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Table of Contents

Volume 88 • Number 11 • June 2022

Spotlight

Spotlight14 June 2022

Articles of Significant Interest in This Issue

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00915-22
    The stress sigma factor SigB of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is critical for infectivity. Guerreiro et al. (e00330-22) demonstrate the frequent emergence of SigB loss-of-function mutations under laboratory conditions due to the growth advantage they confer. The high occurrence rate of these and other advantageous mutations in publicly available genomes suggests widespread selection of unwanted hitchhiker mutations in laboratories worldwide.

    Environmental Microbiology

    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article17 May 2022

    The Novel Amidase PcnH Initiates the Degradation of Phenazine-1-Carboxamide in Sphingomonas histidinilytica DS-9

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00543-22
    Phenazines have been widely acknowledged as a natural antibiotic for more than 150 years, but their degradation mechanisms are still not completely elucidated. Compared with the studies on the degradation mechanism of PCA and PYO, little is known ...
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article23 May 2022

    Community Structure and Microbial Associations in Sediment-Free Methanotrophic Enrichment Cultures from a Marine Methane Seep

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02109-21
    Biological anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled with sulfate reduction represents a large methane sink in global ocean sediments. Methane consumption is carried out by syntrophic archaeal-bacterial consortia and fuels a unique ecosystem, yet the ...
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article16 May 2022

    A Novel Small RNA, DsrO, in Deinococcus radiodurans Promotes Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase (msrA) Expression for Oxidative Stress Adaptation

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00038-22
    The repair of oxidized proteins is an indispensable function allowing the extremophile D. radiodurans to grow in adverse environments. Msr proteins and various oxidoreductases can reduce oxidized Cys and Met amino acid residues of damaged proteins to ...
    Spotlight SelectionEnvironmental MicrobiologyResearch Article24 May 2022

    Cold Seeps on the Passive Northern U.S. Atlantic Margin Host Globally Representative Members of the Seep Microbiome with Locally Dominant Strains of Archaea

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00468-22
    Cold seeps are now known to be widespread features of passive continental margins, including the northern U.S. Atlantic Margin (USAM).
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article23 May 2022

    The Insect Pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens Protects Plants from Phytopathogenic Fusarium graminearum via Chitin Degradation

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00645-22
    The enteric enterobacterium Photorhabdus luminescens is already being used as a bioinsecticide since it is highly pathogenic toward a broad range of insects. However, the bacteria exist in two phenotypically different cell types, called 1° and 2° cells.
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article23 May 2022

    Extremophile Metal Resistance: Plasmid-Encoded Functions in Streptomyces mirabilis

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00085-22
    Living in extremely metal-rich environments requires specific adaptations, and often, specific metal tolerance genes are encoded on a transferable plasmid. Here, Streptomyces mirabilis P16B-1, isolated from a former mining area and able to grow with up to ...
    Spotlight SelectionVeterinary MicrobiologyResearch Article16 May 2022

    Riemerella anatipestifer T9SS Effector SspA Functions in Bacterial Virulence and Defending Natural Host Immunity

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02409-21
    In recent years, Riemerella anatipestifer T9SS has been reported to act as a virulence factor. However, the functions of the proteins secreted by R. anatipestifer T9SS are not entirely clear.
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article25 May 2022

    A Conserved Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Is Regulated by Quorum Sensing in a Shipworm Symbiont

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00270-22
    Bacteria play important roles as symbionts in animals ranging from invertebrates to humans. Despite this recognized importance, much is still unknown about the molecular details of how these relationships are formed and maintained.
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article23 May 2022

    PicR as a MarR Family Transcriptional Repressor Multiply Controls the Transcription of Picolinic Acid Degradation Gene Cluster pic in Alcaligenes faecalis JQ135

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00172-22
    The pic gene cluster was found to be responsible for PA degradation and widely distributed in Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria. Thus, it is very necessary to understand the regulation mechanism of the pic cluster in these strains.
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article19 May 2022

    Synergistic Inactivation of African Swine Fever Virus by a Highly Complexed Iodine Combined with Compound Organic Acids

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00452-22
    African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease of swine with high morbidity and mortality caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV). Due to the lack of commercial vaccines and treatment available for ASF, effective disinfectants and the proper ...
    Microbial EcologyResearch Article10 May 2022

    Variation in Root Exudate Composition Influences Soil Microbiome Membership and Function

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00226-22
    Decrypting the chemical interactions between plant roots and the soil microbiome is a gateway for future manipulation and management of the rhizosphere, a soil compartment critical to promoting plant fitness and yields. Our experimental results ...

    Enzymology and Protein Engineering

    BiotechnologyResearch Article12 May 2022

    Enhancing the Thermostability of Phytase to Boiling Point by Evolution-Guided Design

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00506-22
    Due to the harsh reaction conditions of industrial production, the relative instability of enzymes limits their application in industrial production, such as for food, pharmaceuticals, and feed. For example, the pelleting process of feed includes a brief ...
    Spotlight SelectionPhysiology and MetabolismResearch Article25 May 2022

    A Novel, NADH-Dependent Acrylate Reductase in Vibrio harveyi

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00519-22
    The benefits of the massive genomic information accumulated in recent years for biological sciences have been limited by the lack of data on the function of most gene products. Approximately half of the known prokaryotic genes are annotated as “proteins ...

    Food Microbiology

    Food MicrobiologyResearch Article19 May 2022

    Nonsynonymous Mutations in fepR Are Associated with Adaptation of Listeria monocytogenes and Other Listeria spp. to Low Concentrations of Benzalkonium Chloride but Do Not Increase Survival of L. monocytogenes and Other Listeria spp. after Exposure to Benzalkonium Chloride Concentrations Recommended for Use in Food Processing Environments

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00486-22
    Listeria monocytogenes tolerance to quaternary ammonium compounds has been raised as a concern with regard to L. monocytogenes persistence in food processing environments, including in fresh produce packing and processing environments. Persistence of L. ...
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article10 May 2022

    Circulation of Streptococcus agalactiae ST103 in a Free Stall Italian Dairy Farm

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00383-22
    Streptococcus agalactiae is an important pathogen in humans and cattle. Bovine mastitis caused by this bacterium and its control are generally associated with contagious transmission between animals.

    Genetics and Molecular Biology

    BiotechnologyResearch Article19 May 2022

    Insights in the Complex DegU, DegS, and Spo0A Regulation System of Paenibacillus polymyxa by CRISPR-Cas9-Based Targeted Point Mutations

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00164-22
    To date, only limited knowledge is available on how complex cellular behaviors are regulated in P. polymyxa. In this study, we investigate several regulatory proteins which play a role in governing different physiological traits.
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article23 May 2022

    Genetic Characterization of the Ibuprofen-Degradative Pathway of Rhizorhabdus wittichii MPO218

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00388-22
    Ibuprofen, one of the most common pharmaceutical contaminants in natural environments, is toxic for some aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The main source of environmental ibuprofen is wastewater, so improving wastewater treatment is of relevant ...
    Spotlight SelectionGenetics and Molecular BiologyResearch Article18 May 2022

    In Vitro Evolution of Listeria monocytogenes Reveals Selective Pressure for Loss of SigB and AgrA Function at Different Incubation Temperatures

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00330-22
    To withstand environmental aggressions, L. monocytogenes upregulates a large regulon through the action of the alternative sigma factor B (σB). However, σB becomes detrimental for L. monocytogenes growth under mild stresses, which confer a competitive ...
    Environmental MicrobiologyResearch Article16 May 2022

    Genetic and Phenotypic Study of the Pectobacterium versatile Beta-Lactamase, the Enzyme Most Similar to the Plasmid-Encoded TEM-1

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00220-22
    This study aimed to compare the chromosomal beta-lactamase from Pectobacterium versatile, PEC-1, with the well-known and globally distributed TEM-1 in terms of genetic and functional properties. Despite the similarities between the enzymes, we obtained no ...

    Microbial Ecology

    Microbial EcologyResearch Article25 May 2022

    Putative Novel Avian Paramyxovirus (AMPV) and Reidentification of APMV-2 and APMV-6 to the Species Level Based on Wild Bird Surveillance (United States, 2016–2018)

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00466-22
    Most species of APMVs are understudied and/or underreported, and many species were incidentally identified from asymptomatic wild birds; however, the disease significance of APMVs in wild birds is not fully determined. The rapid rise in high-throughput ...

    Physiology

    Spotlight SelectionPhysiology and MetabolismResearch Article19 May 2022

    Visualization of mRNA Expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Aggregates Reveals Spatial Patterns of Fermentative and Denitrifying Metabolism

    https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00439-22
    To understand bacteria in diverse contexts, we must understand the variations in behaviors and metabolisms they express spatiotemporally. Populations of bacteria are known to be heterogeneous, but the ways this variation manifests can be challenging to ...

    Masthead

    Masthead14 June 2022

    Editorial Board

      https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.masthead.88-11
      Gemma Reguera
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      Featured image: Good thermostability of enzymes is an important basis for their wide application in industry. In this study, we make full use of the existing homologous sequences in the database to statistically analyze the existence frequency of NXT/S motifs in this large sequence space to design the phytase APPA with improved thermostability and a high hit rate (~50%). We obtained the best combination mutant M14 that can tolerate boiling water treatment and greatly improved its kinetic stability without damaging its specific activity, which is rare for engineered proteins. (See related article at e00506-22.) (Copyright © 2022 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

      Featured image: Good thermostability of enzymes is an important basis for their wide application in industry. In this study, we make full use of the existing homologous sequences in the database to statistically analyze the existence frequency of NXT/S motifs in this large sequence space to design the phytase APPA with improved thermostability and a high hit rate (~50%). We obtained the best combination mutant M14 that can tolerate boiling water treatment and greatly improved its kinetic stability without damaging its specific activity, which is rare for engineered proteins. (See related article at e00506-22.) (Copyright © 2022 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

      Editorial Board