Table of Contents
Spotlight
Minireview
- MinireviewType 1 Does the Two-Step: Type 1 Secretion Substrates with a Functional Periplasmic Intermediate
Bacteria have evolved several secretion strategies for polling and responding to environmental flux and insult. Of these, the type 1 secretion system (T1SS) is known to secrete an array of biologically diverse proteins—from small, <10-kDa bacteriocins to gigantic adhesins with a mass >1 MDa.
Research Articles
- Research ArticleThe Treponema denticola PAS Domain-Containing Histidine Kinase Hpk2 Is a Heme Binding Sensor of Oxygen Levels
Periodontal disease affects nearly 60% of the global adult population. Its costs to individuals, and to society as a whole, are enormous. As periodontal disease develops, there is a shift in the composition of the oral microbial community. The bacteria that become dominant are able to cause significant damage to the tissues that support the teeth, leading to tooth loss. ...
- Research ArticleCharacterization of Three Small Proteins in Brucella abortus Linked to Fucose Utilization
Despite being one of the most common zoonoses worldwide, there is currently no human vaccine to combat brucellosis. Therefore, a better understanding of the pathogenesis and biology of Brucella spp., the causative agent of brucellosis, is essential for the discovery of novel therapeutics against these highly infectious bacteria. In this study, we further characterize...
- Research ArticleThe Mla Pathway Plays an Essential Role in the Intrinsic Resistance of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Species to Antimicrobials and Host Innate Components
The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria acts as an effective barrier against toxic compounds, and therefore compromising this structure could increase sensitivity to currently available antibiotics. In this study, we show that the Mla pathway, a system involved in maintaining the integrity of the outer membrane, is genetically and functionally different in Burkholderia...
- Research ArticleRepression of Capsule Production by XdrA and CodY in Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus employs a complex regulatory network to coordinate the expression of various virulence genes to achieve successful infections. How virulence genes are coordinately regulated is still poorly understood. We have been studying capsule regulation as a model system to explore regulatory networking in...
- Research ArticleMagnesium Suppresses Defects in the Formation of 70S Ribosomes as Well as in Sporulation Caused by Lack of Several Individual Ribosomal Proteins
We previously reported that an increase in cellular Mg2+ content can suppress defects in 70S ribosome formation and growth rate caused by the absence of ribosomal protein L34. In the present study, we demonstrated that, even in mutants lacking individual ribosomal proteins other than L34 (L1, L23, L36, and S6), an increase in the cellular Mg2+ content could restore 70S ribosome formation. Moreover, the defect in...
- Research Article | SpotlightIdentification and Biochemical Characterization of a Novel Protein Phosphatase 2C-Like Ser/Thr Phosphatase in Escherichia coli
Regulatory protein phosphorylation is a conserved mechanism of signaling in all biological systems. Recent phosphoproteomic analyses of phylogenetically diverse bacteria, including the model Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, demonstrate that many proteins are phosphorylated on serine or threonine residues. In contrast to phosphorylation on histidine or...
- Research ArticleSwarmer Cell Development of the Bacterium Proteus mirabilis Requires the Conserved Enterobacterial Common Antigen Biosynthesis Gene rffG
Proteus mirabilis swarm motility has been implicated in pathogenesis. We have found that cells deploy multiple uncharacterized strategies to handle cell envelope stress beyond the Rcs phosphorelay when attempting to engage in swarm motility. While RcsB is known to directly inhibit the master transcriptional regulator for swarming, we have shown an additional role for...
- Research ArticleCharacteristics of the Conjugative Transfer System of the IncM Plasmid pCTX-M3 and Identification of Its Putative Regulators
Horizontal gene transfer is responsible for rapid changes in bacterial genomes, and the conjugative transfer of plasmids has a great impact on the plasticity of bacteria. Here, we present a deletion analysis of the conjugative transfer system genes of the pCTX-M3 plasmid of the IncM group, which is responsible for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in ...
- Research ArticleA Defective Undecaprenyl Pyrophosphate Synthase Induces Growth and Morphological Defects That Are Suppressed by Mutations in the Isoprenoid Pathway of Escherichia coli
Bacterial morphology is determined primarily by the overall structure of the semirigid macromolecule peptidoglycan. Not only does peptidoglycan contribute to cell shape, but it also protects cells against lysis caused by excess osmotic pressure. Because it is critical for bacterial survival, it is no surprise that many antibiotics target peptidoglycan biosynthesis. However, important gaps remain in our understanding about how this...
- Research ArticleExpression of Adhesive Pili and the Collagen-Binding Adhesin Ace Is Activated by ArgR Family Transcription Factors in Enterococcus faecalis
Cell surface adhesins play critical roles in the formation of biofilms, host colonization, and the pathogenesis of opportunistic infections by Enterococcus faecalis. Here, we present new results showing that the expression of two major enterococcal surface adhesins, ebp pili, and the collagen-binding protein Ace is positively regulated at the transcription...
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