Comparing to three other enteric pathogens in OligoMM mice reveals pathogen-specific host and microbiota responses.

, non-typhoidal spp., and enteropathogenic/enterohemorrhagic (EPEC/EHEC) are leading causes of food-borne illness worldwide. has been used to model EPEC and EHEC infection in mice.

Cryo-EM structure and evolutionary history of the conjugation surface exclusion protein TraT.

Conjugation plays a major role in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. Following transfer of IncF-like plasmids, recipients become refractory to a second wave of conjugation with the same plasmid via entry (TraS) and surface (TraT) exclusion mechanisms. Here, we show that TraT from the pKpQIL and F plasmids (TraT and TraT) exhibits plasmid surface exclusion specificity.

Cryo-EM structure of the conjugation H-pilus reveals the cyclic nature of the TrhA pilin.

Conjugation, the major driver of the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes, relies on a conjugation pilus for DNA transfer. Conjugative pili, such as the F-pilus, are dynamic tubular structures, composed of a polymerized pilin, that mediate the initial donor-recipient interactions, a process known as mating pair formation (MPF). IncH are low-copy-number plasmids, traditionally considered broad host range, which are found in bacteria infecting both humans and animals.

Impaired neutrophil migration underpins host susceptibility to infectious colitis.

Citrobacter rodentium models infection with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and ulcerative colitis (UC). While C57BL/6 (C57) mice recover, C3H/HeN (C3H) mice succumb to infection, partially due to increased colonic neutrophil elastase activity, also seen in UC patients; however, the underlying cause was unknown. Here, we found that bone marrow, blood, and colonic C57 neutrophils expressed (CD)11b and reached the infected colonic lumen, where they underwent productive NETosis.