Research, Research Articles

Metallothionein Cup1 attenuates nitrosative stress in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yuki Yoshikawa1,2,#, Ryo Nasuno1,3,#, Naoki Takaya4 and Hiroshi Takagi1,*

Our findings suggest that the yeast metallothionein Cup1 contributes to nitrosative stress tolerance, possibly as a constitutive rather than an inducible defense mechanism.

GFP fusions of Sec-routed extracellular proteins in Staphylococcus aureus reveal surface-associated coagulase in biofilms

Dominique C. S. Evans1,2,#, Amanda B. Khamas1,#, Lisbeth Marcussen1, Kristian S. Rasmussen3, Janne K. Klitgaard3, Birgitte H. Kallipolitis3, Janni Nielsen1, Daniel E. Otzen1, Mark C. Leake2,4 and Rikke L. Meyer1,5

We show that msfGFP can be used to generate extracellular fluorescent fusion proteins in S. aureus, applicable for proteins that are secreted through the Sec pathway. When fused to coagulase, msfGFP did not hinder the biological function, and the fusion protein localised to the fibrin pseudocapsule surrounding clusters of S. aureus cells.

Atg1, a key regulator of autophagy, functions to promote MAPK activation and cell death upon calcium overload in fission yeast

Teruaki Takasaki1, Ryosuke Utsumi1, Erika Shimada1, Asuka Bamba1, Kanako Hagihara2, Ryosuke Satoh1, and Reiko Sugiura1

Here, we provide evidence that the fission yeast Atg1 regulates cell death responses upon intracellular calcium load in addition to its role in promoting Pmk1 MAPK.

Acetate modulates the inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus gasseri against the pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans and Candida glabrata

Nuno A. Pedro1,2, Gabriela Fontebasso1,2, Sandra N. Pinto1,2, Marta Alves3 and Nuno P. Mira1,2

The results herein described advance the design of new anti-Candida therapies based on probiotics, in particular, those based on vaginal lactobacilli species, helping to reduce the significant burden that infections caused by Candida have today in human health.

D-Serine reduces the expression of the cytopathic genotoxin colibactin

D-Serine reduces the expression of the cytopathic genotoxin colibactin

Jennifer C. Hallam1,#, Sofia Sandalli1,#, Iris Floria1, Natasha C. A. Turner1, Min Tang-Fichaux2, Eric Oswald2,3, Nicky O’Boyle1,4 and Andrew J. Roe1

Sensing and responding to environmental cues and signalling molecules is crucial for bacterial survival. In this study we have identified a D-amino acid that has a strong regulatory effect on the pks genomic island which encodes for biosynthesis genes for the genotoxic compound colibactin.

A modular cloning (MoClo) toolkit for reliable intracellular protein targeting in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Pavel Simakin1,#, Christian Koch1,# and Johannes M. Herrmann1

In this study, we describe an advanced Molecular cloning toolkit that is designed for the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and optimized for the targeting of proteins of interest to specific cellular compartments.

The role of invariant surface glycoprotein 75 in xenobiotic acquisition by African trypanosomes

Alexandr Makarov1, Jakub Began2,†, Ileana Corvo Mautone1,3, Erika Pinto1, Liam Ferguson1, Martin Zoltner1,4, Sebastian Zoll2 and Mark C. Field1,5

By CRISPR/Cas9 knockout and biophysical analysis, we show here that the invariant surface glycoprotein 75 directly binds the the century-old drug suramin and mediates uptake of additional naphthol-related compounds, making this glycoprotein a conduit for entry of at least one structural class of trypanocidal compounds.

The first taxonomic and functional characterization of human CAVD-associated microbiota

Lavinia Curini1,#, Brunilda Alushi2,#, Mary Roxana Christopher3, Simone Baldi1, Leandro Di Gloria4, Pierluigi Stefano5, Anna Laganà5, Luisa Iannone5, Herko Grubitzsch6, Ulf Landmesser7, Matteo Ramazzotti4, Elena Niccolai1,§, Alexander Lauten2,§ and Amedeo Amedei1,8,§

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common heart valve disorder, defined by a remodeling multistep process. In this study, we aimed to investigate and characterize the presence of valvular microbiota and the associated immune response in human CAV samples originating from two European populations.

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Polyadenylated versions of small non-coding RNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are degraded by Rrp6p/Rrp47p independent of the core nuclear exosome

May 22, 2024

In this investigation, we unveiled a novel functional role of the major nuclear 3′→5′ exoribonuclease, Rrp6p, and its cofactor Rrp47p in the degradation of polyadenylated versions of several mature sncRNAs, including 5S, 5.8S rRNAs, all sn- and some select snoRNAs in the baker’s yeast S. cerevisiae.

Exploring carbon source related localization and phosphorylation in the Snf1/Mig1 network using population and single cell-based approaches

May 16, 2024

In this work we set out to explore the relationship between the subcellular localization and regulation of kinases in the context of carbon source signaling. The data presented in this paper reinforce the notion that not only the activation/inactivation of kinases but also their subcellular localization and that of their targets influence fate decisions in response to environmental changes.

A Modular Cloning Toolkit for the production of recombinant proteins in Leishmania tarentolae

April 30, 2024

Modular Cloning (MoClo) is based on libraries of standardized genetic parts that can be directionally assembled via Golden Gate cloning in one-pot reactions into transcription units and multigene constructs. We established a MoClo toolkit and exemplified its application for the production of recombinant proteins in L. tarentolae.

A metagenomic approach to unveil the association between fecal gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in diarrhea caused by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in children

April 30, 2024

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is the main cause of diarrhea in children under five years old. The virulence of DEC is tightly regulated by environmental signals influenced by the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Our results increase the knowledge of the association between short chain fatty acids during diarrhea and changes in the microbiota composition associated with the presence of DEC pathogens.

The effect of multiple sclerosis therapy on gut microbiota dysbiosis: a longitudinal prospective study

April 6, 2024

The gut microbiota, a complex ecosystem with various immune functions, plays a significant role in MS, and its response to different treatments is highlighted in this study. In clinical practice, maintaining a healthy microbiota is crucial for individuals with MS.

Comparison of microbial communities and the profile of sulfate-reducing bacteria in patients with ulcerative colitis and their association with bowel diseases: a pilot study

March 14, 2024

Considerable evidence has accumulated regarding the molecular relationship between gut microbiota (GM) composition and the onset (clinical presentation and prognosis) of ulcerative colitis UC. Our findings highlight, among other observations, significant variations in the gut microbial composition among patients with varying disease severity and activity.

Replicative aging in yeast involves dynamic intron retention patterns associated with mRNA processing/export and protein ubiquitination

February 27, 2024

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has yielded relevant insights into some of the basic mechanisms of organismal aging. Among these are genomic instability, oxidative stress, caloric restriction and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our work uncovers a previously unexplored layer of the transcriptional program of yeast aging and, more generally, expands the knowledge on the occurrence of alternative splicing in baker´s yeast.

Quantifying yeast lipidomics by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and comparison to mass spectrometry-based shotgun lipidomics

February 21, 2024

Lipidomic analysis in diverse biological settings has become a frequent tool to increase our understanding of the processes of life. Here we describe a method to analyse basic lipidomics in yeast using HPTLC and offer comparison to measurement of the same samples with MS-based shotgun lipidomics.

A cobalt concentration sensitive Btu-like system facilitates cobalamin uptake in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

February 20, 2024

Metal homeostasis is central to all forms of life, as metals are essential micronutrients with toxic effects at elevated levels. Our results provide novel information on the uptake of cobalamin and the regulation of the cellular cobalt content in cyanobacteria.

Predictable regulation of survival by intratumoral microbe-immune crosstalk in patients with lung adenocarcinoma

February 19, 2024

Intratumoral microbiota can regulate the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and mediate tumor prognosis by promoting inflammatory response or inhibiting anti-tumor effects. Our study demonstrated that intratumoral microbiota-immune crosstalk was strongly associated with prognosis in LUAD patients, which would provide new targets for the development of precise therapeutic strategies.

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