virulence
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular Interactions | SpotlightBrucella abortus Depends on l-Serine Biosynthesis for Intracellular Proliferationl-Serine is a nonessential amino acid and a key intermediate in several relevant metabolic pathways. In bacteria, the major source of l-serine is the phosphorylated pathway, which comprises three enzymes: d-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PGDH; SerA), phosphoserine amino transferase (PSAT; SerC), and l-phosphoserine phosphatase (PSP; SerB...
Fungal and Parasitic InfectionsAlteration of Fermentative Metabolism Enhances Mucor circinelloides VirulenceThe fungus Mucor circinelloides undergoes yeast-mold dimorphism, a developmental process associated with its capability as a human opportunistic pathogen. Dimorphism is strongly influenced by carbon metabolism, and hence the type of metabolism likely affects fungus virulence. We investigated the role of ethanol metabolism in M. circinelloides virulence.
...
Cellular Microbiology: Pathogen-Host Cell Molecular InteractionsThe Nonmevalonate Pathway of Isoprenoid Biosynthesis Supports Anaerobic Growth of Listeria monocytogenesIsoprenoids are an essential and diverse class of molecules, present in all forms of life, that are synthesized from an essential common precursor derived from either the mevalonate pathway or the nonmevalonate pathway. Most bacteria have one pathway or the other, but the Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is unusual because it...
Molecular Pathogenesis | SpotlightThe Rho-Independent Transcription Terminator for the porA Gene Enhances Expression of the Major Outer Membrane Protein and Campylobacter jejuni Virulence in Abortion InductionCampylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of foodborne illnesses worldwide. Its porA gene encodes the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) that is abundantly expressed and has important physiological functions, including a key role in systemic infection and abortion induction in pregnant animals. Despite the importance of porA in...
Fungal and Parasitic InfectionsEntamoeba histolytica Interaction with Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Increases Parasite Virulence and Inflammation in AmebiasisEpidemiological studies suggest frequent association of enteropathogenic bacteria with Entamoeba histolytica during symptomatic infection. In this study, we sought to determine if the interaction with enteropathogenic (EPEC) or nonpathogenic Escherichia coli (strain DH5α) could modify the virulence...
Molecular PathogenesisDiscovery and Contribution of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae NTHI1441 to Human Respiratory Epithelial Cell InvasionNontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is the primary cause of bacterially induced acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). NTHi adheres to and invades host respiratory epithelial cells as a means to persist in the lower airways of adults with COPD. Therefore, we mined the genomes of NTHi strains isolated from the airways of adults with...
Bacterial InfectionsPotential Mechanisms of Mucin-Enhanced Acinetobacter baumannii Virulence in the Mouse Model of Intraperitoneal InfectionPorcine mucin has been commonly used to enhance the infectivity of bacterial pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii, in animal models, but the mechanisms for enhancement by mucin remain relatively unknown. In this study, using the mouse model of intraperitoneal (i.p.) mucin-enhanced A. baumannii...
Molecular PathogenesisPeptidyl-Prolyl Isomerase ppiB Is Essential for Proteome Homeostasis and Virulence in Burkholderia pseudomalleiBurkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease endemic to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Mortality rates in these areas are high even with antimicrobial treatment, and there are few options for effective therapy. Therefore, there is a need to identify antibacterial targets for the development of novel treatments. Cyclophilins are a...
Host Response and InflammationStaphylococcus aureus Lipoic Acid Synthesis Limits Macrophage Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species Production To Promote Survival during InfectionMacrophages are critical mediators of innate immunity and must be overcome for bacterial pathogens to cause disease. The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus produces virulence factors that impede macrophages and other immune cells. We previously determined that production of the metabolic cofactor lipoic acid by the lipoic acid synthetase, LipA, blunts...
Bacterial InfectionsLink between Heterotrophic Carbon Fixation and Virulence in the Porcine Lung Pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniaeActinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is a capnophilic pathogen of the porcine respiratory tract lacking enzymes of the oxidative branch of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. We previously claimed that A. pleuropneumoniae instead uses the reductive branch in order to generate energy and metabolites. Here...