A specific isoform of PBP1b functions independently of the activator protein, LpoB, to drive generation of a wedge-like peptidoglycan structure that strengthens the division site in Escherichia coli.

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is emerging as a transformative tool for structural biology. Unlike methods based on purified molecules, cryo-ET en…

La Jolla, California—April 29, 2026—The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) announced that J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., the Institute’s founder, board...

A Review of de novo protein design highlights key methodological advances and achievements, current challenges and future applications.

PhD Project - Primary metabolic enzymes in antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria, but not as we know them! at University of Strathclyde, listed on FindAPhD.com

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PcdA interacts with DivIVA and FtsZ, promoting Z-ring formation and division plane selection in Staphylococcus aureus, which increases virulence in mice and reduces sensitivity to cell-wall-targeting ...

Spatially regulated membrane constriction is an important milestone in reconstituting minimal cell division. Here the authors engineer a truncated system where the cytosolic domain of FtsN forms large...

Many streptococci are naturally competent, acquiring environmental DNA through transformation. This includes pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae and commensals like Streptococcus mitis, which can exchange genetic material through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). For example, S. mitis can acquire pneumococcal capsules, leading to its misidentification in polymicrobial samples such as those obtained from the upper respiratory tract. Understanding the drivers of HGT between these species is therefore critical. Here, we characterize a competence-induced bacteriocin cluster in S. mitis. These bacteriocins lyse pneumococci, promoting DNA release and enhancing gene transfer in dual-species biofilms. Our findings uncover a mechanism by which competence-associated predation promotes interspecies HGT, shaping the evolution and epidemiology of streptococcal populations.

A common mechanism of inhibition of the essential lipid II flippase MurJ by three distinct phage-encoded single-gene lysis proteins provides insights into potential new targets for antimicrobial development.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an understudied biofilm-associated infection. Here, analyses of preclinical and clinical data reveal that the Fsr quorum sensing (QS) system of Enterococcus faecalis is ...

Nature - Isomorphic Lab’s proprietary drug-discovery model is a major advance, but scientists developing open-source tools are left guessing how to achieve similar results.

A Stanford University team have tested their nasal spray vaccine in animals but still need to do human clinical trials.

The Clostridia are a phylogenetically diverse group of anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria that include species of medical, veterinary and industrial importance. The last two decades have seen major adv...

This support is grant funding for proof-of-concept projects for early to mid-stage research commercialisation activities.

Many Gram-negative nosocomial pathogens rely on adhesive filaments, known as archaic chaperone-usher pili, to establish stress- and drug-resistant, multi-layered biofilms. Here, we uncover the mechanism by which these pili build three-dimensional (3D) biofilm architectures. In situ analyses of Acine …