Article
Microbiology
Emily Schifano, Alberta Tomassini, Adele Preziosi, Jorge Montes, Walter Aureli, Patrizia Mancini, Alfredo Miccheli, Daniela Uccelletti
Summary: Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria isolated from carrots showed promising probiotic potential both in vitro and in vivo, exhibiting antibiotic susceptibility and the ability to inhibit the growth of various pathogens. Through experiments conducted in a nematode model, it was found that these LAB strains could induce longevity effects, protect against pathogen infections, and stimulate innate immunity.
Article
Virology
Mark G. Sterken, Lisa van Sluijs, Yiru A. Wang, Wannisa Ritmahan, Mitra L. Gultom, Joost A. G. Riksen, Rita J. M. Volkers, L. Basten Snoek, Gorben P. Pijlman, Jan E. Kammenga
Summary: Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism, this study dissected the genetic architecture of Orsay virus infection and identified two loci on chromosome IV associated with susceptibility. Additionally, it was found that other genetic elements may also influence viral infection susceptibility.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Christian Roedelsperger
Summary: The reannotation of phylogenomic data using community-curated P. pacificus gene set improves gene annotation quality, but inference of gene models based on homology drops beyond the genus level, suggesting the rapid evolution of nematode lineages. This highlights the need for optimizing gene annotation protocols and the importance of a high quality genome for phylogenomic studies.
Article
Immunology
Lisa van Sluijs, Kobus J. Bosman, Frederik Pankok, Tatiana Blokhina, Jop I. H. A. Wilten, Dennie M. te Molder, Joost A. G. Riksen, Basten L. Snoek, Gorben P. Pijlman, Jan E. Kammenga, Mark G. Sterken
Summary: Genetic variation in host populations can result in differential susceptibility to viruses. This study investigates the natural genetic variation in the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR) of Caenorhabditis elegans against Orsay virus (OrV). The findings suggest that the pals-gene family, which is involved in the IPR, exhibits genetic diversity that can be categorized into a few haplotypes worldwide. In particular, two key IPR regulators, pals-22 and pals-25, show signatures of balancing selection. The study also reveals that different pals-22 pals-25 haplotypes shape the defense against OrV and host genetic variation can lead to constitutive activation of IPR genes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrick J. Hu
Summary: The study in C. elegans model showed that a conserved insulin-like signaling pathway plays an important role in shaping the phylogenetic composition of the gut microbiome.
Review
Microbiology
Leah J. Radeke, Michael A. Herman
Summary: Microbiomes establish close functional associations with hosts, with studies focusing on bacterial interactions with Caenorhabditis elegans and exploring the composition of the native microbiome to integrate into research on innate immunity and pathogenesis.
MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erin J. Cram
Summary: Cells release extracellular vesicles containing proteins, lipids, and RNAs to communicate with other cells and remove damaged components. In C. elegans, neuronal cells release large extracellular vesicles called exophers to clear damaged organelles and protein aggregates. Researchers have now shown that embryos in the uterus can stimulate body wall muscle cells to release exophers loaded with yolk, which are then absorbed by oocytes to nourish the next generation of embryos.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patricia Martorell, Beatriz Alvarez, Silvia Llopis, Veronica Navarro, Pepa Ortiz, Nuria Gonzalez, Ferran Balaguer, Antonia Rojas, Empar Chenoll, Daniel Ramon, Marta Tortajada
Summary: This study demonstrated the functional properties of heat-treated non-viable Bifidobacterium longum CECT-7347, highlighting its potential as a novel postbiotic with protective effects against oxidative stress, inflammatory response, gut-barrier disruption, and bacterial colonization. These findings pave the way for broader applications of HT-CECT-7347 in gut health.
Article
Biology
Xinwei Yu, Matthew S. Creamer, Francesco Randi, Anuj K. Sharma, Scott W. Linderman, Andrew M. Leifer
Summary: A method called fDNC, based on the transformer network architecture, is proposed for automated tracking and identifying neurons in C. elegans. This method predicts neural correspondence quickly without requiring straightening or transforming the animal into a canonical coordinate system, making it suitable for future real-time applications.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nor Hawani Salikin, Malak Dubois, Jadranka Nappi, Helene Lebhar, Christopher Marquis, Suhelen Egan
Summary: A new protein Nkp-1 produced by marine epiphytic bacterium was found to have nematocidal effects, causing nematode death within 24 hours of exposure. Additionally, nematodes may use defense strategies such as deformed anal region and internal hatching to counteract the toxicity of Nkp-1.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lisa van Sluijs, Jie Liu, Mels Schrama, Sanne van Hamond, Sophie P. J. M. Vromans, Marel H. Scholten, Nika Zibrat, Joost A. G. Riksen, Gorben P. Pijlman, Mark G. Sterken, Jan E. Kammenga
Summary: The impact of Orsay virus on mating dynamics in the nematode C. elegans was studied, revealing that males are more resistant to the virus. Viral presence can alter mating dynamics within isogenic populations, with males showing a preference for mating with uninfected individuals.
Article
Biology
Adam Filipowicz, Jonathan Lalsiamthara, Alejandro Aballay
Summary: Using C. elegans, the researchers discovered a novel sensorimotor circuit governing learned reflexive aversion to pathogenic bacteria. The circuit consists of olfactory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons, and controls the backward locomotion crucial for learned avoidance. The study demonstrates the utility of using the C. elegans connectome and computational modeling in uncovering new neuronal regulators of behavior.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruxandra Barbulescu, Goncalo Mestre, Arlindo L. Oliveira, Luis Miguel Silveira
Summary: Given the complexity of the human nervous system, studying simpler organisms like C. elegans can provide insight into brain activity. This paper investigates the use of data-driven models to simulate the neural system of C. elegans using different neural network architectures, and compares their properties, accuracy, and complexity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Khaled Youssef, Daphne Archonta, Terrance J. Kubiseski, Anurag Tandon, Pouya Rezai
Summary: This paper reveals the novel effect of electric field on adult C. elegans egg-laying behavior, showing that the electric egg-laying rate is significantly influenced by EF strength, direction, and exposure duration, as well as worm aging. The involvement and sensitivity of specific neurons and muscles to the EF are demonstrated, and the assay can be used for cellular screening and mapping of the neural basis of electrosensation.
Article
Microbiology
Calvin Mok, Meng A. Xiao, Yin C. Wan, Winnie Zhao, Shanzeh M. Ahmed, Robert J. Luallen, Aaron W. Reinke
Summary: Using wild isolates of Caenorhabditis elegans, this study tested the diversity of responses to infection by four naturally occurring microsporidia species. The results showed that C. elegans is sensitive to infection by one species but resistant to another. Genetic mapping experiments revealed different genetic regions responsible for these different infection responses.
Article
Dermatology
S. M. Lehmann, R. E. Leube, N. Schwarz
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anne Pora, Sungjun Yoon, Georg Dreissen, Bernd Hoffmann, Rudolf Merkel, Reinhard Windoffer, Rudolf E. Leube
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nadine Lubos, Svenja van der Gaag, Muhammed Gercek, Sebastian Kant, Rudolf E. Leube, Claudia A. Krusche
BASIC RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. M. Lehmann, R. E. Leube, R. Windoffer
Summary: Intermediate filament polypeptides (IFPs) are dynamic components of cytoplasmic aggregates, with recent studies showing their rapid turnover. The study on epithelial cells producing mutant keratin IFPs provides insights into the lifecycle and motility of these aggregates. Inhibition of myosin II has been demonstrated to selectively reduce granule movement, linking keratin granule motility to retrograde cortical acto-myosin flow.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Laura Bornes, Reinhard Windoffer, Rudolf E. Leube, Jessica Morgner, Jacco van Rheenen
Summary: Research has shown that during re-epithelialization, keratinocytes adopt a strategy to bypass obstacles in order to quickly reestablish the protective skin barrier.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcin Moch, Rudolf E. Leube
Summary: The study demonstrated that inhibition of actin and tubulin polymerization in human keratinocytes led to reorganization of the keratin network, with distinct outcomes in each situation. The findings indicate that simultaneous inhibition of actin and tubulin polymerization can dissect hemidesmosome-specific functions for keratin network properties, highlighting the unique mechanobiological role of hemidesmosomal adhesion in keratin network formation and organization.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Anna K. Sternberg, Volker U. Buck, Irmgard Classen-Linke, Rudolf E. Leube
Summary: The human endometrium exhibits exceptional plasticity with significant influences from cellular mechanics in growth, differentiation, and tissue remodeling processes. Sensing and responding to mechanical forces are as crucial as biochemical signaling for cell behavior, impacting endometrial cell behavior during the menstrual cycle and embryo implantation. Advanced technologies have furthered our understanding of how mechanical forces regulate endometrial receptivity and blastocyst implantation in the human uterus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hoda Moazzen, Kateryna Venger, Sebastian Kant, Rudolf E. Leube, Claudia A. Krusche
Summary: Defects in Dsg2 lead to abnormal cardiac development, resulting in pericardial hemorrhage and myocardial rupture. Abnormal cell clusters, categorized as Type A and Type B, have different effects on heart development. Structural defects in cardiomyocytes are primary to the observed pathogenesis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Reinhard Windoffer, Nicole Schwarz, Sungjun Yoon, Teodora Piskova, Michael Scholkemper, Johannes Stegmaier, Andrea Boensch, Jacopo Di Russo, Rudolf E. Leube
Summary: Mechanobiology relies on precise quantitative information in specific 3D microenvironments. Establishing 3D maps of the cytoskeleton is particularly challenging for biophysical modeling, especially for intermediate filament organization.
Article
Cell Biology
Mark Pitsch, Sebastian Kant, Corinna Mytzka, Rudolf E. Leube, Claudia A. Krusche
Summary: This study investigated the temporal and spatial expression patterns of autophagy and ER/SR stress indicators in murine AC models. The findings suggest that locally altered autophagy and enhanced ER/SR stress play a role in AC pathogenesis both at the onset and during chronic progression.
Article
Cell Biology
Sonia Ratajczyk, Corinne Drexler, Reinhard Windoffer, Rudolf E. Leube, Peter Fuchs
Summary: Epiplakin (EPPK1) dynamically relocalizes and associates with keratin filaments to stabilize the keratin network under stress conditions, which involves an increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels.
Article
Biology
Florian Geisler, Sanne Remmelzwaal, Vera Jankowski, Ruben Schmidt, Mike Boxem, Rudolf E. Leube
Summary: Using Caenorhabditis elegans, researchers have identified the IF polypeptide IFB-2 as an efficient suppressor of structural and functional deficiencies in mutants that disrupt the organization of the intestinal IF cytoskeleton. This rescue capability is specific to IF isotypes and extends to mutants that disrupt the function of other cytoskeletal proteins. The findings provide strong evidence for the adverse consequences of deranged IF networks, with implications for diseases characterized by altered IF network organization.
Review
Cell Biology
Hoda Moazzen, Mistura Dolapo Bolaji, Rudolf E. Leube
Summary: Desmosomes have a crucial role in maintaining tissue integrity in mechanically stressed organs, like the heart. Deficiencies in desmosomal proteins contribute to the development of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Understanding the impact of desmosome deficiency on different cell types within the heart is essential for developing effective interventions and therapeutic strategies. This review specifically focuses on the effects of desmosome deficiency on epi- and endocardial cells, emphasizing the intricate interactions between desmosomal protein mutations and signaling pathways.
Review
Cell Biology
Jacopo Di Russo, Thomas M. Magin, Rudolf E. Leube
Summary: We suggest that the human body can be seen as a textile structure composed of interconnected fiber systems, forming highly dynamic scaffolds that respond to environmental changes at different scales. This is particularly important at the junctions between epithelial cells and connective tissue regions exposed to dynamic microenvironments. We propose a keratin code hypothesis, stating that the heterogeneity and adaptability of epithelial tissues are based on cell-specific expression and posttranslational modification of keratin isotypes, defining unique cytoskeletal intermediate filament networks that are connected across cells and to the diverse fibers of the underlying extracellular matrix.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Richard A. Coch, Florian Geisler, Andrea Annibal, Adam Antebi, Rudolf E. Leube
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
