M. F. Feldman

Human gut bacteria tailor extracellular vesicle cargo for the breakdown of diet- and host-derived glycans

This study identifies a mechanism by which Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron tailors its outer membrane vesicle cargo to optimize glycan breakdown, revealing a conserved sorting signal for protein incorporation into vesicles.

Replicative Acinetobacter baumannii strains interfere with phagosomal maturation by modulating the vacuolar pH

This study shows that clinical Acinetobacter baumannii strains evade macrophage degradation by preventing phagosome acidification through ammonia secretion.

InvL, an invasin-like adhesin, is a type II secretion system substrate required for Acinetobacter baumannii uropathogenesis.

This paper identifies InvL, a type II secretion system effector in Acinetobacter baumannii, as an adhesin required for urinary tract infection.

Modern Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates replicate inside spacious vacuoles and egress from macrophages

This study shows modern A. baumannii clinical isolates replicate inside macrophage vacuoles and escape via lysis, unlike older lab strains.

Formylglycine-generating enzyme-like proteins constitute a novel family of widespread type VI secretion system immunity proteins

This study identifies Tsi3 as a T6SS immunity protein with an FGE domain, showing it prevents self-intoxication by interacting with Tse3 but is not a functional enzyme.

Plasmid-encoded H-NS controls extracellular matrix composition in a modern Acinetobacter baumannii urinary isolate

This study shows that plasmid-encoded H-NS in Acinetobacter baumannii represses extracellular matrix components, reducing biofilm formation and virulence.

Killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by a bifunctional cell wall-targeting T6SS effector

Acinetobacter baumannii enhances T6SS effector activity by secreting D-Lys, increasing extracellular pH and killing Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

The glycoprotease CpaA secreted by medically relevant Acinetobacter species targets multiple O-linked host glycoproteins

This paper identifies CpaA, a glycoprotease from Acinetobacter species, as a broad-spectrum enzyme that cleaves multiple O-linked human glycoproteins, including those involved in complement activation, and proposes its use in glycoproteomics.

Peptidoglycan editing provides immunity to Acinetobacter baumannii during bacterial warfare

Acinetobacter baumannii incorporates D-Lysine into its peptidoglycan to gain immunity against T6SS attacks from competitors, though this trait is lost in pathogenic strains due to host enzyme activity.

The tip of the VgrG spike is essential to functional type VI secretion assembly in Acinetobacter baumannii

This study identifies a single amino acid mutation in VgrG that inhibits T6SS function in A. baumannii, suggesting the T6SS is not essential for virulence.

Ten-year retrospective analysis of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates reveals a proportionately large, non-nosocomial, multidrug-resistant endemic reservoir

The paper compares hospital-acquired and community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii isolates over ten years in a U.S. healthcare system, finding community-acquired isolates dominate and show lower carbapenem resistance.