Karrera Y. Djoko's research while affiliated with Durham University and other places

... 10,16 Among the diverse array of nanomaterials available, organic polymerized nanomaterials offer the advantage of pH-responsive antimicrobial properties and the ability to mimic the actions of antimicrobial peptides to combat bacteria. 17,18 Inorganic metals, 7,19 such as gold 20,21 (Au), silver 22,23 (Ag), and copper 24,25 (Cu), as well as transition metal dichalcogenides 26 (TMDs), metal oxides, 27,28 carbon-based nanomaterials, 29 polymers, and their nanocomposites, have all been prominently utilized in the antibacterial research field. 30 These materials operate through distinct antibacterial mechanisms compared with conventional antibiotics and carry a reduced risk of fostering bacterial resistance. ...

... It is commonly reported that peptide-zinc chelate can improve the bioavailability of intestinal zinc in the human body (Wang et al. 2014). Similarly, previous studies have suggested that peptide-zinc chelates have strong anti-proliferative ability for pathogenic bacteria and simultaneously low toxicity for human body (Donaghy et al. 2023). Despite many researches on the structure and intestinal absorption of peptide-zinc chelates, few studies were devoted to their antimicrobial activity and mechanism. ...

... Taken together, Hst5 is transported to the cytoplasm by binding to RagAB and regulates the expression of genes or proteins related to bacterial biofilm formation and metabolism, and RpoD and FeoB may play important roles in the process of Hst5 inhibiting biofilm formation. In contrast to the role of Hst5 on P. gingivalis, Stewart et al. recently demonstrated that Hst5 failed to kill Streptococci in phosphate buffer or artificial saliva buffer, even in the presence of Zn(II) (Stewart et al. 2023). Differences from our results may be attributed to the bacterial species or experimental conditions because the antimicrobial activity of Hst5 can be influenced by ionic strength and pH. ...

... Aurreko atalean aipaturiko azida eta alkinoen arteko 1,3-zikloadizio dipolar klik erreakzioak baldintza horiek guztiak betetzen ditu, bat izan ezik. Izan ere, katalizatzaile moduan erabiltzen diren kobrearen gatzek zitotoxizitatea erakusten dute eta eragina dute zelulen metabolismoan [47]. Hona hemen 2022. ...

... Therefore, the captured compounds are considered to be potential auxotrophies of S. mutans. In addition, S. mutans is also auxotrophic for glutathione, and the glutathione acquisition from the host is crucial to the S. mutans antioxidant defense system, which facilitates the escape from the host innate immune response (45). ...

... However, the ScsClike proteins show significant heterogeneity in their oligomerization state. Proteus and Caulobacter ScsC form homotrimers connected by the long N-terminal α-helix, while the Salmonella homolog lacking this region is a monomer (116,118) (Fig. 6). These distinct structures seem to be associated with different roles. ...

... Obvious candidates include components of the polydisperse layer of mucus that coats host epithelial tissues, on which symbionts typically reside. For example, mammalian gut mucins [40] and human salivary histatins bind Cu(II) [41]. Do they buffer Cu availability to the mammalian gut and human oral microbiota? ...

... This makes the cellular metal buffers, and the metal transporters that maintain the metal availabilities within the buffered pools, pivotal to cellular physiology. Although the chemical identity of the metal buffers remains largely unknown (14,15), cells must carefully control their abundance as well as the flow of metals into and out of the buffer to maintain the buffered pools within appropriate limits (13). Metal importers must ensure sufficient flux into the buffered pool, as cofactors are drawn out of it for the metalation of enzymes. ...

... In contrast, a GSH-deficient E. coli strain shows no increase in Cu-sensitivity unless CopA is also deleted [158]. Studies using a S. pyogenes ∆copA strain show that mis-metallation in the presence of Cu is reduced when cells grow under GSH supplementation and that GSH competes with CopY for Cu when Cu concentration is high [213]. Thus, GSH that is present at millimolar concentrations inside the cell likely binds Cu primarily when the maximal capacity of Cu chaperones and exporters to bind Cu is consumed. ...

... This transporter plays a crucial role in uptake of manganese and iron (Jakubovics, 2019). Uptake of manganese is critical for the growth of Group A Streptococcus under oxidative conditions (Turner et al., 2019). Also, iron is important for the growth and survival, but the availability of iron in the host is limited (Ge & Sun, 2014). ...