A5041680234- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Carbohydrate Chemistry and Synthesis
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Studies on Chitinases and Chitosanases
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Ocular Infections and Treatments
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
Indiana University Bloomington
2016-2025
Indiana University
2019-2025
University of Birmingham
2023
Johns Hopkins University
2023
Tufts University
2013-2020
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2013-2017
University of Pennsylvania
2011-2014
Pediatrics and Genetics
2010
Johnson & Johnson (United States)
2010
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
2007
Elucidating a bacterial sense of touch Bacteria can adhere to surfaces within the host. This leads tissue colonization, induction virulence, and eventually formation biofilms—multicellular communities that resist antibiotics clearance by immune system (see Perspective Hughes Berg). Hug et al. show bacteria have allows them change their behavior rapidly when encountering surfaces. tactile sensing makes use inner components flagellum, rotary motor powered proton motif force facilitates...
Significance The ability to generate mutants is essential in microbiology research. Although methods have been developed for making defined single mutations bacterial genomes, simultaneously generating multiple (i.e., multiplex genome editing) limited model species such as Escherichia coli . Diverse microbial the take up exogenous DNA naturally and integrate it into their genome, a process known “natural transformation.” natural transformation has exploited mutations, not used previously...
Vibrio cholerae is naturally competent when grown on chitin. It known that expression of the major regulator competence, TfoX, controlled by chitin; however, molecular mechanisms underlying this requirement for chitin have remained unclear. In present study, we identify and characterize a membrane-bound transcriptional positively regulates small RNA (sRNA) TfoR, which posttranscriptionally enhances tfoX translation. We show regulation tfoR promoter direct performing electrophoretic mobility...
Vibrio natriegens has recently emerged as an alternative to Escherichia coli for molecular biology and biotechnology, but low-efficiency genetic tools hamper its development. Here, we uncover how induce natural competence in V. describe methods multiplex genome editing by transformation (MuGENT). MuGENT promotes integration of multiple edits at high-efficiency on unprecedented time scales. Also, this method allows generating highly complex mutant populations, which can be exploited metabolic...
Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is a newly emerging shrimp that has severely damaged the global industry. AHPND caused by toxic strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus have acquired "selfish plasmid" encoding deadly binary toxins PirAvp/PirBvp To better understand repertoire virulence factors in AHPND-causing V. parahaemolyticus, we conducted comparative analysis using genome sequences clinical strain RIMD2210633 and environmental non-AHPND isolates Interestingly, found all...
Abstract Biofilm formation by Vibrio cholerae facilitates environmental persistence, and hyperinfectivity within the host. is regulated 3’,5’-cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) requires production of type IV mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA) pilus. Here, we show that MSHA pilus a dynamic extendable retractable system, its activity directly controlled c-di-GMP. The interaction between c-di-GMP ATPase MshE promotes extension, whereas low levels correlate with enhanced retraction. Loss...
Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a major human pathogen and leading cause of inflammatory infections such as pneumonia otitis media. An important mechanism for host defense against S. opsonophagocytic killing by neutrophils. To persist in the host, pneumococcus has developed strategies to evade opsonization subsequent neutrophil-mediated killing. Utilizing genomic approach, we identified NanA, pneumococcal neuraminidase, factor resistance ex vivo assays using The effect NanA...
Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), a common commensal of the human pharynx, is also an opportunistic pathogen if it becomes established in lower respiratory tract (LRT). In comparison to colonizing isolates from upper airway, LRT isolates, especially those associated with exacerbations chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have increased resistance complement- and antibody-dependent, bactericidal effect serum. To define molecular basis this resistance, mutants constructed serum...
Bacterial type IV pili are critical for diverse biological processes including horizontal gene transfer, surface sensing, biofilm formation, adherence, motility, and virulence. These dynamic appendages extend retract from the cell surface. In many IVa pilus systems, extension occurs through action of an ATPase, often called PilB, while optimal retraction requires a PilT. Many systems also encode homolog PilT PilU. However, function this protein has remained unclear because pilU mutants...
A single ATPase powers extension and retraction of a broadly distributed class type IV pili.
The fate of selenium in the environment is controlled, part, by microbial oxyanion reduction and Se(0) precipitation. In this study, we identified a genetic regulator that controls selenate reductase activity Se-reducing bacterium Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1. Heterologous expression global anaerobic regulatory gene fnr (fumarate nitrate regulator) from E. non-Se-reducing strain Escherichia coli S17-1 activated ability to reduce Se(VI) precipitate insoluble particles. containing occurred at...
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a mucosal pathogen that grows in chains of variable lengths. Short-chain forms are less likely to activate complement, and as consequence they evade opsonophagocytic clearance more effectively during invasive disease. When grown human nasal airway surface fluid, pneumococci exhibited both short- long-chain forms. Here, we determined whether longer provide an advantage colonization when the organism attached epithelial surface. Chain-forming mutants parental strain...
Significance Bacterial pathogens evolve rapidly in the face of clinical interventions and therapeutics; one mechanism that can promote this evolution is their ability to acquire novel DNA sequences, known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Here, we studied HGT isolates Vibrio cholerae , causative agent cholera, found a horizontally transferred element inhibits another HGT—natural transformation. The natural transformation globally distributed among V. isolates. We show, however, there has...
Bacterial cell-surface proteins play integral roles in host-pathogen interactions. These are often architecturally and functionally sophisticated yet few studies of such involved interactions have defined the domains or modules required for specific functions. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), an opportunistic pathogen that is a leading cause community acquired pneumonia, otitis media bacteremia, decorated with many complex surface proteins. include β-galactosidase BgaA, which...
A common mechanism for high affinity carbohydrate uptake in microbial species is the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS). This consists of a shared component, EI, which required all PTS transport, and numerous transporters. In Vibrio cholerae, there are 13 distinct Due to genetic redundancy within this system, specificity each these transporters not currently defined. Here, using multiplex genome editing by natural transformation (MuGENT), we systematically dissect...
Acquisition of foreign DNA by natural transformation is an important mechanism adaptation and evolution in diverse microbial species. Here, we characterize the ComM, a broadly conserved AAA+ protein previously implicated homologous recombination transforming (tDNA) naturally competent Gram-negative bacterial In vivo, found that ComM was required for efficient comigration linked genetic markers Vibrio cholerae Acinetobacter baylyi, which consistent with role branch migration. Also,...
The competence pili of transformable Gram-positive species are phylogenetically related to the diverse and widespread class extracellular filamentous organelles known as type IV pili. In Gram-negative bacteria, act through dynamic cycles extension retraction carry out activities including attachment, motility, protein secretion, DNA uptake. It remains unclear whether in exhibit similar activity, their mechanism action for uptake unclear. They hypothesized either (1) leave transient cavities...
It has been proposed that bacterial membrane proteins may be synthesized and inserted into the by a process known as transertion, which involves association of their encoding genes, followed coupled transcription, translation insertion. Here, we provide evidence supporting pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus uses transertion to assemble its type III secretion system (T3SS2), inject virulence factors host cells. We propose two-step where membrane-bound co-component receptor (VtrA/VtrC) is first...
ABSTRACT Competence type IV pili (T4P) are bacterial surface appendages that facilitate DNA uptake during horizontal gene transfer by natural transformation. These dynamic structures actively extend from the cell surface, bind to in environment, and then retract import bound into cell. T4P found diverse Gram-negative (diderm) Gram-positive (monoderm) species. While mechanism of DNA-binding diderm competence has been recent focus intensive study, relatively little is known about monoderm T4P....
Transcriptional regulators are a broad class of proteins that alter gene expression in response to environmental stimuli. Transmembrane transcriptional (TTRs) subset bacteria can directly regulate while remaining anchored the membrane. Whether this constraint impacts ability TTRs bind their DNA targets remains unclear. Vibrio cholerae uses two TTRs, ChiS and TfoS, activate horizontal transfer by natural transformation chitin inducing tfoR promoter (P ). While TfoS was previously shown P...
ABSTRACT The activities of DNA methyltransferases are important for a variety cellular functions in bacteria. In this study, we developed modified high-throughput technique called methyl h omopolymer t ail m ediated seq uencing (methyl HTM-seq) to identify the undermethylated sites Vibrio cholerae genome two methyltransferases, Dam, an adenine methyltransferase, and VchM, cytosine during growth rich medium vitro . Many occurred intergenic regions, most these sites, identified transcription...