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The tetrameric neuraminidase (NA) of influenza virus H1N1 requires calcium at the centre of the tetramer for its activity. Substitutions that alter binding of NA to central calcium contribute to H1N1 virus diversification and adaptation over time.
Cryo-EM imaging of the needle complex of the SPI-1 type III secretion system from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium at different stages of complex assembly elucidates how needle assembly initiation is regulated and how the inner membrane and outer membrane rings of the complex interact, even with apparently incompatible symmetries.
Phylogenetic reconciliation traces the evolution of glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis gene clusters from pre-existing gene pools to 150–400 million years ago; resistance to these antibiotics also arose contemporaneously.
The neuraminidase antigenicity of the circulating influenza A(H3N2) viruses differs from that of a recent A(H3N2) vaccine virus due to three amino acid substitutions, two of which introduce an N-linked glycosylation site that significantly reduces the binding of neuraminidase by antibodies.
A genome-wide transposon screen in Halothiobacillusneapolitanus identifies genes involved in CO2 concentrating mechanisms, of which dabA and dabB encode a heterodimeric complex that works as an energy-coupled inorganic carbon pump. Dab homologues exist in multiple archaea and bacteria, including pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis and Vibrio cholerae.
The cephamycin group of β-lactam antibiotics targets sporulation-associated penicillin-binding proteins across pathogens and can be repurposed as a cost-effective strategy to treat recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.
A survey of the cellular RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that interact with dengue virus and Zika virus genomic RNA identifies ribosome-binding protein 1 and vigilin as bona fide RBPs able to promote viral RNA translation, replication and stability.
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the antifeeding prophage AFP from Serratia entomophila elucidate the interactions between the different components of this multiprotein contractile injection system and provide insights into its mechanism of contraction and toxin delivery.
Single-cell viral tagging was used to identify uncharacterized bacterial host–phage pairs present in the human faecal microbiome, revealing a lack of phages targeting more than one host species and a high level of cross-reactivity between hosts and phages from different subjects, despite subject-specific pairings, which could have implications for faecal microbiota transplants.
An analysis of mRNA modifications in Plasmodium falciparum reveals m6A dynamics associated with parasite development within human red blood cells. m6A methylation is regulated by the methyltransferase PfMT-A70 and is linked to mRNA stability or translational efficiency.
Small-angle X-ray scattering and crystal structures of the PA28 proteasome regulator from Plasmodium falciparum, combined with cryo-electron microscopy structures of the 20S proteasome in complex with these regulatory PA28 proteins and molecular dynamics simulations, elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of parasite proteasome degradation.
Genomic and epidemiological analysis of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae across Europe finds increased transmissibility of four clonal lineages, especially between hospitals within countries.
Magnetotactic bacteria must assemble magnetosomes into a linear chain that orients the cell along magnetic fields, yet how spiral bacteria with highly curved surfaces accomplish this is unclear. Here, MamY is shown to assemble into linear structures that serve as a scaffold for magnetosomes in magnetotactic spirilla.
In a mouse model of influenza virus infection, inflammatory dendritic cells are recruited to the infected trachea. Their activation through the C-type lectin receptor SIGN-R1 stimulates recruitment of natural killer cells and contributes to the control of viral replication.
Survival of epithelial club cells to influenza A virus infection depends on the ability of the DNA mismatch repair pathway to repair virus-induced oxidative damage and to promote the transcriptional induction of host antiviral genes.
Phylogeographical genomic analysis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae uncovers its recent emergence and current distribution into two distinct lineages that are differentially associated with antibiotic resistance and sexual networks.
Elevated concentrations of the lipid 12,13-diHOME in neonatal faeces is associated with childhood atopy and asthma. Here, the authors identify bacterial epoxide hydrolase genes that produce this lipid, are more abundant in the gut microbiota of neonates who develop atopy and/or asthma and are associated with diminished immune tolerance.
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii secretes a virulence factor, the kinase ROP17 that modulates Rho–ROCK signalling in the infected host cell, enhancing monocyte motility on the surface of endothelial cells and inhibiting transmigration across endothelial barriers.
A machine learning approach was used to recover over 10,000 inovirus-like sequences from existing microbial genomes and metagenomes, consequently proposing the reclassification of the Inoviridae family to a viral order, and uncover the previously unrecognized diversity of these viruses across hosts and environments.