Publications by authors named "Brittany K Miller"

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by (), remains a leading cause of death with 1.6 million deaths worldwide reported in 2021. Oral pyrazinamide (PZA) is an integral part of anti-TB regimens, but its prolonged use has the potential to drive the development of PZA-resistant .

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Tuberculosis (TB), caused by ( ), remains a leading cause of death with 1.6 million deaths worldwide reported in 2021. Oral pyrazinamide (PZA) is an integral part of anti-TB regimens, but its prolonged use has the potential to drive development of PZA resistant .

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The exocyst imparts spatial control during exocytic vesicle tethering through its interactions with proteins and lipids on the vesicle and the plasma membrane. One such interaction is with the vesicle tether Sro7, although the outcome of this interaction is poorly understood. Here, we describe how Sro7 binding to the Exo84 subunit results in activation of the exocyst complex which leads to an increase in avidity for the Rab GTPase Sec4 and an increase in exocyst-mediated vesicle tethering.

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The SecA2 protein export system is critical for the virulence of . However, the mechanism of this export pathway remains unclear. Through a screen for suppressors of a mutant, we identified a new player in the mycobacterial SecA2 pathway that we named SatS for ec2 (wo) uppressor.

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New therapeutic strategies are needed to treat drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) and to improve treatment for drug sensitive TB. Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a critical component of current first-line TB therapy. However, the rise in PZA-resistant TB cases jeopardizes the future utility of PZA.

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All bacteria utilize pathways to export proteins from the cytoplasm to the bacterial cell envelope or extracellular space. Many exported proteins function in essential physiological processes or in virulence. Consequently, the responsible protein export pathways are commonly essential and/or are important for pathogenesis.

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis proteins that are exported out of the bacterial cytoplasm are ideally positioned to be virulence factors; however, the functions of individual exported proteins remain largely unknown. Previous studies identified Rv0199 as an exported membrane protein of unknown function. Here, we characterized the role of Rv0199 in M.

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Unlabelled: While SecA is the ATPase component of the major bacterial secretory (Sec) system, mycobacteria and some Gram-positive pathogens have a second paralog, SecA2. In bacteria with two SecA paralogs, each SecA is functionally distinct, and they cannot compensate for one another. Compared to SecA1, SecA2 exports a distinct and smaller set of substrates, some of which have roles in virulence.

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Article Synopsis
  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) leads to muscle-specific neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOSμ) mislocalization and functional impairments due to dystrophin deficiency in both patients and mdx mouse models.
  • This study explored the effects of naproxcinod, a nitric oxide-donating derivative of naproxen, on mdx mice, assessing various treatment doses over nine months alongside functional exercises.
  • Results showed that a dosage of 21 mg/kg of naproxcinod significantly improved muscle strength, reduced inflammation, enhanced heart function, and avoided the negative side effects typically associated with prednisolone treatment, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic option for muscular dystrophies.
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Article Synopsis
  • The absence of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) makes muscles vulnerable to injury, leading to cell membrane damage and ongoing inflammation, while current glucocorticoid treatments pose significant side effects and unclear benefits.
  • Researchers discovered a new oral drug, VBP15, that provides muscle protection and promotes repair through anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing actions, without triggering hormonal or immune suppression.
  • In DMD model mice, VBP15 demonstrated improved muscle strength and pathology, suggesting it could be a promising option for clinical use in DMD and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
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