# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 8275 | 0 | 1.0000 | Potential mediators linking gut bacteria to metabolic health: a critical view. Growing evidence suggests that the bacteria present in our gut may play a role in mediating the effect of genetics and lifestyle on obesity and metabolic diseases. Most of the current literature on gut bacteria consists of cross-sectional and correlative studies, rendering it difficult to make any causal inferences as to the influence of gut bacteria on obesity and related metabolic disorders. Interventions with germ-free animals, treatment with antibiotic agents, and microbial transfer experiments have provided some evidence that disturbances in gut bacteria may causally contribute to obesity-related insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation. Several potential mediators have been hypothesized to link the activity and composition of gut bacteria to insulin resistance and adipose tissue function, including lipopolysaccharide, angiopoietin-like protein 4, bile acids and short-chain fatty acids. In this review we critically evaluate the current evidence related to the direct role of gut bacteria in obesity-related metabolic perturbations, with a focus on insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation. It is concluded that the knowledge base in support of a role for the gut microbiota in metabolic regulation and in particular insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation needs to be strengthened. | 2017 | 27418465 |
| 9204 | 1 | 0.9996 | Susceptibility Genes in Bacterial Diseases of Plants. Plant susceptibility (S) genes exploited by pathogenic bacteria play critical roles in disease development, collectively contributing to symptoms, pathogen proliferation, and spread. S genes may support pathogen establishment within the host, suppress host immunity, regulate host physiology or development, or function in other ways. S genes can be passive, e.g., involved in pathogen attraction or required for pathogen effector localization or activity, or active, contributing directly to symptoms or pathogen proliferation. Knowledge of S genes is important for understanding disease and other aspects of plant biology. It is also useful for disease management, as nonfunctional alleles can slow or prevent disease and, because they are often quantitative, can exert less selection on pathogens than dominant resistance genes, allowing greater durability. In this review, we discuss bacterial exploitation of S genes, S-gene functional diversity, approaches for identifying S genes, translation of S-gene knowledge for disease control, and future perspectives on this exciting area of plant pathology. | 2025 | 40446167 |
| 9202 | 2 | 0.9996 | Microbial avirulence determinants: guided missiles or antigenic flak? SUMMARY Avirulence (avr) determinants are incompatibility factors which elicit host plant defence responses in a gene-for-gene manner. They are produced by fungi, bacteria and viruses, and their recognition by resistance genes has been extensively studied for decades. But why should a microbe keep a molecule that allows it to be recognized? One argument is that avr genes perform some essential function and must be kept despite giving the pathogen away. Many bacterial avr determinants have been shown to be effectors, which contribute to virulence and aggressiveness. If this were always the case, mutants lacking these essential molecules would be at a serious disadvantage. Some disadvantage has been shown for a small number, but for the majority there is no effect on virulence. This has been explained by functional redundancy for bacterial and fungal avr determinants, with other molecules compensating for the deletion of these essential genes. However, this argument is counter-intuitive because by definition these individual genes are no longer essential; so why keep them? With increasing numbers of avr genes being identified, efforts to elucidate their function are increasing. In this review, we take stock of the accumulating literature, and consider what the real function of avr determinants might be. | 2005 | 20565679 |
| 8322 | 3 | 0.9996 | Pathogen-induced damage in Drosophila: Uncoupling disease tolerance from resistance. Immune response against infections can be divided into mechanisms of resistance that ensure active pathogen elimination, and mechanisms of disease tolerance, which include processes that return the host to physiological homeostasis without direct control of pathogen load. Studies on host immune response to infection have targeted mechanisms of resistance, and consequently, these are now well-described in both vertebrates and invertebrates. By comparison, the mechanistic basis of disease tolerance is poorly understood. This is in part because both processes interact and can be difficult to disentangle under an infection scenario. Using the insect model Drosophila melanogaster exposed to its natural entomopathogen, Pseudomonas entomophila, we aimed to tease apart mechanisms of disease tolerance from those of resistance. To this end, we reasoned that the response to oral exposure to heat-killed entomopathogenic bacteria, whilst initially triggering both resistance and disease tolerance mechanisms, would be resolved mainly by disease tolerance alone. Using this method, we observe that oral exposure to heat-killed P. entomophila causes mortality and reduced fecundity in D. melanogaster. We confirm that this reduction in fitness-related traits depends on the duration of the exposure, is sexually dimorphic, and is dependent on the virulence of the bacterium. We also found the microbiota to play a role, with its presence exacerbating the deleterious effect on host survival. In addition, we show that the Imd pathway, but not effector genes, is involved in the process of surviving exposure to HK bacteria. This experimental framework, which may be extended to other systems, can be instrumental towards an understanding of the molecular, genetic, and physiological basis of disease tolerance and its interactions with resistance mechanisms. | 2025 | 40971962 |
| 8244 | 4 | 0.9995 | Plant defensins: types, mechanism of action and prospects of genetic engineering for enhanced disease resistance in plants. Natural antimicrobial peptides have been shown as one of the important tools to combat certain pathogens and play important role as a part of innate immune system in plants and, also adaptive immunity in animals. Defensin is one of the antimicrobial peptides with a diverse nature of mechanism against different pathogens like viruses, bacteria and fungi. They have a broad function in humans, vertebrates, invertebrates, insects, and plants. Plant defensins primarily interact with membrane lipids for their biological activity. Several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been overexpressed in plants for enhanced disease protection. The plants defensin peptides have been efficiently employed as an effective strategy for control of diseases in plants. They can be successfully integrated in plants genome along with some other peptide genes in order to produce transgenic crops for enhanced disease resistance. This review summarizes plant defensins, their expression in plants and enhanced disease resistance potential against phytopathogens. | 2019 | 31065492 |
| 9336 | 5 | 0.9995 | Molecular dissection of nutrient exchange at the insect-microbial interface. Genome research is transforming our understanding of nutrient exchange between insects and intracellular bacteria. A key characteristic of these bacteria is their small genome size and gene content. Their fastidious and inflexible nutritional requirements are met by multiple metabolites from the insect host cell. Although the bacteria have generally retained genes coding the synthesis of nutrients required by the insect, some apparently critical genes have been lost, and compensated for by shared metabolic pathways with the insect host or supplementary bacteria with complementary metabolic capabilities. | 2014 | 28043404 |
| 9324 | 6 | 0.9995 | Role of horizontally transferred copper resistance genes in Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacteria have evolved mechanisms which enable them to control intracellular concentrations of metals. In the case of transition metals, such as copper, iron and zinc, bacteria must ensure enough is available as a cofactor for enzymes whilst at the same time preventing the accumulation of excess concentrations, which can be toxic. Interestingly, metal homeostasis and resistance systems have been found to play important roles in virulence. This review will discuss the copper homeostasis and resistance systems in Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes and the implications that acquisition of additional copper resistance genes may have in these pathogens. | 2022 | 35404222 |
| 8342 | 7 | 0.9995 | Inflammatory immunity and bacteriological perspectives: A new direction for copper treatment of sepsis. Copper is an essential trace element for all aerobic organisms because of its unique biological functions. In recent years, researchers have discovered that copper can induce cell death through various regulatory mechanisms, thereby inducing inflammation. Efforts have also been made to alter the chemical structure of copper to achieve either anticancer or anti-inflammatory effects. The copper ion can exhibit bactericidal effects by interfering with the integrity of the cell membrane and promoting oxidative stress. Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response caused by infection. Some studies have revealed that copper is involved in the pathophysiological process of sepsis and is closely related to its prognosis. During the infection of sepsis, the body may enhance the antimicrobial effect by increasing the release of copper. However, to avoid copper poisoning, all organisms have evolved copper resistance genes. Therefore, further analysis of the complex relationship between copper and bacteria may provide new ideas and research directions for the treatment of sepsis. | 2024 | 38692229 |
| 9127 | 8 | 0.9995 | Antimicrobial Peptides: Virulence and Resistance Modulation in Gram-Negative Bacteria. Growing resistance to antibiotics is one of the biggest threats to human health. One of the possibilities to overcome this resistance is to use and develop alternative molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, an increasing number of studies have shown that bacterial resistance to AMPs does exist. Since AMPs are immunity molecules, it is important to ensure that their potential therapeutic use is not harmful in the long term. Recently, several studies have focused on the adaptation of Gram-negative bacteria to subinhibitory concentrations of AMPs. Such concentrations are commonly found in vivo and in the environment. It is therefore necessary to understand how bacteria detect and respond to low concentrations of AMPs. This review focuses on recent findings regarding the impact of subinhibitory concentrations of AMPs on the modulation of virulence and resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. | 2020 | 32092866 |
| 9416 | 9 | 0.9995 | Mechanisms of bacterial resistance and response to bile. Enteric bacteria are resistant to the bactericidal effects of intestinal bile, but these resistance mechanisms are not completely understood. It is becoming increasingly apparent that enteric bacteria have evolved to utilize bile as a signal for the temporal production of virulence factors and other adaptive mechanisms. A greater understanding of the resistance and response of bacteria to bile may assist the development of novel therapeutic, prevention, and diagnostic strategies to treat enteric and extraintestinal infections. | 2000 | 10962274 |
| 9428 | 10 | 0.9995 | Biofilms and their properties. Bacteria within the oral cavity live primarily as complex, polymicrobial biofilms. Dental biofilms are necessary etiological factors for dental caries and periodontal diseases but have also been implicated in diseases outside the oral cavity. Biofilm is the preferred lifestyle for bacteria, and biofilms are found on almost any surface in nature. Bacteria growing within a biofilm exhibit an altered phenotype. Substantial changes in gene expression occur when bacteria are in close proximity or physical contact with one another or with the host. This may facilitate nutritional co-operation, cell-cell signaling, and gene transfer, including transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes, thus rendering biofilm bacteria with properties other than those found in free-floating, planktonic bacteria. We will discuss biofilm properties and possible consequences for future prophylaxis. | 2018 | 30178559 |
| 9477 | 11 | 0.9995 | The microbiome-shaping roles of bacteriocins. The microbiomes on human body surfaces affect health in multiple ways. They include not only commensal or mutualistic bacteria but also potentially pathogenic bacteria, which can enter sterile tissues to cause invasive infection. Many commensal bacteria produce small antibacterial molecules termed bacteriocins that have the capacity to eliminate specific colonizing pathogens; as such, bacteriocins have attracted increased attention as potential microbiome-editing tools. Metagenome-based and activity-based screening approaches have strongly expanded our knowledge of the abundance and diversity of bacteriocin biosynthetic gene clusters and the properties of a continuously growing list of bacteriocin classes. The dynamic acquisition, diversification or loss of bacteriocin genes can shape the fitness of a bacterial strain that is in competition with bacteriocin-susceptible bacteria. However, a bacteriocin can only provide a competitive advantage if its fitness benefit exceeds the metabolic cost of production, if it spares crucial mutualistic partner strains and if major competitors cannot develop resistance. In contrast to most currently available antibiotics, many bacteriocins have only narrow activity ranges and could be attractive agents for precision therapy and prevention of infections. A common scientific strategy involving multiple disciplines is needed to uncover the immense potential of microbiome-shaping bacteriocins. | 2021 | 34075213 |
| 8321 | 12 | 0.9995 | Pathogen Resistance Mediated by IL-22 Signaling at the Epithelial-Microbiota Interface. Intestinal colonization resistance to bacterial pathogens is generally associated, among other factors, with mucosal homeostasis that preserves the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Mucosal homeostasis depends on physical and molecular interactions between three components: the resident microbiota, the epithelial layer and the local immune system. The cytokine IL-22 helps to orchestrate this three-way interaction. IL-22 is produced by immune cells present beneath the epithelium and is induced by bacteria present in the intestine. IL-22 stimulates the epithelial cells via the IL-22RA1-IL-10R2 receptor complex inducing changes in the expression of genes involved in the maintenance of epithelial barrier integrity, with a variety of functions in pathogen resistance such as mucus layer modifications and hydration, tight junction fortification and the production of a broad range of bactericidal compounds. These mechanisms of pathogen resistance, in turn, affect the microbiota composition and create an environment that excludes pathogens. Here we highlight the role of IL-22 as key mediator in the give-and-take relationship between the microbiota and the host that impacts pathogen resistance. | 2015 | 26497621 |
| 9373 | 13 | 0.9995 | Dynamics of the emergence of genetic resistance to biocides among asexual and sexual organisms. A stochastic, agent based, evolutionary algorithm, modeling mating, reproduction, genetic variation, phenotypic expression and selection was used to study the dynamic interactions affecting a multiple-gene system. The results suggest that strong irreversible constraints affect the evolution of resistance to biocides. Resistant genes evolve differently in asexual organisms compared with sexual ones in response to various patterns of biocide applications. Asexual populations (viruses and bacteria) are less likely to develop genetic resistance in response to multiple pesticides or if pesticides are used at low doses, whereas sexual populations (insects for example) are more likely to become resistant to pesticides if susceptibility to the pesticide relates to mate selection. The adaptation of genes not related to the emergence of resistance will affect the dynamics of the evolution of resistance. Increasing the number of pesticides reduces the probability of developing resistance to any of them in asexual organisms but much less so in sexual organisms. Sequential applications of toxins, were slightly less efficient in slowing emergence of resistance compared with simultaneous application of a mix in both sexual and asexual organisms. Targeting only one sex of the pest speeds the development of resistance. The findings are consistent to most of the published analytical models but are closer to known experimental results, showing that nonlinear, agent based simulation models are more powerful in explaining complex processes. | 1997 | 9344733 |
| 9348 | 14 | 0.9995 | Widespread horizontal gene transfer between plants and bacteria. Plants host a large array of commensal bacteria that interact with the host. The growth of both bacteria and plants is often dependent on nutrients derived from the cognate partners, and the bacteria fine-tune host immunity against pathogens. This ancient interaction is common in all studied land plants and is critical for proper plant health and development. We hypothesized that the spatial vicinity and the long-term relationships between plants and their microbiota may promote cross-kingdom horizontal gene transfer (HGT), a phenomenon that is relatively rare in nature. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the Arabidopsis thaliana genome and its extensively sequenced microbiome to detect events of horizontal transfer of full-length genes that transferred between plants and bacteria. Interestingly, we detected 75 unique genes that were horizontally transferred between plants and bacteria. Plants and bacteria exchange in both directions genes that are enriched in carbohydrate metabolism functions, and bacteria transferred to plants genes that are enriched in auxin biosynthesis genes. Next, we provided a proof of concept for the functional similarity between a horizontally transferred bacterial gene and its Arabidopsis homologue in planta. The Arabidopsis DET2 gene is essential for biosynthesis of the brassinosteroid phytohormones, and loss of function of the gene leads to dwarfism. We found that expression of the DET2 homologue from Leifsonia bacteria of the Actinobacteria phylum in the Arabidopsis det2 background complements the mutant and leads to normal plant growth. Together, these data suggest that cross-kingdom HGT events shape the metabolic capabilities and interactions between plants and bacteria. | 2024 | 38808121 |
| 9140 | 15 | 0.9995 | Polyamine as a microenvironment factor in resistance to antibiotics. One of the main issues in modern medicine is the decrease in the efficacy of antibiotic therapy against resistant microorganisms. The advent of antimicrobial resistance has added significantly to the impact of infectious diseases, in number of infections, as well as added healthcare costs. The development of antibiotic tolerance and resistance is influenced by a variety of environmental variables, and it is important to identify these environmental factors as part of any strategy for combating antibiotic resistance. The review aims to emphasize that biogenic polyamines are one of such environmental cues that impacts the antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The biogenic polyamines can help bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics either by regulating the level of number of porin channels in the outer membrane, by modifying the outer membrane liposaccharides or by protecting macromolecule from antibiotic stress. Thus, understanding the way polyamines function in bacteria can thus be beneficial while designing the drugs to combat diseases. | 2024 | 37339480 |
| 9472 | 16 | 0.9995 | Bacteriophage and Bacterial Susceptibility, Resistance, and Tolerance to Antibiotics. Bacteriophages, viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria, impact bacterial responses to antibiotics in complex ways. Recent studies using lytic bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections (phage therapy) demonstrate that phages can promote susceptibility to chemical antibiotics and that phage/antibiotic synergy is possible. However, both lytic and lysogenic bacteriophages can contribute to antimicrobial resistance. In particular, some phages mediate the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria via transduction and other mechanisms. In addition, chronic infection filamentous phages can promote antimicrobial tolerance, the ability of bacteria to persist in the face of antibiotics. In particular, filamentous phages serve as structural elements in bacterial biofilms and prevent the penetration of antibiotics. Over time, these contributions to antibiotic tolerance favor the selection of resistance clones. Here, we review recent insights into bacteriophage contributions to antibiotic susceptibility, resistance, and tolerance. We discuss the mechanisms involved in these effects and address their impact on bacterial fitness. | 2022 | 35890320 |
| 9614 | 17 | 0.9995 | Antibiotic-Independent Adaptive Effects of Antibiotic Resistance Mutations. Antibiotic usage selects for the accumulation and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, resistance can also accumulate in the absence of antibiotic exposure. Antibiotics are often designed to target widely distributed regulatory housekeeping genes. The targeting of such genes enables these antibiotics to be useful against a wider variety of pathogens. This review highlights work suggesting that regulatory housekeeping genes of the type targeted by many antibiotics function as hubs of adaptation to conditions unrelated to antibiotic exposure. As a result of this, some mutations to the regulatory housekeeping gene targets of antibiotics confer both antibiotic resistance and an adaptive effect unrelated to antibiotic exposure. Such antibiotic-independent adaptive effects of resistance mutations may substantially affect the dynamics of antibiotic resistance accumulation and spread. | 2017 | 28629950 |
| 9468 | 18 | 0.9995 | Mendelian traits that confer predisposition or resistance to specific infections in humans. Mutations in human genes involved in immunity are increasingly recognised. Most are associated with conventional primary immunodeficiencies, which confer Mendelian predisposition to multiple infectious diseases. Recently, there has been much study of monogenic traits that do not confer such a broad vulnerability. Defects in several genes confer predisposition to infection with specific bacteria and viruses in otherwise healthy individuals. Mutations in other genes even confer resistance to specific pathogens, with no detectable decrease in fitness. These 'experiments of nature' reveal surprising specific interactions between certain human genes and microbial pathogens. | 2006 | 16765581 |
| 9137 | 19 | 0.9995 | Virulence- and antibiotic resistance-associated two-component signal transduction systems of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria as targets for antimicrobial therapy. Two-component signal transduction systems are central elements of the virulence and antibiotic resistance responses of opportunistic bacterial pathogens. These systems allow the bacterium to sense and respond to signals emanating from the host environment and to modulate the repertoire of genes expressed to allow invasion and growth in the host. The integral role of two-component systems in virulence and antibiotic sensitivity, and the existence of essential two-component systems in several pathogenic bacteria, suggests that these systems may be novel targets for antimicrobial intervention. This review discusses the potential use of two-component systems as targets for antimicrobial therapy against Gram-positive pathogens and the current status in the development of inhibitors specific for these systems. | 2002 | 12191621 |