J. A. Kirk

An intact S-layer is advantageous to Clostridioides difficile within the host.

This paper shows that an intact S-layer in Clostridioides difficile enhances disease severity by analyzing revertants of an S-layer-null strain and their gene expression differences.

Vascular Smooth Muscle Myosin 2 Filaments Dynamically Assemble and Stabilize During Induced Contractility

This study investigates SMII filament dynamics in vascular smooth muscle cells, showing they are dynamic and stabilize during contraction, with implications for vascular regulation and disease.

The Clostridioides difficile S-Layer Protein A (SlpA) serves as a general phage receptor

This paper demonstrates that SlpA is a common receptor for multiple C. difficile phages, enabling the rational design of phage cocktails.

Myofilament Glycation in Diabetes Reduces Contractility by Inhibiting Tropomyosin Movement, is Rescued by cMyBPC Domains

This study identifies myofilament glycation in diabetes as a cause of reduced cardiac contractility, showing that cMyBPC domains can rescue this dysfunction.

Cardiomyocyte Contractile Impairment in Heart Failure Results from Reduced BAG3-mediated Sarcomeric Protein Turnover

The paper shows reduced BAG3-mediated sarcomere turnover causes cardiomyocyte contractile impairment in heart failure, with gene therapy restoring function in mice.

A cortex-specific PBP contributes to cephalosporin resistance in Clostridium difficile

The paper identifies and characterizes a cortex-specific penicillin binding protein in Clostridium difficile that contributes to cephalosporin resistance and is essential for cortex synthesis.

Spatial organization of Clostridium difficile S-layer biogenesis

The paper investigates the spatial organization of S-layer biogenesis in Clostridium difficile, finding that SlpA secretion is delocalized while S-layer formation occurs at sites of cell wall synthesis.