Project description:A Bacillus paranthracis isolate was cultured from the blood of a fatal Ebola virus disease (EVD) case in Liberia and was identified by whole genome sequencing. Although B. paranthracis has only recently been described and is poorly characterized, this case may represent the bacterial co-infection of an EVD patient.
Project description:This report describes the genome sequence of Bacillus paranthracis strain ICIS-279, isolated from human feces. It demonstrates a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitory activity up to 0.1 ng/ml. The genome size is 5,180,499 bp, with a G+C content of 35.4%. Annotation revealed 5,168 coding sequences, including 5,168 proteins and 43 rRNA, 102 tRNA, and 5 noncoding RNA (ncRNA) genes.
Project description:In pathogenic Bacillota, spores can form an infectious particle and can take up a central role in the environmental persistence and dissemination of disease. A poorly understood aspect of spore-mediated infection is the fibrous structures or 'endospore appendages' (ENAs) that have been seen to decorate the spores of pathogenic Bacilli and Clostridia. Current methodological approaches are opening a window on these long enigmatic structures. Using cryoID, Alphafold modelling and genetic approaches we identify a sub-class of robust ENAs in a Bacillus paranthracis foodborne outbreak strain. We demonstrate that L-ENA are encoded by a rare three-gene cluster (ena3) that contains all components for the self-assembly of ladder-like protein nanofibers of stacked heptameric rings, their anchoring to the exosporium, and their termination in a trimeric 'ruffle' made of a complement C1Q-like BclA paralogue. The role of ENA fibers in spore-spore interaction and the distribution of L-ENA operon as mobile genetic elements in B. cereus s.l. strains suggest that L-ENA fibers may increase the survival, spread and virulence of these strains.
Project description:Phospholipases find versatile applications across industries, including detergent production, food modification, pharmaceuticals (especially in drug delivery systems), and cell signaling research. In this study, we present a strain of Bacillus paranthracis for the first time, demonstrating significant potential in the production of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC). The investigation thoroughly examines the B. paranthracis PUMB_17 strain, focusing on the activity of PC-PLC and its purification process. Notably, the PUMB_17 strain displays extracellular PC-PLC production with high specific activity during the late exponential growth phase. To unravel the genetic makeup of PUMB_17, we employed nanopore-based whole-genome sequencing and subsequently conducted a detailed genome annotation. The genome comprises a solitary circular chromosome spanning 5,250,970 bp, featuring a guanine-cytosine ratio of 35.49. Additionally, two plasmids of sizes 64,250 bp and 5845 bp were identified. The annotation analysis reveals the presence of 5328 genes, encompassing 5186 protein-coding sequences, and 142 RNA genes, including 39 rRNAs, 103 tRNAs, and 5 ncRNAs. The aim of this study was to make a comprehensive genomic exploration that promises to enhance our understanding of the previously understudied and recently documented capabilities of Bacillus paranthracis and to shed light on a potential use of the strain in the industrial production of PC-PLC.
Project description:Bacillus paranthracis strain DB-4 was isolated from nukadoko in Japan. We report the draft genome sequence of this strain to provide insights into the survival mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria in fermented rice bran.
Project description:The bacterial cell wall has been a celebrated target for antibiotics and holds real promise as a target for the discovery of new chemical matter to surmount pervasive multi-drug resistance among pathogenic bacteria. While the walls of Gram-negative bacteria are composed primarily of peptidoglycan, those of Gram-positives are more substantial and contain, in addition, large amounts of the polymer teichoic acid, covalently attached to peptidoglycan. Wall teichoic acids are a diverse group of phosphate-rich, extracellular polysaccharides that have been largely regarded as ancillary cell surface components. Recently, wall teichoic acid was shown to be essential to the proper rod-shaped cell morphology of the prototype Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis and an important virulence factor for the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. Thus wall teichoic acid synthesis is an intriguing target for the development of new cell wall-active antibiotics. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that the dispensability of genes encoding teichoic acid biosynthetic enzymes in both B. subtilis and S. aureus is paradoxical and complex. Here, we report here on the discovery of a promoter (PywaC), which is sensitive to lesions in teichoic acid synthesis. Using this promoter we developed a luminescent, cell-based, reporter system to take a chemical-genetic approach to understanding the complexity of wall teichoic acid biogenesis using a large collection of antibiotics of well characterized biological activity. Our results reveal surprising interactions among undecaprenol, peptidoglycan and teichoic acid biosynthesis that help explain the complexity of teichoic acid gene dispensability. Furthermore, the new reporter assay represents an exciting avenue for the discovery of novel antibacterial molecules that impinge broadly on Gram-positive bacterial cell wall biogenesis. Keywords: comparison between depleted and repleted tagD mutant