Lectins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis – rarely studied proteins

• Katharina Kolbe,
• Sri Kumar Veleti,
• Norbert Reiling and
• Thisbe K. Lindhorst

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 1–15, doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.1

• ). In this paper we review previous studies on the carbohydrate-binding characteristics of mycobacteria and related Mtb proteins, discussing their potential relevance to Mtb infection and pathogenesis. Keywords: adhesion; carbohydrates; fimbriae; lectins; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; pili; Introduction

• bacteria, which is crucial for the formation of well-organized superstructures such as biofilms. In contrast to eukaryotic lectins, bacterial lectins commonly occur in the form of filamentous protein appendages projecting from their surface, known as fimbriae and pili [63]. Fimbriae are present in high

• numbers (100–400) on bacterial surfaces, have a diameter of 5–7 nm and can extend hundreds of nanometers in length. Pili, on the other hand, are thicker, longer, and less abundant. Most bacteria encode multiple lectins, each with different carbohydrate specificities [63]. The most intensely studied

Pathoblockers or antivirulence drugs as a new option for the treatment of bacterial infections

• Matthew B. Calvert,
• Varsha R. Jumde and
• Alexander Titz

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2018, 14, 2607–2617, doi:10.3762/bjoc.14.239

• ongoing research [27][28]. Another adhesin of uropathogenic E. coli is FmlH, which is located at the tip of F9 pili and binds β-D-galactosides with moderate potency. It could be shown that this lectin plays an important role in kidney-associated chronic UTIs, as its glycan receptor is abundantly expressed

• , as very potent ligands of this protein. Beyond blocking the binding site of FmlH on the pili of E. coli, these compounds proved effective at promoting eradication of bacteria from murine kidney in synergy with a mannoside for FimH [29]. P. aeruginosa is one of the highly resistant ESKAPE pathogens

Glyco-gold nanoparticles: synthesis and applications

• Federica Compostella,
• Olimpia Pitirollo,
• Alessandro Silvestri and
• Laura Polito

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2017, 13, 1008–1021, doi:10.3762/bjoc.13.100

• nanocomposite, carrying either a targeting agent towards E. coli pili and an antibacterial polymer, resulted able to bind E. coli specifically and to kill the attached bacteria, by enhancing the local concentration of biocidal agent on the bacterial surface [90]. GAuNPs find interesting application also in the

Mechanical stability of bivalent transition metal complexes analyzed by single-molecule force spectroscopy

• Manuel Gensler,
• Christian Eidamshaus,
• Maurice Taszarek,
• Hans-Ulrich Reissig and
• Jürgen P. Rabe

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 817–827, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.91

• [9], showing unfolding of a very malleable, helical PapA-domain in p-pili, which plays an important role for the adhesion. This process consumes a large amount of energy, whilst adhesion forces are kept at a low force of 27 pN, in order not to break the adhesive glycolipid–ligand interaction. In

De novo synthesis of D- and L-fucosamine containing disaccharides

• Daniele Leonori and
• Peter H. Seeberger

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2013, 9, 332–341, doi:10.3762/bjoc.9.38

• bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa is a nosocomial pathogen that is involved in ventilator-associated pneumonia and has become resistant to many antimicrobials. The somatic pili of P. aeruginosa are a major virulence factor playing a pivotal role in the adherence and invasiveness of the