Adaptation of the periplasm to maintain spatial constraints essential for cell envelope processes and cell viability.

The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria consists of two membranes surrounding a periplasm and peptidoglycan layer. Molecular machines spanning the cell envelope depend on spatial constraints and load-bearing forces across the cell envelope and surface. The mechanisms dictating spatial constraints across the cell envelope remain incompletely defined.

Polymyxin causes cell envelope remodelling and stress responses in mcr-1-harbouring Escherichia coli.

Polymyxins remain important last-line antibiotics against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Unfortunately, polymyxin resistance is emerging and the mobile polymyxin resistance gene, mcr, is contributing to the wide dissemination of polymyxin resistance, especially among Escherichia coli, with mcr-1 being the most commonly found variant. The objective of this study was to provide mechanistic insights into concentration-dependent transcriptomic responses of mcr-harbouring E.

Investigation of LuxS-mediated quorum sensing in .

Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) quorum sensing is a bacterial communication system that responds to cell density. The system requires activity to produce AI-2, which can regulate gene expression and processes such as biofilm formation. To investigate the role of in biofilm formation and gene expression in the nosocomial pathogen .

Altered Escherichia coli membrane protein assembly machinery allows proper membrane assembly of eukaryotic protein vitamin K epoxide reductase.

Functional overexpression of polytopic membrane proteins, particularly when in a foreign host, is often a challenging task. Factors that negatively affect such processes are poorly understood. Using the mammalian membrane protein vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORc1) as a reporter, we describe a genetic selection approach allowing the isolation of Escherichia coli mutants capable of functionally expressing this blood-coagulation enzyme.