W. Vollmer

Surface versus volume synthesis governs growth-dependent efficacy of a β-lactam antibiotic

This study shows that mecillinam affects the balance between surface area and volume synthesis in E. coli, leading to growth-rate dependent efficacy and lysis or sustained growth depending on the medium.

A dynamic bactofilin cytoskeleton cooperates with an M23 endopeptidase to control bacterial morphogenesis

This study identifies bactofilin and M23 peptidase interactions that regulate bacterial cell shape by controlling cell wall biosynthesis in two alphaproteobacteria.

An NlpC/P60 protein catalyzes a key step in peptidoglycan recycling at the intersection of energy recovery, cell division and immune evasion in the intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis

This study identifies an NlpC/P60 peptidase in Chlamydia trachomatis that recycles peptidoglycan to support cell division, energy recovery, and immune evasion.

DipM controls multiple autolysins and mediates two regulatory feedback loops promoting cell constriction in C. crescentus

This paper identifies DipM as a LytM factor that regulates autolysins through two feedback loops to promote cell constriction in C. crescentus.

Molecular characterization of the type VI secretion system effector Tlde1a reveals a structurally altered LD-transpeptidase fold

This study determines the X-ray crystal structure of Tlde1a, a T6SS effector from Salmonella Typhimurium, revealing its unique LD-transpeptidase fold and functional mechanisms.

Peptidoglycan maturation controls spatiotemporal organisation of outer membrane proteins in Escherichia coli

The paper shows that peptidoglycan maturation regulates the spatiotemporal organization of outer membrane proteins in E. coli by modulating BAM activity and OMP insertion.

Antibacterial potency of Type VI amidase effector toxins is dependent on substrate topology and cellular context

This study identifies functional determinants of Tae1, a bacterial T6SS amidase toxin, showing that its antimicrobial potency depends on substrate topology and cellular context.

Peptidoglycan recycling contributes to outer membrane integrity and carbapenem tolerance in Acinetobacter baumannii

This study identifies peptidoglycan recycling as a mechanism contributing to outer membrane integrity and carbapenem tolerance in Acinetobacter baumannii.

PBP1 of Staphylococcus aureus has multiple essential functions in cell division

This study shows PBP1 in Staphylococcus aureus has essential roles in cell division through its enzymatic activity and PASTA domains, affecting septum formation and morphology.

The VarA-CsrA regulatory pathway influences cell shape in Vibrio cholerae

This study identifies a link between the VarA-CsrA regulatory pathway and cell shape in Vibrio cholerae, showing that varA mutants exhibit spherical morphology due to altered peptidoglycan composition.

Asymmetric peptidoglycan editing generates the curvature of predatory bacteria, optimizing invasion and replication within a spherical prey niche

The paper identifies Bd1075 as a peptidoglycan-editing enzyme in Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus that generates asymmetric curvature, enhancing invasion and replication within spherical prey.

Commensal Streptococcus mitis produces two different lipoteichoic acids of type I and type IV

This paper identifies two distinct lipoteichoic acid (LTA) types in Streptococcus mitis, type IV similar to S. pneumoniae and type I with a unique structure, revealing dual biosynthesis pathways.

YhcB coordinates peptidoglycan and LPS biogenesis with phospholipid synthesis during Escherichia coli cell growth.

This study identifies YhcB as a coordinator of peptidoglycan, LPS, and phospholipid synthesis in E. coli, revealing its role in envelope stability and cell size control.

DpaA detaches Braun's lipoprotein from peptidoglycan

This study identifies DpaA as an amidase that detaches Braun's lipoprotein from peptidoglycan in E. coli, revealing dynamic regulation of the cell envelope under stress.

Role of endopeptidases in peptidoglycan synthesis mediated by alternative cross-linking enzymes in Escherichia coli

This study identifies endopeptidases essential for peptidoglycan synthesis with different cross-link types and shows their dual specificity and role in bypassing PBPs.

Real time monitoring of peptidoglycan synthesis by membrane-reconstituted penicillin binding proteins

The paper develops a FRET-based assay to monitor peptidoglycan synthesis in real time using membrane-reconstituted class A penicillin binding proteins from different bacteria.

Midcell localization of PBP4 of Escherichia coli is modulating the timing of divisome assembly

This paper shows that PBP4 localizes at midcell during septal PG synthesis in E. coli and is important for the timing of divisome assembly.

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.

Immune factor of bacterial origin protects ticks against host microbial commensals

This study shows that a bacterial-derived immune factor in ticks protects them from host skin microbes but not from Lyme disease bacteria, revealing a complex interplay between ticks, their microbes, and hosts.

Tol-Pal system and Rgs proteins interact to promote unipolar growth and cell division in Sinorhizobium meliloti

This study identifies and characterizes Rgs proteins and the Tol-Pal system in S. meliloti, showing their roles in unipolar growth and cell division.

MreC and MreD balance the interaction between the elongasome proteins PBP2 and RodA

The paper investigates how MreC and MreD regulate the interaction between PBP2 and RodA in the elongasome, showing that MreC modulates this interaction while MreD suppresses it, suggesting a mechanism for controlling elongasome activity.

The outer membrane lipoprotein NlpI nucleates hydrolases within peptidoglycan multi-enzyme complexes in Escherichia coli

This study identifies NlpI as a scaffold for PG hydrolases in E. coli, forming multi-enzyme complexes that coordinate PG synthesis and hydrolase activity.

Distinct cytoskeletal proteins define zones of enhanced cell wall synthesis in Helicobacter pylori

The paper identifies cytoskeletal proteins that regulate cell wall synthesis in Helicobacter pylori, linking their distribution to specific Gaussian curvatures that maintain helical shape.

FtsZ assembles the bacterial cell division machinery by a diffusion-and-capture mechanism

The paper shows FtsZ treadmilling recruits divisome proteins via diffusion-and-capture, explaining how the Z-ring dynamically assembles the bacterial cell division machinery.

Inactivation of the monofunctional peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase SgtB allows Staphylococcus aureus to survive in the absence of lipoteichoic acid

This study identifies SgtB inactivation as a compensatory mechanism allowing Staphylococcus aureus to survive without lipoteichoic acid by altering peptidoglycan structure.

A specialized MreB-dependent complex mediates the formation of stalk-specific peptidoglycan in Caulobacter crescentus

The protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis targets bacteria with laterally-acquired NlpC/P60 peptidoglycan hydrolases

This study identifies laterally-acquired NlpC/P60 peptidoglycan hydrolases in Trichomonas vaginalis that degrade bacterial peptoglycan, enabling the parasite to compete with bacteria in mixed cultures.

High-resolution analysis of the peptidoglycan composition in Streptomyces coelicolor

This study analyzes peptidoglycan composition in Streptomyces coelicolor during growth and sporulation, revealing dynamic changes in cross-linking and hydrolysis.