This study evaluated the combined effect of foliar spray inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and nitrogen doses on the yield, development, and nutritive value of Megathyrsus ...maximus cv. BRS Zuri. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications, with repeated measures in time. Foliar inoculation of two bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5 (CNPSo 2083) and Ab-V6 (CNPSo 2084) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (CNPSo 2799)) and 40 and 80 kg hasup.−1 N (urea) rates, in addition to the control (without inoculation and N fertilization), were applied. In the rainy season, at the level of 40 kg hasup.−1 of N, inoculation of both A. brasilense and P. fluorescens increased, respectively, the tiller number by 33% and 25% (22 February), and the N accumulated in tissues by 42% and 25% (22 January), while in the previous year (21 February) the beneficial effects of both bacteria were observed in the percentage of leaf blade and in the true digestibility in vitro. When the foliar spray was inoculated with A. brasilense Ab-V5 and Ab-V6 and P. fluorescens CNPSo 2799, with 80 kg N hasup.−1, the root system of Zuri grass increased by 61% and 30%, respectively.
Bacterial sensing mechanism revealed Ray, L Bryan
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science),
2017-Jun-09, 2017-06-09, 20170609, Letnik:
356, Številka:
6342
Journal Article
Summary
Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are versatile multiprotein nanomachines spanning the entire cell envelope in Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. They play important roles through the ...contact‐dependent secretion of effector molecules into eukaryotic hosts and conjugative transfer of mobile DNA elements as well as contact‐independent exchange of DNA with the extracellular milieu. In the last few years, many details on the molecular mechanisms of T4SSs have been elucidated. Exciting structures of T4SS complexes from Escherichia coli plasmids R388 and pKM101, Helicobacter pylori and Legionella pneumophila have been solved. The structure of the F‐pilus was also reported and surprisingly revealed a filament composed of pilin subunits in 1:1 stoichiometry with phospholipid molecules. Many new T4SSs have been identified and characterized, underscoring the structural and functional diversity of this secretion superfamily. Complex regulatory circuits also have been shown to control T4SS machine production in response to host cell physiological status or a quorum of bacterial recipient cells in the vicinity. Here, we summarize recent advances in our knowledge of ‘paradigmatic’ and emerging systems, and further explore how new basic insights are aiding in the design of strategies aimed at suppressing T4SS functions in bacterial infections and spread of antimicrobial resistances.
Type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are highly sophisticated nanomachines in the cell envelope of many bacteria. They exhibit crucial roles during infection of humans by the secretion of effector proteins, conjugative transfer of DNA and exchange of DNA with the extracellular environment. In this MicroReview, we summarize recent progress on T4SS composition, assembly and structure and highlight how basic understanding of their functions is aiding in the design of novel strategies for antimicrobial therapies.
Bacterial cells are surrounded by a polymer known as peptidoglycan (PG), which protects the cell from changes in osmotic pressure and small molecule insults. A component of this material, ...N-acetyl-muramic acid (NAM), serves as a core structural element for innate immune recognition of PG fragments. We report the synthesis of modifiable NAM carbohydrate derivatives and the installation of these building blocks into the backbone of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial PG utilizing metabolic cell wall recycling and biosynthetic machineries. Whole cells are labelled via click chemistry and visualized using super-resolution microscopy, revealing higher resolution PG structural details and allowing the cell wall biosynthesis, as well as its destruction in immune cells, to be tracked. This study will assist in the future identification of mechanisms that the immune system uses to recognize bacteria, glean information about fundamental cell wall architecture and aid in the design of novel antibiotics.
Vaginal bacterial communities are thought to help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common clinical syndrome in which the protective lactic acid-producing ...bacteria (mainly species of the Lactobacillus genus) are supplanted by a diverse array of anaerobic bacteria. Epidemiologically, BV has been shown to be an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including preterm birth, development of pelvic inflammatory disease, and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Longitudinal studies of the vaginal microbiome using molecular techniques such as 16S ribosomal DNA analysis may lead to interventions that shift the vaginal microbiota toward more protective states.
The spread of pathogenic and food spoilage microorganisms through the food chain still faces major mitigation challenges, despite modern advances. Although multiple cleaning and disinfection ...procedures are available for microbial load reduction in food-related settings, microbes can still remain on surfaces, equipment, or machinery, especially if they have the ability to form biofilms. The present study assessed the biofilm-forming properties of pure and mixed cultures of foodborne and spoilage bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Aeromonas hydrophila, Brochothrix thermosphacta), using polystyrene and stainless steel contact surfaces. Subsequently, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of Thymus vulgaris and Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oils—EOs—were evaluated against these bacteria. Moreover, in silico prediction of the absorption and toxicity values of the EOs’ major constituents was also performed, perceiving the putative application in food-related settings. Overall, biofilm formation was observed for all microbes under study, at different temperatures and both contact surfaces. In polystyrene, at 25 °C, when comparing pure with mixed cultures, the combination Listeria–Aeromonas achieved the highest biofilm biomass. Moreover, at 4 °C, increased biofilm formation was detected in stainless steel. Regarding thyme, this EO showed promising antimicrobial features (especially against A. hydrophila, with a MIC of 0.60 µg/µL) and antibiofilm abilities (MBEC of 110.79 µg/µL against L. monocytogenes, a major concern in food settings). As for lemongrass EO, the highest antimicrobial activity, with a MIC of 0.49 µg/µL, was also observed against L. monocytogenes. Overall, despite promising results, the in situ effectiveness of these essential oils, alone or in combination with other antimicrobial compounds, should be further explored.
Broad antibacterial spectrum, high oral bioavailability and excellent tissue penetration combined with safety and few, yet rare, unwanted effects, have made the quinolones class of antimicrobials one ...of the most used in inpatients and outpatients. Initially discovered during the search for improved chloroquine-derivative molecules with increased anti-malarial activity, today the quinolones, intended as antimicrobials, comprehend four generations that progressively have been extending antimicrobial spectrum and clinical use. The quinolone class of antimicrobials exerts its antimicrobial actions through inhibiting DNA gyrase and Topoisomerase IV that in turn inhibits synthesis of DNA and RNA. Good distribution through different tissues and organs to treat Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have made quinolones a good choice to treat disease in both humans and animals. The extensive use of quinolones, in both human health and in the veterinary field, has induced a rise of resistance and menace with leaving the quinolones family ineffective to treat infections. This review revises the evolution of quinolones structures, biological activity, and the clinical importance of this evolving family. Next, updated information regarding the mechanism of antimicrobial activity is revised. The veterinary use of quinolones in animal productions is also considered for its environmental role in spreading resistance. Finally, considerations for the use of quinolones in human and veterinary medicine are discussed.
The enormous prevalence of tailed DNA bacteriophages on this planet is enabled by highly efficient self-assembly of hundreds of protein subunits into highly stable capsids. These capsids can stand ...with an internal pressure as high as ~50 atmospheres as a result of the phage DNA-packaging process. Here we report the complete atomic model of the headful DNA-packaging bacteriophage Sf6 at 2.9 A resolution determined by electron cryo-microscopy. The structure reveals the DNA-inflated, tensed state of a robust protein shell assembled via noncovalent interactions. Remarkable global conformational polymorphism of capsid proteins, a network formed by extended N arms, mortise-and-tenon-like intercapsomer joints, and abundant beta -sheet-like mainchain:mainchain intermolecular interactions, confers significant strength yet also flexibility required for capsid assembly and DNA packaging. Differential formations of the hexon and penton are mediated by a drastic a-helix-to- beta -strand structural transition. The assembly scheme revealed here may be common among tailed DNA phages and herpesviruses.
: In this study, the antibacterial activity and mechanism of action of chlorogenic acid against bacteria were assessed. The data from minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values showed that ...chlorogenic acid effectively inhibited the growth of all tested bacterial pathogens, and the MIC values were ranging from 20 to 80 μg/mL. An investigation into action mode of chlorogenic acid against the pathogen indicated that chlorogenic acid significantly increased the outer and plasma membrane permeability, resulting in the loss of the barrier function, even inducing slight leakage of nucleotide. The leakage of cytoplasmic contents was also observed by electron micrographs. These results supported our hypothesis that chlorogenic acid bound to the outer membrane, disrupted the membrane, exhausted the intracellular potential, and released cytoplasm macromolecules, which led to cell death.
The microbial cell wall is essential for maintenance of cell shape and resistance to external stressors
. The primary structural component of the cell wall is peptidoglycan, a glycopolymer with ...peptide crosslinks located outside of the cell membrane
. Peptidoglycan biosynthesis and structure are responsive to shifting environmental conditions such as pH and salinity
, but the mechanisms underlying such adaptations are incompletely understood. Precursors of peptidoglycan and other cell surface glycopolymers are synthesized in the cytoplasm and then delivered across the cell membrane bound to the recyclable lipid carrier undecaprenyl phosphate
(C55-P, also known as UndP). Here we identify the DUF368-containing and DedA transmembrane protein families as candidate C55-P translocases, filling a critical gap in knowledge of the proteins required for the biogenesis of microbial cell surface polymers. Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria lacking their cognate DUF368-containing protein exhibited alkaline-dependent cell wall and viability defects, along with increased cell surface C55-P levels. pH-dependent synthetic genetic interactions between DUF368-containing proteins and DedA family members suggest that C55-P transporter usage is dynamic and modulated by environmental inputs. C55-P transporter activity was required by the cholera pathogen for growth and cell shape maintenance in the intestine. We propose that conditional transporter reliance provides resilience in lipid carrier recycling, bolstering microbial fitness both inside and outside the host.
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