The paper shows that peptidoglycan maturation regulates the spatiotemporal organization of outer membrane proteins in E. coli by modulating BAM activity and OMP insertion.

bioRxiv · Apr 11, 2022 · PreprintMicrobiology

Bacterial competition systems share a domain required for inner membrane transport of the nuclease bacteriocin pyocin G

I. Atanaskovic, C. Sharp, C. Press, R. Kaminska, C. Kleanthous

This study identifies a conserved domain essential for inner membrane translocation of nucleases in bacterial competition systems, using PyoG as a model.

bioRxiv · Nov 17, 2021 · PreprintMicrobiology

Colicin-mediated transport of DNA through the iron transporter FepA

R. Cohen-Khait, A. Harmalkar, P. Pham, M. N. Webby, N. G. Housden, E. Elliston, J. T. Hopper, S. Mohammed, C. V. Robinson, J. J. Gray, C. Kleanthous

This study shows colicin B uses the iron transporter FepA to transport DNA into E. coli, revealing a mechanism for cargo delivery through bacterial membranes.

bioRxiv · May 11, 2021Microbiology

Passive receptor dissociation driven by porin threading establishes active colicin transport through Escherichia coli OmpF

M.-L. R. Francis, M. N. Webby, N. G. Housden, R. Kaminska, E. Elliston, B. Chinthammit, N. Lukoyanova, C. Kleanthous

The paper reveals how ColE9 crosses the outer membrane of E. coli by threading through OmpF pores, causing receptor dissociation and enabling toxin import.

bioRxiv · Apr 15, 2021Biochemistry

Spatiotemporal organization of BamA governs the pattern of outer membrane protein distribution in growing Escherichia coli cells

G. Mamou, P. G. Inns, D. Sun, R. Kaminska, N. G. Housden, R. Cohen Khait, H. Miller, K. M. Storek, S. T. Rutherford, J. Payandeh, C. Kleanthous

This study reveals that BamA organization in E. coli is dynamic and linked to growth phase, influencing OMP distribution and biogenesis patterns.

bioRxiv · Jan 27, 2021 · PreprintMicrobiology

Pyocin efficacy in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis

A. Six, K. Mosbahi, M. Barge, C. Kleanthous, T. Evans, D. Walker

This study evaluates pyocin efficacy in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis, finding both pyocins reduce mortality and show in vivo activity.

bioRxiv · Mar 27, 2020Microbiology

Pyocin S5 import into Pseudomonas aeruginosa reveals a generic mode of bacteriocin transport

H. M. Behrens, E. Lowe, J. Gault, N. G. Housden, R. Kaminska, T. M. Weber, C. M. A. Thompson, G. L. A. Mislin, I. Schalk, D. Walker, C. V. Robinson, C. Kleanthous

The paper identifies the import mechanism of Pyocin S5 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, revealing a generic pathway for TonB-dependent bacteriocins across Gram-negative bacteria.

bioRxiv · Nov 26, 2019Biochemistry

Pal stabilises the bacterial outer membrane during constriction by a mobilisation-and-capture mechanism

J. Szczepaniak, P. Holmes, K. Rajasekar, R. Kaminska, F. Samsudin, P. G. Inns, P. Rassam, S. Khalid, S. M. Murray, C. Redfield, C. Kleanthous

The paper shows the Tol system in E. coli actively mobilizes and captures Pal to coordinate outer membrane constriction with cell division.

bioRxiv · Oct 4, 2019 · PreprintMicrobiology