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Stress signals link pre-existing sickness with susceptibility to bacterial infection
July 28, 2009Repeated stress signals made in cells with metabolism-associated disease encourage the growth of invading bacteria
Mitochondrial diseases disrupt the power generating machinery within cells and increase a person's susceptibility to bacterial infection, particularly in the lungs or respiratory tract. A new study published in Disease Models & Mechanisms (DMM), shows that infection with the pneumonia causing bacteria Legionella, is facilitated by an increased amount of a signaling protein that is associated with mitochondrial disease.
Cells with mitochondrial disease increase their production of a signaling protein called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), to promote the generation of more energy producing mitochondria. Infectious bacteria, like Legionella, target the mitochondria and might use them to supplement their own needs and survival requirements. By manipulating AMPK levels, scientists were able to directly influence the ability of bacteria to replicate inside of the single-celled organism, Dictyostelium.
Striking similarities that exist between simple organisms like Dictyostelium and humans allow scientists to use them to understand human disease. Dictyostelium is a free-living amoeba whose rapid movements make it useful to study motility and energy regulation, and in this case, the association between energy regulation and susceptibility to infection. Like humans, Dictyostelium can be infected by Legionella and quickly responds by producing a host of metabolism-associated proteins. Another similarity between humans and Dictyostelium is that both use AMPK as an internal sensor to coordinate energy synthesis with energy needs. However, unlike humans, researchers can infect Dictyostelium with germs like Legionella in a controlled environment and determine the influence of various parameters on the course of infection.
The Company of Biologists
Dictyostelium Current Events and Dictyostelium News RSSIn amoeba world, cheating doesn't pay
Cheaters may prosper in the short term, but over time they seem doomed to fail, at least in the microscopic world of amoebas where natural selection favors the noble.
Texas-sized tract of single-celled clones
A Rice University study of microbes from a Houston-area cow pasture has confirmed once again that everything is bigger in Texas, even the single-celled stuff. The tests revealed the first-ever report of a large, natural colony of amoebae clones -- a Texas-sized expanse measuring at least 12 meters across.
Dictyostelium cells shown to lay 'breadcrumb trail' as first step in multicellular formation
When starved of their food source and then presented with a chemoattractant signal like cAMP, individual Dictyostelium cells acquire a polarized morphology and aggregate to form a migrating stream.
Cheating is easy -- for the social amoeba
Cheating is easy and seemingly without cost for the social amoeba known as Dictyostelium discoideum, said a team of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University in Houston who conducted the first genome-scale search for social genes and found more than 100 mutant genes that allow cheating.
Microbial 'cheaters' help scientists ID 'social' genes
The first genome-wide search for genes governing social behavior has found that even the simplest social creatures -- the amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum -- have more than 100 genes that help regulate their cooperative behavior.
Immunity in social amoeba suggests ancient beginnings
Finding an immune system in the social amoeba (Dictyostelium discoideum) is not only surprising but it also may prove a clue as to what is necessary for an organism to become multicellular, said the Baylor College of Medicine researcher who led the research that appears today in the journal Science.
Rice breakthrough could prevent multiple fibrotic diseases
A scientific breakthrough at Rice University could lead to the first treatment that prevents the build-up of deadly scar tissue in a broad class of diseases that account for an estimated 45 percent of U.S. deaths each year.
Tight-knit family: Even microbes favor their own kin
New research published by Rice University biologists in this week's issue of Nature finds that even the simplest of social creatures - single-celled amoebae - have the ability not only to recognize their own family members but also to selectively discriminate in favor of them.
Genome of a Social Amoeba Sequenced for the First Time
Successful Project Involving Researchers from Cologne and Jena Funded by a DFG Initiative
Mouse model of osteoarthritis and more: Press release for PLoS Biology
Mouse model of osteoarthritis
More Dictyostelium Current Events and Dictyostelium News Articles
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Dictyostelium discoideum Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology) by Ludwig Eichinger (Editor) Dictyostelium discoideum Protocols presents a comprehensive collection of cutting-edge molecular biological protocols for studying D. discoideum, with emphasis on its utility in the study of fundamental cellular processes including signal transduction, chemotaxis, cell motility, cytokinesis, phagocytosis, and aspects of development such as cell sorting, pattern formation, and cell type differentiation. Written by experts in the field, this important guide provides easy access to current methods and techniques for the study of D. discoideum. For the newcomer to the field, it offers a complete and inclusive introduction to this important model organism. The book is divided into four main parts, which include an introduction to the organism that provides integral community resources and... |
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Dictyostelium: Evolution, Cell Biology, and the Development of Multicellularity (Developmental and Cell Biology Series) by Richard H. Kessin (Author) The Dictyostelia are soil amoebae capable of extraordinary feats of survival, motility, chemotaxis, and development. Known as the "social amoebae," these organisms have been the subjects of serious study since the 1930s. Research in this area has been instrumental in shaping general views of differentiation, morphogenesis, and communication. Beginning with the history of Dictyostelids, this book considers the problems of the evolution of this multicellular organism. Characterized by its ability to transform from a single-celled organism into an elaborate assemblage of thousands of synchronously-moving cells, each stage of its development is treated in a separate chapter. The special properties of the Dictyostelid genome are rigorously analyzed, and the methods available to manipulate... |
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Cellular Slime Mould, Dictyostelium Discoideum Sorocarp Containing Spores Photographic Poster Print by David M. Dennis, 12x16 by AllPosters.com AllPosters.com is the world's #1 seller of posters, prints, photographs, specialty products and framed art. We're dedicated to bringing our customers the best selection of high quality wall décor that is perfect for their home or office. Browse our catalog of over 300,000 items that include entertainment and specialty posters, decorative prints, and art reproductions. Whether you're looking for your favorite movie or music poster, a framed Monet reproduction, or a print of the Eiffel Tower you will find it at AllPosters.com. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/allposters to find Special Offers and search by subject category or artist. AllPosters.com provides unmatched service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... |
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METHODS IN CELL BIOLOGY,VOLUME 28: DICTYOSTELIUM DISCOIDEUM: MOLECULAR APPROACHES TO CELL BIOLOGY, Volume 28 by Author Unknown (Editor) |
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Cellular Slime Mould, Dictyostelium Discoideum Sorocarp Containing Spores Photographic Poster Print by David M. Dennis, 48x64 by Art.com Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... |
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Dictyostelium Genomics by William Loomis (Author) Dictyostelium discoideum is a model eukaryotic organism for basic biomedical research in cell and developmental biology and for the functional analysis of sequenced genes. The organism has unique advantages for studying fundamental cellular processes such as cytokinesis, motility, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, signal transduction, cell sorting, pattern formation, and cell-type determination. This book, written to coincide with the publication of the genome sequence of Dictyostelium, introduces the post-genomic era and focuses on the important aspects of Dictyostelium genomics. Leading experts in the field have contributed chapters on genomic mapping and sequencing, databases, multigene families, regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, the microfilament system, the... |
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Dictyostelium Discoideum: A Developmental System by William F. Loomis (Author) | |
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Cellular Slime Mould, Dictyostelium Discoideum Sorocarp Containing Spores Photographic Poster Print by David M. Dennis, 24x32 by Art.com Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... |
![A homolog of Escherichia coli RecA in mitochondria of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum [An article from: DNA Repair]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FZ3K9Y7XL._SL160_.jpg) |
A homolog of Escherichia coli RecA in mitochondria of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum [An article from: DNA Repair] by Y. Hasegawa (Author), M. Wakabayashi (Author), S. Nakamura (Author), Kodaira (Author) This digital document is a journal article from DNA Repair, published by Elsevier in 2004. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Description: The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum expresses a gene encoding a 452-amino-acid polypeptide that is 47% identical to Escherichia coli RecA. A recA-deficient E. coli, JE6651, was transformed by pYSN1, which was designed to express the truncated form of the D. discoideum gene, and used in suppression assays. The viability of the transformant, JE6651(pYSN1), increased following UV irradiation or mitomycin C treatment. Phage lambda (red^-gam^-), which required RecA activity for DNA packaging, formed plaques on a... |
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Cellular Slime Mould, Dictyostelium Discoideum Sorocarp Containing Spores Framed Art Poster Print by David M. Dennis, 25x31 by Art.com Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... |
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