Review, Reviews
Yeast-based assays for the functional characterization of cancer-associated variants of human DNA repair genes
Tiziana Cervelli1, Samuele Lodovichi1, Francesca Bellè1 and Alvaro Galli1
This article highlights how the genetic tractability and conserved DNA repair pathways of yeast make it a powerful system for functionally characterizing human cancer-associated variants in DNA repair genes, aiding in risk assessment and therapeutic decision-making.
A novel c-di-GMP signal system regulates biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Gukui Chen1 and Haihua Liang1
This article relates to the study "The SiaA/B/C/D signaling network regulates biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa" by Chen et al. (EMBO J, 2020) that reveals a novel signaling network encoded by the siaABCD operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that regulates biofilm and aggregate formation by controlling the diguanylate cyclase activity of SiaD through phosphorylation-dependent interactions with SiaC, highlighting a potential antimicrobial target.
Regulation of anti-microbial autophagy by factors of the complement system
Christophe Viret1, Aurore Rozières1, Rémi Duclaux-Loras1, Gilles Boschetti1, Stéphane Nancey1 and
Mathias Faure1,2
This review explores emerging evidence that components of the complement system, beyond their traditional immune roles, modulate autophagy - particularly xenophagy - thereby influencing cell-autonomous antimicrobial responses during host-pathogen interactions.
More than flipping the lid: Cdc50 contributes to echinocandin resistance by regulating calcium homeostasis in Cryptococcus neoformans
Chengjun Cao1 and Chaoyang Xue1,2
In this article, the authors comment on the study "A mechanosensitive channel governs lipid flippase-mediated echinocandin resistance in Cryptococcus neoformans" by Cao et al. (mBio, 2019), which uncovers a dual role for the lipid flippase subunit Cdc50 in Cryptococcus neoformans, linking lipid translocation and calcium signaling via its interaction with the mechanosensitive channel Crm1, thereby contributing to innate resistance against the antifungal drug caspofungin.
New insights in the mode of action of anti-leishmanial drugs by using chemical mutagenesis screens coupled to next-generation sequencing
Arijit Bhattacharya1, Sophia Bigot2, Prasad Kottayil Padmanabhan2, Angana Mukherjee2, Adriano Coelho3, Philippe Leprohon2, Barbara Papadopoulou2 and Marc Ouellette2
In this article, the authors comment on the study "Coupling chemical mutagenesis to next generation sequencing for the identification of drug resistance mutations in Leishmania" by Bhattacharya et al. (Nat Commun, 2019), which introduces Mut-seq, a chemical mutagenesis and sequencing approach, to uncover drug resistance mechanisms in Leishmania, revealing links between lipid metabolism genes and miltefosine resistance, and a protein kinase involved in translation conferring paromomycin resistance.
Microfluidic techniques for separation of bacterial cells via taxis
Jyoti P. Gurung1, Murat Gel2,3 and Matthew A. B. Baker1,3
Microfluidic tools, ideal for studying microbial motility due to their control over laminar flows at microscopic scales, enable precise analysis of various taxis behaviors and have advanced applications in synthetic biology, directed evolution, and medical microbiology.
Influence of delivery and feeding mode in oral fungi colonization – a systematic review
Maria Joao Azevedo1,2,3,4, Maria de Lurdes Pereira1,5, Ricardo Araujo2,3,6, Carla Ramalho3,7,8, Egija Zaura4 and Benedita Sampaio-Maia1,2,3
A systematic review of oral fungal colonization in infants found that while breastfeeding did not significantly affect the oral mycobiome, vaginal delivery was associated with higher oral yeast colonization, particularly of Candida albicans.
A holobiont view on thrombosis: unravelling the microbiota’s influence on arterial thrombus growth
Giulia Pontarollo1, Klytaimnistra Kiouptsi1 and Christoph Reinhardt1,2
In this article, the authors comment on the study "The microbiota promotes arterial thrombosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice" by Kiouptsi et al. (mBio, 2019) that showed that commensal microbiota, intricately linked to host physiology, may influence cardiovascular disease, as shown by studies using germ-free atherosclerosis-prone mice to examine how microbial presence and diet affect arterial thrombosis and lesion development.
pH homeostasis links the nutrient sensing PKA/TORC1/Sch9 ménage-à-trois to stress tolerance and longevity
January 12, 2018
In this article, Deprez et al. discuss accumulating evidence indicates that pH homeostasis plays a prominent role in the determination of ageing and longevity, thereby providing new perspectives and avenues to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Guidelines and recommendations on yeast cell death nomenclature
January 1, 2018
In this review, we propose unified criteria for the definition of accidental, regulated, and programmed forms of cell death in yeast based on a series of morphological and biochemical criteria. Specifically, we provide consensus guidelines on the differential definition of terms including apoptosis, regulated necrosis, and autophagic cell death, as we refer to additional cell death routines that are relevant for the biology of yeast.
Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1 deploys a prophage tail-like protein for mycophagy
December 31, 2017
In this article, the authors comment on the study "A prophage tail-like protein is deployed by Burkholderia bacteria to feed on fungi" by Swain et al. (Nature Communications, 2017), discussing that a prophage tail-like protein (Bg_9562) is essential for mycophagy. The protein may help the bacteria to survive in certain ecological niches and, considering its broad-spectrum antifungal activity, may be potentially useful in biotechnological applications to control fungal diseases.
Ras signalling in pathogenic yeasts
December 18, 2017
In this article Pentland et al. review the roles of Ras protein function and signalling in the major human yeast pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans and discuss the potential for targeting Ras as a novel approach to anti-fungal therapy.
A novel basolateral type IV secretion model for the CagA oncoprotein of Helicobacter pylori
December 9, 2017
In this article, the authors comment on the study "Helicobacter pylori Employs a Unique Basolateral Type IV Secretion Mechanism for CagA Delivery" by Tegtmeyer et al. (Cell Host Microbe, 2017), discussing that the finding of a T4SS receptor suggests the presence of a sophisticated control mechanism for the injection of CagA and the possible impact of this novel signaling cascade on pathogenesis during infection with Helicobacter pylori.
A new role for the nuclear basket network
November 28, 2017
This article comments on work published by Salas-Pino et al. (J Cell Biol, 2017), which describes a novel function of the fission yeast nuclear basket component - the translocated promoter region (TPR) nucleoporin Alm1 - in proper localization of the proteasome to the nuclear envelope.
VAMP8 mucin exocytosis attenuates intestinal pathogenesis by Entamoeba histolytica
November 24, 2017
This article comments on work published by Cornick et al. (mBio, 2017), which nominates SNARE-mediated exocytosis as the putative mechanism responsible for pathogen-induced mucus secretion from goblet cells.
Shutdown of interferon signaling by a viral-hijacked E3 ubiquitin ligase
November 3, 2017
This article comments on work published by Davis et al. (mBio, 2017), which describes molecular requirements that govern NSP1 recognition of β-TrCP, including an essential degron phosphorylation event, and the step-wise incorporation of NSP1 into hijacked cullin-RING E3 ligases (CRLs) that ubiquitinate and tag β-TrCP for degradation.
Breaking the bad: Bacillus blocks fungal virulence factors
October 30, 2017
This article comments on work published by Mayer & Kronstad (mBio, 2017), which identified the soil bacterium, Bacillus safensis as a potent inhibitor of virulence factor production by two major fungal pathogens of humans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Candida albicans.