Microreviews, Review
Too much of a good thing: Overproduction of virulence factors impairs cryptococcal pathogenicity
Julia C. V. Reuwsaat1, Tamara L. Doering2, and Livia Kmetzsch1,3
This article comments on work published by Reuwsaat et al. (mBio, 2021), which identified the transcription factor Pdr802 as essential for Cryptococcus neoformans adaptation to and survival under host conditions both in vitro and in vivo.
Mechanisms underlying lactic acid tolerance and its influence on lactic acid production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Arne Peetermans1,2, María R. Foulquié-Moreno1,2 and Johan M. Thevelein1,2,3
This article reviews the manner in which Saccharomyces cerevisiae deals with the accumulation of lactic acid as a singular stress factor as well as in combination with other stresses. In addition, different methods to improve lactic acid tolerance in S. cerevisiae using targeted and non-targeted engineering methods are discussed.
When the pandemic opts for the lockdown: Secretion system evolution in the cholera bacterium
Francis J. Santoriello1,2 and Stefan Pukatzki1,2
This article comments on work published by Santoriello et al. (Nat Comm, 2020), which demonstrates that the T6SS island Auxiliary Cluster 3 (Aux3) is unique to pandemic strains of V. cholerae.
Biofilms by bacterial human pathogens: Clinical relevance – development, composition and regulation – therapeutical strategies
Adina Schulze1,#, Fabian Mitterer1,#, Joao P. Pombo1 and Stefan Schild1,2,3
This review focuses on bacterial biofilms formed by human pathogens, highlights their relevance for diverse diseases and discusses therapeutical intervention strategies targeting biofilms.
Maintaining phagosome integrity during fungal infection: do or die?
Mabel Yang1, Glenn F.W. Walpole1,2 and Johannes Westman1
This article refers to the paper "Lysosome Fusion Maintains Phagosome Integrity during Fungal Infection" by Westman et al. (Cell Host Microbe, 2020), which shows that macrophages respond to pathogen growth by expanding the phagosome membrane through a calcium-dependent mechanism involving lysosome insertion, maintaining membrane integrity and preventing rupture.
Milestones in Bacillus subtilis sporulation research
Eammon P. Riley1, Corinna Schwarz2, Alan I. Derman2 and Javier Lopez-Garrido2
In this review, the foundational discoveries that shaped the sporulation field are discussed, from its origins to the present day, tracing a chronology that spans more than one hundred eighty years.
A novel antibacterial strategy: histone and antimicrobial peptide synergy
Leora Duong1, Steven P. Gross2,3 and Albert Siryaporn1,3
This article refers to the study "Mammalian histones facilitate antimicrobial synergy by disrupting the bacterial proton gradient and chromosome organization" by Doolin et al. (Nat Comm, 2020) that shows that histones enhance the antimicrobial activity of peptides, disrupt bacterial membranes, and inhibit transcription, offering new insights into natural antimicrobial mechanisms.
Extracellular vesicles: An emerging platform in gram-positive bacteria
Swagata Bose1,#, Shifu Aggarwal1,#, Durg Vijai Singh1,2 and Narottam Acharya1
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by both pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria to transfer biomolecules and facilitate intercellular communication. While EV secretion in gram-negative bacteria is well understood, less is known about gram-positive bacteria. This review explores the role of EVs involved in bacterial competition, survival, immune evasion, and infection of gram-positive bacteria and compares them to gram-negative counterparts.
Francisella IglG protein and the DUF4280 proteins: PAAR-like proteins in non-canonical Type VI secretion systems?
October 30, 2016
This article comments on work published by Rigard et al. (PLoS Pathog, 2013), which identified the function of IgIG, a protein of unknown function, encoded within the Francisella Pathogenicity Island.
B cell-helping functions of gut microbial metabolites
September 23, 2016
This article comments on work published by Kim et al. (Cell Host & Microbe, 2016), which showed that the microbial metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) regulate the metabolism and gene expression in B cells to promote antibody production.
How do yeast sense mitochondrial dysfunction?
September 22, 2016
Apart from energy transformation, mitochondria play important signaling roles. In yeast, mitochondrial signaling relies on several molecular cascades. However, it is not clear how a cell detects a particular mitochondrial malfunction. In our review we argue that in yeast the major known routes of mitochondrial signaling are moderated by non-mitochondrial inputs.
Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infections
September 4, 2016
Chlamydia trachomatis infections are the most commonly reported sexually transmitted bacterial infections in the US and globally. Ascending infection may result in infertility, ectopic pregnancy and chronic pelvic pain in some women. In this review we provide an overview of current knowledge regarding epidemiology, disease outcomes and effective treatment of chlamydial genital tract infection and explore potential mechanisms facilitating C. trachomatis infection of genital mucosa identified via bioinformatics and other molecular approaches.
Hepatitis B virus and its sexually transmitted infection – an update
September 4, 2016
About 5% of the world’s population has chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and nearly 25% of carriers develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose of this article is to provide up-to-date information on HBV and HBV infection as a major sexually transmitted infection.
Gonorrhea – an evolving disease of the new millennium
September 4, 2016
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonococcus) is a Gram-negative diplococcus, an obligate human pathogen, and the etiologic agent of the sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhea. This review provides insight into the molecular epidemiology, virulence mechanisms, pathogenesis and therapeutic options.
Cryptococcus flips its lid – membrane phospholipid asymmetry modulates antifungal drug resistance and virulence
August 1, 2016
This article comments on work published by Huang et al. (MBio, 2016), which reported that in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans loss of lipid flippase activity sensitized cryptococcal cells to multiple classes of antifungal drugs and abolished fungal virulence in murine models.
A novel component of the mitochondrial genome segregation machinery in trypanosomes
July 28, 2016
This article comments on work published by Trikin et al. (PLoS Pathog, 2016), which described a new component of the mitochondrial genome segregation machinery in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei.