Peptidoglycan (PG) is a ubiquitous structural polysaccharide of the bacterial cell wall, essential in preserving cell integrity by withstanding turgor pressure. Any change that affects its biosynthesis or degradation will disturb cell viability, therefore PG is one of the main targets of antimicrobial drugs. Considering its major role in cell structure and integrity, the study of PG is of utmost relevance, with prospective ramifications to several disciplines such as microbiology, pharmacology, agriculture, and pathogenesis. Traditionally, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been the workhorse of PG analysis. In recent years, technological and bioinformatic developments have upgraded this seminal technique, making analysis more sensitive and efficient than ever before. Here we describe a set of analytical tools for the study of PG structure (from composition to 3D architecture), identify the most recent trends, and discuss future challenges in the field.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2019.01.009 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Imaging the Ultrastructure of Isolated Peptidoglycan Sacculi from Rod-Shaped J99 Cells by Atomic Force Microscopy.
Molecules
January 2025
Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
Peptidoglycan is the basic structural polymer of the bacterial cell wall and maintains the shape and integrity of single cells. Despite years of research conducted on peptidoglycan's chemical composition, the microscopic elucidation of its nanoscopic architecture still needs to be addressed more thoroughly to advance knowledge on bacterial physiology. Apart from the model organism , ultrastructural imaging data on the murein architecture of Gram-negative bacteria is mostly missing today.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcetylshikonin Derived From Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst Kills Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Positive Pathogens In Vitro and In Vivo.
Phytother Res
January 2025
College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive bacteria threatens the effectiveness of current antibiotic therapies. However, the development of new antibiotics has stagnated in recent years, highlighted the critical need for the discovery of innovative antimicrobial agents. This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of naphthoquinones derived from Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst (ADNs) and elucidate their underlying mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStructure and mechanism of the Zorya anti-phage defense system.
Nature
December 2024
Structural Biology of Molecular Machines Group, Protein Structure & Function Program, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Zorya is a recently identified and widely distributed bacterial immune system that protects bacteria from viral (phage) infections. Three Zorya subtypes have been discovered, each containing predicted membrane-embedded ZorAB complexes paired with soluble subunits that differ among Zorya subtypes, notably ZorC and ZorD in type I Zorya systems. Here, we investigate the molecular basis of Zorya defense using cryo-electron microscopy, mutagenesis, fluorescence microscopy, proteomics, and functional studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSustainable Antibacterial Surface of Transparent PMMA Membranes with α-ZrP Nanosheets Adsorbing Tetraalkylammonium Ions.
ACS Appl Bio Mater
December 2024
Graduate School of Engineering, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan.
We fabricated composite membranes containing inorganic nanosheets (NSs) and polymers and demonstrated their outstanding antibacterial performance against several opportunistic pathogens. Layered α-zirconium phosphate [Zr(HPO), α-ZrP] as a pristine compound of NS was exfoliated by ion-exchanging protons in the interlayer space of α-ZrP with bulky tetraalkylammonium ions (TRA: R = butyl, hexyl, and octyl). During the exfoliation process, TRA was electrostatically adsorbed onto α-ZrP NS with a negative surface charge (ZrP-TRA-NS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe bidirectional interaction between antidepressants and the gut microbiota: are there implications for treatment response?
Int Clin Psychopharmacol
January 2025
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Article Synopsis
- This review explores how antidepressants affect gut microbiota composition and function, suggesting that gut bacteria may influence how well antidepressants work.
- Antidepressant users typically show increased β-diversity and notable changes in specific gut bacteria, such as higher levels of Bacteroidetes and decreases in Firmicutes.
- The study also identifies potential biomarkers, like certain gut bacteria populations, that could predict response to antidepressant treatment, emphasizing the necessity for more research to better understand these interactions.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!