Modification of phosphoinositides by the effector IpgD during host cell infection.

, the causative agent of bacillary dysentery, subvert cytoskeletal and trafficking processes to invade and replicate in epithelial cells using an arsenal of bacterial effectors translocated through a type III secretion system. Here, we review the various roles of the type III effector IpgD, initially characterized as phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PI4,5P) 4-phosphatase. By decreasing PI4,5P levels, IpgD triggers the disassembly of cortical actin filaments required for bacterial invasion and cell migration.

α-Synuclein fibrils subvert lysosome structure and function for the propagation of protein misfolding between cells through tunneling nanotubes.

The accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates in specific brain regions is a hallmark of synucleinopathies including Parkinson disease (PD). α-Syn aggregates propagate in a "prion-like" manner and can be transferred inside lysosomes to recipient cells through tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). However, how lysosomes participate in the spreading of α-syn aggregates is unclear.

The entry of Salmonella in a distinct tight compartment revealed at high temporal and ultrastructural resolution.

Salmonella enterica induces membrane ruffling and genesis of macropinosomes during its interactions with epithelial cells. This is achieved through the type three secretion system-1, which first mediates bacterial attachment to host cells and then injects bacterial effector proteins to alter host behaviour. Next, Salmonella enters into the targeted cell within an early membrane-bound compartment that matures into a slow growing, replicative niche called the Salmonella Containing Vacuole (SCV).

Remote magnetic actuation of micrometric probes for in situ 3D mapping of bacterial biofilm physical properties.

Bacterial adhesion and growth on interfaces lead to the formation of three-dimensional heterogeneous structures so-called biofilms. The cells dwelling in these structures are held together by physical interactions mediated by a network of extracellular polymeric substances. Bacterial biofilms impact many human activities and the understanding of their properties is crucial for a better control of their development - maintenance or eradication - depending on their adverse or beneficial outcome.

In vitro activities of dermaseptins K4S4 and K4K20S4 against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa planktonic growth and biofilm formation.

The rising number of infections caused by biofilm formation and the difficulties associated with their treatment by conventional antimicrobial therapies have led to an intensive search for novel antibiofilm agents. Dermaseptins are antimicrobial peptides with a number of attractive properties that might offer alternative therapies against resistant microorganisms. In this study, we synthesized a set of dermaseptin-derived peptides and evaluated their activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial biofilm formation.

A new biofilm-associated colicin with increased efficiency against biofilm bacteria.

Formation of bacterial biofilm communities leads to profound physiological modifications and increased physical and metabolic exchanges between bacteria. It was previously shown that bioactive molecules produced within the biofilm environment contribute to bacterial interactions. Here we describe new pore-forming colicin R, specifically produced in biofilms formed by the natural isolate Escherichia coli ROAR029 but that cannot be detected under planktonic culture conditions.

Identification of commensal Escherichia coli genes involved in biofilm resistance to pathogen colonization.

Protection provided by host bacterial microbiota against microbial pathogens is a well known but ill-understood property referred to as the barrier effect, or colonization resistance. Despite recent genome-wide analyses of host microbiota and increasing therapeutic interest, molecular analysis of colonization resistance is hampered by the complexity of direct in vivo experiments. Here we developed an in vitro-to-in vivo approach to identification of genes involved in resistance of commensal bacteria to exogenous pathogens.

Mapping of bacterial biofilm local mechanics by magnetic microparticle actuation.

Most bacteria live in the form of adherent communities forming three-dimensional material anchored to artificial or biological surfaces, with profound impact on many human activities. Biofilms are recognized as complex systems but their physical properties have been mainly studied from a macroscopic perspective. To determine biofilm local mechanical properties, reveal their potential heterogeneity, and investigate their relation to molecular traits, we have developed a seemingly new microrheology approach based on magnetic particle infiltration in growing biofilms.

Screening of Escherichia coli species biodiversity reveals new biofilm-associated antiadhesion polysaccharides.

Unlabelled: Bacterial biofilms often form multispecies communities in which complex but ill-understood competition and cooperation interactions occur. In light of the profound physiological modifications associated with this lifestyle, we hypothesized that the biofilm environment might represent an untapped source of natural bioactive molecules interfering with bacterial adhesion or biofilm formation. We produced cell-free solutions extracted from in vitro mature biofilms formed by 122 natural Escherichia coli isolates, and we screened these biofilm extracts for antiadhesion molecules active on a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Broad-spectrum biofilm inhibition by a secreted bacterial polysaccharide.

The development of surface-attached biofilm bacterial communities is considered an important source of nosocomial infections. Recently, bacterial interference via signaling molecules and surface active compounds was shown to antagonize biofilm formation, suggesting that nonantibiotic molecules produced during competitive interactions between bacteria could be used for biofilm reduction. Hence, a better understanding of commensal/pathogen interactions within bacterial community could lead to an improved control of exogenous pathogens.

An IncI1 plasmid contributes to the adherence of the atypical enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strain C1096 to cultured cells and abiotic surfaces.

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is defined by a characteristic "stacked-brick" aggregative adherence (AA) pattern to cultured cells. In well-studied EAEC prototype strains (called typical EAEC strains), the AA phenotype requires aggregative adherence fimbriae (AAFs). However, previous studies suggest that known AAF alleles are not found in all EAEC strains.

Global impact of mature biofilm lifestyle on Escherichia coli K-12 gene expression.

The formation of biofilm results in a major lifestyle switch that is thought to affect the expression of multiple genes and operons. We used DNA arrays to study the global effect of biofilm formation on gene expression in mature Escherichia coli K-12 biofilm. We show that, when biofilm is compared with the exponential growth phase, 1.

Transposases are responsible for the target specificity of IS1397 and ISKpn1 for two different types of palindromic units (PUs).

Insertion sequences (IS)1397 and ISKpn1, found in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively, are IS3 family members that insert specifically into short palindromic repeated sequences (palindromic units or PUs). In this paper, we first show that although PUs are naturally absent from extrachromosomal elements, both ISs are able to transpose from the chromosome or from a plasmid into PUs artificially introduced into target plasmids. We also show that ISKpn1 target specificity is restricted to K.