Hfe Permease and Manganese Homeostasis.

is a commensal of the human upper respiratory tract that can infect diverse host niches due, at least in part, to its ability to withstand both endogenous and host-mediated oxidative stresses. Here, we show that , a gene previously linked to iron import, is essential for manganese recruitment the HfeBCD transporter. Structural analyses show that metal binding in HfeA uses a unique mechanism that involves substantial rotation of the C-terminal lobe of the protein.

Host-Mediated Copper Stress Is Not Protective against Streptococcus pneumoniae D39 Infection.

Metal ions are required by all organisms for the chemical processes that support life. However, in excess they can also exert toxicity within biological systems. During infection, bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae are exposed to host-imposed metal intoxication, where the toxic properties of metals, such as copper, are exploited to aid in microbial clearance.

The Impact of Chromate on Molybdenum Homeostasis.

Acquisition of the trace-element molybdenum the high-affinity ATP-binding cassette permease ModABC is essential for respiration in anaerobic and microaerophilic environments. This study determined the X-ray crystal structures of the molybdenum-recruiting solute-binding protein ModA from PAO1 in the metal-free state and bound to the group 6 metal oxyanions molybdate, tungstate, and chromate. PAO1 ModA has a non-contiguous dual-hinged bilobal structure with a single metal-binding site positioned between the two domains.

The Role of ZntA in Klebsiella pneumoniae Zinc Homeostasis.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen that is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis. Essential to the colonization and infection by K. pneumoniae is the acquisition of nutrients, such as the transition metal ion zinc.

Global reprogramming of virulence and antibiotic resistance in by a single nucleotide polymorphism in elongation factor, .

Clinical isolates of the opportunistic pathogen from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) frequently contain mutations in the gene encoding an elongation factor, FusA1. Recent work has shown that mutants often display elevated aminoglycoside resistance due to increased expression of the efflux pump, MexXY. However, we wondered whether these mutants might also be affected in other virulence-associated phenotypes.