Contractile injection systems facilitate sporogenic differentiation of Streptomyces davawensis through the action of a phage tapemeasure protein-related effector.

Contractile injection systems (CISs) are prokaryotic phage tail-like nanostructures loading effector proteins that mediate various biological processes. Although CIS functions have been diversified through evolution and hold the great potential as protein delivery systems, the functional characterisation of CISs and their effectors is currently limited to a few CIS lineages. Here, we show that the CISs of Streptomyces davawensis belong to a unique group of bacterial CISs distributed across distant phyla and facilitate sporogenic differentiation of this bacterium.

Atrimonas thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel anaerobic thermophilic bacterium of the phylum Atribacterota isolated from deep subsurface gas field and proposal of Atrimonadaceae fam. nov. within the class Atribacteria in the phylum Atribacterota.

A novel anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium of the class Atribacteria, strain M15, was isolated from a high-temperature gas reservoir, Japan. Cells of strain M15 were gram-negative, short oval-shaped, and lacked flagella. Growth occurred at 45-75 °C (optimum 70-75 °C) and pH 6.

Mucosal adjuvanticity and mucosal booster effect of colibactin-depleted probiotic membrane vesicles.

There is a growing interest in development of novel vaccines against respiratory tract infections, due to COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we examined mucosal adjuvanticity and the mucosal booster effect of membrane vesicles (MVs) of a novel probiotic derivative lacking both flagella and potentially carcinogenic colibactin (ΔΔ). ΔΔ-derived MVs showed rather strong mucosal adjuvanticity as compared to those of a single flagellar mutant strain (Δ-MVs).

Colony-Based Electrochemistry Reveals Electron Conduction Mechanisms Mediated by Cytochromes and Flavins in .

Bacteria utilize electron conduction in their communities to drive their metabolism, which has led to the development of various environmental technologies, such as electrochemical microbial systems and anaerobic digestion. It is challenging to measure the conductivity among bacterial cells when they hardly form stable biofilms on electrodes. This makes it difficult to identify the biomolecules involved in electron conduction.

Microfluidic platform using focused ultrasound passing through hydrophobic meshes with jump availability.

Applications in chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering require the large-scale manipulation of a wide range of chemicals, samples, and specimens. To achieve maximum efficiency, parallel control of microlitre droplets using automated techniques is essential. Electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD), which manipulates droplets using the imbalance of wetting on a substrate, is the most widely employed method.

Identification of a Novel Gene Involved in Cell-to-cell Communication-induced Cell Death and eDNA Production in Streptococcus mutans.

Streptococcus mutans is a major caries-causing bacterium that forms firmly attached biofilms on tooth surfaces. Biofilm formation by S. mutans consists of polysaccharide-dependent and polysaccharide-independent processes.

Iron Delivery through Membrane Vesicles in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Bacterial cells form and release membrane vesicles (MVs) originating from cellular membranes. In recent years, many biological functions of bacterial MVs have been identified. Here, we show that MVs derived from Corynebacterium glutamicum, a model organism for mycolic acid-containing bacteria, can mediate iron acquisition and other phylogenetically related bacteria.

Development of a Gene Replacement Method for the Filamentous BacteriumSP-6.

Genetic strategies such as gene disruption and fluorescent protein tagging largely contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of biological functions in bacteria. However, the methods for gene replacement remain underdeveloped for the filamentous bacteriaSP-6. Their cell chains are encased in sheath composed of entangled nanofibrils, which may prevent the conjugation for gene transfer.

Intracellular Phage Tail-Like Nanostructures Affect Susceptibility of Streptomyces lividans to Osmotic Stress.

Contractile injection systems (CISs) are a large group of phage tail-like nanostructures conserved among bacteria. Despite their wide distribution, the biological significance of CISs in bacteria remains largely unclear except for a few unicellular bacteria. Here, we show that Streptomyces lividans-a model organism of filamentous Gram-positive bacteria with highly conserved CIS-related gene clusters-produces intracellular CIS-like nanostructures ( phage tail-like particles [SLPs]) that affect phenotypes of this bacterium under hyperosmotic conditions.

Porous Pellicle Formation of a Filamentous Bacterium, .

The bacterium Leptothrix cholodnii generates filaments encased in a sheath comprised of woven nanofibrils. In static liquid culture, moves toward the air-liquid interface, where it forms porous pellicles. Observations of aggregation at the interface reveal that clusters consisting of only a few bacteria primarily grow by netting free cells.

Physiological Benefits of Oxygen-Terminating Extracellular Electron Transfer.

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) is a process via which certain microorganisms, such as bacteria, exchange electrons with extracellular materials by creating an electrical link across their membranes. EET has been studied for the reactions on solid materials such as minerals and electrodes with implication in geobiology and biotechnology. EET-capable bacteria exhibit broad phylogenetic diversity, and some are found in environments with various types of electron acceptors/donors not limited to electrodes or minerals.

Visualization and characterization of spore morphogenesis in Paenibacillus polymyxa ATCC39564.

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a spore-forming Gram-positive bacterial species. Both its sporulation process and the spore properties are poorly understood. Here, we investigated sporulation in P.

Controllable secretion of multilayer vesicles driven by microbial polymer accumulation.

Membrane vesicles (MVs) are formed in various microorganisms triggered by physiological and environmental phenomena. In this study, we have discovered that the biogenesis of MV took place in the recombinant cell of Escherichia coli BW25113 strain that intracellularly accumulates microbial polyester, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). This discovery was achieved as a trigger of foam formation during the microbial PHB fermentation.

Membrane Vesicles Derived From and Related Clostridial Species Induce Innate Immune Responses MyD88/TRIF Signaling .

produces botulinum neurotoxin complexes that cause botulism. Previous studies elucidated the molecular pathogenesis of botulinum neurotoxin complexes; however, it currently remains unclear whether other components of the bacterium affect host cells. Recent studies provided insights into the role of bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) produced by some bacterial species in host immunity and pathology.

Phage Genes Induce Quorum Sensing Signal Release through Membrane Vesicle Formation.

Membrane vesicles (MVs) released from the bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans Pd1222 are enriched with the quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecule N-hexadecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C16-HSL). However, the biogenesis of MVs in Pd1222 remains unclear. Investigations on MV formation are crucial for obtaining a more detailed understanding of the dynamics of MV-assisted signaling.

Nitric-oxide-driven oxygen release in anoxic .

Denitrification supports anoxic growth of in infections. Moreover, denitrification may provide oxygen (O) resulting from dismutation of the denitrification intermediate nitric oxide (NO) as seen in . To examine the prevalence of NO dismutation we studied O release by in airtight vials.

Phage tail-like nanostructures affect microbial interactions between Streptomyces and fungi.

Extracellular contractile injection systems (eCISs) are structurally similar to headless phages and are versatile nanomachines conserved among diverse classes of bacteria. Herein, Streptomyces species, which comprise filamentous Gram-positive bacteria and are ubiquitous in soil, were shown to produce Streptomyces phage tail-like particles (SLPs) from eCIS-related genes that are widely conserved among Streptomyces species. In some Streptomyces species, these eCIS-related genes are regulated by a key regulatory gene, which is essential for Streptomyces life cycle and is involved in morphological differentiation and antibiotic production.

Ratio of Electron Donor to Acceptor Influences Metabolic Specialization and Denitrification Dynamics in in a Mixed Carbon Medium.

Denitrifying microbes sequentially reduce nitrate (NO ) to nitrite (NO ), NO, NO, and N through enzymes encoded by , , , and . Some denitrifiers maintain the whole four-gene pathway, but others possess partial pathways. Partial denitrifiers may evolve through metabolic specialization whereas complete denitrifiers may adapt toward greater metabolic flexibility in nitrogen oxide (NO ) utilization.

Response to Nutrient Limitation.

Microorganisms are widely utilized for the treatment of wastewater in activated sludge systems. However, the uncontrolled growth of filamentous bacteria leads to bulking and adversely affects wastewater treatment efficiency. To clarify the nutrient requirements for filament formation, we track the growth of a filamentous bacterium, SP-6 in different nutrient-limited conditions using a high aspect-ratio microfluidic chamber to follow cell-chain elongation and sheath formation.

Biogenesis of Outer Membrane Vesicles Concentrates the Unsaturated Fatty Acid of Phosphatidylinositol in .

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spherical lipid bilayer nanostructures released by bacteria that facilitate oral biofilm formation cellular aggregation and intercellular communication. Recent studies have revealed that is one of the dominant members of oral biofilms; however, their potential for OMV production has yet to be investigated. This study demonstrated the biogenesis of OMVs in associated with the concentration of unsaturated fatty acids of phosphatidylinositol (PI) and characterized the size and protein profile of OMVs produced at growth phases.