Cellular Microbiology
Publishing Collaboration
More info
Wiley Hindawi logo
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate10%
Submission to final decision124 days
Acceptance to publication19 days
CiteScore8.300
Journal Citation Indicator0.550
Impact Factor3.4

Submit your research today

Cellular Microbiology is now open for submissions

Read our author guidelines

 Journal profile

Cellular Microbiology aims to publish outstanding contributions to the understanding of interactions between microbes, prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and their host in the context of pathogenic or mutualistic relationships, including co-infections and microbiota. 

 Editor spotlight

Cellular Microbiology maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study.

 

 Special Issues

Do you think there is an emerging area of research that really needs to be highlighted? Or an existing research area that has been overlooked or would benefit from deeper investigation? Raise the profile of a research area by leading a Special Issue.

Latest Articles

More articles
Research Article

Dual Control of Host Actin Polymerization by a Legionella Effector Pair

Host actin cytoskeleton is often targeted by pathogenic bacteria through the secretion of effectors. Legionella pneumophila virulence relies on the injection of the largest known arsenal of bacterial proteins, over 300 Dot/Icm type 4 secretion system effectors, into the host cytosol. Here, we define the functional interactions between VipA and LegK2, two effectors with antagonistic activities towards actin polymerization that have been proposed to interfere with the endosomal pathway. We confirmed the prominent role of LegK2 effector in Legionella infection, as the deletion of legK2 results in defects in the inhibition of actin polymerization at the Legionella-containing vacuole, as well as in endosomal escape of bacteria and subsequent intracellular replication. More importantly, we observed the restoration of the ΔlegK2 mutant defects, upon deletion of vipA gene, making LegK2/VipA a novel example of effector-effector suppression pair that targets the actin cytoskeleton and whose functional interaction impacts L. pneumophila virulence. We demonstrated that LegK2 and VipA do not modulate each other’s activity in a “metaeffector” relationship. Instead, the antagonistic activities of the LegK2/VipA effector pair would target different substrates, Arp2/3 for LegK2 and G-actin for VipA, to temporally control actin polymerization at the LCV and interfere with phagosome maturation and endosome recycling, thus contributing to the intracellular life cycle of the bacterium. Strikingly, the functional interaction between LegK2 and VipA is consolidated by an evolutionary history that has refined the best effector repertoire for the benefit of L. pneumophila virulence.

Research Article

Molecular Docking, Dynamics Simulations, ADMET, and DFT Calculations: Combined In Silico Approach to Screen Natural Inhibitors of 3CL and PL Proteases of SARS-CoV-2

Considering natural compounds for the antiviral effect is another opportunity for exploring novel drug candidates for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The selected natural compounds were interacted using a molecular docking approach. The 3D structures of the main protease and papain-like protease were used for the virtual screening to detect the potent inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2. The top-scored compounds were further analyzed for absorption, digestion, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties and density functional theory analysis. Our results indicated that glycyrrhizin exhibited better docking scores of -9.5 kcal/mol with main protease and -9.7 kcal/mol with papain-like protease. Next to glycyrrhizin, rutin showed a better docking score of -9.1 kcal/mol and -9.2 kcal/mol with 3-chymotrypsin-like and papain-like proteases. Violaxanthin and naringin occupied the subsequent position in the docking score table with 3CL and PL proteases, respectively. In addition, the crucial properties like drug likeliness and pharmacokinetics of the compounds were determined. There is no significant toxicity identified.

Research Article

Differences in Rhizosphere Microbial Community Structure and Composition in Resistance and Susceptible Wheat to Fusarium Head Blight

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious disease of wheat that threatens wheat production worldwide. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the rhizosphere soil microbial metagenomes of 4 wheat cultivars with different levels of resistance to FHB. The results showed that there were differences in the diversity, structure, and composition of rhizosphere microorganisms between resistant and sensitive varieties. The rhizosphere soil bacterial diversity of the resistant wheat varieties Su Mai 3 and Yang Mai 16 was higher than that of the susceptible wheat varieties Zheng Mai 9023 and Zhou Mai 20. The diversity of rhizosphere fungi in resistant varieties was lower than that in susceptible varieties, but the abundance was higher than that in susceptible varieties. Variety was found to alter the community structure of wheat rhizosphere microorganisms. Resistant varieties SM3 and YM16 and moderately susceptible variety ZM9023 had similar microbial community structure, while highly susceptible variety ZM20 was significantly different from other varieties. The study is aimed at analyzing the effects of wheat varieties of different resistance to FHB on the composition and abundance of rhizosphere soil microbial community to screen out bacteria or fungi that can be used to control FHB, providing the theoretical basis for FHB biological control.

Research Article

Commonality of Virulence-Promoting Function in Rhodococcus equi Virulence Associated Proteins (Vaps)

Rhodococcus equi is a Gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen associated with life-threatening bronchopneumonial disease in foals. Key to R. equi’s intracellular survival in host macrophages is the production of virulence associated proteins (Vaps). Numerous vap genes are found on virulence plasmids isolated from different species, and the Vaps share a high degree of sequence identity. VapA has been extensively studied, and although vapK and vapN genes from other R. equi virulence plasmids have been shown to be essential for R. equi intracellular survival, their mode of action is less characterised. We, therefore, examined whether VapK and VapN worked mechanistically in the same way as VapA. Indeed, like VapA, VapK and VapN neutralised lysosomal pH and reduced lysosomal hydrolase activity. A loss of VapA and R. equi virulence could be regained by the presence of either VapK or VapN. The acid-neutralisation activity was also observed to a lesser extent with VapB. There was a differential activity across these virulence-promoting Vaps with the most “acid-neutralising” activity found with VapN, then VapA and K, and finally VapB. These data suggest that VapA production, which is often found in equine infections, can be substituted by VapK and B (produced by plasmids often found in porcine species) or VapN (produced by plasmids often isolated in bovine and human samples). These data imply that the molecular mechanism(s) that VapA uses to neutralise lysosomal acidity should also be seen in VapN and K which will help guide researchers in identifying their precise mode of action and aid the future development of targeted therapeutics.

Research Article

Analysis of Specific Allergens in the Serum of Patients with Allergic Diseases in the Shanxi Region of China

The aim of this study is to analyze the distribution characteristics of specific allergens based on the immunoglobulin E (IgE) test, performed using the sera of patients with allergic diseases in the Shanxi region of China. Sera from 3141 patients with allergic diseases were analyzed with immunoblotting for IgE antibodies specific to inhaled and ingested allergens. The distribution of allergens and association with factors such as disease profile, sex, age, and cosensitization of the patients who tested positive were analyzed. The most common positive rate of IgE specific to inhaled allergens was mugwort, followed by dust mite mix and common ragweed. The most common positive rate of IgE specific to ingested allergens was crab, followed by egg white and sea fish mix. When analyzed according to disease profile, mugwort was the most common allergen in asthma, rhinitis, and asthma combined with rhinitis. When analyzed by season, the allergens with the highest positive rates included tree mix (willow/poplar/elm), common ragweed, mugwort, and hop pollen from July through September. When analyzed by age, the allergens with the highest positive rates were tree mix, common ragweed, hop, house dust, cow’s milk, mutton/lamb, and peanut in participants aged 0–18 years and egg white in those aged ≥60 years. The radar charts showed cosensitization to multiple allergens. In the Shanxi region, the primary inhaled allergens were mugwort, dust mite mix (1: house dust mite/dust mite), and common ragweed. The primary ingested allergens were crab, egg white, and sea fish mix. There were differences in the positive rates of the allergens between genders, age groups, and seasons, and multiple allergens can cosensitize patients.

Review Article

Ferroptosis Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Pulmonary Infectious Diseases

Ferroptosis is a new type of iron-dependent cell death caused by lipid peroxide (LPO) accumulation and involved in disease of pulmonary infection. The dysregulation of iron metabolism, the accumulation of LPO, and the inactivation and consumption of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) are the crucial cause of ferroptosis. Pulmonary infectious diseases caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are associated with ferroptosis. Ferroptosis may be a potential therapeutic target for pulmonary infectious diseases. However, the mechanisms by which these infections are involved in ferroptosis and whether pulmonary infectious diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Leishmania spp are related to ferroptosis are unclear. Accordingly, more researches are needed.

Cellular Microbiology
Publishing Collaboration
More info
Wiley Hindawi logo
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate10%
Submission to final decision124 days
Acceptance to publication19 days
CiteScore8.300
Journal Citation Indicator0.550
Impact Factor3.4
 Submit Check your manuscript for errors before submitting

Article of the Year Award: Impactful research contributions of 2022, as selected by our Chief Editors. Discover the winning articles.