Reciprocal regulation between Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacter cloacae AdeR homologs: implications for antimicrobial resistance and pathogenesis.

Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacter cloacae are phylogenetically distant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens that represent significant challenges in healthcare settings due to their remarkable ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance. This study investigates one of the most important efflux pump systems in A. baumannii, AdeABC-AdeRS, and identifies homologous components in E.

Computational protocol for analyzing whole-genome sequencing data from Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates.

Analyzing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from bacterial isolates is pivotal for understanding virulence and predicting clinical outcomes through association studies. Herein, we present a computational protocol for the detailed analysis of WGS data from Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates generated with Illumina sequencing. We describe steps for de novo assembly, functional annotation, and genetic characterization of chromosomal and extrachromosomal elements.

Diverse genomic and epidemiological landscapes of redundant pbp5 genes in Enterococcus spp.: Insights into plasmid mobilization, ampicillin susceptibility, and environmental interactions.

Genetic redundancy in bacteria plays a crucial role in enhancing adaptability and accelerating evolution in response to selective pressures, particularly those associated with rapid environmental changes. Aminopenicillins like ampicillin are important therapeutic options for Enterococcus infections in both humans and animals, with resistance mostly associated with pbp5 gene mutations or overexpression. While the occurrence of redundant pbp5 genes has been occasionally reported, the advantages for the host bacteria have not been explored in detail.

Impact of mutagenesis and lateral gene transfer processes in bacterial susceptibility to phage in food biocontrol and phage therapy.

Introduction: The emergence of resistance and interference mechanisms to phage infection can hinder the success of bacteriophage-based applications, but the significance of these mechanisms in phage therapy has not been determined. This work studies the emergence of isolates with reduced susceptibility to a cocktail of three phages under three scenarios: i) cultures (LAB), ii) biocontrol of cooked ham slices as a model of food safety (FOOD), and iii) oral phage therapy in broilers (PT).

Methods: .

Systematic In Silico Assessment of Antimicrobial Resistance Dissemination across the Global Plasmidome.

The emergence of pathogenic strains resistant to multiple antimicrobials is a pressing problem in modern healthcare. Antimicrobial resistance is mediated primarily by dissemination of resistance determinants via horizontal gene transfer. The dissemination of some resistance genes has been well documented, but few studies have analyzed the patterns underpinning the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes.

Non-canonical LexA proteins regulate the SOS response in the Bacteroidetes.

Lesions to DNA compromise chromosome integrity, posing a direct threat to cell survival. The bacterial SOS response is a widespread transcriptional regulatory mechanism to address DNA damage. This response is coordinated by the LexA transcriptional repressor, which controls genes involved in DNA repair, mutagenesis and cell-cycle control.

Importance of twitching and surface-associated motility in the virulence of .

is a pathogen of increasing clinical importance worldwide, especially given its ability to readily acquire resistance determinants. Motile strains of this bacterium can move by either or both of two types of motility: (i) twitching, driven by type IV pili, and (ii) surface-associated motility, an appendage-independent form of movement. strain MAR002 possesses both twitching and surface-associated motility.

Flexible comparative genomics of prokaryotic transcriptional regulatory networks.

Background: Comparative genomics methods enable the reconstruction of bacterial regulatory networks using available experimental data. In spite of their potential for accelerating research into the composition and evolution of bacterial regulons, few comparative genomics suites have been developed for the automated analysis of these regulatory systems. Available solutions typically rely on precomputed databases for operon and ortholog predictions, limiting the scope of analyses to processed complete genomes, and several key issues such as the transfer of experimental information or the integration of regulatory information in a probabilistic setting remain largely unaddressed.

Exploration into the origins and mobilization of di-hydrofolate reductase genes and the emergence of clinical resistance to trimethoprim.

Trimethoprim is a synthetic antibacterial agent that targets folate biosynthesis by competitively binding to the di-hydrofolate reductase enzyme (DHFR). Trimethoprim is often administered synergistically with sulfonamide, another chemotherapeutic agent targeting the di-hydropteroate synthase (DHPS) enzyme in the same pathway. Clinical resistance to both drugs is widespread and mediated by enzyme variants capable of performing their biological function without binding to these drugs.

Origin of the Mobile Di-Hydro-Pteroate Synthase Gene Determining Sulfonamide Resistance in Clinical Isolates.

Sulfonamides are synthetic chemotherapeutic agents that work as competitive inhibitors of the di-hydro-pteroate synthase (DHPS) enzyme, encoded by the gene. Resistance to sulfonamides is widespread in the clinical setting and predominantly mediated by plasmid- and integron-borne genes encoding mutant DHPS enzymes that do not bind sulfonamides. In spite of their clinical importance, the genetic origin of genes remains unknown.

Comparative genomics of the DNA damage-inducible network in the Patescibacteria.

Metagenomics provide unprecedented insights into the genetic diversity of uncultivated bacteria inhabiting natural environments. Recent surveys have uncovered a major radiation of candidate phyla encompassing the Patescibacteria superphylum. Patescibacteria have small genomes and a presumed symbiotic or parasitic lifestyle, but the difficulty in culturing representative members constrains the characterization of behavioural and adaptive traits.

Genomics of Three New Bacteriophages Useful in the Biocontrol of Salmonella.

Non-typhoid Salmonella is the principal pathogen related to food-borne diseases throughout the world. Widespread antibiotic resistance has adversely affected human health and has encouraged the search for alternative antimicrobial agents. The advances in bacteriophage therapy highlight their use in controlling a broad spectrum of food-borne pathogens.