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Article
| Open AccessEndocytosis-like DNA uptake by cell wall-deficient bacteria
Horizontal gene transfer in bacteria can occur through mechanisms such as conjugation, transduction and transformation, which facilitate the passage of DNA across the cell wall. Here, Kapteijn et al. show that cell wall-deficient bacteria can take up DNA and other extracellular materials via an endocytosis-like process.
- Renée Kapteijn
- , Shraddha Shitut
- & Dennis Claessen
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Article
| Open AccessStreptococcus agalactiae cadD alleviates metal stress and promotes intracellular survival in macrophages and ascending infection during pregnancy
Perinatal infection with Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is associated with preterm birth, neonatal sepsis, and stillbirth. Here, Korir et al. show that gene cadD, encoding a putative metal efflux transporter, is important for metal detoxification, immune evasion and bacterial proliferation in the pregnant host.
- Michelle L. Korir
- , Ryan S. Doster
- & Jennifer A. Gaddy
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Article
| Open AccessInhibition of the Niemann-Pick C1 protein is a conserved feature of multiple strains of pathogenic mycobacteria
Lipids shed by pathogenic mycobacteria have been shown to inhibit NPC1, a lysosomal membrane protein deficient in most cases of a rate inherited lysosomal storage disorder Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC). Here, authors utilise lipid extracts from clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains, and non-tubercular mycobacteria to investigate their ability to inhibit the NPC pathway.
- Yuzhe Weng
- , Dawn Shepherd
- & Frances M. Platt
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Article
| Open AccessEvolution of longitudinal division in multicellular bacteria of the Neisseriaceae family
Rod-shaped bacteria typically elongate and divide by transverse fission, but a few species are known to divide longitudinally. Here, the authors use genomic, phylogenetic and microscopy techniques to shed light on the evolution of cell shape, multicellularity and division mode within the family Neisseriaceae.
- Sammy Nyongesa
- , Philipp M. Weber
- & Frédéric J. Veyrier
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Article
| Open AccessHigh impact of bacterial predation on cyanobacteria in soil biocrusts
Some bacteria act as pathogens or predators of other bacteria, but their impact in natural settings is often unclear. Here, Bethany et al. describe a new type of obligate, intracellular predatory bacterium of widespread distribution that preys on soil cyanobacteria in biocrusts and thus severely impacts biocrust productivity.
- Julie Bethany
- , Shannon Lynn Johnson
- & Ferran Garcia-Pichel
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Article
| Open AccessInteraction between transcribing RNA polymerase and topoisomerase I prevents R-loop formation in E. coli
In E. coli, disruption of TopoI and RNAP interaction decreases cells viability and leads to hypernegative DNA supercoiling and R loops accumulation. TopoI and DNA gyrase bind around transcription units and TopoI recognizes cleavage sites by a specific motif and negative supercoiling.
- Dmitry Sutormin
- , Alina Galivondzhyan
- & Konstantin Severinov
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Article
| Open AccessA phylogenetically-restricted essential cell cycle progression factor in the human pathogen Candida albicans
Chromosomal instability caused by cell division errors is associated with antifungal drug resistance in fungal pathogens. Here, Jaitly et al. identify several genes involved in chromosomal stability in Candida albicans, including a phylogenetically restricted gene encoding an essential cell-cycle progression factor.
- Priya Jaitly
- , Mélanie Legrand
- & Kaustuv Sanyal
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Article
| Open AccessA time-resolved multi-omics atlas of Acanthamoeba castellanii encystment
Encystment is a process that allows free-living and parasitic amoebae to survive in unfavorable environments. Here, Bernard et al. provide detailed insights into the early stages of encystment of Acanthamoeba castellanii by integrating RNA-Seq, proteomics and phosphoproteomics data sets.
- Clément Bernard
- , Marie Locard-Paulet
- & Ascel Samba-Louaka
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Article
| Open AccessTrans-cellular tunnels induced by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans facilitate invasion through successive epithelial cells without host damage
The fungal pathogen Candida albicans forms filamentous hyphae that can invade the epithelium. Here, Lachat et al. show that C. albicans early invasion of epithelial tissues can lead to either host membrane breaching and host cell death, or trans-cellular tunnelling through host cells without membrane breaching.
- Joy Lachat
- , Alice Pascault
- & Allon Weiner
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Article
| Open AccessA patatin-like phospholipase mediates Rickettsia parkeri escape from host membranes
Pathogenic Rickettsia species are arthropod-borne, obligate intracellular bacteria that invade host cells, replicate in the cell cytosol, and spread from cell to cell. Here, Borgo et al. identify a Rickettsia phospholipase enzyme that is important for infection by helping the bacteria escape from host cell vacuoles into the host cytosol, preventing targeting by autophagy, and promoting bacterial motility and spread to other cells.
- Gina M. Borgo
- , Thomas P. Burke
- & Matthew D. Welch
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Article
| Open AccessA glycine-rich PE_PGRS protein governs mycobacterial actin-based motility
Mycobacterium marinum, a close relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, polymerizes host actin at the bacterial surface to drive intracellular movement and cell-to-cell spread during infection. Here, Hill & Welch identify an M. marinum surface protein that binds to and activates the host protein NWASP to stimulate actin polymerization and drive bacterial actin-based motility.
- Norbert S. Hill
- & Matthew D. Welch
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Article
| Open AccessThe obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi differentiates into a developmentally distinct extracellular state
Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) the causing agent of scrub typhus exits infected cells using a unique mechanism that involves budding off the surface of infected cells. Here, Atwal et al. report that Ots that have budded from their host cells are in a distinct developmental stage than intracellular bacteria and provide the first characterization of this extracellular stage. Both forms are infectious but differ in their physical properties, proteome, and entry mechanism into host cells.
- Sharanjeet Atwal
- , Jantana Wongsantichon
- & Jeanne Salje
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Article
| Open AccessHigh-resolution mass measurements of single budding yeast reveal linear growth segments
Measuring the mass of individual microbial cells remains challenging. Here, the authors present a cell balance to monitor the proliferation of single budding yeast cells under culture conditions in real time, showing that single cells increase total mass in multiple linear segments of constant growth rates.
- Andreas P. Cuny
- , K. Tanuj Sapra
- & Daniel J. Müller
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Article
| Open AccessStructural basis for broad anti-phage immunity by DISARM
DISARM (Defense Island System Associated with Restriction Modification) systems can provide bacteria with protection against a wide range of phage. Here, Bravo et al. determine cryo-EM structures of the core DISARM complex that shed light onto phage DNA recognition and activation of this widespread defense system.
- Jack P. K. Bravo
- , Cristian Aparicio-Maldonado
- & David W. Taylor
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Article
| Open AccessEngineering artificial photosynthetic life-forms through endosymbiosis
The endosymbiotic theory posits that chloroplasts in eukaryotes arise from bacterial endosymbionts. Here, the authors engineer the yeast/cyanobacteria chimeras and show that the engineered cyanobacteria perform chloroplast-like functions to support the growth of yeast cells under photosynthetic conditions.
- Jason E. Cournoyer
- , Sarah D. Altman
- & Angad P. Mehta
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Article
| Open AccessThe importance of biofilm formation for cultivation of a Micrarchaeon and its interactions with its Thermoplasmatales host
The Micrarchaeota lineage includes poorly characterized archaea with reduced genomes that likely depend on host interactions for survival. Here, the authors report a stable co-culture of a member of the Micrarchaeota and its host, and use multi-omic and physiological analyses to shed light on this symbiosis.
- Susanne Krause
- , Sabrina Gfrerer
- & Johannes Gescher
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Article
| Open AccessCyclophilin anaCyp40 regulates photosystem assembly and phycobilisome association in a cyanobacterium
Cyclophilins are proteins found in many organisms, where they can play roles as chaperones, in signal transduction, or other functions. Here, Yadav et al. show that a cyanobacterial cyclophilin is involved in stress responses and in assembly of photosynthetic complexes, and displays unique structural features.
- Shivam Yadav
- , Martin Centola
- & Enrico Schleiff
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Article
| Open AccessAsymmetric peptidoglycan editing generates cell curvature in Bdellovibrio predatory bacteria
Cells of the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, which invades and replicates within the periplasm of other bacteria, have a characteristic curved rod shape. Here, Banks et al. show that a peptidoglycan hydrolase is required for the curved shape, and this facilitates invasion of prey cells.
- Emma J. Banks
- , Mauricio Valdivia-Delgado
- & R. Elizabeth Sockett
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Article
| Open AccessDynamics of plasmid-mediated niche invasion, immunity to invasion, and pheromone-inducible conjugation in the murine gastrointestinal tract
Microbial communities provide protection to their hosts by excluding colonizing pathogens. Here the authors study plasmid transfer and plasmid-mediated effects on host colonization and persistence of Enterococcus faecalis in the intestinal tract of mice.
- Helmut Hirt
- , Kerryl E. Greenwood-Quaintance
- & Gary M. Dunny
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Article
| Open AccessCrkII/Abl phosphorylation cascade is critical for NLRC4 inflammasome activity and is blocked by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoT
Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes the toxin ExoT, which is important for pathogenesis. Here, the authors show that ExoT inhibits NLRC4-dependent inflammatory responses during wound infection.
- Mohamed F. Mohamed
- , Kajal Gupta
- & Sasha H. Shafikhani
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Article
| Open AccessStructure and assembly of the S-layer in C. difficile
The S-layer is a two-dimensional protein array that covers the cell surface of many bacteria and archaea. Here, the authors use high-resolution X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy to provide detailed insights into S-layer organisation and assembly for the bacterial pathogen Clostridioides difficile.
- Paola Lanzoni-Mangutchi
- , Oishik Banerji
- & Paula S. Salgado
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Article
| Open AccessModelling Chlamydia and HPV co-infection in patient-derived ectocervix organoids reveals distinct cellular reprogramming
Here, Koster et al., model human papillomavirus and Chlamydia coinfection dynamics in patient-derived ectocervical organoids, and characterize the effects of multiple infections in the cellular microenvironment, potentially contributing to neoplasia.
- Stefanie Koster
- , Rajendra Kumar Gurumurthy
- & Cindrilla Chumduri
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Article
| Open AccessBacterial filamentation as a mechanism for cell-to-cell spread within an animal host
Some intracellular pathogens can directly invade neighboring host cells in cell culture, but it is unclear how this happens in vivo. Here, Tran et al. describe an intracellular bacterium that forms filaments to spread between intestinal epithelial cells in its host nematode, in a process regulated by a conserved nutrient-sensing pathway.
- Tuan D. Tran
- , Munira Aman Ali
- & Robert J. Luallen
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Article
| Open AccessGalectin-9 restricts hepatitis B virus replication via p62/SQSTM1-mediated selective autophagy of viral core proteins
In human cells, invading pathogens trigger an innate immune response that helps prevent viral replication and spread. Here, the authors reveal a mechanism of innate immunity that selectively leads to the autophagic degradation of hepatitis B virus core protein.
- Kei Miyakawa
- , Mayuko Nishi
- & Akihide Ryo
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Article
| Open AccessHyphal compartmentalization and sporulation in Streptomyces require the conserved cell division protein SepX
Streptomyces bacteria undergo two modes of cell division: formation of cross-walls in hyphae, leading to multicellular compartments, and septation for release of unicellular spores. Here, Bush et al. identify a protein that is important for both cell division modes in Streptomyces, likely by contributing to stabilization of the divisome.
- Matthew J. Bush
- , Kelley A. Gallagher
- & Susan Schlimpert
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Article
| Open AccessForward and reverse genetic dissection of morphogenesis identifies filament-competent Candida auris strains
Some isolates of the emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris can form cellular aggregates or filaments. Here, Santana and O’Meara use Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and a CRISPR-Cas9 system to identify several genes that regulate C. auris morphogenesis.
- Darian J. Santana
- & Teresa R. O’Meara
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Article
| Open AccessReductive inactivation of the hemiaminal pharmacophore for resistance against tetrahydroisoquinoline antibiotics
Antibiotic-producing organisms need to co-evolve self-protection mechanisms to avoid any damage to themselves caused by the antibiotic pharmacophore (the reactive part of the compound). In this study, the authors report a self-defense strategy in naphthyridinomycin (NDM)-producing Streptomyces lusitanus, that comprises reductive inactivation of the hemiaminal pharmacophore by short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) NapW and HomW.
- Wan-Hong Wen
- , Yue Zhang
- & Gong-Li Tang
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Review Article
| Open AccessEmerging technologies and infection models in cellular microbiology
Cellular microbiology is a field that combines the study of infection and cell biology. In this review, we highlight emerging technologies and infection models that recently transformed our understanding of the infected cell and may inspire future medicine.
- Ana Teresa López-Jiménez
- & Serge Mostowy
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Article
| Open AccessCoordination of fungal biofilm development by extracellular vesicle cargo
The fungal pathogen Candida albicans can release extracellular vesicles that promote biofilm formation and antifungal resistance. Here, Zarnowski et al. define functions for numerous vesicle cargo proteins in biofilm matrix assembly and drug resistance, as well as in fungal cell adhesion and dissemination.
- Robert Zarnowski
- , Andrea Noll
- & David R. Andes
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Article
| Open AccessThe cell envelope of Staphylococcus aureus selectively controls the sorting of virulence factors
The pathogen Staphylococcus aureus releases several pore-forming toxins, termed leukocidins, that kill immune cells. Here, Zheng et al. show that the retention of a leukocidin on bacterial cells and its release are modulated by lipoteichoic acid and a membrane lipid, which also control the sorting of other surface-associated proteins.
- Xuhui Zheng
- , Gerben Marsman
- & Victor J. Torres
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Article
| Open AccessSocial motility of biofilm-like microcolonies in a gliding bacterium
Bacterial biofilms are aggregates of surface-associated cells embedded in an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) matrix. Here, the authors describe a unique mode of collective movement by self-propelled, surface-associated spherical microcolonies with EPS cores in the gliding bacterium Flavobacterium johnsoniae.
- Chao Li
- , Amanda Hurley
- & David J. Beebe
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Article
| Open AccessFatal attraction of Caenorhabditis elegans to predatory fungi through 6-methyl-salicylic acid
Methyl salicylate ester is a plant metabolite involved in plant-insect and plant-plant interactions. Here, Yu et al. show that a nematode-trapping fungus has potential to produce a related compound, 6-methyl salicylate, which attracts its prey (nematodes) and modulates spore germination and trap formation in the fungus.
- Xi Yu
- , Xiaodi Hu
- & Reinhard Fischer
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Article
| Open AccessDesigning efficient genetic code expansion in Bacillus subtilis to gain biological insights
B. subtilis is valuable both as a model for cell biology and as an industrial organism. Here the authors use genetic code expansion to enable functional tools for exploring cell division dynamics.
- Devon A. Stork
- , Georgia R. Squyres
- & Aditya M. Kunjapur
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Article
| Open AccessMechanosensitive recruitment of stator units promotes binding of the response regulator CheY-P to the flagellar motor
It is unclear how bacterial cells adapt the reversible switching of flagellar motor rotation to environments of different viscosities. Here, Antani et al. show that flagellar mechanosensors allosterically control the motor’s binding affinity for the chemotaxis response regulator, CheY-P, to adapt flagellar switching over varying viscous loads.
- Jyot D. Antani
- , Rachit Gupta
- & Pushkar P. Lele
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Article
| Open AccessSpatial rearrangement of the Streptomyces venezuelae linear chromosome during sporogenic development
Streptomyces bacteria have a linear chromosome and a complex life cycle, including development of multi-genomic hyphae that differentiate into mono-genomic exospores. Here, Szafran et al. show that the chromosome of Streptomyces venezuelae undergoes substantial remodelling during sporulation, from an ‘open’ to a ‘closed’ conformation.
- Marcin J. Szafran
- , Tomasz Małecki
- & Dagmara Jakimowicz
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Article
| Open AccessDynamics of the compartmentalized Streptomyces chromosome during metabolic differentiation
Streptomyces bacteria have a linear chromosome, with core genes located in the central region and gene clusters for specialized metabolite biosynthesis found in the ‘arms’. Here, Lioy et al. show that such chromosome structure correlates with genetic compartmentalization, and the onset of metabolic differentiation is accompanied by a rearrangement of chromosome architecture.
- Virginia S. Lioy
- , Jean-Noël Lorenzi
- & Stéphanie Bury-Moné
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Article
| Open AccessThe structure of the bacterial DNA segregation ATPase filament reveals the conformational plasticity of ParA upon DNA binding
ParA is an ATPase involved in the segregation of newly replicated DNA in bacteria. Here, structures of a ParA filament bound to DNA and of ParA in various nucleotide states offer insight into its conformational changes upon DNA binding and filament assembly, including the basis for ParA’s cooperative binding to DNA.
- Alexandra V. Parker
- , Daniel Mann
- & Julien R. C. Bergeron
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Article
| Open AccessLarge-scale computational discovery and analysis of virus-derived microbial nanocompartments
Encapsulins are microbial protein compartments that sequester specific enzymes and are formed by self-assembly of a viral-like capsid protein. Here, Andreas and Giessen carry out a large-scale computational analysis of prokaryotic genomes to present a curated set of over 6,000 encapsulin-like systems, and present hypotheses about their potential biological functions.
- Michael P. Andreas
- & Tobias W. Giessen
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Article
| Open AccessSalmonella effector SopD promotes plasma membrane scission by inhibiting Rab10
Salmonella secretes the effector protein SopD into the host cell cytoplasm, leading to scission of the plasma membrane through unclear mechanisms. Here, Boddy et al. show that SopD binds to and inhibits the small GTPase Rab10, thus promoting removal of Rab10 and recruitment of dynamin-2 to drive plasma membrane scission.
- Kirsten C. Boddy
- , Hongxian Zhu
- & John H. Brumell
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Article
| Open AccessA fructose/H+ symporter controlled by a LacI-type regulator promotes survival of pandemic Vibrio cholerae in seawater
The bacterium Vibrio cholerae can colonize the human intestine and cause cholera, but spends much of its life cycle in seawater. Here, Liu et al. identify a fructose uptake system that is important for the growth of the bacteria in seawater, where fructose concentrations are low.
- Yutao Liu
- , Bin Liu
- & Lei Wang
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Article
| Open AccessPseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 produces R-bodies, extendable protein polymers with roles in host colonization and virulence
R-bodies are long, extendable protein polymers formed in the cytoplasm of some bacteria. Here, Wang et al. show that Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces R-bodies during colonization of plant and nematode hosts, and R-bodies induce ribosome cleavage and translational inhibition in nematodes.
- Bryan Wang
- , Yu-Cheng Lin
- & Lars E. P. Dietrich
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Article
| Open AccessColonization of dermal arterioles by Neisseria meningitidis provides a safe haven from neutrophils
The human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis colonizes blood vessels and causes vascular damage, despite a neutrophil-rich inflammatory infiltrate. Here, Manriquez et al. use a humanized mouse model to show that pathogen colonization of capillaries and arterioles creates an intravascular niche that precludes an effective action of neutrophils.
- Valeria Manriquez
- , Pierre Nivoit
- & Guillaume Duménil
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Article
| Open AccessMechanistic insight into bacterial entrapment by septin cage reconstitution
Septins are cytoskeletal proteins that assemble into complexes and contribute to immunity by entrapping intracellular bacteria in cage-like structures. Here, Lobato-Márquez et al. reconstitute septin cages in vitro using purified recombinant complexes, and study how these recognize bacterial cells and assemble as filaments on their surface.
- Damián Lobato-Márquez
- , Jingwei Xu
- & Serge Mostowy
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Article
| Open AccessThe molecular basis of regulation of bacterial capsule assembly by Wzc
The Wzc–Wza complex forms part of the bacterial extracellular polysaccharides synthesis machinery, where cycling of the Wzc between phosphorylation states is crucial to both synthesis and export. Here the authors report the structure of the Wzc octamer and provide insight into its regulation through phosphorylation.
- Yun Yang
- , Jiwei Liu
- & James H. Naismith
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Article
| Open AccessThe role of membrane destabilisation and protein dynamics in BAM catalysed OMP folding
The folding of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) is catalyzed by the βbarrel assembly machinery (BAM). Here, structural and functional analyses of BAM stabilized in distinct conformations elucidate the roles of lateral gate opening and interactions of BAM with the lipid bilayer in OMP assembly.
- Paul White
- , Samuel F. Haysom
- & Sheena E. Radford
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Article
| Open AccessThe bacterial toxin ExoU requires a host trafficking chaperone for transportation and to induce necrosis
Phospholipase ExoU from Pseudomonas aeruginosa acts on plasma membrane lipids in infected cells, causing membrane rupture and host cell necrosis. Here, Deruelle et al. show that once injected into the host cytoplasm, ExoU requires a host chaperone found on secretory vesicles to reach the plasma membrane and exerts its phospholipase activity.
- Vincent Deruelle
- , Stéphanie Bouillot
- & Philippe Huber
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Article
| Open AccessEfficient long-range conduction in cable bacteria through nickel protein wires
Filamentous cable bacteria conduct electrical currents over centimeter distances through fibers embedded in their cell envelope. Here, Boschker et al. show that the fibers consist of a conductive core containing nickel proteins that is surrounded by an insulating protein shell.
- Henricus T. S. Boschker
- , Perran L. M. Cook
- & Filip J. R. Meysman
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Article
| Open AccessRapid proliferation due to better metabolic adaptation results in full virulence of a filament-deficient Candida albicans strain
The ability of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans to undergo yeast-to-hypha transition is believed to be a key virulence factor. Here, Dunker et al. show that a filament-deficient strain is attenuated in a mouse model of intraperitoneal infection, but remains virulent in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis.
- Christine Dunker
- , Melanie Polke
- & Ilse D. Jacobsen
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Article
| Open AccessIntracellular localisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis affects efficacy of the antibiotic pyrazinamide
Effective chemotherapies against tuberculosis must kill the pathogen’s intracellular population. Here, Santucci et al. show that bacterial localisation within human macrophages impact pyrazinamide (PZA) accumulation and efficacy, and that combination with a second antibiotic (bedaquiline) enhances PZA accumulation via a host-dependent process.
- Pierre Santucci
- , Daniel J. Greenwood
- & Maximiliano G. Gutierrez