Fungi-induced plant diseases affect global food security and plant ecology. The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis causes smut disease in maize (Zea mays) plants by secreting numerous virulence effectors that reprogram plant metabolism and immune responses. The secreted fungal chorismate mutase Cmu1 presumably affects biosynthesis of the plant immune signal salicylic acid by channelling chorismate into the phenylpropanoid pathway. Here we show that one of the 20 maize-encoded kiwellins (ZmKWL1) specifically blocks the catalytic activity of Cmu1. ZmKWL1 hinders substrate access to the active site of Cmu1 through intimate interactions involving structural features that are specific to fungal Cmu1 orthologues. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that plant kiwellins have a versatile scaffold that can specifically counteract pathogen effectors such as Cmu1. We reveal the biological activity of a member of the kiwellin family, a widely conserved group of proteins that have previously been recognized only as important human allergens.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0857-9 | DOI Listing |
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
January 2025
Department of Ophthalmology, Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic potential of the novel combination of Bacillus bacteriophage lysin (PlyB) and a synthetic TLR2/4 inhibitor (oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, OxPAPC) in the treatment of experimental Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis.
Methods: C57BL/6J mice were injected with 100 colony forming units (CFUs) Bacillus cereus to induce endophthalmitis. Two hours postinfection, groups of mice were treated with either PlyB, PlyB with OxPAPC, or the groups were left untreated to serve as a control.
Phytopathology
January 2025
Guizhou University, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Huaxi District, Guiyang, Guizhou Province of China, Guiyang, China, 550025;
Gray mold is an important disease of crops and is widespread, harmful, difficult to control, and prone to developing fungicide resistance. Screening new fungicides is an important step in controlling this disease. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-inflammatory and anti-malarial agent, which has shown marked inhibitory activity against many fungi in medicine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBraz J Microbiol
January 2025
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
Despite meticulous precautions, contamination of genomic DNA samples is not uncommon, which can significantly compromise the analysis of microorganisms' whole-genome sequencing data, thus affecting all subsequent analyses. Thanks to advancements in software and bioinformatics techniques, it is now possible to address this issue and prevent the loss of the entire dataset obtained in a contaminated whole-genome sequencing, where the DNA of another bacterium is present. In this study, it was observed that the sequencing reads from Streptomyces sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Pediatr
January 2025
Department of Digestive Endoscopy Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200062, China.
Unlabelled: Early detection and intervention are crucial in managing Helicobacter pylori (HP) infections, which are associated with various gastrointestinal diseases in children. The traditional Kyoto gastritis scoring system, though effective, requires adaptation for non-invasive techniques like magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy to enhance early diagnosis and improve patient comfort. This retrospective study involved 474 pediatric patients who underwent magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy coupled with a C urea breath test at the Children's Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January to December 2023.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrop Anim Health Prod
January 2025
Animal Science Department, Federal University of Paraná, Palotina, PR, 85950-000, Brazil.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of autolyzed yeast (obtained from culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sugarcane derivatives) supplementation on diet digestibility, feeding behavior, levels of blood metabolites associated with protein and energy metabolism, and performance of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot. Twenty-four non-castrated male lambs with an average age of 4 months and a body weight (BW) of 19.49 ± 3.
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