlicca, Scilla Buccato, Barbara Galli, Paola Lo Surdo, Maria Scarselli, Giacomo Romagnoli, Elena Cartocci, Domenico Maione, Silvana Savino, Francesca Necchi, Isabel Delany, Francesca Micoli
Summary: This study demonstrates the flexibility of GMMA as a display and delivery system for enhancing antigen immunogenicity. The presentation of fHbp on GMMA significantly enhances the immune response elicited by the protein, while the orientation of the antigen on the bacterial surface does not have an impact.
Article
Immunology
Peter A. van der Ley, Afshin Zariri, Elly van Riet, Dinja Oosterhoff, Corine P. Kruiswijk
Summary: The development of more effective, accessible, and easy to administer COVID-19 vaccines is crucial in curbing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Concerns exist regarding reduced vaccine-induced immune protection to emerging variants, potentially necessitating booster vaccinations for broader and stronger immune responses. Intranasal vaccines can induce local mucosal immunity targeting the primary route of viral entry, with the potential to block transmission, offering practicality in cost and administration.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Kehong Chen, Atsushi Murao, Adnan Arif, Satoshi Takizawa, Hui Jin, Jianxin Jiang, Monowar Aziz, Ping Wang
Summary: In sepsis, eCIRP-induced NETs inhibit phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages through neutrophil elastase-dependent reduction of integrins. This discovery reveals a potential mechanism of therapeutic failure.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Daniela Erminia Manno, Adelfia Tala, Matteo Calcagnile, Silvia Caterina Resta, Pietro Alifano, Antonio Serra
Summary: An in-depth morphological analysis of the Neisseria meningitidis cell envelope was conducted using AFM and Raman spectroscopy, revealing distinctive features among different strains and providing valuable insights for research and prevention of meningococcal disease.
RESEARCH IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jessica L. Rooke, Christopher Icke, Timothy J. Wells, Amanda E. Rossiter, Douglas F. Browning, Faye C. Morris, Jack C. Leo, Monika S. Schuetz, Ingo B. Autenrieth, Adam F. Cunningham, Dirk Linke, Ian R. Henderson
Summary: In this study, it was demonstrated that the efficient secretion of trimeric autotransporters requires BamA and BamD proteins, while BamB, C, E are not necessary. Unlike classical autotransporter secretion, neither trimeric autotransporter tested required TamA or B proteins for functional secretion.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Christine S. Rollier, Christina Dold, Leanne Marsay, Aline Linder, Christopher A. Green, Manish Sadarangani, Gunnstein Norheim, Jeremy P. Derrick, Ian M. Feavers, Martin C. J. Maiden, Andrew J. Pollard
Summary: Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines induce specific immune responses against outer membrane proteins, providing protection against invasive meningococcal disease. However, memory B cell responses are low and mainly detected in individuals with preexisting immunity, which may be linked to the short-lived protective antibody responses induced by OMV vaccines.
Article
Microbiology
Christine S. Rollier, Christina Dold, Leanne Marsay, Aline Linder, Christopher A. Green, Manish Sadarangani, Gunnstein Norheim, Jeremy P. Derrick, Ian M. Feavers, Martin C. J. Maiden, Andrew J. Pollard
Summary: After MenPF1 vaccination, specific antibody responses to PorA and FetA were detected in participants, but memory B cell responses were low or absent, mainly detected in participants with preexisting immunity.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Julieanne L. Vo, Gabriela C. Martinez Ortiz, Makrina Totsika, Alvin W. Lo, Steven J. Hancock, Andrew E. Whitten, Lilian Hor, Kate M. Peters, Valentin Ageorges, Nelly Caccia, Mickael Desvaux, Mark A. Schembri, Jason J. Paxman, Begona Heras
Summary: The formation of bacterial aggregates and biofilms plays an important role in bacterial colonization and infection progression. A study investigated autotransporters, a group of bacterial adhesins, and found that specific interactions between amino acids on the contacting interfaces of adjacent proteins drive cell clumping, and subtle variation of these interactions alters aggregation kinetics and the degree of compacting within cell clusters.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peng Liu, Xinyue Wang, Qian Yang, Xiaolin Yan, Yu Fan, Si Zhang, Yi Wei, Min Huang, Lingyan Jiang, Lu Feng
Summary: Microglia and astrocytes are activated in response to Escherichia coli K1 infection, leading to neutrophil recruitment to the central nervous system. Microglial activation results in the release of TNF-alpha, which activates astrocytes to produce CXCL1. Neutrophils primarily respond to CXCL1 released by astrocytes through CXCR2. The recognition of E. coli K1 by microglia is prevented by the K1 capsule, and outer membrane vesicles are sufficient to induce microglial activation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Minge Du, Zuanning Yuan, Glenn T. Werneburg, Nadine S. Henderson, Hemil Chauhan, Amanda Kovach, Gongpu Zhao, Jessica Johl, Huilin Li, David G. Thanassi
Summary: Researchers have solved the structures of pili assembly intermediates in E. coli and provided insights into their biogenesis and assembly. By using cryo-electron microscopy, they revealed processive steps in P pilus biogenesis and captured new conformational dynamics of the usher assembly machine.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Benjamin D. Fowler, Nurgun Kose, Joseph X. Reidy, Laura S. Handal, Eric P. Skaar, James E. Crowe
Summary: Escherichia coli exposure or infection can lead to the production of specific antibodies. One specific antibody, ECOL-11, can induce bacterial aggregation and decrease adhesion and phagocytosis of E. coli by macrophage-like cells. However, antibody prophylaxis does not affect E. coli burden in a murine model.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kai-Wen Teng, Kai-Siang Hsieh, Ji-Shiuan Hung, Chun-Jen Wang, En-Chi Liao, Pei-Chun Chen, Ying-Hsuan Lin, Deng-Chyang Wu, Chun-Hung Lin, Wen-Ching Wang, Hong-Lin Chan, Shau-Ku Huang, Mou-Chieh Kao
Summary: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastric diseases, including gastric cancer. The key adhesins AlpA/B and BabA/B in H. pylori are modified by glycans and show a two-step molecular weight upshift pattern. The glycosylation process is shared with LPS biosynthesis. Loss of adhesin glycosylation reduces stability, protease resistance, and adhesion ability. Mutations in LPS biosynthesis significantly reduce bacterial adhesion in vitro.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Severin Schink, Constantin Ammar, Yu-Fang Chang, Ralf Zimmer, Markus Basan
Summary: This study reveals that bacteria reorganize their physiology upon entry to stationary phase, and maintaining the integrity of the cell envelope plays a crucial role in starvation survival.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Magali G. Bialer, Mariana C. Ferrero, M. Victoria Delpino, Veronica Ruiz-Ranwez, Diana M. Posadas, Pablo C. Baldi, Angeles Zorreguieta
Summary: Adhesion to host cells is essential for successful infection of bacterial pathogens. Brucella suis 1330 harbors three type Va autotransporters (BmaA, BmaB, and BmaC), all playing a role in adhesion to different cell types. These autotransporters with significant sequence similarities contribute to the adhesive properties of B. suis 1330 and display interesting variations among Brucella species.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Serena Bettoni, Karolina Maziarz, M. Rhia L. Stone, Mark A. T. Blaskovich, Jan Potempa, Maria Luiza Bazzo, Magnus Unemo, Sanjay Ram, Anna M. Blom
Summary: The increasing antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae poses a significant challenge for the treatment of gonorrhea. A novel chimeric protein, C4BP-IgM, has been shown to enhance complement-mediated killing of gonococci and improve susceptibility to antibiotics, offering a potential new adjuvant therapy for drug-resistant gonorrhea.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Physiology
T. C. Stevenson Keller, Christophe Lechauve, Alexander S. Keller, Steven Brooks, Mitchell J. Weiss, Linda Columbus, Hans Ackerman, Miriam M. Cortese-Krott, Brant E. Isakson
Summary: Globin proteins exist in various cell types of the vasculature and have the ability to interact with molecular oxygen and nitric oxide. They play important roles in regulating vascular contraction, tissue perfusion, and vascular reactivity. Understanding the impact of globin proteins on vascular physiology is of great significance for further research on their functions.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Tracy A. Caldwell, Owen N. Vickery, Jonathan D. Colburn, Phillip J. Stansfeld, Linda Columbus
Summary: This study investigates the conformational dynamics of Lipoprotein signal peptidase (LspA) in different states and reveals that its conformation varies between the apo state and the state bound to the antibiotic. The different conformations indicate the flexible and adaptable active site of LspA, which explains its ability to process a variety of substrates.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abigail G. Wolpe, Melissa A. Luse, Scott R. Johnstone, Jianxiang Xue, Vikram Sabapathy, Brent Wakefield, Rahul Sharma, Kevin Barr, Frank Beier, Dale Laird, Stefanie Redemann, Linda Columbus, Silvia Penuela, Brant E. Isakson
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Khuram U. Ashraf, Rie Nygaard, Owen N. Vickery, Satchal K. Erramilli, Carmen M. Herrera, Thomas H. McConville, Vasileios I. Petrou, Sabrina I. Giacometti, Meagan Belcher Dufrisne, Kamil Nosol, Allen P. Zinkle, Chris L. B. Graham, Michael Loukeris, Brian Kloss, Karolina Skorupinska-Tudek, Ewa Swiezewska, David I. Roper, Oliver B. Clarke, Anne-Catrin Uhlemann, Anthony A. Kossiakoff, M. Stephen Trent, Phillip J. Stansfeld, Filippo Mancia
Summary: This study presents the structures of WaaL from Cupriavidus metallidurans and provides molecular details and a mechanistic model for lipopolysaccharide maturation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meagan Belcher Dufrisne, Nicole Swope, Marissa Kieber, Jeong-Yeh Yang, Ji Han, Jason Li, Kelley W. Moremen, James H. Prestegard, Linda Columbus
Summary: Carcinoembryonic cellular adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) play diverse roles in cell signaling, proliferation, and survival. Understanding the physiological oligomeric state of CEACAMs and its contribution to protein function is crucial for cellular research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robert V. Williams, Chin Huang, Connor McDermott, Tanvir Ahmed, Linda Columbus, Kelley W. Moremen, James H. Prestegard, I. Jonathan Amster
Summary: This study demonstrates the kinetics of glycan addition by the OST-B enzyme and suggests that the order and efficiency of posttranslational glycosylation are influenced by steric cross-talk between adjoining acceptor sites. The findings provide insight into the function of these important enzymes and the site-specific recognition of glycosylation sequons by OST-B.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Lacie M. M. Werner, Allison Alcott, Frida Mohlin, Jocelyn C. C. Ray, Meagan Belcher Dufrisne, Asya Smirnov, Linda Columbus, Anna M. M. Blom, Alison K. K. Criss
Summary: Gonorrhea is a major public health issue, and understanding how N. gonorrhoeae survives and persists is crucial. This study reveals that human serum, specifically C4b-binding protein, enhances the survival of Opa+ N. gonorrhoeae by suppressing neutrophil defenses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew Necelis, Connor Mcdermott, Meagan Belcher Dufrisne, Christopher Baryiames, Linda Columbus
Summary: Compared to soluble protein counterparts, membrane protein stability, solvent interactions, and function are less well understood. Recent advancements in labeling, expression, and stabilization of membrane proteins allow for investigation of their conformational states, ligand binding, lipid interactions, stability, and folding using solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This review highlights these advancements and provides examples of recent applications.
CURRENT OPINION IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Connor M. McDermott, Ethan Sesco, Meagan L. Belcher Dufrisne, Linda M. Columbus
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Matthew Necelis, Nicole Swope, Soenke Seifert, Linda M. Columbus
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Meagan Belcher Dufrisne, Linda M. Columbus
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)