Review, Reviews
Protein arginine methyltransferases in protozoan parasites: a new path for antiparasitic chemotherapy?
Gustavo D. Campagnaro1,* and Sébastien Pomel2
This review discusses the activity and the relevance of arginine methyltransferases for the survival of pathogenic kinetoplastids, apicomplexans and amoebas, and how these enzymes could be exploited as drug targets.
Gut microbiota and ankylosing spondylitis: current insights and future challenges
Andrei Lobiuc1, Liliana Groppa2, Lia Chislari2, Eugeniu Russu2,3, Marinela Homitchi2,3, Camelia Ciorescu2,3, Sevag Hamamah4, I. Codruta Bran1 and Mihai Covasa1
This review explores the growing role of gut microbiota in AS and its potential to reshape targeted treatment strategies and facilitate development of adjunct therapies to address disease onset and progression.
Advancements in vaginal microbiota, Trichomonas vaginalis, and vaginal cell interactions: Insights from co-culture assays
Fernanda Gomes Cardoso and Tiana Tasca
This review updates co-culture and co-incubation techniques for studying interactions of Lactobacillus spp., representing a pre-dominant member of the healthy vaginal microbiota; Candida spp., the most abundant yeast in the vagina, and T. vaginalis, responsible for the most widespread nonviral STI worldwide.
Influence of cervicovaginal microbiota on Chlamydia trachomatis infection dynamics
Emily Hand1, Indriati Hood-Pishchany1,2, Toni Darville1,2 and Catherine M. O’Connell2
This review examines the complex interplay between the cervicovaginal microbiome, C. trachomatis infection, and host immune responses, highlighting the role of metabolites such as short-chain and long-chain fatty acids, indole, and iron in modulating pathogen survival and host defenses.
Unveiling the molecular architecture of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of Acanthamoeba castellanii
Christian Q. Scheckhuber1, Sutherland K. Maciver2 and Alvaro de Obeso Fernandez del Valle1
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the mitochondrial res-piratory chain in A. castellanii, focusing on the key alternative components involved in oxidative phosphorylation and their roles in energy metabolism, stress response, and adaptation to various conditions.
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.
Understanding the pathogenesis of infectious diseases by single-cell RNA sequencing
August 4, 2021
This work highlights recent remarkable advances in single-cell RNA sequencing technologies and their applications in the investigation of host-pathogen interactions. Current challenges and potential prospects for disease treatment are discussed as well.
Exploring absent protein function in yeast: assaying post translational modification and human genetic variation
July 2, 2021
This review discusses the applicability of yeast systems to investigate absent human protein function with a specific focus on the impact of protein variation on protein-protein interaction modulation.
Mechanisms underlying lactic acid tolerance and its influence on lactic acid production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
April 14, 2021
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From the Uncharacterized Protein Family 0016 to the GDT1 family: Molecular insights into a newly-characterized family of cation secondary transporters
June 15, 2020
This review outlines how the formerly uncharacterized UPF0016 family, now known as the Gdt1 family, plays key roles in cation transport - especially Mn²⁺ - across species from bacteria to humans. These proteins are crucial for processes like glycosylation, photosynthesis, and calcium signaling, with functions linked to their localization in membranes such as the Golgi, chloroplast, and plasma membrane and by that highlighting their evolutionary conservation and physiological relevance, offering insights into their shared and distinct features across organisms.