Project description:Controlling the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) at an early stage is critical for reducing disease severity. A cross-sectional study of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients at all stages with S. stercoralis infection found that helminth infection caused gut dysbiosis, which may be involved in CKD progression. Because of the variation of gut microbiome results with helminth infection, the cross-sectional study of 16S rRNA sequencing, therefore, is insufficient to draw valid conclusions and correct the effects of S. stercoralis on the early stages of CKD. Combination with other omics approach is warrant to be better understand the disease.
Project description:Collectively, viruses are the principal cause of cancers arising in patients with immune dysfunction, including HIV+ patients. Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) etiologically linked to KSHV continues to be the most common AIDS-associated tumor. The involvement of oral cavity represents one of the most common clinical manifestations of this tumor. HIV infection incurs an increased risk for periodontal diseases and oral carriage from a variety of pathogenic bacteria. In the current study, by using 16S rRNA based pyrosequencing, we found that oral shedding of KSHV altered oral microbiota signature in HIV+ patients which may contribute to virus-associated malignancies development.
Project description:Antimicrobial resistance is a leading mortality factor worldwide. Here we report the discovery of clovibactin, a new antibiotic, isolated from uncultured soil bacteria. Clovibactin efficiently kills drug-resistant Gram-positivebacterial pathogens without detectable resistance. Using biochemical assays,solid-state NMR, and atomic force microscopy, we dissect its mode of action. Clovibactin blocks cell wall synthesis by targeting pyrophosphate of multiple essential peptidoglycan precursors (C55PP, Lipid II, LipidWTA). Clovibactin uses anunusual hydrophobic interface to tightly wrap aroundpyrophosphate, butbypasses the variable structural elements of precursors, accounting for the lack of resistance. Selective and efficient target binding is achieved by the sequestration of precursors into supramolecular fibrils that only form on bacterial membranes that contain lipid-anchored pyrophosphate groups.Uncultured bacteria offer a rich reservoir of antibiotics with new mechanisms of action that could replenish the antimicrobial discovery pipeline.