3 research outputs found
Structure of a bacterial type III secretion system in contact with a host membrane in situ
Many bacterial pathogens of animals and plants use a conserved type III secretion system
(T3SS) to inject virulence effector proteins directly into eukaryotic cells to subvert host
functions. Contact with host membranes is critical for T3SS activation, yet little is known
about T3SS architecture in this state or the conformational changes that drive effector
translocation. Here we use cryo-electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging to derive
the intact structure of the primordial Chlamydia trachomatis T3SS in the presence and absence
of host membrane contact. Comparison of the averaged structures demonstrates a marked
compaction of the basal body (4 nm) occurs when the needle tip contacts the host cell
membrane. This compaction is coupled to a stabilization of the cytosolic sorting platformâ
ATPase. Our findings reveal the first structure of a bacterial T3SS from a major human
pathogen engaged with a eukaryotic host, and reveal striking âpump-actionâ conformational
changes that underpin effector injection
Attempting constitutional reform on the island microjurisdiction of Alderney
Research into state size and democracy has revealed that the very smallest states are more likely to be democratic than their larger counterparts. Being an island, as well as having a British colonial past, is also associated with a stateâs observance of democratic measures. With these observations in mind, this article examines an unsuccessful attempt to reform the political and constitutional governance of the Channel Island of Alderney, a self-governing dependency of the British Crown. Why was political reform rejected on this island microjurisdiction? Was the post-Brexit agenda too crowded to permit reform? Did Alderney have other priorities? Might smallness itself be the explanation