Background: The human polyomavirus BK expresses a 66 amino-acid peptide referred to as agnoprotein. Though mutants lacking agnoprotein are severely reduced in producing infectious virions, the exact function of this peptide remains incompletely understood. To elucidate the function of agnoprotein, we searched for novel cellular interaction partners. <p>Methods: Yeast-two hybrid assay was performed ...

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has evolved numerous antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and is identified as a serious public health threat by the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The glycopeptide vancomycin (VAN) remains a cornerstone of therapy for severe MRSA infections despite increasing reports of therapeutic failure in hospitalized ...

The human polyomavirus BK (BKV) infects humans worldwide and establishes a persistent infection in the kidney. The BK virus genome encodes three regulatory proteins, large and small tumor-antigen and the agnoprotein, as well as the capsid proteins VP1 to VP3. Agnoprotein is conserved among BKV, JC virus (JCV) and SV40, and agnoprotein-deficient mutants reveal reduced viral propagation. Studies with ...

Burns and other skin injuries are growing concerns as well as challenges in an era of antimicrobial resistance. Novel treatment options to improve the prevention and eradication of infectious skin biofilm-producing pathogens, while enhancing wound healing, are urgently needed for the timely treatment of infection-prone injuries. Treatment of acute skin injuries requires tailoring of formulation to ...

<p><i>Staphylococcus haemolyticus</i> is a skin commensal emerging as an opportunistic pathogen. Nosocomial isolates of <i>S. haemolyticus</i> are the most antibiotic resistant members of the coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS), but information about other <i>S. haemolyticus</i> virulence factors is scarce. Bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) are one mediator of virulence by enabling secretion and ...

<i>Enterococcus faecium</i> is a commensal but also a bacteremia causing pathogen, which is inherently resistant to several antimicrobials and has a great ability to acquire new traits. Bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) are increasingly recognized as a mode of cell-free communication and a way to deliver virulence factors and/or antimicrobial resistance determinants. These features make MVs interesting ...

Background - The nose and the throat are the most predominant colonizing sites of Staphylococcus aureus, and colonization is a risk factor for infection. Nasal colonization is well described; however, we have limited knowledge about S. aureus throat colonization. The main objective of this study was to explore differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in S. aureus throat isolate TR145 exposed to human ...

<p><i>Background</i>: <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> cell wall anchored Serine Aspartate repeat containing protein D (<i>sdrD</i>) is a member of the microbial surface component recognising adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs). It is involved in the bacterial adhesion and virulence. However the extent of genetic variation in <i>S. aureus sdrD</i> gene within isolates from healthy carriers are not ...

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is known as a frequent colonizer of the skin and mucosa. Among bacterial factors involved in colonization are adhesins such as the microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs). Serine aspartate repeat containing protein D (SdrD) is involved in adhesion to human squamous cells isolated from the nose. Here, we identify Desmoglein 1 ...

<i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> is the most common cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections and causes serious reproductive tract complications among women. The limitations of existing oral antibiotics and treatment of antimicrobial resistance require alternative treatment options. We are proposing, for the first time, the natural polyphenol resveratrol (RES) in an advanced delivery system ...