Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for screening natural products such as secondary metabolites produced by engineered microbial strains.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for screening natural products such as secondary metabolites produced by engineered microbial strains.

Abstract: Described herein are materials and methods for the inhibition of bacterial QS. Methods of treating bacterial infections by administration of one or more ellagitannins in amount effective to inhibit bacterial QS is also provided.

Abstract: Described herein are materials and methods for the inhibition of bacterial QS. Methods of treating bacterial infections by administration of one or more ellagitannins in amount effective to inhibit bacterial QS is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are bacterial virulence polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences (e.g., DNA) encoding such polypeptides, and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing such polypeptides to screen for antibacterial or bacteriostatic compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for inducing or increasing disease resistance in a plant.

Abstract: Disclosed are screening methods for identifying the interplay between environmental and host signals (e.g., host-dependent or host-independent signals) and physiological pathogenic pathways that control or regulate genes responsible for establishing a persistent infection, as in the colonization of the gut of the nematode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a complete plant MAP kinase cascade (e.g., MEKK1, MKK4/MKK5, and MPK3/MPK6) and WRKY22/WRKY29 transcription factors that function downstream of the flagellin receptor FLS2, a leucine-rich-repeat (LRR) receptor kinase. Activation of such a MAPK cascade confers resistance to both bacterial and fungal pathogens. Also disclosed are disease-resistant plants expressing one or more members of this MAP kinase signaling cascade. Such members include constitutively active MEKK1 (?MEKK1), MKK4 (MKK4a), and MKK5 (MKK5a) or wild-type WRKY29.

Abstract: This invention relates to nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of genes regulating bacterial biofilm formation and to the use of these sequences as targets in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of bacterial infection and pathogenesis. In addition, the invention relates to screening methods for identifying modulators of bacterial biofilm formation and the development of antibacterial treatments.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to screening methods for identifying pathogen virulence factors expressed under conditions of low oxygen and for identifying drugs that inhibit a pathogen. The method includes the steps of: (a) exposing a nematode to a mutagenized pathogen cultured under a low oxygen condition; (b) determining whether the mutant pathogen infects the nematode, a reduction of disease in the nematode relative to that caused by the non-mutagenized pathogen indicating a mutation in a pathogenic virulence factor; and (c) using the mutation as a marker for identifying the pathogenic virulence factor.

Abstract: Disclosed are bacterial virulence polypeptides and nucleic acid sequences (e.g., DNA) encoding such polypeptides, and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing such polypeptides to screen for antibacterial or bacteriostatic compounds.

Abstract: The invention features methods for detecting polymorphic restriction sites in nucleic acids and kits for carrying out these methods.

Abstract: The invention discloses that, in the presence of NifA and NtrA, the expression of a desired DNA molecule which has been operably linked to an ntrA-RNA polymerase and NifA dependent promoter can be regulated by regulating the oxygen level of the culture medium. The invention relates to vectors which may be used in accordance with this discovery, and to methods for using such vectors.