Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huangwei Xu, Guanhua Xuan, Huaiwei Liu, Yongzhen Xia, Luying Xun
Summary: Sulfane sulfur is a common signal in bacteria, involved in sulfur metabolism and activation of antibiotic resistance genes. Some members of the MarR family can sense cellular sulfane sulfur to activate gene expression.
Article
Biology
Yanmin Zhang, Sourav Chowdhury, Joao Rodrigues, Eugene Shakhnovich
Summary: A new compound CD15-3 was discovered to inhibit both the wild type and TMP-resistant variants of E. coli DHFR; CD15-3 showed delayed resistance compared to TMP in in vitro evolution; Resistance to CD15-3 was attributed to gene duplication of efflux pumps, resulting in weak resistance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Shi, Fulin Wang, Fangfang Li, Lu Wang, Ying Xiong, Aijia Wen, Yuanling Jin, Sha Jin, Fei Gao, Zhenzhen Feng, Jiacong Li, Yu Zhang, Zhuo Shang, Shuang Wang, Yu Feng, Wei Lin
Summary: The transcription activator Rob regulates genes involved in multidrug resistance and stress response. The researchers used cryo-EM structures to study how Rob interacts with bacterial RNA polymerase and promoter DNA. They found that Rob engages with RNA polymerase and promotes the formation of a transcription activation complex.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zhiyong Chen, Cailing Zhou, Yangfan Xu, Kang Wen, Junfeng Song, Silei Bai, Chenxuan Wu, Wei Huang, Qingyun Cai, Kai Zhou, Hui Wang, Yingjie Wang, Xinxin Feng, Yugang Bai
Summary: The increasing number of infections caused by multi-drug resistance (MDR) bacteria indicates a new global challenge. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and AMP mimics are emerging as effective agents due to their low resistance rate and effectiveness against MDR strains. A novel oligomer with an alternatingly amphiphilic structure and affinity for bacterial DNA demonstrates high therapeutic index and in vivo activity, showing potential as a resistance-resistant and selective antimicrobial agent.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaowei Mu, Yiwen Zhu, Yu Wang, Shuang Qu, Yichun Huang, Liang Zheng, Shun Duan, Bingran Yu, Meng Qin, Fu-Jian Xu
Summary: A novel cationic polysaccharide conjugate, Dex-g-PSS30, disrupts bacterial membranes and efflux pumps, enhancing antibiotic accumulation and restoring efficacy. In a mouse model, Dex-g-PSS30 reduces inflammatory reactions, showing excellent biological absorption and degradation capabilities, providing a new treatment strategy for multidrug-resistant bacteria.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephen T. Hallett, Pascale Schellenberger, Lihong Zhou, Fabienne Beuron, Ed Morris, Johanne M. Murray, Antony W. Oliver
Summary: The multi-component Smc5/6 complex is crucial for resolving recombination intermediates and cellular response to replication stress. The six protein 'holo-complex' is the only form capable of ATP turnover, with activity increased by the addition of double-stranded DNA. The regulation of Smc5/6 ATPase activity by yeast Nse5/6 acts as a negative regulator, independent of the DNA-bound status of the complex.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hua Mao, Luge Li, Qiying Fan, Aude Angelini, Pradip K. Saha, Huaizhu Wu, Christie M. Ballantyne, Sean M. Hartig, Liang Xie, Xinchun Pi
Summary: The role of endothelial BMPER function in glucose homeostasis is crucial, and overexpression of BMPER has been shown to alleviate insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in diabetic mice.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tamas Pivarcsik, Orsolya Domotor, Janos P. Meszaros, Nora May, Gabriella Spengler, Oszkar Csuvik, Istvan Szatmari, Eva A. Enyedy
Summary: The study revealed that two novel 8-hydroxyquinoline-D-proline and homo-proline hybrids exhibit good solution stability and cytotoxicity in various cell lines, showing potential anti-tumor activities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Katarzyna Grudlewska-Buda, Justyna Bauza-Kaszewska, Natalia Wiktorczyk-Kapischke, Anna Budzynska, Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska, Krzysztof Skowron
Summary: Antibiotic resistance and multidrug resistance have been confirmed in major foodborne pathogens, including Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Concerningly, new antibiotic-resistant food pathogens unrelated to food contamination or considered epidemiologically insignificant have also been reported. Thorough monitoring of strains isolated from food is necessary to understand the existing mechanisms of resistance.
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)
Review
Microbiology
Stephen J. Kassinger, Monique L. van Hoek
Summary: Tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis has been historically developed into a biological weapon. In order to optimize patient treatment and potentially develop new antimicrobials, understanding the genetically encoded determinants of antibiotic resistance in Francisella is crucial. Research has been conducted on both the experimental and bioinformatic aspects of antibiotic resistance in Francisella, as well as the difference in phenotypic resistance between planktonic and biofilm forms of the bacteria.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karolina Stojowska-Swedrzynska, Adrianna Lupkowska, Dorota Kuczynska-Wisnik, Ewa Laskowska
Summary: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common pathogen responsible for various infections, and its multidrug resistance has been recognized as a significant public health threat. Heteroresistance, a frequent phenotype in pathogens, may be associated with an increased risk of recurrent infections and treatment failure in K. pneumoniae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sakshaleni Rajendiran, Yuvaneswary Veloo, Syahidiah Syed Abu Thahir, Rafiza Shaharudin
Summary: This study investigated the antibiotic resistance in the poultry farm environment in Selangor state, Malaysia. The majority of enterococcal isolates showed resistance to at least one antibiotic, with a significant proportion exhibiting multidrug resistance. Of particular concern was the resistance to linezolid, a critically important antibiotic according to the World Health Organization.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Mariam Rima, Mohamad Rima, Ziad Fajloun, Jean-Marc Sabatier, Burkhard Bechinger, Thierry Naas
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides are a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. They show various activity spectra and mechanisms of actions, and can be used synergistically against ESKAPE bacteria, particularly in biofilm treatments. Challenges and limitations in their therapeutic applications are highlighted, with potential solutions being evaluated to determine if antimicrobial peptides could potentially replace antibiotics in the future.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomasz Wolkowicz, Katarzyna Zacharczuk, Rafal Gierczynski, Magdalena Nowakowska, Katarzyna Piekarska
Summary: The majority of S. Kentucky isolates from humans in Poland belonged to ST198 and exhibited high-level resistance to ampicillin and quinolones, with multiple resistant determinants found in some strains.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Miguel A. Matilla, David Martin-Mora, Tino Krell
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Letter
Environmental Sciences
Juan-Luis Ramos, Kenneth N. Timmis
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria-Dolores Ferreiro, Lara Vanessa Behrmann, Ana Corral, Joaquina Nogales, Maria-Trinidad Gallegos
Summary: The study focused on the expression and regulation of rsm regulatory sRNAs in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto) DC3000, revealing insights into the functioning of the complex Gac-rsm pathway and the interplay among its components.
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kenneth Timmis, Juan Luis Ramos
Summary: Soil plays a crucial role in supporting the biosphere and human continuity, but is facing a crisis due to human abuse and natural disasters. Global action is urgently needed to protect soil health. Understanding soil biota functionalities and developing effective diagnosis-prevention-treatment pathways are essential for sustainable soil use and protection.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Maria-Dolores Ferreiro, Maria-Trinidad Gallegos
Summary: Productive plant-bacteria interactions rely on bacteria sensing, integrating, and responding to changing environmental and plant stimuli through the complex Gac-Rsm global regulatory pathway; Plant-interacting Pseudomonas possess multiple Rsm proteins and Rsm RNAs, but the physiological significance of this redundancy is unclear; Identifying target mRNAs bound by Rsm proteins and their mode of action is crucial for understanding the resulting phenotype.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rhys M. Williams, Xiaodong Zhang
Summary: The maintenance of genome integrity is critical for cell survival and genetic information protection, in which ATM and ATR play key roles. While their roles are closely intertwined in response to double strand breaks, they diverge in the response to replication stress.
PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rhys M. Williams, Xiaodong Zhang
Summary: Genome integrity maintenance is crucial for faithful replication and cell protection. ATM and ATR are essential for repair and prevention of DNA damage, with intertwined roles in response to double strand breaks but diverging roles in replication stress. Control of kinase localization and activators allows stress-specific responses.
PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Patricia Godoy, Ana Garcia-Franco, Maria-Isabel Recio, Juan-Luis Ramos, Estrella Duque
Summary: Pseudomonas putida is a highly solvent-resistant microorganism that can be used as a chassis for producing valuable compounds from lignocellulosic residues. Studies have shown that Pseudomonas putida is able to metabolize both glucose and xylose simultaneously, which is crucial for the economic viability of the process.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ana Garcia-Franco, Patricia Godoy, Jesus de la Torre, Estrella Duque, Juan L. Ramos
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Juan L. Ramos
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Juan L. Ramos
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fuzhou Ye, Forson Gao, Xiaojiao Liu, Martin Buck, Xiaodong Zhang
Summary: Gene transcription requires DNA melting and opening to form transcription initiation complexes. In bacteria, this process is mediated by RNA polymerase (RNAP) and sigma factors. A study found that a specific sigma factor (sigma(54)) interacts with an AAA+ activator to facilitate DNA melting and opening.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luke A. Yates, Elias A. Tannous, R. Marc Morgan, Peter M. Burgers, Xiaodong Zhang
Summary: This study reveals the phosphorylation circuit that regulates checkpoint recruitment and function in response to DNA damage. The interaction between Ddc2 and RPA modulates the association between RPA and ssDNA, and phosphorylated Ddc2 enhances its recruitment to RPA-ssDNA, promoting DNA damage checkpoint signaling.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Martinez-Rodriguez, Aroa Lopez-Sanchez, Andrea Garcia-Alcaide, Fernando Govantes, Maria-Trinidad Gallegos
Summary: The second messenger c-di-GMP controls the transition between motility and sessility in bacteria by various mechanisms, including the production of exopolysaccharides. In Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, the regulators FleQ and AmrZ bind to the wss promoter, inhibiting its expression at low c-di-GMP levels. FleQ responds to c-di-GMP by activating cellulose production, while AmrZ always limits wss expression independently of c-di-GMP levels.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elias A. Tannous, Luke A. Yates, Xiaodong Zhang, Peter M. Burgers
Summary: A mutation in Mec1 leading to constitutive activity was identified, and structural analysis revealed the molecular basis for Mec1 activation and key regulatory mechanisms through conformational changes.
NATURE STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)