Microbiology

Development of a sensor for disulfide bond formation in diverse bacteria

1. Jocelyne Mendoza
2. Dyotima
3. Sally Abulaila
4. Cristina Landeta

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Physiological and metabolic insights into the first cultured anaerobic representative of deep-sea Planctomycetes bacteria

1. Rikuan Zheng
2. Chong Wang
3. Rui Liu
4. Ruining Cai
5. Chaomin Sun

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study advances the understanding of physiological mechanisms in deep-sea Planctomycetes bacteria, revealing unique characteristics such as the only known Phycisphaerae using a budding mode of division, extensive involvement in nitrate assimilation, and release phage particles without cell death. The study uses convincing evidence based on experiments using growth assays, phylogenetics, transcriptomics, and gene expression data. The work will be of interest to bacteriologists and microbiologists in general.

Reviewed by eLife

Coordinated regulation of gene expression in Plasmodium female gametocytes by two transcription factors

1. Yuho Murata
2. Tsubasa Nishi
3. Izumi Kaneko
4. Shiroh Iwanaga
5. Masao Yuda

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study offers important insights into the transcriptional regulatory networks driving female gametocyte maturation in rodent malaria parasites. The work is based on solid methodology and shows how two female-specific transcription factors, AP2-FG and PFG (aka Fd2), co-operate to up-regulate the expression of genes required for development after fertilization occurs in the mosquito midgut. This study will be of interest to scientists working on sexual differentiation and gene regulation in Plasmodium and other apicomplexan parasites.

Reviewed by eLife

Commensal skin bacteria exacerbate inflammation and delay skin healing

1. Veda D. Khadka
2. Laura Markey
3. Magalie Boucher
4. Tami D. Lieberman

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Antimicrobial activity of iron-depriving pyoverdines against human opportunistic pathogens

1. Vera Vollenweider
2. Karoline Rehm
3. Clara Chepkirui
4. Manuela Pérez-Berlanga
5. Magdalini Polymenidou
6. Jörn Piel
7. Laurent Bigler
8. Rolf Kümmerli

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study furthers our understanding of the antimicrobial properties of siderophores, and their potential use to battle opportunistic pathogens. The evidence supporting the conclusion is solid, based on rigorous biochemical, growth, and virulence assays. The work would benefit from a more in-depth discussion of the consequences and efficacy of 'siderophore therapy' in more complex communities/environments. The work will be of broad interest to colleagues in the fields of evolutionary ecology, microbiology, and medical sciences.

Reviewed by eLife

A modified BCG with depletion of enzymes associated with peptidoglycan amidation induces enhanced protection against tuberculosis in mice

1. Moagi Tube Shaku
2. Peter K Um
3. Karl L Ocius
4. Alexis J Apostolos
5. Marcos M Pires
6. William R Bishai
7. Bavesh D Kana

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  In this manuscript, the authors investigate whether the effects of the BCG vaccine on immunity to Mtb infection could be improved by inhibiting amidation of the peptidoglycan sidechains to allow for recognition by NOD-1. This is a very important area and an interesting new approach to improve vaccination for TB. The authors find that CRISPRi knockdown of murT-gatD causes rather dramatic cell wall defects, more accessible cell wall labeling, and results in attenuated growth in macrophages and mice. This forms a foundation for further study of whether an approach like that which is presented herein would improve vaccination responses in TB.

Reviewed by eLife

Restriction of Arginine Induces Antibiotic Tolerance in Staphylococcus aureus

1. Jeffrey A. Freiberg
2. Valeria M. Reyes Ruiz
3. Erin R. Green
4. Eric P. Skaar

Reviewed by PREreview, Rapid Reviews Infectious Diseases

Predicting phage-bacteria interactions at the strain level from genomes

1. Baptiste Gaborieau
2. Hugo Vaysset
3. Florian Tesson
4. Inès Charachon
5. Nicolas Dib
6. Juliette Bernier
7. Tanguy Dequidt
8. Héloïse Georjon
9. Olivier Clermont
10. Pascal Hersen
11. Laurent Debarbieux
12. Jean-Damien Ricard
13. Erick Denamur
14. Aude Bernheim

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Cell-selective proteomics reveal novel effectors secreted by an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen

1. Allen G. Sanderlin
2. Hannah K. Margolis
3. Abigail F. Meyer
4. Rebecca L. Lamason

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Tick extracellular vesicles undermine epidermal wound healing during hematophagy

1. Liron Marnin
2. Luisa M. Valencia
3. Haikel N. Bogale
4. Hanna J. Laukaitis-Yousey
5. Agustin Rolandelli
6. Camila Rodrigues Ferraz
7. Anya J. O’Neal
8. Axel D. Schmitter-Sánchez
9. Emily Bencosme Cuevas
10. Thu-Thuy Nguyen
11. Brenda Leal-Galvan
12. David M. Rickert
13. M. Tays Mendes
14. Sourabh Samaddar
15. L. Rainer Butler
16. Nisha Singh
17. Francy E. Cabrera Paz
18. Jonathan D. Oliver
19. Julie M Jameson
20. Ulrike G. Munderloh
21. Adela S. Oliva Chávez
22. Albert Mulenga
23. Sangbum Park
24. David Serre
25. Joao H.F. Pedra

Reviewed by Arcadia Science