J. D. McKinney

OpenSIM: open source microscope add-on for structured illumination microscopy

The paper introduces openSIM, an open-hardware add-on that upgrades existing microscopes to structured illumination microscopy (SIM) for super-resolution imaging.

Uptake-independent killing of macrophages by extracellular aggregates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is ESX-1 and PDIM-dependent

This study shows extracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis aggregates kill macrophages via ESX-1 and PDIM, independent of uptake, through contact-dependent mechanisms.

Mechanical morphotype switching as an adaptive response in mycobacteria

The paper shows mycobacteria change their cell surface stiffness to survive macrophage stress, using mechanical morphotype switching as an adaptive strategy.

The mycobacterial mutasome: composition and recruitment in live cells

This study identifies the molecular composition and function of the mycobacterial mutasome, showing that the ImuB-{beta} clamp interaction is essential for mutagenic DNA repair in mycobacteria.

A lung-on-chip model reveals an essential role for alveolar epithelial cells in controlling bacterial growth in early tuberculosis

This study uses a lung-on-chip model to show that alveolar epithelial cell-derived surfactant limits early Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth by removing virulence factors.

Early invasion of uropathogenic Escherichia coli into the bladder wall by solitary bacteria that are protected from antibiotics and neutrophil swarms in an organoid model

This study uses a bladder organoid model to show that UPEC can invade deeper bladder layers as solitary bacteria, evading antibiotics and neutrophils, forming reservoirs that contribute to recurrent infections.

Rapid endothelial infection, endothelialitis and vascular damage characterise SARS-CoV-2 infection in a human lung-on-chip model

This study shows SARS-CoV-2 directly infects endothelial cells in a lung-on-chip model, causing vascular damage and inflammation independent of immune cells.