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State-of-the-Art Molecular Microbiology in France

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 16625

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Imad Kansau

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Institut Micalis, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, 91400 Orsay, France
Interests: infectious diseases; microbiology; host-response; clostridioides difficile; inflammation cell signaling; flagella; TLR5 signaling; miRNA
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in molecular microbiology in France by inviting contributions from French research institutes/laboratories that consolidate our understanding of this area. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Antibiotic resistance mechanisms;
Biosynthesis of macromolecules;
Cell division and cell wall structure;
Gene expression and its regulation;
Gene transfer mechanisms;
Host–pathogen interactions including host responses;
Induction of cell death by microorganisms;
Membrane biogenesis and function;
Pathogenicity mechanisms;
Posttranslational modifications;
Protein delivery (secretion and trafficking);
Signaling pathways and networks;
Systems biology;
Vaccines;
Virulence factors;
antimicrobial peptides;
Therapeutic strategies.

Prof. Dr. Imad Kansau
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

molecular microbiology
gene expression regulation
biochemical processes
pathogenicity mechanisms
host-microbe interactions
bacteriophages
therapeutic strategies

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prospective Evaluation of the BD MAX StaphSR Assay for the Screening of Methicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Nasal Swabs Taken in Intensive Care Unit Patients

by Martin Fayolle, Amélie Epercieux, Cyrille H. Haddar, Sylvie Pillet, Philippe Berthelot, Bruno Pozzetto, Anne Carricajo, Florence Grattard and Paul O. Verhoeven

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 13881; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813881 - 09 Sep 2023

Viewed by 752

Abstract

Screening patients for S. aureus nasal carriage has proved effective in preventing cross-contamination and endogenous infection with this bacterium. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the BD MAX StaphSR assay with liquid Amies elution swabs, taken during routine care of intensive care unit patients. Direct and pre-enriched cultures were used as reference methods to screen for S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Discrepant results between the BD MAX StaphSR assay and cultures were resolved by using the Xpert SA Nasal Complete assay. A total of 607 nasal swabs taken from 409 patients were included in this study. Compared to culture methods, the sensitivity and specificity of the BD MAX StaphSR assay were 92.5% and 91.7% for S. aureus screening, and 94.7% and 98.3% for MRSA screening, respectively. In 52 (8.6%) specimens, there was a discrepancy between the results of cultures and the BD MAX StaphSR assay, including 13 (25%) where the results of the BD MAX StaphSR assay were confirmed by the Xpert SA Nasal Complete test. This prospective study showed that the BD MAX StaphSR assay is reliable for S. aureus and MRSA detection from nasal samples taken with liquid Amies elution swabs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Microbiology in France)

13 pages, 21578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ceramide AD™ Restores Skin Integrity and Function following Exposure to House Dust Mite

by Hanene Bzioueche, Myriam Tamelghaghet, Bérengère Chignon-Sicard, Noémie Bazile, Pauline Hauchecorne, Maria Barbero Calderón, Pauline Meunier, Stéphane Rocchi, Thierry Passeron and Meri K. Tulic

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(11), 9234; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24119234 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1912

Abstract

Ceramides are epidermal lipids important for normal skin barrier function. Reduced Ceramide content is associated with atopic dermatitis (AD). House dust mite (HDM) has been localized in AD skin where it plays an exacerbator role. We set to examine the impact of HDM on skin integrity and the effect of three separate Ceramides (AD™, DS, Y30) on HDM-induced cutaneous damage. The effect was tested in vitro on primary human keratinocytes and ex vivo on skin explants. HDM (100 μg/mL) decreased the expression of adhesion protein E-cadherin, supra-basal (K1, K10) and basal (K5, K14) keratins and increased matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9 activity. The presence of Ceramide AD™ in topical cream inhibited HDM-induced E-cadherin and keratin destruction and dampened MMP-9 activity ex vivo which was not seen for the control cream or cream containing DS or Y30 Ceramides. The efficacy of Ceramide AD™ was tested in a clinical setting on moderate to very dry skin (as surrogate for environment-induced skin damage). When applied topically for 21 days, Ceramide AD™ significantly reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in patients with very dry skin compared to their TEWL baseline data. Our study demonstrates Ceramide AD™ cream to be effective in restoring skin homeostasis and barrier function in damaged skin and warrants testing in larger clinical trials for possible treatment of AD and xerosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Microbiology in France)

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15 pages, 3150 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Poly-L-Lysine to Fight Antibiotic Resistances of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

by Adeline Cezard, Delphine Fouquenet, Virginie Vasseur, Katy Jeannot, Fabien Launay, Mustapha Si-Tahar and Virginie Hervé

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2851; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032851 - 02 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1896

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major hospital-associated pathogen that can cause severe infections, most notably in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or those hospitalized in intensive care units. Given its remarkable ability to resist antibiotics, P. aeruginosa eradication has grown more challenging. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover and develop new strategies that can counteract P. aeruginosa-resistant strains. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of poly-L-lysine (pLK) in combination with commonly used antibiotics as an alternative treatment option against P. aeruginosa. First, we demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy that pLK alters the integrity of the surface membrane of P. aeruginosa. We also showed using a fluorometry test that this results in an enhanced permeability of the bacteria membrane. Based on these data, we further evaluated the effect of the combinations of pLK with imipenem, ceftazidime, or aztreonam using the broth microdilution method in vitro. We found synergies in terms of bactericidal effects against either sensitive or resistant P. aeruginosa strains, with a reduction in bacterial growth (up to 5-log₁₀ compared to the control). Similarly, these synergistic and bactericidal effects were confirmed ex vivo using a 3D model of human primary bronchial epithelial cells maintained in an air–liquid interface. In conclusion, pLK could be an innovative antipseudomonal molecule, opening its application as an adjuvant antibiotherapy against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Microbiology in France)

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Review

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15 pages, 1525 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Insight into Functional Metagenomics: A High-Throughput Approach to Decipher Food–Microbiota–Host Interactions in the Human Gut

by Elliot Mathieu, Véronique Léjard, Chaima Ezzine, Pauline Govindin, Aurélien Morat, Margot Giat, Nicolas Lapaque, Joël Doré and Hervé M. Blottière

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17630; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242417630 - 18 Dec 2023

Viewed by 970

Abstract

Our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and its host has constantly evolved since our understanding that the “self” was not only defined by our genetic patrimony but also by the genomes of bugs living in us. The first culture-based methods highlighted the important functions of the microbiota. However, these methods had strong limitations and did not allow for a full understanding of the complex relationships that occur at the interface between the microbiota and the host. The recent development of metagenomic approaches has been a groundbreaking step towards this understanding. Its use has provided new insights and perspectives. In the present chapter, we will describe the advances of functional metagenomics to decipher food–microbiota and host–microbiota interactions. This powerful high-throughput approach allows for the assessment of the microbiota as a whole (including non-cultured bacteria) and enabled the discovery of new signaling pathways and functions involved in the crosstalk between food, the gut microbiota and its host. We will present the pipeline and highlight the most important studies that helped to develop the field. To conclude, we will emphasize the most recent developments and hot topics in functional metagenomics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Microbiology in France)

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22 pages, 6469 KiB

Open AccessReview

Convergent Evolution Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV Surface Envelope Glycoproteins Driven by Host Cell Surface Receptors and Lipid Rafts: Lessons for the Future

by Jacques Fantini, Henri Chahinian and Nouara Yahi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24031923 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 10339

Abstract

Although very different, in terms of their genomic organization, their enzymatic proteins, and their structural proteins, HIV and SARS-CoV-2 have an extraordinary evolutionary potential in common. Faced with various selection pressures that may be generated by treatments or immune responses, these RNA viruses demonstrate very high adaptive capacities, which result in the continuous emergence of variants and quasi-species. In this retrospective analysis of viral proteins, ensuring the adhesion of these viruses to the plasma membrane of host cells, we highlight many common points that suggest the convergent mechanisms of evolution. HIV and SARS-CoV-2 first recognize a lipid raft microdomain that acts as a landing strip for viral particles on the host cell surface. In the case of mucosal cells, which are the primary targets of both viruses, these microdomains are enriched in anionic glycolipids (gangliosides) forming a global electronegative field. Both viruses use lipid rafts to surf on the cell surface in search of a protein receptor able to trigger the fusion process. This implies that viral envelope proteins are both geometrically and electrically compatible to the biomolecules they select to invade host cells. In the present study, we identify the surface electrostatic potential as a critical parameter controlling the convergent evolution dynamics of HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 surface envelope proteins, and we discuss the impact of this parameter on the phenotypic properties of both viruses. The virological data accumulated since the emergence of HIV in the early 1980s should help us to face present and future virus pandemics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Microbiology in France)

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