Publications

update on the use of l-asparaginase in infants and adolescent patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.	great improvements have been made in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) treatment in the past decades, especially due to the use of l-asparaginase (l-asp). despite the significant success rate, several side effects mainly caused by toxicity, asparaginase silent inactivation, and cellular resistance, encourage an open debate regarding the optimal dosage and formulation of l-asp. alternative sources of asparaginases have been constantly investigated in order to overcome hypersensitivity clinical t ...	2014	25210485
x-ray structures of glucl in apo states reveal a gating mechanism of cys-loop receptors.	cys-loop receptors are neurotransmitter-gated ion channels that are essential mediators of fast chemical neurotransmission and are associated with a large number of neurological diseases and disorders, as well as parasitic infections. members of this ion channel superfamily mediate excitatory or inhibitory neurotransmission depending on their ligand and ion selectivity. structural information for cys-loop receptors comes from several sources including electron microscopic studies of the nicotini ...	2014	25143115
glutamine depletion by crisantaspase hinders the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts.	a subset of human hepatocellular carcinomas (hcc) exhibit mutations of β-catenin gene ctnnb1 and overexpress glutamine synthetase (gs). the ctnnb1-mutated hcc cell line hepg2 is sensitive to glutamine starvation induced in vitro with the antileukemic drug crisantaspase and the gs inhibitor methionine-l-sulfoximine (mso).	2014	25072259
allosteric regulation of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels: an emerging mechanistic perspective.	pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (plgics) play a central role in intercellular communications in the nervous system by converting the binding of a chemical messenger—a neurotransmitter—into an ion flux through the postsynaptic membrane. they are oligomeric assemblies that provide prototypical examples of allosterically regulated integral membrane proteins. here, we present an overview of the most recent advances on the signal transduction mechanism based on the x-ray structures of both proka ...	2014	25478624
side-chain conformation at the selectivity filter shapes the permeation free-energy landscape of an ion channel.	on the basis of single-channel currents recorded from the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (achr), we have recently hypothesized that the conformation adopted by the glutamate side chains at the first turn of the pore-lining α-helices is a key determinant of the rate of ion permeation. in this paper, we set out to test these ideas within a framework of atomic detail and stereochemical rigor by conducting all-atom molecular dynamics and brownian dynamics simulations on an extensively valid ...	2014	25049389
assembly of the type two secretion system in aeromonas hydrophila involves direct interaction between the periplasmic domains of the assembly factor exeb and the secretin exed.	the type two secretion system is a large, trans-envelope apparatus that secretes toxins across the outer membrane of many gram-negative bacteria. in aeromonas hydrophila, exea interacts with peptidoglycan and forms a heteromultimeric complex with exeb that is required for assembly of the exed secretin of the secretion system in the outer membrane. while the peptidoglycan-exeab (pg-ab) complex is required for exed assembly, the assembly mechanism remains unresolved. we analyzed protein-protein in ...	2014	25025769
functions of armigeres subalbatus c-type lectins in innate immunity.	c-type lectins (ctls) are a superfamily of calcium-dependent carbohydrate binding proteins containing at least one carbohydrate-recognition domain (crd) and they are present in almost all metazoans. insect ctls may function as pattern-recognition receptors and play important roles in innate immunity. in this study, we selected five asctls from the mosquito armigeres subalbatus, a natural vector of filarial nematodes, and performed both in vitro and in vivo studies to elucidate their functions in ...	2014	25014898
ligand-binding pocket bridges dna-binding and dimerization domains of the urate-responsive marr homologue mftr from burkholderia thailandensis.	members of the multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (marr) family often regulate gene activity by responding to a specific ligand. in the absence of ligand, most marr proteins function as repressors, while ligand binding causes attenuated dna binding and therefore increased gene expression. previously, we have shown that urate is a ligand for mftr (major facilitator transport regulator), which is encoded by the soil bacterium burkholderia thailandensis. we show here that both mftr and the di ...	2014	24955985
crystallization and preliminary x-ray diffraction analysis of xyn30d from paenibacillus barcinonensis.	xyn30d, a new member of a recently identified group of xylanases, has been purified and crystallized. xyn30d is a bimodular enzyme composed of an n-terminal catalytic domain belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 30 (gh30) and a c-terminal family 35 carbohydrate-binding domain (cbm35) able to bind xylans and glucuronic acid. xyn30d shares the characteristic endo mode of action described for gh30 xylanases, with the hydrolysis of the β-(1,4) bonds of xylan being directed by α-1,2-linked glucuron ...	2014	25005099
iscr is essential for yersinia pseudotuberculosis type iii secretion and virulence.	type iii secretion systems (t3ss) are essential for virulence in dozens of pathogens, but are not required for growth outside the host. therefore, the t3ss of many bacterial species are under tight regulatory control. to increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind t3ss regulation, we performed a transposon screen to identify genes important for t3ss function in the food-borne pathogen yersinia pseudotuberculosis. we identified two unique transposon insertions in yptb2860, a gen ...	2014	24945271
current fda-related drug information: approvals, submission, and important labelingchanges for us marketed pharmaceuticals.		2014	24958975
purification and characterization of a novel and robust l-asparaginase having low-glutaminase activity from bacillus licheniformis: in vitro evaluation of anti-cancerous properties.	l-asparaginase having low glutaminase has been a key therapeutic agent in the treatment of acute lymphpoblastic leukemia (a.l.l). in the present study, an extracellular l-asparaginase with low glutaminase activity, produced by bacillus licheniformis was purified to homogeneity. protein was found to be a homotetramer of 134.8 kda with monomeric size of 33.7 kda and very specific for its natural substrate i.e. l-asparagine. the activity of purified l-asparaginase enhanced in presence of cations in ...	2014	24905227
measurement of subvisible particulates in lyophilised erwinia chrysanthemi l-asparaginase and relationship with clinical experience.	in order to generate further characterisation data for the lyophilised product erwinia chrysanthemi l-asparaginase, reconstituted drug product (dp; marketed as erwinase or erwinaze) was analysed for subvisible (2-10 μm) particulate content using both the light obscuration (lo) method and the newer flow-imaging microscopy (fim) technique. no correlation of subvisible particulate counts exists between fim and lo nor do the counts correlate with activity at both release and on stability. the subvis ...	2014	24854894
genome sequence of the thermotoga thermarum type strain (la3(t)) from an african solfataric spring.	thermotoga thermarum windberger et al. 1989 is a member to the genomically well characterized genus thermotoga in the phylum 'thermotogae'. t. thermarum is of interest for its origin from a continental solfataric spring vs. predominantly marine oil reservoirs of other members of the genus. the genome of strain la3t also provides fresh data for the phylogenomic positioning of the (hyper-)thermophilic bacteria. t. thermarum strain la3(t) is the fourth sequenced genome of a type strain from the gen ...	2014	25197486
genome sequencing and comparative genomics of the broad host-range pathogen rhizoctonia solani ag8.	rhizoctonia solani is a soil-borne basidiomycete fungus with a necrotrophic lifestyle which is classified into fourteen reproductively incompatible anastomosis groups (ags). one of these, ag8, is a devastating pathogen causing bare patch of cereals, brassicas and legumes. r. solani is a multinucleate heterokaryon containing significant heterozygosity within a single cell. this complexity posed significant challenges for the assembly of its genome. we present a high quality genome assembly of r. ...	2014	24810276
principles of agonist recognition in cys-loop receptors.	cys-loop receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by a structurally diverse array of neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, serotonin, glycine, and gaba. after the term "chemoreceptor" emerged over 100 years ago, there was some wait until affinity labeling, molecular cloning, functional studies, and x-ray crystallography experiments identified the extracellular interface of adjacent subunits as the principal site of agonist binding. the question of how subtle differences a ...	2014	24795655
structural and functional diversity of metalloproteinases encoded by the bacteroides fragilis pathogenicity island.	bacteroides fragilis causes the majority of anaerobic infections in humans. the presence of a pathogenicity island in the genome discriminates pathogenic and commensal b. fragilis strains. the island encodes metalloproteinase ii (mpii), a potential virulence protein, and one of three homologous fragilysin isozymes (fra; also termed b. fragilis toxin or bft). here, we report biochemical data on the structural-functional characteristics of the b. fragilis pathogenicity island proteases by reportin ...	2014	24698179
characterization of an archaeal two-component system that regulates methanogenesis in methanosaeta harundinacea.	two-component signal transduction systems (tcss) are a major mechanism used by bacteria in response to environmental changes. although many sequenced archaeal genomes encode tcss, they remain poorly understood. previously, we reported that a methanogenic archaeon, methanosaeta harundinacea, encodes fili, which synthesizes carboxyl-acyl homoserine lactones, to regulate transitions of cellular morphology and carbon metabolic fluxes. here, we report that fili, the cotranscribed filr2, and the adjac ...	2014	24748383
pentameric ligand-gated ion channels : insights from computation.	pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (plgics) conduct upon the binding of an agonist and are fundamental to neurotransmission. new insights into the complex mechanisms underlying plgic gating, ion selectivity, and modulation have recently been gained via a series of crystal structures in prokaryotes and c .elegans, as well as computational studies relying on these structures. here we review contributions from a variety of computational approaches, including normal mode analysis, automated dockin ...	2014	25931676
seeking structural specificity: direct modulation of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels by alcohols and general anesthetics.	alcohols and other anesthetic agents dramatically alter neurologic function in a wide range of organisms, yet their molecular sites of action remain poorly characterized. pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, long implicated in important direct effects of alcohol and anesthetic binding, have recently been illuminated in renewed detail thanks to the determination of atomic-resolution structures of several family members from lower organisms. these structures provide valuable models for understand ...	2014	24515646
atomistic insights into human cys-loop receptors by solution nmr.	cys-loop receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (plgics) mediating fast neurotransmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems. they are important targets for many currently used clinical drugs, such as general anesthetics, and for allosteric modulators with potential therapeutic applications. here, we provide an overview of advances in the use of solution nmr in structural and dynamic characterization of ion channels, particularly human cys-loop receptors. we present challe ...	2014	24680782
atomistic insights into human cys-loop receptors by solution nmr.	cys-loop receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (plgics) mediating fast neurotransmission in the central and peripheral nervous systems. they are important targets for many currently used clinical drugs, such as general anesthetics, and for allosteric modulators with potential therapeutic applications. here, we provide an overview of advances in the use of solution nmr in structural and dynamic characterization of ion channels, particularly human cys-loop receptors. we present challe ...	2014	24680782
a prospective study on drug monitoring of pegasparaginase and erwinia asparaginase and asparaginase antibodies in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.	this study prospectively analyzed the efficacy of very prolonged courses of pegylated escherichia coli asparaginase (pegasparaginase) and erwinia asparaginase in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) patients. patients received 15 pegasparaginase infusions (2500 iu/m(2) every 2 weeks) in intensification after receiving native e coli asparaginase in induction. in case of allergy to or silent inactivation of pegasparaginase, erwinia asparaginase (20 000 iu/m(2) 2-3 times weekly) was given. ...	2014	24449211
structural and kinetic characterization of guinea pig l-asparaginase type iii.	we investigated whether an uncharacterized protein from guinea pig could be the enzyme behind kidd's serendipitous discovery, made over 60 years ago, that guinea pig serum has cell killing ability. it has been long known that an enzyme with l-asparaginase activity is responsible for cell killing, although astonishingly, its identity remains unclear. bacterial asparaginases with similar cell killing properties have since become a mainstay therapy of certain cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leu ...	2014	24669941
human 60-kda lysophospholipase contains an n-terminal l-asparaginase domain that is allosterically regulated by l-asparagine.	the structural and functional characterization of human enzymes that are of potential medical and therapeutic interest is of prime significance for translational research. one of the most notable examples of a therapeutic enzyme is l-asparaginase, which has been established as an antileukemic protein drug for more than four decades. up until now, only bacterial enzymes have been used in therapy despite a plethora of undesired side effects mainly attributed to the bacterial origins of these enzym ...	2014	24657844
biotrophy-specific downregulation of siderophore biosynthesis in colletotrichum graminicola is required for modulation of immune responses of maize.	the hemibiotrophic maize pathogen colletotrichum graminicola synthesizes one intracellular and three secreted siderophores. egfp fusions with the key siderophore biosynthesis gene, sid1, encoding l-ornithine-n(5) -monooxygenase, suggested that siderophore biosynthesis is rigorously downregulated specifically during biotrophic development. in order to investigate the role of siderophores during vegetative development and pathogenesis, sid1, which is required for synthesis of all siderophores, and ...	2014	24674132
molecular recognition of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by an acetylcholine binding protein reveals determinants of binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.	despite extensive studies on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nachrs) and homologues, details of acetylcholine binding are not completely resolved. here, we report the crystal structure of acetylcholine bound to the receptor homologue acetylcholine binding protein from lymnaea stagnalis. this is the first structure of acetylcholine in a binding pocket containing all five aromatic residues conserved in all mammalian nachrs. the ligand-protein interactions are characterized by contacts to the ar ...	2014	24637639
structural and molecular modeling features of p2x receptors.	currently, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (atp) is recognized as the extracellular messenger that acts through p2 receptors. p2 receptors are divided into two subtypes: p2y metabotropic receptors and p2x ionotropic receptors, both of which are found in virtually all mammalian cell types studied. due to the difficulty in studying membrane protein structures by x-ray crystallography or nmr techniques, there is little information about these structures available in the literature. two structures of the ...	2014	24637936
identification of vital and dispensable sulfur utilization factors in the plasmodium apicoplast.	iron-sulfur [fe-s] clusters are ubiquitous and critical cofactors in diverse biochemical processes. they are assembled by distinct [fe-s] cluster biosynthesis pathways, typically in organelles of endosymbiotic origin. apicomplexan parasites, including plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, harbor two separate [fe-s] cluster biosynthesis pathways in the their mitochondrion and apicoplast. in this study, we systematically targeted the five nuclear-encoded sulfur utilization factors (suf) of t ...	2014	24586983
expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary x-ray diffraction analysis of the pectin methylesterase from the sugar cane weevil sphenophorus levis.	pectin methylesterase removes the methyl groups from the main chain of pectin, the major component of the middle lamella of the plant cell wall. the enzyme is involved in plant cell-wall development, is part of the enzymatic arsenal used by microorganisms to attack plants and also has a wide range of applications in the industrial sector. therefore, there is a considerable interest in studies of the structure and function of this enzyme. in this work, the pectin methylesterase from sphenophorus ...	2014	24598920
processive pectin methylesterases: the role of electrostatic potential, breathing motions and bond cleavage in the rectification of brownian motions.	pectin methylesterases (pmes) hydrolyze the methylester groups that are found on the homogalacturonan (hg) chains of pectic polysaccharides in the plant cell wall. plant and bacterial pmes are especially interesting as the resulting de-methylesterified (carboxylated) sugar residues are found to be arranged contiguously, indicating a so-called processive nature of these enzymes. here we report the results of continuum electrostatics calculations performed along the molecular dynamics trajectory o ...	2014	24503943
iscr is a global regulator essential for pathogenesis of vibrio vulnificus and induced by host cells.	a mutant that exhibited less cytotoxic activity toward int-407 human intestinal epithelial cells than the wild type was screened from a random transposon mutant library of vibrio vulnificus, and an open reading frame encoding an fe-s cluster regulator, iscr, was identified using a transposon-tagging method. a mutational analysis demonstrated that iscr contributes to mouse mortality as well as cytotoxicity toward the int-407 cells, indicating that iscr is essential for the pathogenesis of v. vuln ...	2014	24478072
engineering the xylan utilization system in bacillus subtilis for production of acidic xylooligosaccharides.	xylans are the predominant polysaccharides in hemicelluloses and an important potential source of biofuels and chemicals. the ability of bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis strain 168 to utilize xylans has been ascribed to secreted glycoside hydrolase family 11 (gh11) and gh30 endoxylanases, encoded by the xyna and xync genes, respectively. both of these enzymes have been defined with respect to structure and function. in this study, the effects of deletion of the xyna and xync genes, individually ...	2014	24271172
preparation, characterization and antibacterial activity of biodegradable films prepared from carrageenan.	carrageenan films have been formulated as a packaging material. films plasticized with glycerol were loaded with citric acid (1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.1 %) for enhanced antimicrobial effects. blank and citric acid loaded films were characterized by mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle. in addition, swelling and antibacterial studies were conducted to further characterize the films. both blank and citric acid loaded films showed different morphology, high elastici ...	2014	25190889
aspen pectate lyase ptxtpl1-27 mobilizes matrix polysaccharides from woody tissues and improves saccharification yield.	wood cell walls are rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. hence, they are important sources of renewable biomass for producing energy and green chemicals. however, extracting desired constituents from wood efficiently poses significant challenges because these polymers are highly cross-linked in cell walls and are not easily accessible to enzymes and chemicals.	2014	24450583
baulamycins a and b, broad-spectrum antibiotics identified as inhibitors of siderophore biosynthesis in staphylococcus aureus and bacillus anthracis.	siderophores are high-affinity iron chelators produced by microorganisms and frequently contribute to the virulence of human pathogens. targeted inhibition of the biosynthesis of siderophores staphyloferrin b of staphylococcus aureus and petrobactin of bacillus anthracis hold considerable potential as a single or combined treatment for methicillin-resistant s. aureus (mrsa) and anthrax infection, respectively. the biosynthetic pathways for both siderophores involve a nonribosomal peptide synthet ...	2014	24401083
molecular interactions between mecamylamine enantiomers and the transmembrane domain of the human α4β2 nicotinic receptor.	to characterize the binding sites of mecamylamine enantiomers on the transmembrane domain (tmd) of human (h) (α4)3(β2)2 and (α4)2(β2)3 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (achrs), we used nuclear magnetic resonance (nmr), molecular docking, and radioligand binding approaches. the interactions of (s)-(+)- and (r)-(-)-mecamylamine with several residues, determined by high-resolution nmr, within the hα4β2-tmd indicate different modes of binding at several luminal (l) and nonluminal (nl) sites. in gen ...	2014	24437521
hepatomegaly and fever at the time of neutrophil recovery revealing l-asparaginase toxicity in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.	male, 52 final diagnosis: l-asparaginase associated steatohepatitis and pulmonary pneumocystis symptoms: cholestasis • hepatomegaly	2014	24454976
development of asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.	since it was identified in 1963 as the antileukemic agent in guinea pig serum, l-asparaginase (asnase) has become an integral component of chemotherapy protocols to treat patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all). escherichia coli and erwinia chrysanthemi provide the sources of asnase used clinically today. from the time asnase was first introduced into treatment protocols, the 5-year survival rate has increased significantly, particularly in children and adolescents. e. coli-derived asna ...	2014	25098829
how to manage asparaginase hypersensitivity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.	outcomes for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) have improved significantly in recent decades, primarily due to dose-intensified, multi-agent chemotherapy regimens, of which asparaginase has played a prominent role. despite this success, hypersensitivity remains a significant problem, often requiring the termination of asparaginase. failure to complete the entire asparaginase therapy course due to clinical hypersensitivity, subclinical hypersensitivity (i.e., silent inactivation), ...	2014	24983955
efficient extracellular production of type i secretion pathway-dependent pseudomonas fluorescens lipase in recombinant escherichia coli by heterologous abc protein exporters.	heterologous abc protein exporters, the apparatus of type i secretion pathway in gram-negative bacteria, were used for extracellular production of pseudomonas fluorescens lipase (tlia) in recombinant escherichia coli. the effect of the expression of different abc protein exporter gene clusters (p. fluorescens tlidef, pseudomonas aeruginosa aprdef, erwinia chrysanthemi prtdef, and serratia marcescens lipbcd genes) was examined on the secretion of tlia at growth temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35 ° ...	2014	24930103
structure of the oligogalacturonate-specific kdgm porin.	the phytopathogenic gram-negative bacterium dickeya dadantii (erwinia chrysanthemi) feeds on plant cell walls by secreting pectinases and utilizing the oligogalacturanate products. an outer membrane porin, kdgm, is indispensable for the uptake of these acidic oligosaccharides. here, the crystal structure of kdgm determined to 1.9 å resolution is presented. kdgm is folded into a regular 12-stranded antiparallel β-barrel with a circular cross-section defining a transmembrane pore with a minimal ra ...	2014	24914987
recombinant deamidated mutants of erwinia chrysanthemi l-asparaginase have similar or increased activity compared to wild-type enzyme.	the enzyme erwinia chrysanthemi l-asparaginase (era) is an important biopharmaceutical product used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. like all proteins, certain asparagine (asn) residues of era are susceptible to deamidation to aspartic acid (asp), which may be a concern with respect to enzyme activity and potentially to pharmaceutical efficacy. recombinant era mutants containing asn to asp changes were expressed, purified and characterised. two mutants with single deamidation s ...	2014	24870616
pharmacology, immunogenicity, and efficacy of a novel pegylated recombinant erwinia chrysanthemi-derived l-asparaginase.	bacterial l-asparaginase (asnase), hydrolyzing l-asparagine (asn), is an indispensable component used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) and certain lymphoma entities. native erwinia chrysanthemi-derived asnase (n-crisantaspase) has been approved as a second-line drug for treating patients exhibiting allergy syndromes to native and pegylated escherichia coli-derived asnase (ec-asnase). however, it still induces hypersensitivity in at least 17 % of treated patients. in the pre ...	2014	24829072
dickeya aquatica sp. nov., isolated from waterways.	pectinolytic gram-negative bacteria were isolated from different waterways in the uk and finland. three strains (174/2(t), 181/2 and dw054) had the same 16s rrna gene sequences which shared 99% sequence similarity to species of the genus dickeya, and a phylogeny of related genera confirmed attribution to this genus. fatty acid profile analysis of all three strains found a high proportion of c16 : 1ω7c/c16 : 1ω7c and c16 : 0 fatty acids, and library profile searches found closest matches to dicke ...	2014	24719023
regulators involved in dickeya solani virulence, genetic conservation, and functional variability.	bacteria from the genus dickeya (formerly erwinia chrysanthemi) are plant pathogens causing severe diseases in many economically important crops. a majority of the strains responsible for potato disease in europe belong to a newly identified dickeya solani species. although some ecological and epidemiological studies have been carried out, little is known about the regulation of d. solani virulence. the characterization of four d. solani strains indicates significant differences in their virulen ...	2014	24625032
asparaginase in the treatment of non-all hematologic malignancies.	asparaginases are among the most effective agents against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) and are food and drug administration-approved for the treatment of pediatric and adult all. however, the efficacy of these drugs for the treatment of other hematologic malignancies particularly acute myeloid leukemia is not well established. the mechanism of action of asparaginases has thought to be related to a swift and sustained reduction in serum l-asparagine, which is required for rapid proliferatio ...	2014	24515335
impact of clinical and subclinical hypersensitivity to asparaginase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.	asparaginase is an essential element of acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment. it depletes serum asparagine (an amino acid necessary for synthesis of cellular proteins), deprives leukemic blast cells of asparagine, and eventually results in cell death. to gain benefit from asparaginase, asparagine depletion must be ensured by giving intensive therapy and completing the full course of treatment. three formulations of asparaginase exist; two are derived from escherichia coli, a native form and pe ...	2014	25427712
new developments in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.	acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) occurs in both children and adults. significant improvements in survival outcomes have been realized over the last decade for all age groups with de novo all. frontline treatment incorporates a tailored approach, based on factors such as the patient’s age and the disease subtype. children, adolescents, and young adults are likely to receive intensifying or deintensifying chemotherapy regimens using standard chemotherapeutics (eg, anthracyclines, vincristine, as ...	2014	25768275
insights into the binding of gaba to the insect rdl receptor from atomistic simulations: a comparison of models.	the resistance to dieldrin (rdl) receptor is an insect pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (plgic). it is activated by the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (gaba) binding to its extracellular domain; hence elucidating the atomistic details of this interaction is important for understanding how the rdl receptor functions. as no high resolution structures are currently available, we built homology models of the extracellular domain of the rdl receptor using different templates, including the w ...	2014	24442887
safety profile of asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi in a large compassionate-use trial.	l-asparaginase is an integral component of standard chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all). clinical hypersensitivity, a common reason for treatment discontinuation, has been reported in 10-30% of patients receiving escherichia coli-derived asparaginase. after hypersensitivity, e. coli-derived asparaginase should be discontinued and an alternative asparaginase preparation, such as asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi, may be initiated. we conducted a compassio ...	2014	24436152
dickeya solani sp. nov., a pectinolytic plant-pathogenic bacterium isolated from potato (solanum tuberosum).	pectinolytic bacteria have been recently isolated from diseased potato plants exhibiting blackleg and slow wilt symptoms found in a number of european countries and israel. these gram-reaction-negative, motile, rods were identified as belonging to the genus dickeya, previously the pectobacterium chrysanthemi complex (erwinia chrysanthemi), on the basis of production of a pcr product with the pelade primers, 16s rrna gene sequence analysis, fatty acid methyl esterase analysis, the production of p ...	2014	24225027
activation and identification of five clusters for secondary metabolites in streptomyces albus j1074.	streptomyces albus j1074 is a streptomycete strain widely used as a host for expression of secondary metabolite gene clusters. bioinformatic analysis of the genome of this organism predicts the presence of 27 gene clusters for secondary metabolites. we have used three different strategies for the activation of some of these silent/cryptic gene clusters in s. albus j1074: two hybrid polyketide-non-ribosomal peptides (pk-nrp) (antimycin and 6-epi-alteramides), a type i pk (candicidin), a non-ribos ...	2014	24593309
photoaffinity labeling the propofol binding site in glic.	propofol, an intravenous general anesthetic, produces many of its anesthetic effects in vivo by potentiating the responses of gaba type a receptors (gabaar), members of the superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (plgics) that contain anion-selective channels. propofol also inhibits plgics containing cation-selective channels, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and glic, a prokaryotic proton-gated homologue from gloeobacter violaceus . in the structure of glic cocrystallized ...	2014	24341978
photoaffinity labeling the propofol binding site in glic.	propofol, an intravenous general anesthetic, produces many of its anesthetic effects in vivo by potentiating the responses of gaba type a receptors (gabaar), members of the superfamily of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (plgics) that contain anion-selective channels. propofol also inhibits plgics containing cation-selective channels, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and glic, a prokaryotic proton-gated homologue from gloeobacter violaceus . in the structure of glic cocrystallized ...	2014	24341978
exceptionally widespread nanomachines composed of type iv pilins: the prokaryotic swiss army knives.	prokaryotes have engineered sophisticated surface nanomachines that have allowed them to colonize earth and thrive even in extreme environments. filamentous machineries composed of type iv pilins, which are associated with an amazing array of properties ranging from motility to electric conductance, are arguably the most widespread since distinctive proteins dedicated to their biogenesis are found in most known species of prokaryotes. several decades of investigations, starting with type iv pili ...	2014	25793961
exceptionally widespread nanomachines composed of type iv pilins: the prokaryotic swiss army knives.	prokaryotes have engineered sophisticated surface nanomachines that have allowed them to colonize earth and thrive even in extreme environments. filamentous machineries composed of type iv pilins, which are associated with an amazing array of properties ranging from motility to electric conductance, are arguably the most widespread since distinctive proteins dedicated to their biogenesis are found in most known species of prokaryotes. several decades of investigations, starting with type iv pili ...	2014	25793961
outside-in assembly pathway of the type iv pilus system in myxococcus xanthus.	type iv pili (t4p) are ubiquitous bacterial cell surface structures that undergo cycles of extension, adhesion, and retraction. t4p function depends on a highly conserved envelope-spanning macromolecular machinery consisting of 10 proteins that localizes polarly in myxococcus xanthus. using this localization, we investigated the entire t4p machinery assembly pathway by systematically profiling the stability of all and the localization of eight of these proteins in the absence of other t4p machin ...	2014	24187092
type iv pilus biogenesis, twitching motility, and dna uptake in thermus thermophilus: discrete roles of antagonistic atpases pilf, pilt1, and pilt2.	natural transformation has a large impact on lateral gene flow and has contributed significantly to the ecological diversification and adaptation of bacterial species. thermus thermophilus hb27 has emerged as the leading model organism for studies of dna transporters in thermophilic bacteria. recently, we identified a zinc-binding polymerization nucleoside triphosphatase (ntpase), pilf, which is essential for the transport of dna through the outer membrane. here, we present genetic evidence that ...	2014	24212586
simultaneous detection of major blackleg and soft rot bacterial pathogens in potato by multiplex polymerase chain reaction.	a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assay for simultaneous, fast and reliable detection of the main soft rot and blackleg potato pathogens in europe has been developed. it utilises three pairs of primers and enables detection of three groups of pectinolytic bacteria frequently found in potato, namely: pectobacterium atrosepticum, pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum together with pectobacterium wasabiae and dickeya spp. in a multiplex pcr assay. in studies with axenic cultures o ...	2014	25506085
biotic interactions in the rhizosphere: a diverse cooperative enterprise for plant productivity.	microbes and plants have evolved biochemical mechanisms to communicate with each other. the molecules responsible for such communication are secreted during beneficial or harmful interactions. hundreds of these molecules secreted into the rhizosphere have been identified, and their functions are being studied in order to understand the mechanisms of interaction and communication among the different members of the rhizosphere community. the importance of root and microbe secretion to the undergro ...	2014	25118253
interplay between oxygen and fe-s cluster biogenesis: insights from the suf pathway.	iron-sulfur (fe-s) cluster metalloproteins conduct essential functions in nearly all contemporary forms of life. the nearly ubiquitous presence of fe-s clusters and the fundamental requirement for fe-s clusters in both aerobic and anaerobic archaea, bacteria, and eukarya suggest that these clusters were likely integrated into central metabolic pathways early in the evolution of life prior to the widespread oxidation of earth's atmosphere. intriguingly, fe-s cluster-dependent metabolism is sensit ...	2014	25153801
comparative genomics and evolution of regulons of the laci-family transcription factors.	dna-binding transcription factors (tfs) are essential components of transcriptional regulatory networks in bacteria. laci-family tfs (laci-tfs) are broadly distributed among certain lineages of bacteria. the majority of characterized laci-tfs sense sugar effectors and regulate carbohydrate utilization genes. the comparative genomics approaches enable in silico identification of tf-binding sites and regulon reconstruction. to study the function and evolution of laci-tfs, we performed genomics-bas ...	2014	24966856
identification of nad(p)h quinone oxidoreductase activity in azoreductases from p. aeruginosa: azoreductases and nad(p)h quinone oxidoreductases belong to the same fmn-dependent superfamily of enzymes.	water soluble quinones are a group of cytotoxic anti-bacterial compounds that are secreted by many species of plants, invertebrates, fungi and bacteria. studies in a number of species have shown the importance of quinones in response to pathogenic bacteria of the genus pseudomonas. two electron reduction is an important mechanism of quinone detoxification as it generates the less toxic quinol. in most organisms this reaction is carried out by a group of flavoenzymes known as nad(p)h quinone oxid ...	2014	24915188
biofilm formation by enteric pathogens and its role in plant colonization and persistence.	the significant increase in foodborne outbreaks caused by contaminated fresh produce, such as alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, melons, tomatoes and spinach, during the last 30 years stimulated investigation of the mechanisms of persistence of human pathogens on plants. emerging evidence suggests that salmonella enterica and escherichia coli, which cause the vast majority of fresh produce outbreaks, are able to adhere to and to form biofilms on plants leading to persistence and resistance to disinfectio ...	2014	25351039
structural analysis of glucuronoxylan-specific xyn30d and its attached cbm35 domain gives insights into the role of modularity in specificity.	glucuronoxylanase xyn30d is a modular enzyme containing a family 30 glycoside hydrolase catalytic domain and an attached carbohydrate binding module of the cbm35 family. we present here the three-dimensional structure of the full-length xyn30d at 2.4 å resolution. the catalytic domain folds into an (α/β)8 barrel with an associated β-structure, whereas the attached cbm35 displays a jellyroll β-sandwich including two calcium ions. although both domains fold in an independent manner, the linker reg ...	2014	25202007
the two-component regulators gacs and gaca positively regulate a nonfluorescent siderophore through the gac/rsm signaling cascade in high-siderophore-yielding pseudomonas sp. strain hys.	siderophores, which are produced to overcome iron deficiency, are believed to be closely related to the adaptability of bacteria. the high-siderophore-yielding pseudomonas sp. strain hys simultaneously secretes the fluorescent siderophore pyoverdine and another nonfluorescent siderophore that is a major contributor to the high siderophore yield. transposon mutagenesis revealed siderophore-related genes, including the two-component regulators gacs/gaca and a special cluster containing four open r ...	2014	24982309
the type iii protein secretion system contributes to xanthomonas citri subsp. citri biofilm formation.	several bacterial plant pathogens colonize their hosts through the secretion of effector proteins by a type iii protein secretion system (t3ss). the role of t3ss in bacterial pathogenesis is well established but whether this system is involved in multicellular processes, such as bacterial biofilm formation has not been elucidated. here, the phytopathogen xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (x. citri) was used as a model to gain further insights about the role of the t3ss in biofilm formation.	2014	24742141
conventional and real-time pcrs for detection of erwinia piriflorinigrans allow its distinction from the fire blight pathogen, erwinia amylovora.	erwinia piriflorinigrans is a new pathogenic species of the bacterial genus erwinia that has been described recently in spain. accurate detection and identification of e. piriflorinigrans are challenging because its symptoms on pear blossoms are similar to those caused by erwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight. moreover, these two species share phenotypic and molecular characteristics. two specific and sensitive conventional and real-time pcr protocols were developed to identify and ...	2014	24509928
the spi-1-like type iii secretion system: more roles than you think.	the type iii secretion system (t3ss) is a protein delivery system which is involved in a wide spectrum of interactions, from mutualism to pathogenesis, between gram negative bacteria and various eukaryotes, including plants, fungi, protozoa and mammals. various phylogenetic families of the t3ss have been described, including the salmonella pathogenicity island 1 family (spi-1). the spi-1 t3ss was initially associated with the virulence of enteric pathogens, but is actually found in a diverse arr ...	2014	24575107
catalytic mechanism and mode of action of the periplasmic alginate epimerase algg.	pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that forms chronic biofilm infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. a major component of the biofilm during these infections is the exopolysaccharide alginate, which is synthesized at the inner membrane as a homopolymer of 1-4-linked β-d-mannuronate. as the polymer passages through the periplasm, 22-44% of the mannuronate residues are converted to α-l-guluronate by the c5-epimerase algg to produce a polymer of alternating β-d-mannur ...	2014	24398681
transcriptional activation of multiple operons involved in para-nitrophenol degradation by pseudomonas sp. strain wbc-3.	pseudomonas sp. strain wbc-3 utilizes para-nitrophenol (pnp) as a sole carbon and energy source. the genes involved in pnp degradation are organized in the following three operons: pnpa, pnpb, and pnpcdefg. how the expression of the genes is regulated is unknown. in this study, an lysr-type transcriptional regulator (lttr) is identified to activate the expression of the genes in response to the specific inducer pnp. while the lttr coding gene pnpr was found to be not physically linked to any of ...	2014	25326309
transcriptional activation of multiple operons involved in para-nitrophenol degradation by pseudomonas sp. strain wbc-3.	pseudomonas sp. strain wbc-3 utilizes para-nitrophenol (pnp) as a sole carbon and energy source. the genes involved in pnp degradation are organized in the following three operons: pnpa, pnpb, and pnpcdefg. how the expression of the genes is regulated is unknown. in this study, an lysr-type transcriptional regulator (lttr) is identified to activate the expression of the genes in response to the specific inducer pnp. while the lttr coding gene pnpr was found to be not physically linked to any of ...	2014	25326309
the periplasmic protein tolb as a potential drug target in pseudomonas aeruginosa.	the gram-negative bacterium pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most dreaded pathogens in the hospital setting, and represents a prototype of multi-drug resistant "superbug" for which effective therapeutic options are very limited. the identification and characterization of new cellular functions that are essential for p. aeruginosa viability and/or virulence could drive the development of anti-pseudomonas compounds with novel mechanisms of action. in this study we investigated whether tolb, th ...	2014	25093328
identification of host-microbe interaction factors in the genomes of soft rot-associated pathogens dickeya dadantii 3937 and pectobacterium carotovorum wpp14 with supervised machine learning.	a wealth of genome sequences has provided thousands of genes of unknown function, but identification of functions for the large numbers of hypothetical genes in phytopathogens remains a challenge that impacts all research on plant-microbe interactions. decades of research on the molecular basis of pathogenesis focused on a limited number of factors associated with long-known host-microbe interaction systems, providing limited direction into this challenge. computational approaches to identify vi ...	2014	24952641
detection, identification and differentiation of pectobacterium and dickeya species causing potato blackleg and tuber soft rot: a review.	the soft rot enterobacteriaceae (sre) pectobacterium and dickeya species (formerly classified as pectinolytic erwinia spp.) cause important diseases on potato and other arable and horticultural crops. they may affect the growing potato plant causing blackleg and are responsible for tuber soft rot in storage thereby reducing yield and quality. efficient and cost-effective detection and identification methods are essential to investigate the ecology and pathogenesis of the sre as well as in seed c ...	2014	25684775
detection, identification and differentiation of pectobacterium and dickeya species causing potato blackleg and tuber soft rot: a review.	the soft rot enterobacteriaceae (sre) pectobacterium and dickeya species (formerly classified as pectinolytic erwinia spp.) cause important diseases on potato and other arable and horticultural crops. they may affect the growing potato plant causing blackleg and are responsible for tuber soft rot in storage thereby reducing yield and quality. efficient and cost-effective detection and identification methods are essential to investigate the ecology and pathogenesis of the sre as well as in seed c ...	2014	25684775
structure and expression of gsl1 and gsl2 genes encoding gibberellin stimulated-like proteins in diploid and highly heterozygous tetraploid potato reveals their highly conserved and essential status.	gsl1 and gsl2, gibberellin stimulated-like proteins (also known as snakin-1 and snakin-2), are cysteine-rich peptides from potato (solanum tuberosum l.) with antimicrobial properties. similar peptides in other species have been implicated in diverse biological processes and are hypothesised to play a role in several aspects of plant development, plant responses to biotic or abiotic stress through their participation in hormone crosstalk, and redox homeostasis. to help resolve the biological role ...	2014	24382166
challenges and advances in the heterologous expression of cellulolytic enzymes: a review.	second generation biofuel development is increasingly reliant on the recombinant expression of cellulases. designing or identifying successful expression systems is thus of preeminent importance to industrial progress in the field. recombinant production of cellulases has been performed using a wide range of expression systems in bacteria, yeasts and plants. in a number of these systems, particularly when using bacteria and plants, significant challenges have been experienced in expressing full- ...	2014	25356086
molecular mechanisms of two-component system rhprs regulating type iii secretion system in pseudomonas syringae.	pseudomonas syringae uses the two-component system rhprs to regulate the expression of type iii secretion system (t3ss) genes and bacterial virulence. however, the molecular mechanisms and the regulons of rhprs have yet to be fully elucidated. here, we show that rhps functions as a kinase and a phosphatase on rhpr and as an autokinase upon itself. rhpr is phosphorylated by the small phosphodonor acetyl phosphate. a specific rhpr-binding site containing the inverted repeat (ir) motif gtatc-n6-gat ...	2014	25249629
production of cecropin a antimicrobial peptide in rice seed endosperm.	cecropin a is a natural antimicrobial peptide that exhibits rapid, potent and long-lasting lytic activity against a broad spectrum of pathogens, thus having great biotechnological potential. here, we report a system for producing bioactive cecropin a in rice seeds.	2014	24755305
the arabidopsis lysin motif-containing receptor-like kinase3 regulates the cross talk between immunity and abscisic acid responses.	transmembrane receptor-like kinases characterized by the presence of one or more lysin motif (lysm) domains in the extracytoplasmic portion (lysm-containing receptor-like kinases [lyks]) mediate recognition of symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms in plants. the arabidopsis (arabidopsis thaliana) genome encodes five putative lyks; among them, atlyk1/chitin elicitor receptor kinase1 is required for response to chitin and peptidoglycan, and atlyk4 contributes to chitin perception. more recently, ...	2014	24639336
mitochondrial protein nfu1 influences homeostasis of essential metals in the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans.	mitochondrial protein nfu1 plays an important role in the assembly of mitochondrial fe-s clusters and intracellular iron homeostasis in the model yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae. in this study, we identified the nfu1 ortholog in the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans. our data showed that c. neoformans nfu1 localized in the mitochondria and influenced homeostasis of essential metals such as iron, copper and manganese. marked growth defects were observed in the mutant lacking nfu1, whic ...	2014	25606020
nfu facilitates the maturation of iron-sulfur proteins and participates in virulence in staphylococcus aureus.	the acquisition and metabolism of iron (fe) by the human pathogen staphylococcus aureus is critical for disease progression. s. aureus requires fe to synthesize inorganic cofactors called iron-sulfur (fe-s) clusters, which are required for functional fe-s proteins. in this study we investigated the mechanisms utilized by s. aureus to metabolize fe-s clusters. we identified that s. aureus utilizes the suf biosynthetic system to synthesize fe-s clusters and we provide genetic evidence suggesting t ...	2014	25388433
nfu facilitates the maturation of iron-sulfur proteins and participates in virulence in staphylococcus aureus.	the acquisition and metabolism of iron (fe) by the human pathogen staphylococcus aureus is critical for disease progression. s. aureus requires fe to synthesize inorganic cofactors called iron-sulfur (fe-s) clusters, which are required for functional fe-s proteins. in this study we investigated the mechanisms utilized by s. aureus to metabolize fe-s clusters. we identified that s. aureus utilizes the suf biosynthetic system to synthesize fe-s clusters and we provide genetic evidence suggesting t ...	2014	25388433
the iron-sulphur cluster biosynthesis regulator iscr contributes to iron homeostasis and resistance to oxidants in pseudomonas aeruginosa.	iscr is a global transcription regulator responsible for governing various physiological processes during growth and stress responses. the iscr-mediated regulation of the pseudomonas aeruginosa isc operon, which is involved in iron-sulphur cluster ([fe-s]) biogenesis, was analysed. the expression of iscr was highly induced through the exposure of the bacteria to various oxidants, such as peroxides, redox-cycling drugs, intracellular iron-chelating agents, and high salts. two putative type 1 iscr ...	2014	24466226
a temporal examination of the planktonic and biofilm proteome of whole cell pseudomonas aeruginosa pao1 using quantitative mass spectrometry.	chronic polymicrobial lung infections are the chief complication in patients with cystic fibrosis. the dominant pathogen in late-stage disease is pseudomonas aeruginosa, which forms recalcitrant, structured communities known as biofilms. many aspects of biofilm biology are poorly understood; consequently, effective treatment of these infections is limited, and cystic fibrosis remains fatal. here we combined in-solution protein digestion of triplicate growth-matched samples with a high-performanc ...	2014	24532839
cloning, expression and characterization of a pectate lyase from paenibacillus sp. 0602 in recombinant escherichia coli.	biotechnological applications of microbial pectate lyases (pels) in plant fiber processing are considered as environmentally friendly. as such, they become promising substitutes for conventional chemical degumming process. since applications of pels in various fields are widening, it is necessary to explore new pectolytic microorganisms and enzymes for efficient and effective usage. here, we describe the cloning, expression, characterization and application of the recombinant pel protein from a ...	2014	24612647
crispr is an optimal target for the design of specific pcr assays for salmonella enterica serotypes typhi and paratyphi a.	serotype-specific pcr assays targeting salmonella enterica serotypes typhi and paratyphi a, the causal agents of typhoid and paratyphoid fevers, are required to accelerate formal diagnosis and to overcome the lack of typing sera and, in some situations, the need for culture. however, the sensitivity and specificity of such assays must be demonstrated on large collections of strains representative of the targeted serotypes and all other bacterial populations producing similar clinical symptoms.	2014	24498453
complete genome sequence of a broad-host-range lytic dickeya spp. bacteriophage ϕd5.	little is known about lytic bacteriophages infecting plant-pathogenic dickeya spp. these bacteria cause economically significant losses in arable crops and ornamental plant production worldwide. at present, there is no effective control of diseases caused by dickeya spp. a novel bacteriophage, ϕd5, belonging to the family myoviridae, order caudovirales, that could be used to control these bacteria was isolated previously. this report provides information on its characterization. the ϕd5 genome c ...	2014	25000903
enhancing production of alkaline polygalacturonate lyase from bacillus subtilis by fed-batch fermentation.	alkaline polygalacturonate lyase (pgl, ec 4.2.2.2) is an enzyme used in many industries. we developed a fed-batch fermentation process that combines the enzymatic pretreatment of the carbon source with controlling the ph of the fermentative broth to enhance the pgl production from bacillus subtilis 7-3-3 to decrease the production cost. maintaining the fermentation broth at ph 6.5 prior to feeding with ammonia and at ph 6.0 after feeding significantly improved pgl activity (743.5 u ml-1) compare ...	2014	24603713
biochemical characterization of a novel l-asparaginase with low glutaminase activity from rhizomucor miehei and its application in food safety and leukemia treatment.	a novel fungal gene encoding the rhizomucor miehei l-asparaginase (rmasnase) was cloned and expressed in escherichia coli. its deduced amino acid sequence shared only 57% identity with the amino acid sequences of other reported l-asparaginases. the purified l-asparaginase homodimer had a molecular mass of 133.7 kda, a high specific activity of 1,985 u/mg, and very low glutaminase activity. rmasnase was optimally active at ph 7.0 and 45°c and was stable at this temperature for 30 min. the final l ...	2014	24362429
cloning, expression, purification and characterisation of erwinia carotovora l-asparaginase in escherichia coli.	for the past 30 years, bacterial l-asparaginases have been used as therapeutic agents in the treatment of acute childhood lymphoblastic leukemia. it is found in a variety of organisms such as microbes, plants and mammals. their intrinsic low-rate glutaminase activity, however, causes serious side-effects, including neurotoxicity, hepatitis, coagulopathy and other dysfunctions. erwinia carotovora asparaginase shows decreased glutaminase activity, so it is believed to have fewer side-effects in le ...	2014	24761390
cdia from enterobacter cloacae delivers a toxic ribosomal rnase into target bacteria.	contact-dependent growth inhibition (cdi) is one mechanism of inter-bacterial competition. cdi(+) cells export large cdia effector proteins, which carry a variety of c-terminal toxin domains (cdia-ct). cdia-ct toxins are specifically neutralized by cognate cdii immunity proteins to protect toxin-producing cells from autoinhibition. here, we use structure determination to elucidate the activity of a cdi toxin from enterobacter cloacae (ecl). the structure of cdia-ct(ecl) resembles the c-terminal ...	2014	24657090
marennine, promising blue pigments from a widespread haslea diatom species complex.	in diatoms, the main photosynthetic pigments are chlorophylls a and c, fucoxanthin, diadinoxanthin and diatoxanthin. the marine pennate diatom haslea ostrearia has long been known for producing, in addition to these generic pigments, a water-soluble blue pigment, marennine. this pigment, responsible for the greening of oysters in western france, presents different biological activities: allelopathic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and growth-inhibiting. a method to extract and purify mar ...	2014	24879542
the arable ecosystem as battleground for emergence of new human pathogens.	disease incidences related to escherichia coli and salmonella enterica infections by consumption of (fresh) vegetables, sprouts, and occasionally fruits made clear that these pathogens are not only transmitted to humans via the "classical" routes of meat, eggs, and dairy products, but also can be transmitted to humans via plants or products derived from plants. nowadays, it is of major concern that these human pathogens, especially the ones belonging to the taxonomical family of enterobacteriace ...	2014	24688484
quorum sensing controls flagellar morphogenesis in burkholderia glumae.	burkholderia glumae is a motile plant pathogenic bacterium that has multiple polar flagella and one luxr/luxi-type quorum sensing (qs) system, tofr/tofi. a qs-dependent transcriptional regulator, qsmr, activates flagellar master regulator flhdc genes. flhdc subsequently activates flagellar gene expression in b. glumae at 37°c. here, we confirm that the interplay between qs and temperature is critical for normal polar flagellar morphogenesis in b. glumae. in the wild-type bacterium, flagellar gen ...	2014	24416296
characterization of a nitrilase and a nitrile hydratase from pseudomonas sp. strain uw4 that converts indole-3-acetonitrile to indole-3-acetic acid.	indole-3-acetic acid (iaa) is a fundamental phytohormone with the ability to control many aspects of plant growth and development. pseudomonas sp. strain uw4 is a rhizospheric plant growth-promoting bacterium that produces and secretes iaa. while several putative iaa biosynthetic genes have been reported in this bacterium, the pathways leading to the production of iaa in strain uw4 are unclear. here, the presence of the indole-3-acetamide (iam) and indole-3-acetaldoxime/indole-3-acetonitrile (ia ...	2014	24837382
screening of a leptospira biflexa mutant library to identify genes involved in ethidium bromide tolerance.	leptospira spp. are spirochete bacteria comprising both pathogenic and free-living species. the saprophyte l. biflexa is a model bacterium for studying leptospiral biology due to relative ease of culturing and genetic manipulation. in this study, we constructed a library of 4,996 random transposon mutants in l. biflexa. we screened the library for increased susceptibility to the dna intercalating agent, ethidium bromide (etbr), in order to identify genetic determinants that reduce l. biflexa sus ...	2014	25063661
cyclic di-gmp: the first 25 years of a universal bacterial second messenger.	twenty-five years have passed since the discovery of cyclic dimeric (3'→5') gmp (cyclic di-gmp or c-di-gmp). from the relative obscurity of an allosteric activator of a bacterial cellulose synthase, c-di-gmp has emerged as one of the most common and important bacterial second messengers. cyclic di-gmp has been shown to regulate biofilm formation, motility, virulence, the cell cycle, differentiation, and other processes. most c-di-gmp-dependent signaling pathways control the ability of bacteria t ...	2013	23471616