Reviews – Page 5 – Microbial Cell

Review, Reviews

Bacterial maze runners reveal hidden diversity in chemotactic performance

M. Mehdi Salek^1,#, Francesco Carrara^1,#, 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.

Beyond cells – The virome in the human holobiont

Rodrigo García-López^1,2,3, Vicente Pérez-Brocal^1,2,3 and Andrés Moya^1,2,3

This article provides an overview of viromics—viral metagenomics—and its evolution, highlighting the complexity and dynamic nature of viruses beyond their traditional view as pathogens. It acknowledges the technological advancements in molecular biology and sequencing that have allowed the field to grow, while also noting that viromic research still faces significant challenges and is not as developed as bacterial metagenomics. The review underscores the importance of viruses in various ecosystems, their role in shaping the genetic landscape, and their potential impact, and looks forward to future directions in viromic research.

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 Speziale^2,3, Giampiero Pietrocola² and Yves F. Dufrêne^1,4

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. Tibbs^1,#, Lacey R. Lopez^1,#, and Janelle C. Arthur^1,2,3

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.

Forty-five-year evolution of probiotic therapy

Scarlett Puebla-Barragan^1,2 and Gregor Reid^1,2

The field of probiotics has greatly expanded over the past 45 years, driven by the need for safer alternatives to drugs, interest in natural microbial products, and clinical proof of effectiveness, with scientific formulations increasingly defining the market and promising applications for various health areas expected in the future.

Previous Next

Gut microbial metabolites in depression: understanding the biochemical mechanisms

September 27, 2019

This article shows how the gut microbiota contributes to the pathophysiology of depression and examines the mechanisms by which microbially-derived molecules may influence depressive behavior, highlighting the potential of dietary interventions as novel therapeutic strategies.

The multiple functions of the numerous Chlamydia trachomatis secreted proteins: the tip of the iceberg

August 21, 2019

CThis article shows an in-depth review on the current knowledge and outstanding questions about secreted proteins from Chlamydia trachomatis, detailing their roles in host cell interaction and immune response evasion.

Diverse conditions support near-zero growth in yeast: Implications for the study of cell lifespan

August 20, 2019

This review discusses alternative cultivation methods for baker's yeast to study its chronological lifespan, with the aim of better understanding the ageing of non-dividing cells and their potential implications for the lifespan of multicellular eukaryotes such as humans.

Integrins in disguise – mechanosensors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as functional integrin analogues

July 15, 2019

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.