Review
Cell Biology
Simon Peters, Ingo Fohmann, Thomas Rudel, Alexandra Schubert-Unkmeir
Summary: Sphingolipids play crucial roles in cellular processes such as cell growth, apoptosis, inflammation, and migration, as well as in the occurrence of infectious diseases. Pathogens can manipulate sphingolipid metabolism to facilitate invasion and establish a favorable environment in the host. Additionally, certain sphingolipid metabolites can act as the first line of defense against microbes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jean-Philippe Barnier, Julie Meyer, Subramania Kolappan, Haniaa Bouzinba-Segard, Gael Gesbert, Anne Jamet, Eric Frapy, Sophia Schonherr-Hellec, Elena Capel, Zoe Virion, Marion Dupuis, Emmanuelle Bille, Philippe Morand, Taliah Schmitt, Sandrine Bourdoulous, Xavier Nassif, Lisa Craig, Mathieu Coureuil
Summary: Neisseria meningitidis utilizes type IV pili to adhere to and colonize host endothelial cells, with PilE and PilV playing critical roles. Mutants lacking PilV showed significant adhesion defects, indicating its importance in adhesion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel P. Morreale, Eric A. Porsch, Brad K. Kern, Joseph W. St. Geme III, Paul J. Planet
Summary: The bacterial genus Kingella includes pathogenic species that secrete a toxin called RtxA, which is absent in commensal species. The evolutionary transition from commensal to pathogen involves horizontal gene transfer, co-option of an existing secretion system, and gene duplication.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rosanna Herold, Lea Denzer, Walter Muranyi, Carolin Stump-Guthier, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Horst Schroten, Christian Schwerk
Summary: This study investigates the phosphoproteome of human epithelial choroid plexus cells during infection with Neisseria meningitidis and reveals that the capsule-deficient mutant has a stronger impact on the cells' phosphoproteome.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sivakumar Ramamoorthy, Michelle Pena, Palash Ghosh, Ying-Yu Liao, Mathews Paret, Jeffrey B. Jones, Neha Potnis
Summary: Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a versatile nano-weapon in Gram-negative bacteria that aids in manipulation of the host and killing of competitors. This study investigated the regulation of T6SS in Xanthomonas perforans strain AL65 and found that T6SS modulates the expression of various genes, including those associated with flagellum and pilus biogenesis as well as type III secretion system.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hannes Eichner, Jens Karlsson, Edmund Loh
Summary: Pathogenic bacteria have evolved to regulate gene expression through RNA, and understanding the function of regulatory RNAs in disease could provide valuable insights into their pathogenicity.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Adam M. Nock, Karin Aistleitner, Tina R. Clark, Dan Sturdevant, Stacy Ricklefs, Kimmo Virtaneva, Yixiang Zhang, Naila Gulzar, Neelam Redekar, Amitiva Roy, Ted Hackstadt
Summary: Strains of R. rickettsii vary in disease severity, and the genetic differences responsible for this are now being revealed. An avirulent strain fails to process surface protein antigens, and a mutated protease gene is identified. Restoration of proper processing of surface antigens and partial restoration of virulence are achieved by reconstituting a truncated peptidase.
Article
Immunology
Jesus Arenas, Zalan Szabo, Jelle van der Wal, Coen Maas, Tahira Riaz, Tone Tonjum, Jan Tommassen
Summary: The study revealed that serum proteases inhibit biofilm formation of various bacterial pathogens by cleaving bacterial surface proteins, releasing polypeptides that impede biofilm formation by binding extracellular DNA. This proteolytic activity of serum proteases could serve as a defense mechanism for pathogen clearance.
Article
Immunology
Christian Spoerry, Jens Karlsson, Marie-Stephanie Aschtgen, Edmund Loh
Summary: Meningococcal IgA1-specific serine protease is capable of degrading both IgG3 and IgA, with a higher proportion of cleavage type 1 observed in invasive meningococcal disease cases.
Article
Neurosciences
Rosanna Herold, Rene Scholtysik, Selina Moroniak, Christel Weiss, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Horst Schroten, Christian Schwerk
Summary: The study found that infection by Neisseria meningitidis in an in vitro model of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier requires active Erk1/2 and p38 pathways. Transcriptome analysis showed specific regulation of genes involved in the immune response in HIBCPP cells following infection with Neisseria meningitidis depending on Erk1/2 signaling.
FLUIDS AND BARRIERS OF THE CNS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yanyan Sun, Linlin Yang, Lianet Rodriguez-Cabrera, Yushan Ding, Chaoliang Leng, Huili Qiao, Siliang Huang, Yunchao Kan, Lunguang Yao, Denis J. Wright, Dandan Li, Camilo Ayra-Pardo
Summary: This study reveals that the response of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to host hemolymph plays a crucial role in bacterial survival and propagation within infected insects, potentially contributing to its success as an entomopathogen. About 30% of hemolymph-regulated Bt proteins are predicted to be virulence factors, affecting bacterial toxicity and reproduction within insects. Contact with hemolymph enhances Bt's virulence phenotypes and reduces bacterial immunogenicity, leading to increased toxicity towards insects.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shishir K. Gupta, Alicia Ponte-Sucre, Elena Bencurova, Thomas Dandekar
Summary: This study investigated the targeting of human proteins by different pathogens through interactomics and evolutionary analysis. Four human proteins were found to be commonly targeted by all three pathogens, indicating their importance in cytoskeleton regulation and susceptibility to various human pathogens.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Rosanna Herold, Gina Suenwoldt, Carolin Stump-Guthier, Christel Weiss, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Horst Schroten, Ruediger Adam, Christian Schwerk
Summary: The study demonstrates that the invasion of Neisseria meningitis into choroid plexus epithelial cells is mediated by distinct host cell pathways for encapsulated and capsule-depleted strains. The mechanisms of invasion by wild-type and mutant bacteria are different, with varying dependencies on host cell pathways. Both strains require Src kinase activity for entry into HIBCPP cells, indicating a commonality in the invasion process despite the differences in mechanisms.
PATHOGENS AND DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Melanie M. Callaghan, Amy K. Klimowicz, Abigail C. Shockey, John Kane, Caitlin S. Pepperell, Joseph P. Dillard
Summary: Under certain physiological conditions like surface adherence and changes in metal ion concentrations, the protein levels of Neisseria gonorrhoeae's type IV secretion system are increased through transcriptional and/or translational mechanisms. The ferric uptake regulator, Fur, plays a dual role in repressing traD transcript levels and allowing TraD protein levels to increase in the absence of iron. Transcriptomic data from active urethral infection samples revealed upregulation of genes necessary for DNA secretion during host infection.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ria van Boxtel, Agnes A. Wattel, Jesus Arenas, Wil H. F. Goessens, Jan Tommassen
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2017)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesus Arenas, Jan Tommassen
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Microbiology
Jesus Perez-Ortega, Antonio Rodriguez, Eduardo Ribes, Jan Tommassen, Jesus Arenas
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jesus Arenas, Elder Pupo, Eline de Jonge, Jesus Perez-Ortega, Joerg Schaarschmidt, Peter van der Ley, Jan Tommassen
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Agnieszka Wrobel, Athanasios Saragliadis, Jesus Perez-Ortega, Carolin Sittman, Stephan Gottig, Krystyna Liskiewicz, Maria Helle Spence, Kenneth Schneider, Jack C. Leo, Jesus Arenas, Dirk Linke
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Jesus Arenas, Elder Pupo, Coen Phielix, Dionne David, Afshin Zariri, Alla Zamyatina, Jan Tommassen, Peter van der Ley
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Roberto Del Amparo, Catarina Branco, Jesus Arenas, Alberto Vicens, Miguel Arenas
Summary: The evolution of protein-coding genes is driven by selective processes, optimizing protein stability and activity. Estimating dN/dS ratio may have biases, but can be corrected using advanced methods. It is important to consider the impact of observed substitutions on protein stability and function when interpreting dN/dS estimates.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Cristina Uruen, Gema Chopo-Escuin, Jan Tommassen, Raul C. Mainar-Jaime, Jesus Arenas
Summary: Multidrug resistant bacteria pose a global threat, but only partially contribute to antibiotic failure. Another factor is the formation of biofilms, which provide an environment that allows bacteria to develop tolerance and resistance to antibiotics.
Article
Microbiology
Muriel Dresen, Manfred Rohde, Jesus Arenas, Astrid de Greeff, Andreas Nerlich, Peter Valentin-Weigand
Summary: The study identified that the locus SSU0375 in S. suis strain P1.7 may encode a protein similar to the Streptococcus pneumoniae mid-cell-anchored protein Z, which plays a crucial role in cell division. Depletion of this gene product in S. suis strain 10 resulted in growth defects, indicating its importance in bacterial cell division. Morphological analysis confirmed the role of SSU0375 in guiding septum positioning, suggesting its homologous function in the Streptococci family.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muriel Dresen, Desiree Schaaf, Jesus Arenas, Astrid de Greeff, Peter Valentin-Weigand, Andreas Nerlich
Summary: A study identified TrpX gene as a potential tryptophan/tyrosine transport system substrate-binding protein in Streptococcus suis. It was found that TrpX is crucial for tryptophan uptake and bacterial growth. TrpX is part of an operon structure and regulated by a tryptophan T-box riboswitch.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Paula Jurado, Cristina Uruen, Sara Martinez, Elena Lain, Sandra Sanchez, Antonio Rezusta, Victor Lopez, Jesus Arenas
Summary: The essential oils of pine, lemon, and oregano exhibit bactericidal and anti-biofilm activities against Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Streptococcus suis, demonstrating their potential as novel alternatives to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Cristina Uruen, Carla Garcia, Lorenzo Fraile, Jan Tommassen, Jesus Arenas
Summary: Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen causing severe infections in pigs and humans, resulting in economic losses. The lack of effective vaccines has led to extensive antibiotic use, leading to the emergence of resistance. The genetic mechanisms of resistance in S. suis are diverse, involving target modification, antibiotic inactivation enzymes, and mutations in antibiotic targets. S. suis forms microcolonies on host tissues, which contribute to antibiotic tolerance and the rapid acquisition of multidrug resistance.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jesus Arenas, Laura Caton, Tom van den Hoeven, Vincent de Maat, Juan Cruz Herrero, Jan Tommassen
Article
Immunology
Jesus Arenas, Ruth Bossers-de Vries, Jose Harders-Westerveen, Herma Buys, Lisette M. F. Ruuls-van Stalle, Norbert Stockhofe-Zurwieden, Edoardo Zaccaria, Jan Tommassen, Jerry M. Wells, Hilde E. Smith, Astrid de Greeff