Copper (Cu) is an essential cofactor for enzymes regulating key metabolic processes; however, excess Cu can inhibit bacterial growth. The ability of Oleidesulfovibrio alaskensis G20 (OA G20) to survive under heavy metal stress is compelling. Our previous study on OA G20 exposed to Cu suggests that bacteria might use biofilm formation to adapt to high levels of toxic metal ions. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying...

Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is a known risk factor in the pathogenesis of smoking-caused diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and lung cancer. To assess the effects of CS on the function and phenotype of airway epithelial cells, we developed a novel repeated treatment protocol and comprehensively evaluated the progression of key molecular, functional, and structural abnormalities induced by CS i...