Mostly Microbes and Infection - by David Ojcius

Highlights • soxR mutations cause constitutive activation of SmeVWX and MfsA efflux pumps. • Mutations in soxR confer resistant to levofloxacin, a drug option for S. maltophilia. • Single R49 substitution activates SoxR and drives multidrug resistance.

Highlights • Smolstatin1 clusters with other myxozoan cystatin-like stefins • Smolstatin1 is upregulated during sporogony and localizes to cell compartments and parasite surface • Smolstatin1 inhibits host and parasite cysteine proteases, mainly cathepsin L • RNAi-mediated Smolstatin1 knockdown impairs parasite motility and alters cell morphology • Smolstatin1 crystallizes as an unusual domain-swapped dimer

  Highlights • 76 endophytic bacteria were isolated from Halocnemum strobilaceum from Murcia (Spain). • Most isolates (96.05%) exhibited plant growth-promoting traits in vitro . • Selected strains in a consortium enhanced Medicago sativa growth under salinity stress. • Four novel species for agricultural biotechnological applications were described.

Highlights • First experimental validation for anti-MPXV activity of BTE and BBE • BTE/BBE exert synergistic antiviral effects when combined mutually or with 3HP-β-LG • Broadens the source diversity of antiviral agents against orthopoxviruses • BTE and BBE have promising application in high-risk and resource-limited regions

Highlights • Dietary soy enhances L. reuteri and M. intestinale colonization in the small intestine • Dietary soy promotes Tfh cell and IgA responses in the Peyer’s patches of weaning mice • L. reuteri provides cognate antigens, while M. intestinale drives IL-1β production • Soy-induced IgA is polyreactive and protects against Salmonella infection

Highlights • CheW2 negatively regulated the expression of outer membrane proteins in V. splendidus • ClpP degraded CheW2 based on the recognization of its AA motif at the N terminal • Pseudoalteromonas sp. H2 attenuated the expression of clpP gene of V. splendidus AJ01

Highlights • Sesame-flavor Baijiu fermentation was performed using different sorghum varieties. • Microbial interactions affected volatile formation differently in sorghum varieties. • Cultivar-specific physicochemical traits modulate microbial consortia structure. • Sorghum selection can format flavor paradigm and standardize Baijiu quality.