Microreviews, Review
Paving the way for new antimicrobial peptides through molecular de-extinction
Karen O. Osiro1, Abel Gil-Ley2, Fabiano C. Fernandes1,3, Kamila B. S. de Oliveira2, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez4-7, Octavio L. Franco1,2
The advancement of artificial intelligence and molecular de-extinction offers a valuable opportunity not only to discover new antimicrobials but also to provide accurate in silico predictions, thereby shortening the path to addressing the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
Efflux pumps: gatekeepers of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms
Shweta Sinha1, Shifu Aggarwal2,3 and Durg Vijai Singh1
This review aims to elucidate the complex relationship between efflux pumps, antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation in S. aureus with the aim to aid in the development of potential therapeutic targets for combating S. aureus infections, especially those associated with biofilms.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of human diseases: the benefits of fission yeasts
Lajos Acs-Szabo, Laszlo-Attila Papp and Ida Miklos
Here we collect the latest laboratory protocols and bioinformatics tools for the fission yeasts to highlight the many possibilities available to the research community. In addition, we present several limiting factors that everyone should be aware of when working with yeast models.
Characterising glycosaminoglycans in human breastmilk and their potential role in infant health
Melissa Greenwood1,2, Patricia Murciano-Martínez3, Janet Berrington4, Sabine L Flitsch5, Sean Austin2 and Christopher Stewart1
Glycosaminoglycans are bioactive components present in breast milk and play a potential key role in determining infant health yet are overlooked by many contemporary studies. This review explores their relevance, use and characterisation techniques.
Neutralizing the threat: harnessing broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 for treatment and prevention
Juan C Becerra1, Lauren Hitchcock1, Khoa Vu1 and Johannes S Gach1
This review provides an overview of the advancements in HIV- 1-specific broadly neutralizing antibodies and discusses the insights gathered from recent clinical trials regarding their application in treating and preventing HIV-1 infection.
From microbes to medicine: harnessing the gut microbiota to combat prostate cancer
Anjali Yadav1, Meenakshi Kaushik1, Prabhakar Tiwari1 and Rima Dada1
The gut microbiome (GM) has been identified as a crucial factor in the development and progression of various diseases, including cancer. This review highlights the important role that the GM may play in the development and progression of prostate cancer, through its influence on chronic inflammation, immune modulation, and other pathogenic mechanisms.
The cAMP-PKA signalling crosstalks with CWI and HOG-MAPK pathways in yeast cell response to osmotic and thermal stress
Fiorella Galello1, Mariana Bermúdez-Moretti1, María Clara Ortolá Martínez1, Silvia Rossi1 and Paula Portela1
During industrial fermentation yeast strains are exposed to fluctuations in oxygen concentration, osmotic pressure, pH, ethanol concentration, nutrient availability and temperature. The scope of this review is to outline the advancement of knowledge about the cAMP-PKA signalling and the crosstalk of this pathway with the CWI and HOG-MAPK cascades in response to the environmental challenges heat and hyperosmotic stress.
Phospholipases A and Lysophospholipases in protozoan parasites
Perrine Hervé1, Sarah Monic1, Frédéric Bringaud1 and Loïc Rivière1
In this review, we summarize the literature on phospholipases and lysophospholipases in several protozoan parasites of medical relevance, and discuss the growing interest for them as potential drug and vaccine targets.
Biofilm tolerance, resistance and infections increasing threat of public health
Shanshan Yang1,3, Xinfei Li1,2, Weihe Cang1,2, Delun Mu1,3, Shuaiqi Ji1,3, Yuejia An1, Rina Wu1,2,3 and Junrui Wu1,2,3
The review explores the role of biofilms in the development of bacterial resistance mechanisms and proposed therapeutic intervention strategies for biofilm related diseases.
Bacterial genotoxin functions as immune-modulator and promotes host survival
July 28, 2016
This article comments on work published by Del Bel Belluz et al. (PLoS Pathog, 2016), which demonstrated that the typhoid toxin of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi esembles an immune-modulatory molecule rather than a toxic agent.
Functions and regulation of the MRX complex at DNA double-strand breaks
July 27, 2016
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) pose a serious threat to genome stability and cell survival. Cells possess mechanisms that recognize DSBs and promote their repair through either homologous recombination (HR) or non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). The present review focuses mainly on recent works in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to highlight structure and regulation of the evolutionary conserved Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 (MRX) complex as well as its interplays with Tel1.
Inhibition of Zika virus by Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti
June 27, 2016
This article comments on work published by Dutra et al. (Cell Host Microbe, 2016), which investigated the potential of Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti to restrict infection and transmission of Zika virus.
Syphilis: Re-emergence of an old foe
June 27, 2016
Syphilis is caused by infection with Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, a not-yet-cultivable spiral-shaped bacterium that is usually transmitted by sexual contact with an infected partner or by an infected pregnant woman to her fetus. This review provides insights into the etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of syphilis.
Trichomoniasis – are we giving the deserved attention to the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide?
June 27, 2016
Trichomonas vaginalis is the etiologic agent of trichomoniasis, the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world. This article contributes to claim the attention of public health policies to control this STD.
House of cellulose – a new hideout for drug tolerant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
June 23, 2016
This article comments on work published by Trivedi et al. (Nat Commun, 2016), which shows that Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells organise themselves into biofilms in response to intracellular thiol reductive stress.
Antibiotic use in childhood alters the gut microbiota and predisposes to overweight
June 20, 2016
This article comments on work published by Korpela et al. (Nat Commun, 2016), which investigates the correlation between the use of antibiotics in early life and the excessive weight gain in later childhood.
Evidence for the hallmarks of human aging in replicatively aging yeast
June 20, 2016
Recently, efforts have been made to characterize the hallmarks that accompany and contribute to the phenomenon of aging, as most relevant for humans. Remarkably, studying the finite lifespan of the single cell eukaryote budding yeast has been paramount for our understanding of aging. Here, we compile observations from literature over the past decades of research on replicatively aging yeast to highlight how the hallmarks of aging in humans are present in yeast.
Bacterial outer membrane vesicle biogenesis: a new mechanism and its implications
May 10, 2016
This article comments on work published by Roier et al. (Nat Commun, 2016), which proposes a novel and highly conserved bacterial outer membane vesicle biogenesis mechanism based on phospholipid accumulation in the outer leaflet of the outer membrane.