Microbiology

A dynamic bactofilin cytoskeleton cooperates with an M23 endopeptidase to control bacterial morphogenesis

1. Sebastian Pöhl
2. Manuel Osorio-Valeriano
3. Emöke Cserti
4. Jannik Harberding
5. Rogelio Hernandez-Tamayo
6. Jacob Biboy
7. Patrick Sobetzko
8. Waldemar Vollmer
9. Peter L Graumann
10. Martin Thanbichler

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The manuscript explores the interplay between cytoskeletal bactofilins and cell wall hydrolases in bacterial morphogenesis, utilizing a range of methodologies from bacteriological to biochemical. The study provides important insights into bactofilin polymers' control over peptidoglycan synthesis and the identification of LdmC, supported by a comprehensive array of genetic, bioinformatic, biochemical, and biophysical tools. These convincing findings propose a conserved module governing bacterial morphogenesis, emphasizing the direct association of cell wall remodeling enzymes with a dynamic cytoskeleton, akin to mechanisms observed in other cellular processes such as cell growth and division.

Reviewed by eLife

Ebola virus sequesters IRF3 in viral inclusion bodies to evade host antiviral immunity

1. Lin Zhu
2. Jing Jin
3. Tingting Wang
4. Yong Hu
5. Hainan Liu
6. Ting Gao
7. Qincai Dong
8. Yanwen Jin
9. Ping Li
10. Zijing Liu
11. Yi Huang
12. Xuan Liu
13. Cheng Cao

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study explores how Ebola virus evades human immune responses. The study reports a potential new mechanism wherein Ebola virus traps human IRF3, a key transcription factor involved in immune signaling, into virus-produced "inclusion bodies". The topic is important, the paper has many merits, and the biochemical assays are solid. However, the current data do not clearly explain the relationship between the VP35 protein and IRF3.

Reviewed by eLife

The acetylase activity of Cdu1 regulates bacterial exit from infected cells by protecting Chlamydia effectors from degradation

1. Robert J Bastidas
2. Mateusz Kędzior
3. Robert K Davidson
4. Stephen C Walsh
5. Lee Dolat
6. Barbara S Sixt
7. Jonathan N Pruneda
8. Jörn Coers
9. Raphael H Valdivia

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study combines state-of-the art proteomics and genetic manipulation of Chlamydia trachomatis to study the function of a chlamydial effector, Cdu1, with deubiquitination and acetylation activities. Solid evidence is provided to show that Cdu1 is able to protect itself and three other chlamydial effectors, which are involved in the control of chlamydial egress from host cells, from ubiquitin-mediated degradation, and that this depends on the acetylation activity of Cdu1, but not on its deubiquitination activity. This work will be of interest to microbiologists and cell biologists studying host cell-pathogen interactions.

Reviewed by eLife

Cooperative growth in microbial communities is a driver of multistability

1. William Lopes
2. Daniel R. Amor
3. Jeff Gore

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Beyond blast: enabling microbiologists to better extract literature, taxonomic distributions and gene neighbourhood information for protein families

1. Colbie J. Reed
2. Rémi Denise
3. Jacob Hourihan
4. Jill Babor
5. Marshall Jaroch
6. Maria Martinelli
7. Geoffrey Hutinet
8. Valérie de Crécy-Lagard

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

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

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