Project description:Pathogen detection microarrays analyzing honeybee samples taken after parasitization with a predatory fly, oligos correspond to specific pathogens or pathogen families of viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, and other parasites Samples were analyzed with the E-Predict analysis package.
Project description:Pathogen detection microarrays analyzing honeybee samples taken after parasitization with a predatory fly, oligos correspond to specific pathogens or pathogen families of viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists, and other parasites Samples were analyzed with the E-Predict analysis package. Honey bees parasitized with the phorid fly Apocephalus borealis were screened for viral and non-viral pathogens by microarray.
Project description:Next-gen sequencing has facilitated studies of bacterial genomes and uncovered pathogen variants associated with clinically relevant phenotypes such as antibiotic resistance. However, these studies are primarily focused on bacteria cultured from patient tissues, and thus, viable but non-cultivable bacteria are not assessed. This yields an incomplete genetic state of bacteria during infection. Nevertheless, it is possible to capture bacterial transcripts in libraries designed to amplify eukaryotic mRNA. These reads are often considered spurious or nuisance and are rarely investigated. Here we demonstrate that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) ribosomal RNA sequences are detected in host human cells obtained from peripheral lymph node aspirates from patients infected with Mtb.
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.
Project description:MRSA-induced sepsis poses a significant threat to human health. In clinical practice, the primary approach for sepsis treatment remains the use of antibiotics to control bacterial infections. However, the widespread and prolonged use of antibiotics has led to increased bacterial resistance, rendering conventional antibiotics less effective. Here, we report the design and development of a novel antibiotic that differs from traditional bactericidal mechanisms. This antibiotic employs a dual-targeting strategy by disrupting bacterial membrane integrity and binding to bacterial DNA, thereby effectively eliminating bacteria. This approach enhances antibacterial efficacy while reducing the likelihood of resistance development.
Project description:Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J is a predatory bacterium which lives by predating on other Gram-negative bacteria to obtain the nutrients it needs for replication and survival. Here, we evaluated the effects a bacterial signaling molecule called diffusible signaling factor (DSF) have on B. bacteriovorus 109J transcriptomics.
Project description:Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 is a predatory bacterium which attacks a wide range of gram negative bacterial pathogens and is proposed to be a potential living antibiotic. In the current study, we evaluated the effects of indole, a bacterial signaling molecule commonly produced within the gut, on the predatory ability of B. bacteriovorus HD100. Indole significantly delayed predation on E. coli MG1655 and S. enterica KACC 11595 at physiological concentrations (0.25 to 1 mM) and completely inhibited predation when present at 2 mM. Microscopic analysis revealed that indole blocked the predator from attacking the prey. Furthermore, indole was not toxic to the predator but slowed down its motility. Microarray and RT-qPCR analyses confirmed this as the gene group showing the greatest down-regulation in the presence of 1 and 2 mM indole was flagellar assembly and motility genes. Aside from this group, indole also caused a wide spectrum changes in gene expression including the general down-regulation of genes involved in ribosome assembly and RNA translation. Furthermore, indole addition to the predatory culture after the entrance of B. bacteriovorus into the prey periplasm slowed down bdelloplast lysis. In conclusion, indole is an important gut-related signaling molecule that can have significant impacts on the predation efficiency and predator behavior. These findings should be taken into consideration especially if B. bacteriovorus is to be applied as a probiotic or living antibiotic.
Project description:Bacterial filamentation is one of the most important bacterial SOS responses to antibiotic drugs and contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance. Understanding the mechanism of the bacterial SOS response is crucial to control the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We uncover the molecular changes of SOS-associated bacterial filamentation. Bacterial proteins that correlate with bacterial SOS responses and facilitate to bacterial antimicrobial resistance are studied.
2023-01-04 | PXD039235 |
Project description:Trophic interactions between predatory protists and keystone bacterial taxa