M. Erhardt

Bacterial motility depends on a critical flagellum length and energy-optimised assembly

This study shows that bacterial flagellum assembly is optimized for energy efficiency and motility by balancing secretion rate and filament length.

Metabolic enzymes moonlight as selective autophagy receptors to protect plants against viral-induced cellular damage

This study shows that metabolic enzymes act as autophagy receptors in plants to degrade defense executors during viral infection, revealing autophagy as a tolerance pathway rather than an antiviral defense.

FlhE functions as a chaperone to prevent formation of periplasmic flagella in Gram-negative bacteria

The paper identifies FlhE as a periplasmic chaperone that prevents the formation of periplasmic flagella in Salmonella, which disrupts cell wall synthesis and causes cell lysis.

Fluorescent tools for the standardized work in Gram-negative bacteria

This study evaluates 16 fluorescent proteins in Salmonella enterica to identify optimal tools for monitoring cellular processes, highlighting the benefits of degradation tags for improving signal stability and reducing cell-to-cell variability.

The F pilus serves as a conduit for the DNA during conjugation between physically distant bacteria

The study shows the F pilus acts as a DNA conduit during conjugation between distant bacteria, proposing a new model for DNA transfer.

SPI-1 virulence gene expression modulates motility of Salmonella Typhimurium in a proton motive force- and adhesins-dependent manner

This study shows that HilD activation in Salmonella Typhimurium reduces motility via SPI-1-dependent PMF depletion and adhesin upregulation, enhancing adhesion to host cells.

Mechanisms of ion selectivity and rotor coupling in the bacterial flagellar sodium-driven stator unit

This study determines the structure of the Na+-driven bacterial flagellar stator unit PomAB, revealing mechanisms of ion selectivity, rotor coupling, and stator unit activation.

Bacillus subtilis remains translationally active after CRISPRi-mediated replication initiation arrest

This study shows that Bacillus subtilis remains translationally active after CRISPRi-mediated replication initiation arrest, without DNA damage response or growth cessation.

A guide for membrane potential measurements in Gram-negative bacteria using voltage-sensitive dyes

This paper provides guidance on measuring membrane potential in Gram-negative bacteria using DiSC3(5) dyes, addressing challenges posed by the outer membrane and buffer conditions.

BldD-based bimolecular fluorescence complementation for in vivo detection of the second messenger cyclic di-GMP

The paper introduces a c-di-GMP biosensor, CensYBL, that detects intracellular c-di-GMP levels in bacteria using bimolecular fluorescence complementation and validates its function in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Controlling membrane barrier during bacterial type-III protein secretion

The paper investigates how T3SSs prevent membrane leakage during high-speed protein translocation by identifying a conserved methionine gasket and its interactions.

RADA is a main branch migration factor in plant mitochondrial recombination and its defect leads to mtDNA instability and cell cycle arrest

This study identifies RADA as a key factor in plant mitochondrial recombination, showing its defect causes mtDNA instability and cell cycle arrest through retrograde signaling.

The impact of plasma membrane lipid composition on flagella-mediated adhesion of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

This paper investigates how lipid composition affects flagella-mediated adhesion of EHEC O157:H7 to host cells, finding that polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit adhesion while lipid rafts are important for bacterial binding.

Structure and function of stator units of the bacterial flagellar motor

The paper presents cryo-EM structures of bacterial flagellar stator units in different states and proposes a mechanistic model for torque generation and direction switching.

Controlling minimal and maximal hook-length of the bacterial flagellum

This study investigates the role of FliK in controlling bacterial flagellum hook-length, finding that FliK acts as a terminator rather than a molecular ruler.

Flagella methylation promotes bacterial adhesion and host cell invasion

This study shows that flagellin methylation in Salmonella enhances adhesion and invasion by increasing surface hydrophobicity, aiding gut colonization and host infection.

Hook-length of the bacterial flagellum is optimized for maximal stability of the flagellar bundle

This study shows that the optimal hook-length in Salmonella enterica maximizes flagellar bundle stability and motility efficiency.