Bacterial cGAS-like enzymes produce 2',3'-cGAMP to activate an ion channel that restricts phage replication.

The mammalian innate immune system uses cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) to synthesize the cyclic dinucleotide 2',3'-cGAMP during antiviral and antitumor immune responses. 2',3'-cGAMP is a nucleotide second messenger that initiates inflammatory signaling by binding to and activating the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) receptor. Bacteria also encode cGAS/DncV-like nucleotidyltransferases (CD-NTases) that produce nucleotide second messengers to initiate antiviral (antiphage) signaling.

A type VII secretion system in Group B Streptococcus mediates cytotoxicity and virulence.

Type VII secretion systems (T7SS) have been identified in Actinobacteria and Firmicutes and have been shown to secrete effector proteins with functions in virulence, host toxicity, and/or interbacterial killing in a few genera. Bioinformatic analysis indicates that isolates of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) encode at least four distinct subtypes of T7SS machinery, three of which encode adjacent putative T7SS effectors with WXG and LXG motifs. However, the function of T7SS in GBS pathogenesis is unknown.

Toxin secretion and trafficking by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The tuberculosis necrotizing toxin (TNT) is the major cytotoxicity factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in macrophages. TNT is the C-terminal domain of the outer membrane protein CpnT and gains access to the cytosol to kill macrophages infected with Mtb. However, molecular mechanisms of TNT secretion and trafficking are largely unknown.

Pore-forming Esx proteins mediate toxin secretion by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretes the tuberculosis necrotizing toxin (TNT) to kill host cells. Here, we show that the WXG100 proteins EsxE and EsxF are essential for TNT secretion. EsxE and EsxF form a water-soluble heterodimer (EsxEF) that assembles into oligomers and long filaments, binds to membranes, and forms stable membrane-spanning channels.

The tuberculosis necrotizing toxin is an NAD and NADP glycohydrolase with distinct enzymatic properties.

Upon host infection, secretes the tuberculosis necrotizing toxin (TNT) into the cytosol of infected macrophages, leading to host cell death by necroptosis. TNT hydrolyzes NAD in the absence of any exogenous cofactor, thus classifying it as a β-NAD glycohydrolase. However, TNT lacks sequence similarity with other NAD hydrolyzing enzymes and lacks the essential motifs involved in NAD binding and hydrolysis by these enzymes.

NAD Depletion Triggers Macrophage Necroptosis, a Cell Death Pathway Exploited by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) kills infected macrophages by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting necrosis. The tuberculosis necrotizing toxin (TNT) is a secreted nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) glycohydrolase that induces necrosis in infected macrophages. Here, we show that NAD depletion by TNT activates RIPK3 and MLKL, key mediators of necroptosis.