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Full-Text Articles in Organisms

Phylogenomics Of Reichenowia Parasitica, An Alphaproteobacterial Endosymbiont Of The Freshwater Leech Placobdella Parasitica, Sebastian Kvist, Apurva Narechania, Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa, Bella Fuks, Mark E. Siddall Nov 2011

Phylogenomics Of Reichenowia Parasitica, An Alphaproteobacterial Endosymbiont Of The Freshwater Leech Placobdella Parasitica, Sebastian Kvist, Apurva Narechania, Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa, Bella Fuks, Mark E. Siddall

Publications and Research

Although several commensal alphaproteobacteria form close relationships with plant hosts where they aid in (e.g.,) nitrogen fixation and nodulation, only a few inhabit animal hosts. Among these, Reichenowia picta, R. ornata and R. parasitica, are currently the only known mutualistic, alphaproteobacterial endosymbionts to inhabit leeches. These bacteria are harbored in the epithelial cells of the mycetomal structures of their freshwater leech hosts, Placobdella spp., and these structures have no other obvious function than housing bacterial symbionts. However, the function of the bacterial symbionts has remained unclear. Here, we focused both on exploring the genomic makeup of R. parasitica and on …


Cluster K Mycobacteriophages: Insights Into The Evolutionary Origins Of Mycobacteriophage Tm4, Welkin H. Pope, Christina M. Ferreira, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Robert C. Benjamin Nov 2011

Cluster K Mycobacteriophages: Insights Into The Evolutionary Origins Of Mycobacteriophage Tm4, Welkin H. Pope, Christina M. Ferreira, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Robert C. Benjamin

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Five newly isolated mycobacteriophages -Angelica, CrimD, Adephagia, Anaya, and Pixie - have similar genomic architectures to mycobacteriophage TM4, a previously characterized phage that is widely used in mycobacterial genetics. The nucleotide sequence similarities warrant grouping these into Cluster K, with subdivision into three subclusters: K1, K2, and K3. Although the overall genome architectures of these phages are similar, TM4 appears to have lost at least two segments of its genome, a central region containing the integration apparatus, and a segment at the right end. This suggests that TM4 is a recent derivative of a temperate parent, resolving a long-standing conundrum …


Antivirulence Potential Of Tr-700 And Clindamycin On Clinical Isolates Of Staphylococcus Aureus Producing Phenol-Soluble Modulins, Jason Yamaki, Timothy Synold, Annie Wong-Beringer Jun 2011

Antivirulence Potential Of Tr-700 And Clindamycin On Clinical Isolates Of Staphylococcus Aureus Producing Phenol-Soluble Modulins, Jason Yamaki, Timothy Synold, Annie Wong-Beringer

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Staphylococcus aureus strains (n = 50) causing complicated skin and skin structure infections produced various levels of phenol-soluble modulin alpha-type (PSMα) peptides; some produced more than twice that produced by the control strain (LAC USA300). TR-700 (oxazolidinone) and clindamycin strongly inhibited PSM production at one-half the MIC but exhibited weak to modest induction at one-fourth and one-eighth the MICs, primarily in low producers. Adequate dosing of these agents is emphasized to minimize the potential for paradoxical induction of virulence.