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MinireviewIntracellular Organization by Jumbo BacteriophagesSince their discovery more than 100 years ago, the viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages) have been widely studied as model systems. Largely overlooked, however, have been “jumbo phages,” with genome sizes ranging from 200 to 500 kbp. Jumbo phages generally have large virions with complex structures and a broad host spectrum. While the majority of jumbo phage genes are poorly functionally characterized, recent work has discovered...
Research Articles
Research ArticleMycoplasma bovis mbfN Encodes a Novel LRR Lipoprotein That Undergoes Proteolytic Processing and Binds Host Extracellular Matrix ComponentsExperimental validation of the putative functions of genes in M. bovis will advance our understanding of the basic biology of this economically important pathogen and is crucial in developing prevention strategies. This study demonstrated the extracellular matrix binding ability of a novel immunogenic lipoprotein of...
Research ArticleCharacterization of the Streptococcus mutans SMU.1703c-SMU.1702c Operon Reveals Its Role in Riboflavin Import and Response to Acid StressDental caries form when acid produced by oral bacteria erodes tooth enamel. This process is driven by the fermentative metabolism of cariogenic bacteria, most notably Streptococcus mutans. Nutrient acquisition is key in the competitive oral cavity, and many organisms have evolved various strategies to procure carbon sources or necessary biomolecules. B vitamins, such...
Research ArticleResponse of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the Innate Immune System-Derived Oxidants Hypochlorous Acid and Hypothiocyanous AcidThe bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes devastating infections in immunocompromised hosts, including chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. To combat infection, the host’s immune system produces the antimicrobial oxidants hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN). Little is known about how...
Research Article | SpotlightComplementary Tendencies in the Use of Regulatory Elements (Transcription Factors, Sigma Factors, and Riboswitches) in Bacteria and ArchaeaIn this study, we analyzed the relationship between the relative frequencies of the primary regulatory elements in bacteria and archaea, namely, transcription factors, sigma factors, and riboswitches. In bacteria, we reveal a compensatory behavior for transcription factors and sigma factors, meaning that in phylogenetic groups in which the relative number of transcription factors was low, we found a tendency for the number of sigma...
Research ArticleStructure-Function Characterization of the Conserved Regulatory Mechanism of the Escherichia coli M48 Metalloprotease BepAM48 metalloproteases are widely distributed in all domains of life. E. coli possesses four members of this family located in multiple cellular compartments. The functions of these proteases are not well understood. Recent investigations revealed that one family member, BepA, has an important role in the maturation of a central component of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS...
Research Article | SpotlightBacteriophage SP01 Gene Product 56 Inhibits Bacillus subtilis Cell Division by Interacting with FtsL and Disrupting Pbp2B and FtsW RecruitmentStudies over the past decades have identified bacteriophage-encoded factors that interfere with host cell shape or cytokinesis during viral infection. The phage factors causing cell filamentation that have been investigated to date all act by targeting FtsZ, the conserved prokaryotic tubulin homolog that composes the cytokinetic ring in most bacteria and some groups of archaea. However, the mechanisms of several phage factors that...
Research ArticleMgrA Activates Staphylococcal Capsule via SigA-Dependent PromoterThe virulence of Staphylococcus aureus depends on the expression of various virulence factors, which is governed by a complex regulatory network. We have been using capsule as a model virulence factor to study virulence gene regulation in S. aureus. MgrA is one of the regulators of capsule and has a...
Research ArticleUncovering Roles of Streptococcus gordonii SrtA-Processed Proteins in the Biofilm LifestyleS. gordonii interactions with its environment depend on the complement of cell wall proteins. A subset of these cell wall proteins requires processing by the enzyme sortase A (SrtA). The identification of SrtA-processed proteins and their functional characterization will help the community to better understand how...
Research Article | SpotlightContact with the CsrA Core Is Required for Allosteric Inhibition by FliW in Bacillus subtilisCsrA is a small dimeric protein that binds RNA and is one of the few known examples of transcript-specific protein regulators of translation in bacteria. A protein called FliW binds to and antagonizes CsrA to govern flagellin homeostasis and flagellar assembly. Despite having a high-resolution three-dimensional structure of the FliW-CsrA complex, the mechanism of noncompetitive inhibition remains unresolved. Here, we identify FliW...
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