Over time, the knowledge on the role of histones has significantly changed. Initially, histones were only known as DNA packaging proteins but later, it was discovered that they act extracellularly as ...powerful antimicrobial agents and also as potentially self-detrimental agents. Indeed, histones were found to be the most abundant proteins within neutrophil extracellular traps what ultimately highlighted their microbicidal function. In addition, extracellular histones proved to be involved in triggering exacerbated inflammatory and coagulation responses, depending on the cell type affected. Consequently, several investigations were conducted towards studying the potential of histones and their derivatives as either biomarkers or therapeutic target candidates in different diseases in which inflammation and thrombosis have a key pathophysiological role, such as sepsis, thrombosis and different types of cancer.
The main objective of this review is to summarize and discuss the current state of the art with regard to both beneficial and harmful roles of histones and also their possible use as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Fusaric acid (FA) is an important virulence factor produced by several
species. These fungi are responsible for wilt and rot diseases in a diverse range of crops. FA is toxic for animals, humans and ...soil-borne microorganisms. This mycotoxin reduces the survival and competition abilities of bacterial species able to antagonize
spp., due to its negative effects on viability and the production of antibiotics effective against these fungi. FA biodegradation is not a common characteristic among bacteria, and the determinants of FA catabolism have not been identified so far in any microorganism. In this study, we identified genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways involved in the degradation of FA in the soil bacterium
T16. Our results provide insights into the catabolism of a pyridine-derivative involved in plant pathogenesis by a rhizosphere bacterium.
