Biofilms: The architect of the biofilm
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 642 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.127
Author: Ashley York
A recent study investigated the structural dynamics of a matrix protein of Vibrio cholerae biofilms and examined how this protein modulates the architecture of the biofilm. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - October 12, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ashley York Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Viral infection: Adapt or get zapped
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 641 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.129
Author: Irene Vacca
In a recent study, Takata et al. show that viral CG suppression is key for the replication of HIV-1 and that the zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP), by specifically binding to CG-rich RNA sequences, can identify non-self RNAs and target them for degradation. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - October 12, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Irene Vacca Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Understanding drug resistance will improve the treatment of bacterial infections
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 639 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.121
Author: Laura J. V. Piddock
An improved understanding of the origins and spread of drug-resistant bacteria, as well as the identification of novel antimicrobial compounds and new drug combinations, will facilitate the development of better dosing regimens and novel strategies to manage drug resistance and prevent the dissemination of resistant bacteria. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - October 12, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Laura J. V. Piddock Tags: Comment Source Type: research
Development and regulation of single- and multi-species Candida albicans biofilms
Nature Reviews Microbiology 16, 19 (2018).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.107
Authors: Matthew B. Lohse, Megha Gulati, Alexander D. Johnson & Clarissa J. Nobile
Candida albicans is among the most prevalent fungal species of the human microbiota and asymptomatically colonizes healthy individuals. However, it is also an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe, and often fatal, bloodstream infections. The medical impact of C. albicans typically depends on (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - October 3, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Matthew B. Lohse Megha Gulati Alexander D. Johnson Clarissa J. Nobile Tags: Review Source Type: research
Carpe diet
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 644 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.123
Author: Elisa Viciani
This month's Genome Watch examines how coupling deep sequencing of the gut microbiome with metabolic profiles can advance the development of microbiota-focused personalized precision nutrition. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - October 3, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Elisa Viciani Tags: News and Analysis Source Type: research
Bacterial pathogenesis: It takes two to tango
This study reveals a two-component response regulator system in enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis strains that regulates the expression of the colitis-inducing B. fragilis toxin. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - October 3, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Andrea Du Toit Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Targeting microbial biofilms: current and prospective therapeutic strategies
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 740 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.99
Authors: Hyun Koo, Raymond N. Allan, Robert P. Howlin, Paul Stoodley & Luanne Hall-Stoodley
Biofilm formation is a key virulence factor for a wide range of microorganisms that cause chronic infections. The multifactorial nature of biofilm development and drug tolerance imposes great challenges for the use of conventional antimicrobials and indicates the need for multi-targeted or combinatorial therapies. In (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 25, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Hyun Koo Raymond N. Allan Robert P. Howlin Paul Stoodley Luanne Hall-Stoodley Tags: Review Source Type: research
Aspergillus fumigatus morphology and dynamic host interactions
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 661 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.90
Authors: Frank L. van de Veerdonk, Mark S. Gresnigt, Luigina Romani, Mihai G. Netea & Jean-Paul Latgé
Aspergillus fumigatus is an environmental filamentous fungus that can cause life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals. The interactions between A. fumigatus and the host environment are dynamic and complex. The host immune system needs to recognize the distinct morphological forms of A. fumigatus (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 18, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Frank L. van de Veerdonk Mark S. Gresnigt Luigina Romani Mihai G. Netea Jean-Paul Latg é Tags: Review Source Type: research
Parasite development: Parasites talk about growth
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 642 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.119
Author: Irene Vacca
A recent study by Silvester et al. found that a conserved quorum sensing signalling pathway regulates interspecies crosstalk in trypanosome co-infections and provided novel insights into trypanosome virulence and transmission. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 18, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Irene Vacca Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Viral infection: A bacteriophage-like entry pathway in eukaryotes
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 577 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.117
Author: Ashley York
Most eukaryotic viruses release their genomes once they have entered host cells through endocytosis, pinocytosis or phagocytosis, whereas bacteriophages typically eject their DNA after they have attached to, and penetrated, the host membrane. A recent study of Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus 1 (PBCV1) reported (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 13, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ashley York Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Archaeal biology: Plasmid propagation by virus-like particles
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 577 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.116
Author: Ashley York
A defining feature that differentiates plasmids from viruses is their mechanism of propagation from cell to cell. Plasmids are transferred from donor to recipient as naked DNA, through cell–cell contact or in unstructured extracellular vesicles. A new study describes a novel mechanism of plasmid dissemination (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 13, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ashley York Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Microbiome: Copy-catting host signalling molecules
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 577 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.115
Author: Ashley York
Small molecules produced by the host microbiota have been hypothesized to influence host physiology. In a recent study, Cohen et al. identified microbial N-acyl amides that mimic human signalling molecules and interact with host G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to regulate gastrointestinal tract physiology. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 13, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ashley York Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Bacterial pathogenesis: Rewiring cellular dynamics and metabolism
This study reports that Legionella pneumophila regulates mitochondrial dynamics to subvert mitochondrial bioenergetics of infected cells in a process that involves a bacterial T4SS effector and a host fission protein. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 13, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Andrea Du Toit Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Marine microbiology: Algal virus boosts nitrogen uptake in the ocean
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 573 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.113
Author: Ashley York
A recent study identified a host-derived ammonium transporter in the genome of an algal virus that increases the rate of nitrogen uptake by infected cells and changes how the host accesses diverse nitrogen sources during infection. (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 13, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Ashley York Tags: Research Highlight Source Type: research
Gliding motility powers invasion and egress in Apicomplexa
Nature Reviews Microbiology 15, 645 (2017).
doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2017.86
Authors: Karine Frénal, Jean-François Dubremetz, Maryse Lebrun & Dominique Soldati-Favre
Protozoan parasites have developed elaborate motility systems that facilitate infection and dissemination. For example, amoebae use actin-rich membrane extensions called pseudopodia, whereas Kinetoplastida are propelled by microtubule-containing flagella. By contrast, the motile and invasive stages of the Apicomplexa — a phylum that contains the important (Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology)
Source: Nature Reviews Microbiology - September 4, 2017 Category: Microbiology Authors: Karine Fr é nal Jean-Fran ç ois Dubremetz Maryse Lebrun Dominique Soldati-Favre Tags: Review Source Type: research
