A type VII-secreted lipase toxin with reverse domain arrangement.

The type VII protein secretion system (T7SS) is found in many Gram-positive bacteria and in pathogenic mycobacteria. All T7SS substrate proteins described to date share a common helical domain architecture at the N-terminus that typically interacts with other helical partner proteins, forming a composite signal sequence for targeting to the T7SS. The C-terminal domains are functionally diverse and in Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus often specify toxic anti-bacterial activity.

Characterisation of key genotypic and phenotypic traits of clinical cystic fibrosis isolates.

One third of people with CF in the UK are co-infected by both and . Chronic bacterial infection in CF contributes to the gradual destruction of lung tissue, and eventually respiratory failure in this group. The contribution of to cystic fibrosis (CF) lung decline in the presence or absence of is unclear.

Analysis of the ARTIC V4 and V4.1 SARS-CoV-2 primers and their impact on the detection of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 lineage-defining mutations.

The ARTIC protocol uses a multiplexed PCR approach with two primer pools tiling the entire SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) genome. Primer pool updates are necessary for accurate amplicon sequencing of evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants with novel mutations. The suitability of the ARTIC V4 and updated V4.

Bacterial pore-forming toxins.

Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are widely distributed in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. PFTs can act as virulence factors that bacteria utilise in dissemination and host colonisation or, alternatively, they can be employed to compete with rival microbes in polymicrobial niches. PFTs transition from a soluble form to become membrane-embedded by undergoing large conformational changes.

A membrane-depolarizing toxin substrate of the type VII secretion system mediates intraspecies competition.

The type VII protein secretion system (T7SS) is conserved across strains and plays important roles in virulence and interbacterial competition. To date, only one T7SS substrate protein, encoded in a subset of genomes, has been functionally characterized. Here, using an unbiased proteomic approach, we identify TspA as a further T7SS substrate.

Collaboration during a crisis - the Lighthouse Lab volunteers.

As a group of early-career researchers, we recount our experiences of volunteering at one of the national Lighthouse Labs based at the UK Biocentre in Milton Keynes. We worked together as part of a multidisciplinary team to support the large-scale processing of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) swabs from across the whole of the UK.