A5079779916- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Polydiacetylene-based materials and applications
- Plant Virus Research Studies
University of South Florida
2017-2024
National Cancer Institute
2011-2018
National Institutes of Health
2011-2018
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
2012-2018
University of Houston
2007-2010
ABSTRACT The assembly of the cell division machinery at midcell is a critical step cytokinesis. Many rod-shaped bacteria position septa using nucleoid occlusion, which prevents over chromosome, and Min system, near poles. Here we examined in vivo Bacillus subtilis MinCD targeting proteins DivIVA, peripheral membrane protein that preferentially localizes to negatively curved membranes resembles eukaryotic tropomyosins, MinJ, recruits DivIVA. We used structured illumination microscopy...
Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was intensively studied because of packing small molecules and polymers; however, mid-molecular-weight (1000–3000) molecular scaffold containing a precise number AIE luminogens is rare. Herein, we report the investigation three tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-modified sulfono-γ-AApeptides in which multiple TPE moieties are conjugated to chiral right-handed helical peptidomimetic backbone as functional side chains. The crystal structure TPE-α/sulfono-γ-AA peptide...
Abstract Nested concentric structures widely exist in nature and designed systems with circles, polygons, polyhedra, spheres sharing the same center or axis. It still remains challenging to construct discrete nested architecture at (supra)molecular level. Herein, three generations ( G2 − G4 ) of giant supramolecules, Kandinsky have been assembled molecular weight 17,964, 27,713 38,352 Da, respectively. In ligand preparation, consecutive condensation between precursors primary amines pyrylium...
Bacillus spores are notoriously resistant to unfavorable conditions such as UV radiation, gamma-radiation, H2O2, desiccation, chemical disinfection, or starvation. pumilus SAFR-032 survives standard decontamination procedures of the Jet Propulsion Lab spacecraft assembly facility, and both vegetative cells this strain exhibit elevated resistance radiation H2O2 compared other species.The genome B. was sequenced annotated. Lists genes relevant DNA repair oxidative stress response were...
Three dimensional (3D) supramolecules with giant cavities are attractive due to their wide range of applications. Herein, we used pentatopic terpyridine ligands three types coordination moieties assemble two supramolecular hexagonal prisms a molecular weight up 42 608 and 43 569 Da, respectively. Within the prisms, double-rimmed Kandinsky Circles serve as base surfaces well templates for assisting self-sorting during self-assembly. Additionally, hierarchical self-assembly these into...
Binary fission has been well studied in rod-shaped bacteria, but the mechanisms underlying cell division spherical bacteria are poorly understood. Rod-shaped harbor regulatory proteins that place and remodel machinery during cytokinesis. In human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, we found essential protein GpsB localizes to mid-cell co-constricts with machinery. Depletion of arrested led lysis, whereas overproduction inhibited formation enlarged cells. We report S. aureus GpsB, unlike other...
In the Firmicutes phylum, GpsB is a membrane associated protein that coordinates peptidoglycan synthesis with cell growth and division. Although has been studied in several bacteria, structure, function, interactome of Staphylococcus aureus largely uncharacterized. To address this knowledge gap, we solved crystal structure N-terminal domain S. GpsB, which adopts an atypical, asymmetric dimer, demonstrates major conformational flexibility can be mapped to hinge region formed by three-residue...
ABSTRACT Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis is controlled by a complex gene regulatory circuit that activated upon nutrient deprivation. The initial process directed the phosphorelay, involving major sporulation histidine kinase (KinA) and two additional phosphotransferases (Spo0F Spo0B), activates master transcription factor Spo0A. Little known about event mechanisms trigger sporulation. Using strain which synthesis of KinA under control an IPTG (isopropyl-β- d...
Sporulation in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis is a developmental program which progenitor cell differentiates into two different types, smaller of eventually becomes dormant called spore. The process begins with an asymmetric division event, followed by activation transcription factor, σF, specifically cell. Here, we show that structural protein DivIVA localizes to polar septum during sporulation and required for compartment-specific σF. Both events are known require SpoIIE, also septum. We...
Monitoring the extracellular environment for danger signals is a critical aspect of cellular survival. However, released by dying bacteria and mechanisms use threat assessment remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that lysis Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells releases polyamines are subsequently taken up surviving via mechanism relies on Gac/Rsm signaling. While intracellular spike in cells, duration this varies according to infection status cell. In bacteriophage-infected maintained at high...
Bacterial cell division is a complex and highly regulated process requiring the coordination of many different proteins. Despite substantial work in model organisms, our understanding systems regulating noncanonical including critical human pathogens, far from complete. One such organism Staphylococcus aureus, spherical bacterium that lacks known regulatory Recent studies on GpsB, protein conserved within Firmicutes phylum, have provided insight into regulation S. aureus other related...
Abstract Treatment with β-lactam antibiotics, particularly cephalosporins, is a major risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infection. These broad-spectrum antibiotics irreversibly inhibit penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are serine-based enzymes that assemble the bacterial cell wall. However, C. has four different PBPs (PBP1-3 and SpoVD) various roles in growth spore formation, their specific links to resistance this pathogen underexplored. Here, we show PBP2 (known be essential...
Upon nutrient starvation, the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis switches from growth to sporulation by activating a multicomponent phosphorelay consisting of major sensor histidine kinase (KinA), two phosphotransferases (Spo0F and Spo0B) response regulator (Spo0A). Although primary signal(s) produced under starvation conditions is not known, it believed that reception on results in activation autophosphorylation enzyme. The phosphorylated transfers phosphate group Spo0A via thus...
In this article we describe two techniques for exploring the relationship between bacterial cell shape and intracellular organization of proteins. First, created microchannels in a layer agarose to reshape live cells predictably control their mean wall curvature, quantified influence curvature on localization distribution proteins vivo. Second, used microchambers bacteria whose had been chemically enzymatically removed. By combining microstructures with different geometries fluorescence...
Abstract Through continuous efforts in developing a new class of foldamers, homogeneous sulfono‐γ‐AApeptides have been designed and synthesized using tetraphenylethylene (TPE) moieties attached to the backbone as luminogenic sidechains. Based on previous crystal structures, it is found that these foldamers adopted left‐handed 4 14 ‐helix. Due constraint helical scaffold, rotation TPE restricted, leading fluorescent emissive properties with high quantum yields not only at aggregate state but...
Sensor histidine kinases are widely used by bacteria to detect and respond environmental signals. In Bacillus subtilis, KinA is a major kinase providing phosphate input the phosphorelay that activates sporulation pathway upon starvation via phosphorylated Spo0A transcription factor. contains three PAS domains in its amino-terminal sensor domain, which appear be involved sensing of an unidentified signal(s) produced starvation. Prior biochemical studies have suggested forms homodimer as...
By microscopic analysis of fluorescent-labeled GalR, a regulon-specific transcription factor in Escherichia coli , we observed that GalR is present the cell as aggregates (one to three fluorescent foci per cell) nongrowing cells. To investigate whether these represent GalR-mediated association some specific DNA binding sites ( gal operators), used chromosome conformation capture (3C) method vivo. Our 3C data demonstrate that, stationary phase cells, many operators distributed around are...
Staphylococcus aureus is a public health threat due to the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and capacity this organism infect numerous organs in vertebrates. To generate energy needed proliferate within tissues, S. transitions between aerobic respiration fermentation. Fermentation results distinct colony morphology called small-colony variant (SCV) decreased membrane potential ATP production. These traits promote increased aminoglycoside antibiotics. Consequently, SCVs are associated with...
Bacteria adapt to different environments by regulating cell division and several conditions that modulate have been documented. Understanding how bacteria transduce environmental signals control is critical comprehend the global network of regulation. In this article we describe a role for Bacillus subtilis YpsA, an uncharacterized protein SLOG superfamily nucleotide ligand-binding proteins, in division. We observed YpsA provides protection against oxidative stress as cells lacking ypsA show...
Investigations of factors influencing cell division and shape in bacteria are commonly performed conjunction with high-resolution fluorescence microscopy as observations made at a population level may not truly reflect what occurs single level. Live-cell timelapse allows investigators to monitor the changes or morphology which provide valuable insights regarding subcellular localization proteins timing gene expression, it happens, potentially aid answering important biological questions....