M. Nakata

Complete sequences of epidermin and nukacin encoding plasmids from oral-derived Staphylococcus epidermidis and their antibacterial activity

The paper reports the complete sequences of two plasmids from S. epidermidis that encode bacteriocins, showing partial differences from previously reported sequences and their antibacterial activity.

GP96 drives exacerbation of secondary bacterial pneumonia following influenza A virus infection

This study shows that GP96 promotes pneumococcal adherence to IAV-infected epithelial cells, leading to bacterial pneumonia, and that inhibiting GP96 reduces lung infection and pathology.

Genetic characterization of Streptococcus pyogenes emm 89 strains isolated in Japan from 2011 to 2019

The paper characterizes emm89 Streptococcus pyogenes strains from Japan, finding most belong to clade 3 and carry STSS-associated genes and SNPs.

Transcriptomic profiling of Streptococcus pyogenes M1T1 strain in a mouse model of necrotizing fasciitis

This study identifies S. pyogenes gene-expression changes in a mouse necrotizing fasciitis model, revealing upregulation of virulence factors and downregulation of oxidative-stress response genes.

Streptococcus pneumoniae evades host cell phagocytosis and limits host mortality through its cell wall anchoring protein PfbA

This paper investigates the role of PfbA in Streptococcus pneumoniae pathogenesis, finding that it inhibits phagocytosis and modulates host inflammation, with differential effects in pneumonia and sepsis models.

Identification of evolutionarily conserved virulence factor by selective pressure analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The paper identifies a conserved virulence factor in Streptococcus pneumoniae through evolutionary analysis and shows its role in immune evasion.