Synthetic Glycans, Glycoarrays, and Glyconanoparticles To Investigate Host Infection byTrypanosoma cruzi

2011 ◽  
pp. 143-159
Author(s):  
Robert A. Field ◽  
Peterson Andrade ◽  
Vanessa L. Campo ◽  
Ivone Carvalho ◽  
Beatrice Y. M. Collet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Infection

Neurotropic enteroviruses co-opt “fair-weather-friend” commensal gut microbiota to drive host infection and central nervous system disturbances

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin B. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Gut Bacteria ◽  
Infection Cycle ◽  
Fair Weather ◽  
Host Health ◽  
Microbe Interactions ◽  
Animal Hosts ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Abstract Some neurotropic enteroviruses hijack Trojan horse/raft commensal gut bacteria to render devastating biomimicking cryptic attacks on human/animal hosts. Such virus-microbe interactions manipulate hosts’ gut-brain axes with accompanying infection-cycle-optimizing central nervous system (CNS) disturbances, including severe neurodevelopmental, neuromotor, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Co-opted bacteria thus indirectly influence host health, development, behavior, and mind as possible “fair-weather-friend” symbionts, switching from commensal to context-dependent pathogen-like strategies benefiting gut-bacteria fitness.

scholarly journals Genetic Variation and Evolution of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Salvatore Dimonte ◽  
Muhammed Babakir-Mina ◽  
Taib Hama-Soor ◽  
Salar Ali
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Single Amino Acid ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
New Type ◽  
Amino Acid Mutations ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> SARS-CoV-2 is a new type of coronavirus causing a pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-2). Coronaviruses are very diverting genetically and mutate so often periodically. The natural selection of viral mutations may cause host infection selectivity and infectivity. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This study was aimed to indicate the diversity between human and animal coronaviruses through finding the rate of mutation in each of the spike, nucleocapsid, envelope, and membrane proteins. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The mutation rate is abundant in all 4 structural proteins. The most number of statistically significant amino acid mutations were found in spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) which may be because it is responsible for a corresponding receptor binding in a broad range of hosts and host selectivity to infect. Among 17 previously known amino acids which are important for binding of spike to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, all of them are conservative among human coronaviruses, but only 3 of them significantly are mutated in animal coronaviruses. A single amino acid aspartate-454, that causes dissociation of the RBD of the spike and ACE2, and F486 which gives the strength of binding with ACE2 remain intact in all coronaviruses. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Observations of this study provided evidence of the genetic diversity and rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 as well as other human and animal coronaviruses.

scholarly journals Evolutionarily recent dual obligatory symbiosis among adelgids indicates a transition between fungus- and insect-associated lifestyles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gitta Szabó ◽  
Frederik Schulz ◽  
Alejandro Manzano-Marín ◽  
Elena Rebecca Toenshoff ◽  
Matthias Horn
Keyword(s):  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Amino Acid Production ◽  
Evolutionary Transition ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Phylogenomic Analyses ◽  
Time Specific ◽  
High Level ◽  
Metagenomic Approach

AbstractAdelgids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Adelgidae) form a small group of insects but harbor a surprisingly diverse set of bacteriocyte-associated endosymbionts, which suggest multiple replacement and acquisition of symbionts over evolutionary time. Specific pairs of symbionts have been associated with adelgid lineages specialized on different secondary host conifers. Using a metagenomic approach, we investigated the symbiosis of the Adelges laricis/Adelgestardus species complex containing betaproteobacterial (“Candidatus Vallotia tarda”) and gammaproteobacterial (“Candidatus Profftia tarda”) symbionts. Genomic characteristics and metabolic pathway reconstructions revealed that Vallotia and Profftia are evolutionary young endosymbionts, which complement each other’s role in essential amino acid production. Phylogenomic analyses and a high level of genomic synteny indicate an origin of the betaproteobacterial symbiont from endosymbionts of Rhizopus fungi. This evolutionary transition was accompanied with substantial loss of functions related to transcription regulation, secondary metabolite production, bacterial defense mechanisms, host infection, and manipulation. The transition from fungus to insect endosymbionts extends our current framework about evolutionary trajectories of host-associated microbes.

scholarly journals Investigation of Salmonella Phage–Bacteria Infection Profiles: Network Structure Reveals a Gradient of Target-Range from Generalist to Specialist Phage Clones in Nested Subsets

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1261
Author(s):  
Khatuna Makalatia ◽  
Elene Kakabadze ◽  
Nata Bakuradze ◽  
Nino Grdzelishvili ◽  
Ben Stamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Target Range ◽  
Nested Subsets ◽  
Specific Phage ◽  
Salmonella Infections ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Salmonella Phage

Bacteriophages that lyse Salmonella enterica are potential tools to target and control Salmonella infections. Investigating the host range of Salmonella phages is a key to understand their impact on bacterial ecology, coevolution and inform their use in intervention strategies. Virus–host infection networks have been used to characterize the “predator–prey” interactions between phages and bacteria and provide insights into host range and specificity. Here, we characterize the target-range and infection profiles of 13 Salmonella phage clones against a diverse set of 141 Salmonella strains. The environmental source and taxonomy contributed to the observed infection profiles, and genetically proximal phages shared similar infection profiles. Using in vitro infection data, we analyzed the structure of the Salmonella phage–bacteria infection network. The network has a non-random nested organization and weak modularity suggesting a gradient of target-range from generalist to specialist species with nested subsets, which are also observed within and across the different phage infection profile groups. Our results have implications for our understanding of the coevolutionary mechanisms shaping the ecological interactions between Salmonella phages and their bacterial hosts and can inform strategies for targeting Salmonella enterica with specific phage preparations.

scholarly journals Klebsiella Phage ΦK64-1 Encodes Multiple Depolymerases for Multiple Host Capsular Types

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Jiun Pan ◽  
Tzu-Lung Lin ◽  
Ching-Ching Chen ◽  
Yun-Ting Tsai ◽  
Yi-Hsiang Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Amino Acid Sequence Similarity ◽  
Gene Products ◽  
Capsular Type ◽  
Expression And Purification ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Infection Mechanisms ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Encoding Genes ◽  
Tail Fibers

ABSTRACT The genome of the multihost bacteriophage ΦK64-1, capable of infecting Klebsiella capsular types K1, K11, K21, K25, K30, K35, K64, and K69, as well as new capsular types KN4 and KN5, was analyzed and revealed that 11 genes (S1-1, S1-2, S1-3, S2-1, S2-2, S2-3, S2-4, S2-5, S2-6, S2-7, and S2-8) encode proteins with amino acid sequence similarity to tail fibers/spikes or lyases. S2-5 previously was shown to encode a K64 capsule depolymerase (K64dep). Specific capsule-degrading activities of an additional eight putative capsule depolymerases (S2-4 against K1, S1-1 against K11, S1-3 against K21, S2-2 against K25, S2-6 against K30/K69, S2-3 against K35, S1-2 against KN4, and S2-1 against KN5) was demonstrated by expression and purification of the recombinant proteins. Consistent with the capsular type-specific depolymerization activity of these gene products, phage mutants of S1-2, S2-2, S2-3, or S2-6 lost infectivity for KN4, K25, K35, or K30/K69, respectively, indicating that capsule depolymerase is crucial for infecting specific hosts. In conclusion, we identified nine functional capsule depolymerase-encoding genes in a bacteriophage and correlated activities of the gene products to all ten hosts of this phage, providing an example of type-specific host infection mechanisms in a multihost bacteriophage. IMPORTANCE We currently identified eight novel capsule depolymerases in a multihost Klebsiella bacteriophage and correlated the activities of the gene products to all hosts of this phage, providing an example of carriage of multiple depolymerases in a phage with a wide capsular type host spectrum. Moreover, we also established a recombineering system for modification of Klebsiella bacteriophage genomes and demonstrated the importance of capsule depolymerase for infecting specific hosts. Based on the powerful tool for modification of phage genome, further studies can be conducted to improve the understanding of mechanistic details of Klebsiella phage infection. Furthermore, the newly identified capsule depolymerases will be of great value for applications in capsular typing.

scholarly journals Easy-To-Access Quinolone Derivatives Exhibiting Antibacterial and Anti-Parasitic Activities

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1141
Author(s):  
Richard M. Beteck ◽  
Audrey Jordaan ◽  
Ronnett Seldon ◽  
Dustin Laming ◽  
Heinrich C. Hoppe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei ◽  
New Class ◽  
High Lipid ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Eskape Pathogens ◽  
Quinolone Derivatives ◽  
Lipophilic Character

The cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has a unique structural organisation, comprising a high lipid content mixed with polysaccharides. This makes cell wall a formidable barrier impermeable to hydrophilic agents. In addition, during host infection, Mtb resides in macrophages within avascular necrotic granulomas and cavities, which shield the bacterium from the action of most antibiotics. To overcome these protective barriers, a new class of anti-TB agents exhibiting lipophilic character have been recommended by various reports in literature. Herein, a series of lipophilic heterocyclic quinolone compounds was synthesised and evaluated in vitro against pMSp12::GFP strain of Mtb, two protozoan parasites (Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei brucei) and against ESKAPE pathogens. The resultant compounds exhibited varied anti-Mtb activity with MIC90 values in the range of 0.24–31 µM. Cross-screening against P. falciparum and T.b. brucei, identified several compounds with antiprotozoal activities in the range of 0.4–20 µM. Compounds were generally inactive against ESKAPE pathogens, with only compounds 8c, 8g and 13 exhibiting moderate to poor activity against S. aureus and A. baumannii.

scholarly journals Total Biosynthesis and Diverse Applications of the Nonribosomal Peptide-Polyketide Siderophore Yersiniabactin

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (16) ◽  
pp. 5290-5298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Kamal Ahmadi ◽  
Samar Fawaz ◽  
Charles H. Jones ◽  
Guojian Zhang ◽  
Blaine A. Pfeifer
Keyword(s):  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Parallel Applications ◽  
Total Removal ◽  
Heterologous Host ◽  
Nonribosomal Peptide ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Metal Chelating ◽  
Removal Capacity ◽  
Peptide Synthetase ◽  
Host Infection

ABSTRACTYersiniabactin (Ybt) is a mixed nonribosomal peptide-polyketide natural product natively produced by the pathogenYersinia pestis. The compound enables iron scavenging capabilities upon host infection and is biosynthesized by a nonribosomal peptide synthetase featuring a polyketide synthase module. This pathway has been engineered for expression and biosynthesis usingEscherichia colias a heterologous host. In the current work, the biosynthetic process for Ybt formation was improved through the incorporation of a dedicated step to eliminate the need for exogenous salicylate provision. When this improvement was made, the compound was tested in parallel applications that highlight the metal-chelating nature of the compound. In the first application, Ybt was assessed as a rust remover, demonstrating a capacity of ∼40% compared to a commercial removal agent and ∼20% relative to total removal capacity. The second application tested Ybt in removing copper from a variety of nonbiological and biological solution mixtures. Success across a variety of media indicates potential utility in diverse scenarios that include environmental and biomedical settings.

Parasite infection and host dynamics in a naturally fluctuating rodent population

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (9) ◽  
pp. 1149-1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Winternitz ◽  
M.J. Yabsley ◽  
S.M. Altizer
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Host Density ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Vole Cycles ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
The Impact

Parasites can both influence and be affected by host population dynamics, and a growing number of case studies support a role for parasites in causing or amplifying host population cycles. In this study, we examined individual and population predictors of gastrointestinal parasitism on wild cyclic montane voles ( Microtus montanus (Peale, 1848)) to determine if evidence was consistent with theory implicating parasites in population cycles. We sampled three sites in central Colorado for the duration of a multiannual cycle and recorded the prevalence and intensity of directly transmitted Eimeria Schneider, 1875 and indirectly transmitted cestodes from a total of 267 voles. We found significant associations between host infection status, individual traits (sex, age, and reproductive status) and population variables (site, trapping period, and population density), including a positive association between host density and cestode prevalence, and a negative association between host density and Eimeria prevalence. Both cestode and Eimeria intensity correlated positively with host age, reproductive status, and population density, but neither parasite was associated with poorer host condition. Our findings suggest that parasites are common in this natural host, but determining their potential to influence montane vole cycles requires future experimental studies and long-term monitoring to determine the fitness consequences of infection and the impact of parasite removal on host dynamics.

scholarly journals Methods for Estimating Gene Frequencies and Detecting Selection in Bacterial Populations

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 499-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Rannala ◽  
Wei-Gang Qiu ◽  
Daniel E Dykhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Balancing Selection ◽  
Surface Protein ◽  
Allele Frequencies ◽  
Gene Frequencies ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Host Infection ◽  
Infinite Alleles Model

Abstract Recent breakthroughs in molecular technology, most significantly the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization, have allowed the detection of genetic variation in bacterial communities without prior cultivation. These methods often produce data in the form of the presence or absence of alleles or genotypes, however, rather than counts of alleles. Using relative allele frequencies from presence-absence data as estimates of population allele frequencies tends to underestimate the frequencies of common alleles and overestimate those of rare ones, potentially biasing the results of a test of neutrality in favor of balancing selection. In this study, a maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) of bacterial allele frequencies designed for use with presence-absence data is derived using an explicit stochastic model of the host infection (or bacterial sampling) process. The performance of the MLE is evaluated using computer simulation and a method is presented for evaluating the fit of estimated allele frequencies to the neutral infinite alleles model (IAM). The methods are applied to estimate allele frequencies at two outer surface protein loci (ospA and ospC) of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, infecting local populations of deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) and to test the fit to a neutral IAM.

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