PatA Regulates Isoniazid Resistance by Mediating Mycolic Acid Synthesis and Controls Biofilm Formation by Affecting Lipid Synthesis in Mycobacteria.

Lipids are prominent components of the mycobacterial cell wall, and they play critical roles not only in maintaining biofilm formation but also in resisting environmental stress, including drug resistance. However, information regarding the mechanism mediating mycobacterial lipid synthesis remains limited. PatA is a membrane-associated acyltransferase and synthesizes phosphatidyl--inositol mannosides (PIMs) in mycobacteria.

D-Xylose Blocks the Broad Negative Regulation of XylR on Lipid Metabolism and Affects Multiple Physiological Characteristics in Mycobacteria.

D-xylose is the most abundant fermentable pentose, which usually represents an architectural component of the bacterial cell wall. However, its regulatory function and the involved signaling pathway in bacteria remain largely unclear. Here, we show that D-xylose can act as a signaling molecule to regulate the lipid metabolism and affect multiple physiological characteristics in mycobacteria.

Mesenchymal stem cells: Biological characteristics and application in disease therapy.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells. In addition to the capacity for self-renewal and multipotential differentiation, MSCs also have the following characteristics. MSCs can exert immunomodulatory functions through interaction with innate or adaptive immune cells, MSCs with poor immunogenicity can be used for allogeneic transplantation, and MSCs can "home" to inflammation and tumour sites.