Article
Environmental Sciences
Jagadish Chandra Kumar Mangu, Marios Stylianou, Per-Erik Olsson, Jana Jass
Summary: The exposure to PFAS increases susceptibility to pathogens in Caenorhabditis elegans by reducing host immunity and increasing intestinal membrane permeability, while also increasing bacterial virulence, with potential implications for humans and other animals.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ayano Tsuru, Yumi Hamazaki, Shuta Tomida, Mohammad Shaokat Ali, Tomomi Komura, Yoshikazu Nishikawa, Eriko Kage-Nakadai
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different Cutibacterium acnes strains on the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans and host resistance against Staphylococcus aureus. It was found that certain strains of C. acnes could shorten the life span of C. elegans, while others, like strain HL110PA4, did not alter it. Additionally, it was discovered that the TIR-1 and p38 MAPK pathways play a role in conferring host resistance against S. aureus in a C. acnes-mediated manner.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Zhen-Zhen Liu, Yong-Jun Yang, Cheng-Kai Zhou, Shi-Qing Yan, Ke Ma, Yu Gao, Wei Chen
Summary: STING plays a crucial role in suppressing necroptosis to combat pulmonary S. aureus infection, with STING deficiency resulting in impaired bacterial clearance and increased cell death.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yujin Lee, Yoonji Jung, Dae-Eun Jeong, Wooseon Hwang, Seokjin Ham, Hae-Eun H. Park, Sujeong Kwon, Jasmine M. Ashraf, Coleen T. Murphy, Seung-Jae Lee
Summary: Genetic inhibition of the DAF-2/insulin/IGF-1 receptor in Caenorhabditis elegans can enhance immunocompetence in old age by up-regulating anti-aging transcription factors and preventing immune aging. This study may lead to the development of strategies against immune aging in humans, as many functions are conserved across phyla.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Debanjan Goswamy, Xavier Gonzalez, Sid A. Labed, Javier E. Irazoqui
Summary: In recent years, MiT transcription factors have been recognized as important regulators of innate immunity and inflammation. However, the mechanisms by which they mediate downstream actions in host defense remain poorly understood. This study reveals that HLH-30 induces the expression of NHR-42, which negatively regulates innate immunity and promotes host infection resistance. Furthermore, the findings suggest that TFEB and TFE3 may similarly promote host defense via homologous nuclear receptors in mammals.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Dominique Missiakas, Volker Winstel
Summary: Host cell death programs are essential for cellular homeostasis, embryonic development, and tissue regeneration. Pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus use cell death pathways to establish infection, manipulating apoptotic, necroptotic, and pyroptotic modes to shape the immune environment conducive to persistence. This exploitation of cell death pathways is a virulence strategy that must be considered alongside immune evasion mechanisms for the development of effective therapeutics and interventions.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eunah Kim, Andrea Annibal, Yujin Lee, Hae-Eun H. Park, Seokjin Ham, Dae-Eun Jeong, Younghun Kim, Sangsoon Park, Sujeong Kwon, Yoonji Jung, JiSoo Park, Sieun S. Kim, Adam Antebi, Seung-Jae V. Lee
Summary: Mitochondrial Krebs cycle plays a crucial role in immunity, and the genetic inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase can enhance immunity against pathogenic bacteria.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Benjamin W. Harding, Jonathan J. Ewbank
Summary: The simple notion that infection causes an immune response is being refined as immune mechanisms are recognized to be interrelated with other cellular and physiological processes. Pathogens deploy virulence factors targeting various cellular processes with molecular specificity, leading to molecular cross-talk between host signaling pathways. Studies with the model animal C. elegans reveal intimate connections between innate immune responses and different homeostatic mechanisms, affecting reproduction, aging, neurodegeneration, and other aspects of biology.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Yingqi Chen, Zixian Liu, Zexin Lin, Mincheng Lu, Yong Fu, Guanqiao Liu, Bin Yu
Summary: Osteomyelitis is a chronic inflammatory bone disease caused by infection of open fractures or post-operative implants. Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most common pathogens, disrupts immune response and attenuates the effectiveness of treatment. Further research on abnormal immune mechanisms may lead to new breakthroughs in the treatment of osteomyelitis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Jeong-Hoon Hahm, Farida S. Nirmala, Pyeong Geun Choi, Hyo-Deok Seo, Tae Youl Ha, Chang Hwa Jung, Jiyun Ahn
Summary: Dietary restriction (DR) is an effective intervention for prolonging longevity in many organisms, but the molecular mechanisms by which DR influences aging and immunity are not fully understood. Through studying Caenorhabditis elegans, researchers discovered that the F-box gene fbxc-58 mediates the beneficial effects of DR on extending the health span of the worm and preventing mitochondrial deterioration during aging.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew R. Burns, Rachel J. Baker, Megan Kitner, Jessica Knox, Brittany Cooke, Jonathan R. Volpatti, Aditya S. Vaidya, Emily Puumala, Bruna M. Palmeira, Elizabeth M. Redman, Jamie Snider, Sagar Marwah, Sai W. Chung, Margaret H. MacDonald, Jens Tiefenbach, Chun Hu, Qi Xiao, Constance A. M. Finney, Henry M. Krause, Sonya A. MacParland, Igor Stagljar, John S. Gilleard, Leah E. Cowen, Susan L. F. Meyer, Sean R. Cutler, James J. Dowling, Mark Lautens, Inga Zasada, Peter J. Roy
Summary: Parasitic nematodes pose a major threat to global food security, especially as the world population is set to reach 10 billion. Traditional nematicides have been banned due to their poor selectivity, leaving farmers with limited means of pest control. This study identifies a family of selective imidazothiazole nematicides, called selectivins, which undergo cytochrome P450-mediated bioactivation in nematodes.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Patrick Lansdon, Maci Carlson, Brian D. Ackley
Summary: The study used the soil-dwelling nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to investigate immune responses against microbial pathogens. The results showed that different isolates of C. elegans exhibited varying susceptibility to different pathogenic bacteria, and their gene expression profiles were also significantly different. This study provides insights into the evolution of immune responses within organisms.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeremy J. Grubbs, David M. Raizen
Summary: Fatigue and sleepiness are common responses to tissue injury, and a new study shows how the innate immune system mediates injury-induced sleep.
Article
Cell Biology
Zhen-Zhen Liu, Wei Chen, Cheng-Kai Zhou, Ke Ma, Yu Gao, Yong-Jun Yang
Summary: This study revealed the importance of STING in promoting extracellular traps (ETs) formation through the ROS-ERK signaling pathway during Staphylococcus aureus infection. STING deficiency led to decreased cell-free DNA (cfDNA) level, reduced expression of citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3), and diminished DNA colocalization with CitH3 and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Additionally, STING(-/-) BMDMs exhibited increased levels of extracellular bacteria compared to WT BMDMs.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jin Xing, He Yufeng, Zhou Yonghua, Chen Xiaohua, Lee Yuan-Kun, Zhao Jianxin, Zhang Hao, Chen Wei, Wang Gang
Summary: This study established a lifespan model of C. elegans to counter C. jejuni infection, revealing different abilities of LAB in protecting C. elegans against infection and identifying potential protective mechanisms of certain LAB strains. The reliability of the C. elegans lifespan model was verified using mice and chickens infected with C. jejuni.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Selvaraj Alagu Lakshmi, Krishnan Ganesh Prasath, Kannapiran Tamilmuhilan, Adimoolam Srivathsan, Raja Mohamed Beema Shafreen, Thirupathi Kasthuri, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian
Summary: This study found that docosanol affects the protein expression profile of MRSA by reducing the expression of bacillithiol and stress-associated proteins, effectively targeting the antioxidant pathway.
MOLECULAR BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Arumugam Priya, Srinivasan Nivetha, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian
Summary: The incidence of fungal infections has increased due to antifungal resistance. Biofilm formation is a major contributor to infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated antibiofilm and combinatorial approaches to attenuate biofilm formation and virulence factors expression in Candida. Piperine and thymol, bioactive components of pepper and thyme, showed synergistic effects in reducing Candida adherence, hyphal extension, and morphological transformation. Piperine and thymol can be used synergistically for the treatment of biofilm-associated C. albicans infection.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rajaiah Alexpandi, Gurusamy Abirami, Murugesan Balaji, Rengarajan Jayakumar, Jeyaraj Godfred Ponraj, Yurong Cai, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian, Arumugam Veera Ravi
Summary: With a growing consciousness of the importance of nature stewardship, researchers are focusing on utilizing renewable energy, specifically solar energy, for environmental concerns. They have prepared a sunlight-active phytol-assisted ZnO-TiO2 nanocomposite for photocatalytic bacterial deactivation and dye degradation. The results indicate that the photocatalytic process effectively deactivated bacteria and degraded the dye without any toxic effects, making it safe for the environment. Additionally, the nanocomposite showed promising results in preventing biofouling.
Article
Microbiology
Rajaiah Alexpandi, Mathieu Gendrot, Gurusamy Abirami, Oceane Delandre, Isabelle Fonta, Joel Mosnier, Richard Mariadasse, Jeyaraman Jeyakanthan, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian, Bruno Pradines, Arumugam Veera Ravi
Summary: In this study, it was predicted that doxycycline could hinder the replication of SARS-CoV-2 by interacting with the NTP entry channel. Experimental results showed that doxycycline effectively inhibited viral replication in vivo and in vitro, indicating its potential antiviral activity against COVID-19.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Arumugam Priya, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian
Summary: This study evaluated the synergistic interaction of piperine and cinnamaldehyde against the biofilm and hyphal of Candida albicans. The results showed that the combination of these two phytochemicals had potential in inhibiting biofilm and hyphal formation. Gene expression analysis further validated the in vitro findings.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Subramanian Radhesh Krishnan, Pandiyan Muthuramalingam, Arumugam Mohana Priya, Mani Iyer Prasanth, Krishnasamy Gopinath, Chakravarthi Mohan, Karthikeyan Muthusamy, Krishnaswamy Balamurugan, Aditya Kumar Gupta, Manikandan Ramesh
Summary: This study demonstrates that overexpression of OsiSAP8 driven by Port Ubi2.3 from Porteresia coarctata confers drought and salinity stress tolerance in transgenic rice. The transgenic line IR36 showed enhanced tolerance to water withhold stress and superior physiological parameters compared to the wild type and IR64. This is the first study using the novel ubiquitin promoter Port Ubi2.3 to generate drought and salinity stress-tolerant transgenic rice.
Review
Biology
Pandiyan Muthuramalingam, Rajendran Jeyasri, Kasinathan Rakkammal, Lakkakula Satish, Sasanala Shamili, Adhimoolam Karthikeyan, Alaguvel Valliammai, Arumugam Priya, Anthonymuthu Selvaraj, Pandiyan Gowri, Qiang-Sheng Wu, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian, Hyunsuk Shin, Jen-Tsung Chen, Venkidasamy Baskar, Muthu Thiruvengadam, Manoharan Akilan, Manikandan Ramesh
Summary: Rice is an important food crop in Asian countries, but its growth and yield are affected by salinity stress. Understanding the mechanisms of salinity stress and developing salinity-tolerant rice varieties are crucial for future food security. This review discusses the use of high-throughput technologies and multi-omics approaches to study salinity stress in rice and highlights the potential ways to enhance salt tolerance and develop salt-tolerant varieties. The review also emphasizes the importance of incorporating the latest advancements and knowledge in plant stress biology to further understand the mechanisms of salinity stress in rice.
Article
Microbiology
Thirupathi Kasthuri, Thirukannamangai Krishnan Swetha, James Prabhanand Bhaskar, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the rapid killing efficacy of carvacrol and nerol, and demonstrated their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against multiple strains. The combination of carvacrol and nerol showed efficient activity at reduced concentrations and had the potential to disrupt biofilm components. In addition, the combination had no adverse effect on cells at a certain concentration.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Thirupathi Kasthuri, Sivaraj Barath, Muruganandam Nandhakumar, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian
Summary: This study demonstrates the anti-virulence efficacy of umbelliferone (UMB) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. UMB inhibits biofilm formation and downregulates major virulence-associated proteins in the bacteria. It also enhances antibiotic susceptibility and shows biocompatibility with human cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Gowripriya Thirumugam, Yashwanth Radhakrishnan, Suresh Ramamurthi, James Prabhanand Bhaskar, Balamurugan Krishnaswamy
Summary: Numerous pathogens, including RNA viruses, have a potential for catastrophic pandemics, and SARS-CoV-2 infection is highly contagious. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with high mutation rates further enhances the virus's infectious ability and poses clinical implications for human health. Despite our substantial understanding of the mechanism of virus infection and its impact on the host system, there are still uncertainties about the emergence of the virus. To date, no potentially curative drugs have been identified for viral infection, and repurposed drugs have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sarath Praseetha, Swapna Thacheril Sukumaran, Mathew Dan, Akshaya Rani Augustus, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian, Shiburaj Sugathan
Summary: This study found that the essential oil extracted from the plant Hedychium larsenii has potential anti-biofilm and anti-virulence effects against Streptococcus pyogenes. Linalool, a compound in the oil, showed concentration-dependent inhibition of biofilm formation. Linalool treatment also affected the expression of genes associated with virulence and biofilm formation.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Arunachalam Kannappan, Ravi Jothi, Xiaorong Tian, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian, Shanmugaraj Gowrishankar, Shi Chunlei
Summary: This study reveals the antibacterial efficacy of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMB) isolated from Hemidesmus indicus against Staphylococcus aureus. HMB inhibits bacterial growth, disrupts cell membrane, and eradicates preformed biofilms. Furthermore, HMB enhances the sensitivity of MRSA cells to tetracycline, indicating its potential as a lead structure for developing new antibacterial drugs.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Balasubramanian Chellammal Muthubharathi, Velayutham Ravichandiran, Krishnaswamy Balamurugan
Summary: The interactive network between hosts and pathogenic microbes is still not well understood. Transcriptomic and proteomic studies have revealed altered regulatory mechanisms and pathways in hosts during bacterial interactions, but the triggering molecules at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels are still unknown due to limited knowledge of the interactive metabolites. In this study, a global metabolomic approach was used to investigate the metabolome of Caenorhabditis elegans when exposed to Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi and Staphylococcus aureus.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ravi Jothi, Ravichellam Sangavi, Veerapandian Raja, Ponnuchamy Kumar, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian, Shanmugaraj Gowrishankar
Summary: The present study investigated the antifungal efficacy and action mechanism of the QAS cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) against three clinically important Candida species. CTAC exhibited phenomenal antifungal activity against all tested Candida spp., and its effectiveness was not mediated via oxidative stress. CTAC also showed potential as a disinfectant for Candida-associated healthcare infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lappasi Mohanram VenkataKrishna, Boopathi Balasubramaniam, T. J. Sushmitha, V. Ravichandiran, Krishnaswamy Balamurugan
Summary: This study identified key regulatory proteins in the host C. elegans during C. sakazakii infection using high-throughput label-free quantitative proteomics. The findings revealed that C. sakazakii infection elicits host immune signaling cascades, affecting neuronal-immune regulation and lifespan of the worms. The study provides insights into the specificity of proteome imbalance during pathogenic infection.
