Journal of Microbiology

Journal Article

The periplasmic chaperone protein Psg_2795 contributes to the virulence of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea: the causal agent of bacterial blight of soybean: Xiuhua Wang , Xiaoyan Zhang , Bao-Hui Lu , Jie Gao; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(5):478-487. Published online March 4, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1469-5

Abstract: Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea (Psg, also named P. syringae pv. glycinea and P. amygdali pv. glycinea) is the causative agent of bacterial blight in soybean. The identification of virulence factors is essential for understanding the pathogenesis of Psg. In this study, a mini-Tn5 transposon mutant library of Psg strain PsgNC12 was screened on soybean, and one low-virulent mini-Tn5 mutant, designated as 4573, was identified. Sequence analysis of the 4573-mutant revealed that the mini-Tn5 transposon was inserted in the Psg_2795 gene. Psg_2795 encodes a FimC-domain protein that is highly conserved in Pseudomonas. Further analysis revealed that the mutation and knockout of Psg_2795 results in a reduced virulence phenotype on soybean, decreased motility, weakened bacterial attachment to a glass surface and delayed the population growth within soybean leaves. The phenotype of the 4573-mutant could be complemented nearly to wild-type levels using an intact Psg_2795 gene. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Psg_2795 plays an important role in the virulence, motility, attachment and the population growth of PsgNC12 in soybean. This finding provides a new insight into the function of periplasmic chaperone proteins in a type I pilus and provides reference information for identifying Psg_2795 homologues in P. savastanoi and other bacteria.

Review

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus vaccine development: updating clinical studies using platform technologies: Jung-ah Choi , Jae-Ouk Kim; J. Microbiol. 2022;60(3):238-246. Published online January 28, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-022-1547-8

Abstract: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a contagious zoonotic virus, causes severe respiratory infection with a case fatality rate of approximately 35% in humans. Intermittent sporadic cases in communities and healthcare facility outbreaks have continued to occur since its first identification in 2012. The World Health Organization has declared MERS-CoV a priority pathogen for worldwide research and vaccine development due to its epidemic potential and the insufficient countermeasures available. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is supporting vaccine development against emerging diseases, including MERS-CoV, based on platform technologies using DNA, mRNA, viral vector, and protein subunit vaccines. In this paper, we review the usefulness and structure of a spike glycoprotein as a MERSCoV vaccine candidate molecule, and provide an update on the status of MERS-CoV vaccine development. Vaccine candidates based on both DNA and viral vectors coding MERSCoV spike gene have completed early phase clinical trials. A harmonized approach is required to assess the immunogenicity of various candidate vaccine platforms. Platform technologies accelerated COVID-19 vaccine development and can also be applied to developing vaccines against other emerging viral diseases.

Retraction of Publication

Retraction Note to: Cryptic prophages in a blaNDM‑1‑bearing plasmid increase bacterial survival against high NaCl concentration, high and low temperatures, and oxidative and immunological stressors: So Yeon Kim , Kwan Soo Ko; J. Microbiol. 2023;61(4):481-481.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00049-1

Abstract: Retraction Note to: Journal of Microbiology (2020) Vol. 58, No. 6, pp. 483–488 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-020-9605-6 The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article at the request of the authors. After publication concerns were raised that prophage sequences do not exist in the genome of the plasmid pNDM-A1 used in this study. The authors have not been able to confirm the existence of prophage sequences in the plasmid. As a result, the Editor-in-Chief no longer has confidence in the results and conclusions presented in this article. Kwan Soo Ko agrees with this retraction. So Yeon Kim has not responded to correspondence from the Editor-in-Chief about this retraction.

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