Microreviews, Review
Integrins in disguise – mechanosensors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as functional integrin analogues
Tarek Elhasi1 and Anders Blomberg1
This article shows that although yeast lack integrin-like proteins, they possess WSC- and MID-type mechanosensors that functionally resemble integrins in animal cells, playing a role in sensing external mechanical stimuli and activating the conserved PKC1-SLT1 cell wall integrity pathway, with potential implications for understanding mechanosensing in yeast biology.
Bacterial maze runners reveal hidden diversity in chemotactic performance
M. Mehdi Salek1,#, Francesco Carrara1,#, Vicente Fernandez1 and Roman Stocker1
This article comments on work published by Salek et al. (Nat Commun, 2019), which combined microfluidic experiments with mathematical modeling to demonstrate that even in clonal populations, bacteria are individuals with different abilities to climb chemical gradients.
Laundry and textile hygiene in healthcare and beyond
Dirk P. Bockmühl1, Jan Schages1 and Laura Rehberg1
This article shows that while institutional laundering is regulated to ensure hygiene, the trend towards energy-efficient washing at lower temperatures raises concerns about the antimicrobial efficacy of domestic laundering, with a focus on addressing microbial contamination in both clinical and home settings.
Bacterial pathogens under high-tension: Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to von Willebrand factor is activated by force
Felipe Viela1, Pietro Speziale2,3, Giampiero Pietrocola2 and Yves F. Dufrêne1,4
This article comments on work published by Viela et al (mBio, 2019), which shows that the bacterial cell surface protein A to the large plasma glycoprotein von Willebrand factor interaction is tightly regulated by mechanical force.
Yeast AP-1 like transcription factors (Yap) and stress response: a current overview
Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada1, Frédéric Devaux2, Soraia M. Caetano1, Catarina Pimentel1, Sofia da Silva1, Ana Carolina Cordeiro1 and Catarina Amaral1
This review summarizes current understanding of the eight Yap transcription factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, detailing their activation by specific stress conditions and discussing their function and evolution across various fungal species.
Septin clearance from the division site triggers cytokinesis in budding yeast
Davide Tamborrini1 and Simonetta Piatti1
This article comments on work published by Tamborrini et al (Nat Commun., 2019), which shows that septin displacement during splitting is an essential prerequisite for contractile actomyosin ring constriction during mitosis.
The influence of the microbiota on immune development, chronic inflammation, and cancer in the context of aging
Taylor N. Tibbs1,#, Lacey R. Lopez1,#, and Janelle C. Arthur1,2,3
This article shows that the microbiota is crucial for immune system development and that its relationship with the immune system during aging and the pathogenesis of age-related diseases, including cancer, needs further research to inform disease treatment and prevention.
Ser/Thr protein phosphatases in fungi: structure, regulation and function
Joaquín Ariño1, Diego Velázquez1 and Antonio Casamayor1
In this work we present the members of this family in S. cerevisiae and other fungal species, and review the most recent findings concerning their regulation and the roles they play in the most diverse aspects of cell biology.
When the pandemic opts for the lockdown: Secretion system evolution in the cholera bacterium
February 18, 2021
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
February 1, 2021
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?
December 3, 2020
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
November 27, 2020
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
October 8, 2020
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
October 5, 2020
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.
Structural insights into the architecture and assembly of eukaryotic flagella
September 21, 2020
Cilia and flagella are key structures in motility and signaling. This review highlights recent findings of cryo-EM studies that have mapped the structure of axonemal microtubules in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, revealing over 30 associated proteins as well as recent researcht which focused on the trafficking complexes that transport components between the cell body and cilium.
Erythrocyte phospho-signalling is dynamically altered during infection with Plasmodium falciparum
September 16, 2020
This article refers to the study "Analysis of erythrocyte signalling pathways during Plasmodium falciparum infection identifies targets for host-directed antimalarial intervention" by Adderley et al. (Nat Commun, 2020) that investigates how Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites influence red blood cells. By tracking hanges in over 800 human proteins at different parasite stages they confirmed activation of the PAK-MEK pathway and discovered significant changes, particularly during the trophozoite stage. This suggests that kinases activated by the infection could be targeted for new antimalarial therapies.
Plant and fungal products that extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans
July 9, 2020
Caenorhabditis elegans' lifespan is extended by plant and fungal extracts activating pathways like autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis. Low to moderate concentrations promote longevity, while high doses are harmful. This review explores the health benefits of these substances in humans.
A new role for proteins subunits of RNase P: stabilization of the telomerase holoenzyme
June 17, 2020
This article refers to the study "Stability and Nuclear Localization of Yeast Telomerase Depend on Protein Components of RNase P/MRP", by Garcia et al. (Nat Commun, 2020), showing that 3 essential proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are vital for telomerase assembly and nuclear localization. In their mutants, telomerase is less mature, and telomeres are shorter. TLC1 is properly folded but remains in the cytoplasm, rather than moving to the nucleus, where it maintains telomeres.