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Role of the luxS Gene in Initial Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus mutans
Quorum sensing (QS) is a process by which bacteria communicate with each other by secreting chemical signals called autoinducers (AIs). Among Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, AI-2 synthesized by the LuxS enzyme is widespread. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of QS luxS gene on initial biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans. The bacterial cell surface properties, including cell hydrophobicity (bacterial adherence to hydrocarbons) and aggregation, which are important for initial adherence during biofilm development, were investigated. The biofilm adhesion assay was evaluated by the MTT method. The...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - March 2, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Autism and Our Intestinal Microbiota
Microbial products, released into the bloodstreams of mammals including humans, cross the blood-brain barrier and influence neurodevelopment. They can either promote or alleviate neurological disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This editorial describes how our microbiota influence our feelings, attitudes and mental states with particular reference to ASD.J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2015;25:51-55 (Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology)
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - March 2, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

A Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Vaccine Candidate Based on PRRSV Glycoprotein 5 and the Toll-Like Receptor 5 Agonist Salmonella typhimurium Flagellin
Glycoprotein 5 (GP5) from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a key inducer of neutralizing antibodies. A truncated GP5 gene lacking the signal peptide and transmembrane sequences was amplified via an overlap PCR method and inserted into prokaryotic expression vectors, pET32a or pGEX-6p-1, to add an His or GST tag, respectively. His-tagged GP5 was induced with IPTG, verified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting, and purified to serve as an immunogen accompanied with the Salmonella typhimurium flagellin (FliC), a Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist. Levels of TLR5 and cytokine mRNAs in spleens of mice...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - March 2, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

The FtsK Family of DNA Translocases Finds the Ends of Circles
A global view of bacterial chromosome choreography during the cell cycle is emerging, highlighting as a next challenge the description of the molecular mechanisms and factors involved. Here, we review one such factor, the FtsK family of DNA translocases. FtsK is a powerful and fast translocase that reads chromosome polarity. It couples segregation of the chromosome with cell division and controls the last steps of segregation in time and space. The second model protein of the family SpoIIIE acts in the transfer of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome during sporulation. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms used by F...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 19, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Increased L-Ornithine Production in Corynebacterium glutamicum by Overexpression of a Gene Encoding a Putative Aminotransferase
Overexpression of the NCgl0462 open reading frame, encoding a class II aminotransferase, was studied in conjunction with other enzymes in L-ornithine biosynthesis in an L-ornithine-producing strain. Expression of the wild-type NCgl0462 open reading frame, which displayed aminotransferase activity, was amplified by placing it under the control of the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene promoter in the pEK0 plasmid and in the genome. L-Ornithine production in Corynebacteriumglutamicum SJC8260 harboring plasmid and the genomic NCgl0462 open reading frame was increased by 8.8 and 21.6%, respectively. In addition, the...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 19, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Archaeal Chromosome Biology
Knowledge of the chromosome biology of archaeal species has grown considerably in the last 15 years, since the publication of the first full archaeal genome sequences. A number of model organisms have been studied, revealing a striking variety of mechanisms and modes of genome duplication and segregation. While clear sequence relationships between archaeal and eukaryotic replication proteins are well known, some archaea also seem to possess organizational parameters for replication and segregation that reveal further striking parallels to eukaryotes.J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2014;24:420-427 (Source: Journal of Molecular M...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Polyploidy in Archaea and Bacteria: About Desiccation Resistance, Giant Cell Size, Long-Term Survival, Enforcement by a Eukaryotic Host and Additional Aspects
During recent years, it has become clear that many species of archaea and bacteria are polyploid and contain more than 10 copies of their chromosome. In this contribution, eight examples are discussed to highlight different aspects of polyploidy in prokaryotes. The species discussed are the bacteria Azotobacter vinelandii, Deinococcus radiodurans, Sinorhizobium meliloti, and Epulopiscium as well as the archaea Methanocaldococcus jannaschii, Methanococcus maripaludis, Haloferax volcanii, and haloarchaeal isolates from salt deposits. The topics include possible laboratory artifacts, resistance against double-strand breaks, l...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Structural Maintenance of Chromosome Complex in Bacteria
In all organisms, from eukaryotes to prokaryotes, the chromosome is highly compacted and organized. Chromosome condensation is essential in all cells and ranges from 1,000- to more than 10,000-fold between bacterial and eukaryotic cells. Replication and transcription occur in parallel with chromosome segregation in bacteria. Structural maintenance of chromosome proteins play a key role in chromosome compaction and segregation, their coordination with the cell cycle, and in various other chromosome dynamics, including DNA repair. In spite of their essential nature in almost all organisms, their function at a molecular level...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

MukBEF, a Chromosomal Organizer
Global folding of bacterial chromosome requires the activity of condensins. These highly conserved proteins are involved in various aspects of higher-order chromatin dynamics in a diverse range of organisms. Two distinct superfamilies of condensins have been identified in bacteria. The SMC-ScpAB proteins bear significant homology to eukaryotic condensins and cohesins and are found in most of the presently sequenced bacteria. This review focuses on the MukBEF/MksBEF superfamily, which is broadly distributed across diverse bacteria and is characterized by low sequence conservation. The prototypical member of this superfamily...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Chromosome Segregation in Vibrio cholerae
The study of chromosome segregation is currently one of the most exciting research frontiers in cell biology. In this review, we discuss our current knowledge of the chromosome segregation process in Vibrio cholerae, based primarily on findings from fluorescence microscopy experiments. This bacterium is of special interest because of its eukaryotic feature of having a divided genome, a feature shared with 10% of known bacteria. We also discuss how the segregation mechanisms of V. cholerae compare with those in other bacteria, and highlight some of the remaining questions regarding the process of bacterial chromosome segreg...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Genomic Looping: A Key Principle of Chromatin Organization
The effective volume occupied by the genomes of all forms of life far exceeds that of the cells in which they are contained. Therefore, all organisms have developed mechanisms for compactly folding and functionally organizing their genetic material. Through recent advances in fluorescent microscopy and 3C-based technologies, we finally have a first glimpse into the complex mechanisms governing the 3-D folding of genomes. A key feature of genome organization in all domains of life is the formation of DNA loops. Here, we describe the main players in DNA organization with a focus on DNA-bridging proteins. Specifically, we dis...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Order from the Order: How a Spatiotemporal Genetic Program Is Encoded in a 2-D Genetic Map of the Bacterial Chromosome
In this article, we sketch out a holistic methodology used for exploring how the genetic program is encoded in a 2-D genetic map of a bacterial chromosome. We argue that the major problem resides in the conceptual integration of the two logically distinct types of information encoded in the chiral double-helical DNA polymer. This integration is accomplished by mapping the genetic function on the genomic sequence organisation and therefore is potentially applicable to any chromosome. The vast generalisation achieved by this approach necessarily ignores exquisite details, yet it is fundamental in providing comprehensive meth...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Function of Nucleoid-Associated Proteins in Chromosome Structuring and Transcriptional Regulation
Nucleoid-associated proteins typically are abundant, low-molecular-mass polypeptides that bind DNA and alter its shape and its ability to participate in transactions such as transcription. Some can bind RNA and influence the gene expression profile of the cell at a posttranscriptional level. They also have the potential to model and remodel the structure of the nucleoid, contributing to chromosome packaging within the cell. Some nucleoid-associated proteins have been implicated in the facilitation of chromosome evolution through their ability to silence transcription, allowing new genes to be integrated into the nucleoid b...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Dynamic Organization: Chromosome Domains in Escherichia coli
Bacteria are small and their chromosomes are several orders of magnitude longer than the cell size. The chromosome is consequently compacted into a structure known as the nucleoid. Zooming into the nucleoid of the model organism Escherichia coli reveals additional layers of organization: the chromosomal domains. These domains are much more than simple compaction devices. Essential cellular processes such as chromosome segregation, gene regulation and DNA replication are dependent on the domain organization of the chromosome. Here, we provide an overview of discoveries about micro- and macrodomains in E. coli and discuss po...
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research

Chromosome Architecture and Segregation in Prokaryotic Cells
J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2014;24:291-300 (Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology)
Source: Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology - February 16, 2015 Category: Microbiology Source Type: research