Using single-cell RNA sequencing, Avraham et al. investigate how variability in macrophage response to infection is controlled by variability within the pathogen population. They find that heterogeneous expression of the Salmonella virulence factor PhoP and subsequent cell-wall modifications lead to the bimodal induction of the interferon-response in infected macrophages.

Cysteine proteinases (gingipains) from Porphyromonas gingivalis are considered key virulence factors of severe periodontitis and host immune evasion. Since expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on gingival epithelium is indispensable in polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration at the site of periodontitis, we examined the effects of gingipains on the expression of ICAM-1 o...

Neonatal bacteremia Escherichia coli strains commonly belong to the K1 capsular type. Their ability to cause invasive neonatal disease appears to be determined by other virulence factors that have yet to be identified. We report here the genome sequences of four E. coli neonatal bacteremia isolates, including that of the archetypal strain RS218.

The cj0183 and cj0588 genes identified in the Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 genome encode proteins with homology to virulence factors found in other bacteria. Previous studies showed that single mutation in the cj0183 gene does not affect adhesion of C. jejuni to the Caco-2 cell line whereas protein encoded by cj0588 is involved in adherence to the Caco-2 cells. In the presented study differe...

The objective was an assessment of the impact of Leonurus cardiaca L. extract (LCE) and ursolic acid (UA) on the adhesive properties of Staphylococus aureus NCTC 8325 strain, expressing virulence factors important in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. The adhesion and biofilm formation of bacteria cultured in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of LCE or UA on the abiotic surf...

The genetic background and the presence of several virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from intensive care unit (ICU) patients from 14 hospitals in The Netherlands isolated from 1996 until 2006 were investigated. In total, 936 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and 7 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were collected. The genetic background was determined by sp...

Enterococcus species were considered as non-pathogenic bacteria until recognized as an important cause of bacterial endocarditis in 1899. During the past decade, there has been a worldwide increase in occurrence of enterococcal infections. Though more than 28 enteroccocal species described, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are isolated most frequently. This might be explained by t...