Microbiology, Virology & Host Pathogen Interaction
Simultaneous multiple allelic replacement in the malaria parasite enables dissection of PKG functionThis work combines the use of an inducible Cre recombinase and different lox sites to simultaneously create multiple allelic replacements. We show that an essential malarial cGMP-dependent protein kinase functions exclusively during the release of the parasite from its host cell.
A novel class of polymorphic toxins in BacteroidetesBacteria often use toxins to mediate their interaction with the environment. This study reveals a new class of polymorphic toxins, which contain an N-terminal TANFOR domain, in Bacteroidetes.
The health status alters the pituitary function and reproduction of mice in a Cxcr2-dependent mannerThis study explores the effects of microbiota on reproductive function of Cxcr2 knockout animals. Cxcr2 is involved in the control of pituitary action and the subsequent development of mammary gland, uterus and ovary.
Gammaherpesvirus-infected germinal center cells express a distinct immunoglobulin repertoireGerminal center B cells infected with gammaherpesvirus display altered repertoire with biased usage of lambda light chain and skewed utilization of IGHV genes.
Virus-induced transposable element expression up-regulation in human and mouse host cellsGenome-wide transposon expression up-regulation in host cells regardless of virus, species, and host cell tissue types occurs early during viral infection and likely contributes to promoting the host innate immune response.
A key region of molecular specificity orchestrates unique ephrin-B1 utilization by Cedar virusAn expanded hydrophobic cavity within the structurally constrained receptor-binding site of the Cedar virus attachment glycoprotein facilitates idiosyncratic utilization of ephrin-B1.
Initial phospholipid-dependent Irgb6 targeting to Toxoplasma gondii vacuoles mediates host defenseIrgb6 has a role in the cell-autonomous response against T. gondii and involves ubiquitination and breakdown of vacuoles via binding of a specific phospholipid on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane.
Bat IFITM3 restriction depends on S-palmitoylation and a polymorphic site within the CD225 domainComparative analysis reveals adaptive evolution of bat IFITMs and a naturally polymorphic site within the conserved CD225 domain that affects S-palmitoylation and antiviral function of bat IFITM3.
ADAPTABLE: a comprehensive web platform of antimicrobial peptides tailored to the user’s researchADAPTABLE is a webserver and database of antimicrobial peptides that uses sequence and property alignment to highlight their mode of action against the threat of resistance in medicine and agriculture.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin LecB impairs keratinocyte fitness by abrogating growth factor signallingThis study provides a novel function of the bacterial lectin LecB, which dampens cell proliferation and survival by targeting the insulin-like growth factor-1 for degradation, without receptor activation.