Innate immunity: the bacterial connection

Factor associated suicide ligand (FasL) participates in the intestinal immune response to muramyl dipeptide challenge in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Factor associated suicide ligand (FasL) is a multifunctional member of tumor necrosis factor ligand (TNF) superfamily, which exerts vital effects on maintaining homeostasis in the immune system. However, the functions of FasL in intestinal immunity of teleost fish are unknown. This study detected and characterized a fish FasL homolog (defined as CiFasL) in grass carp. The deduced CiFasL protein contained a conserved TNF homology domain (THD) and a representative transmembrane region. Expression profile analysis indicated that CiFasL was widely expressed in the tested tissues and developmental stages of grass carp, and that its mRNA level was significantly up-regulated after being challenged by Aeromonas hydrophila, A. veronii, and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) in vivo. Recombinant CisFasL (rCisFasL) was found to up-regulate pro-apoptotic genes (FasL, FADD, Caspase-8 and Caspase-3) expression in the intestine time-dependently. Moreover, rCisFasL protein effectively suppressed the expression of intestinal inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8) and PepT1/NOD2 pathway signaling molecules (PepT1, NOD2, RIP2, p38MAPK and NF-κB) in response to MDP challenge. Finally, CiFasL silencing aggravated the MDP-mediated intestinal inflammation by inhibiting PepT1/NOD2 pathway activation in intestine of grass carp. Collectively, these findings provide the first experimental demonstration that CiFasL plays a negative regulatory role in MDP-induced intestinal inflammation.

Beyond genomics in Patescibacteria: A trove of unexplored biology packed into ultrasmall bacteria

Patescibacteria, also known as the Candidate Phyla Radiation, are a diverse clade of largely uncultivated, small bacteria that comprise a significant proportion of all bacterial diversity. The few members that have been cultivated exhibit a fascinating life cycle in which they grow as obligate epibionts on the surface of host bacteria. In this Perspective, we make the case that the study of these unique, divergent, and poorly characterized organisms represents an exciting frontier in microbiology. This burgeoning field has already achieved several critical breakthroughs, including metagenomic sequence-based reconstructions of the metabolic and biosynthetic capabilities of diverse Patescibacteria and the development of generalizable strategies for their cultivation and genetic manipulation. We argue these that advances, among others, should pave the way toward a molecular understanding of the complex interactions that undoubtedly underpin the relationship between Patescibacteria and their hosts.

Breaking bad nucleotides: understanding the regulatory mechanisms of bacterial small alarmone hydrolases

Guanosine tetra- and pentaphosphate nucleotides, (p)ppGpp, function as central secondary messengers and alarmones in bacterial cell biology, signalling a range of stress conditions, including nutrient starvation and exposure to cell-wall-targeting antibiotics, and are critical for survival. While activation of the stringent response and alarmone synthesis on starved ribosomes by members of the RSH (Rel) class of proteins is well understood, much less is known about how single-domain small alarmone synthetases (SASs) and their corresponding alarmone hydrolases, the small alarmone hydrolases (SAHs), are regulated and contribute to (p)ppGpp homeostasis. The substrate spectrum of these enzymes has recently been expanded to include hyperphosphorylated adenosine nucleotides, suggesting that they take part in a highly complex and interconnected signalling network. In this review, we provide an overview of our understanding of the SAHs and discuss their structure, function, regulation, and phylogeny.

The immune modules conserved across the tree of life: Towards a definition of ancestral immunity

Immune defence mechanisms exist across the tree of life in such diversity that prokaryotic antiviral responses have historically been considered unrelated to eukaryotic immunity. Mechanisms of defence in divergent eukaryotes were similarly believed to be largely clade specific. However, recent data indicate that a subset of modules (domains and proteins) from prokaryote defence systems are conserved in eukaryotes and populate many stages of innate immune pathways. In this Essay, we propose the notion of ancestral immunity, which corresponds to the set of immune modules conserved between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. After offering a typology of ancestral immunity, we speculate on the selective pressures that could have led to the differential conservation of specific immune modules across domains of life. The exploration of ancestral immunity is in its infancy and appears full of promises to illuminate immune evolution, and also to identify and decipher immune mechanisms of economic, ecological, and therapeutic importance.

Early signaling pathways in virus-infected cells

Virus infection activates specific pattern recognition receptors and immune signal transduction, resulting in pro-inflammatory cytokine production and activation of innate immunity. We describe here the molecular organization of early signaling pathways downstream of viral recognition, including conformational changes, post-translational modifications, formation of oligomers, and generation of small-molecule second messengers. Such molecular organization allows tight regulation of immune signal transduction, characterized by swift but transient responses, nonlinearity, and signal amplification. Pathologies of early immune signaling caused by genomic mutations illustrate the fine regulation of the immune transduction cascade.

Understanding bacterial pathogenicity: a closer look at the journey of harmful microbes

Bacteria are the most prevalent form of microorganisms and are classified into two categories based on their mode of existence: intracellular and extracellular. While most bacteria are beneficial to human health, others are pathogenic and can cause mild to severe infections. These bacteria use various mechanisms to evade host immunity and cause diseases in humans. The susceptibility of a host to bacterial infection depends on the effectiveness of the immune system, overall health, and genetic factors. Malnutrition, chronic illnesses, and age-related vulnerabilities are the additional confounders to disease severity phenotypes. The impact of bacterial pathogens on public health includes the transmission of these pathogens from healthcare facilities, which contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. To identify the most significant threats to public health, it is crucial to understand the global burden of common bacterial pathogens and their pathogenicity. This knowledge is required to improve immunization rates, improve the effectiveness of vaccines, and consider the impact of antimicrobial resistance when assessing the situation. Many bacteria have developed antimicrobial resistance, which has significant implications for infectious diseases and favors the survival of resilient microorganisms. This review emphasizes the significance of understanding the bacterial pathogens that cause this health threat on a global scale.