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Article
| Open Access
Male-killing symbiont damages host’s dosage-compensated sex chromosome to induce embryonic apoptosis
Symbiotic bacteria are able to interfere with host reproduction in ways that are detrimental to the host organism. Here the authors show that Spiroplasma induces DNA damage on the male X chromosome in Drosophila, causing sex-specific apoptosis.
- Toshiyuki Harumoto
- , Hisashi Anbutsu
- & Takema Fukatsu
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Article
| Open Access
Metal-responsive promoter DNA compaction by the ferric uptake regulator
The Fur protein regulates transcription of bacterial genes in response to metal ions. Here, the authors show that the Fur protein from Helicobacter pylorirepresses transcription by iron-responsive oligomerization and DNA compaction, encasing the transcriptional start site in a macromolecular complex.
- Davide Roncarati
- , Simone Pelliciari
- & Alberto Danielli
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Article
| Open Access
Toll-like receptor 2 activation depends on lipopeptide shedding by bacterial surfactants
The role played by human protein TLR2 in inflammation and sepsis varies for different bacterial pathogens. Here, Hanzelmann et al. show that the differential abilities of Staphylococcus aureusstrains to activate TLR2 depend on their production of peptides that release lipoproteins known to act as TLR2 agonists.
- Dennis Hanzelmann
- , Hwang-Soo Joo
- & Andreas Peschel
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Article
| Open Access
The effect of soil-borne pathogens depends on the abundance of host tree species
Fitness advantages conferred on species living at low density is thought to be one mechanism by which stable biodiversity is maintained. Here, Liu et al. show that recruitment of seedlings in high-density populations of a subtropical tree is suppressed by soil pathogens, with little effect at low-density.
- Yu Liu
- , Suqin Fang
- & Fangliang He
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Article
| Open Access
Biosynthesis of the mycotoxin tenuazonic acid by a fungal NRPS–PKS hybrid enzyme
Tenuazonic acid is a mycotoxin produced by various plant pathogenic fungi but its biosynthetic gene is unknown to date. Here, the authors identify the tenuazonic acid biosynthetic gene encoding a protein with a unique KS domain that conducts cyclization step for tenuazonic acid release in Magnaporthe oryzae.
- Choong-Soo Yun
- , Takayuki Motoyama
- & Hiroyuki Osada
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Article
| Open Access
Trophic network architecture of root-associated bacterial communities determines pathogen invasion and plant health
Species-rich communities are thought to be more resistant to pathogen invasion. Here, Wei et al.show that the resource competition network architecture of root-associated bacterial communities are better predictors of plant pathogen invasion resistance than measures of community diversity.
- Zhong Wei
- , Tianjie Yang
- & Alexandre Jousset
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Effectors of animal and plant pathogens use a common domain to bind host phosphoinositides
Many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use the type III secretion system to translocate effectors into the host cell. Here, the authors characterize a bacterial phosphoinositide-binding domain, which is conserved in diverse type III effectors of both plant and animal pathogens and couples membrane localization with refolding.
- Dor Salomon
- , Yirui Guo
- & Kim Orth
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Article
| Open Access
Transgenerational gene silencing causes gain of virulence in a plant pathogen
Plant pathogens encode effector proteins that trigger immunity in plants carrying appropriate resistance genes. Here Qutob et al. show non-Mendelian interactions between naturally occurring Phytophthora sojaealleles that result in transgenerational gene silencing and gain of virulence in soybean plants.
- Dinah Qutob
- , B. Patrick Chapman
- & Mark Gijzen
Fragment-based discovery of a new family of non-peptidic small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitors with potent antiviral activities