Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section – PCMB

Topics

• Microbial development, differentiation, morphogenesis, and cell division
• Prokaryotic DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing, gene expression and regulation, regulatory networks and dynamics
• Biochemistry and structural studies, including assembly of supramolecular structures in prokaryotic cells and phages
• Genetics, functional genomics and proteomics, modeling of microbial cell processes
• Central and intermediary metabolism and energetics of prokaryotes, including mechanisms of metal ion homeostasis
• Bacterial signaling in response to the environment, stress response, survival, and death, intercellular signaling, symbiosis, chemotaxis and motility
• Molecular and cellular studies of quorum sensing, biofilms, and microbiomes
• Molecular biology and genetics of phages
• Bacterial defense systems including CRISPR biology

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests in pathogenic bacteria, structure of toxins and mechanism of disease persistence with Bacterial Virulence (BV). Applications that emphasize pathogenesis studies associated with bacterial infections may be reviewed in BV. Applications that focus on the basic genetics, biochemistry, and fundamental biology of bacterial pathogens may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests in molecular biology with Molecular Genetics (MG). Applications that address these processes in bacteria as model organisms of eukaryotes or emphasize fundamental principles of DNA/ RNA metabolism may be reviewed in MG. Applications that focus on molecular mechanisms of DNA/RNA metabolism to understand prokaryote biology and physiology may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests in microbial genomics with Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology Study Section (GCAT). Applications that emphasize development of metagenomic analysis methods may be reviewed in GCAT. Applications that emphasize fundamental processes of microbial communities may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests in biofilm formation and interactions among microbes with Interspecies Microbial Interactions and Infections (IMII). Applications that focus on infectious diseases may be reviewed in IMII. Applications that focus on the basic genetics, biochemistry, and fundamental biology may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests in bacterial physiology with Transmission of Vector-borne and Zoonotic diseases (TVZ). Applications that emphasize the zoonotic or vector-borne life cycles of bacteria may be reviewed in TVZ. Applications that are focused on the basic biology of bacteria may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests with Immunity and Host Defense (IHD) in responses by immune cells to bacteria. Applications focused on the immune mechanisms associated with the host response to bacterial infections and those utilizing bacteria as tools to stimulate an immune response may be reviewed in IHD. Applications that focus on the basic genetics, biochemistry, and fundamental biology of bacterial pathogens may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests with Etiology, Diagnostic, Intervention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (EDIT) in the general area of bacterial pathogens. Applications that emphasize host-immune responses in a population-based studies may be reviewed in EDIT. Applications that focus on mechanistic in vitro studies and animal models of bacterial diseases may be reviewed in PCMB, BV, or BHI.

There are shared interests in cellular metabolism and metallo-biochemistry with Macromolecular Structure and Function A (MSFA). Applications involving biophysical and biochemical analysis of metal ion containing proteins, transport proteins, or enzymology of prokaryotic molecules may be reviewed in MSFA. Applications that emphasize bacterial processes that also include structural methods may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests in prokaryotic structural biology and molecular mechanisms of proteins and nucleic acids in larger multi-protein complexes and molecular machines with Macromolecular Structure and Function C (MSFC). Applications involving principally structure-function studies of prokaryotic molecules and complexes may be reviewed in MSFC. Applications that emphasize bacterial processes but also include structural methods may be reviewed in PCMB.

There are shared interests in physiological studies of bacteria with Anti-Infective Resistance and Targets (AIRT). Applications that focus on understanding fundamental bacterial processes are reviewed in PCMB. Applications that address the utility of a physiological process as a potential drug target are reviewed in AIRT.

There are shared interests in reviewing studies of effects of molecular probes or prospective therapeutic modifiers of prokaryotic or eukaryotic pathogens with Chemical Biology & Probes (CBP). Applications that use known or modestly modified drugs as probes are reviewed in PCMB. Applications that emphasize development of novel synthetic or medicinal chemistry approaches are reviewed in CBP.

There are shared interests in pathogen physiology with Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology A (DMPA). Applications that emphasize understanding fundamental processes or pathogenesis mechanisms, or that use known drugs as probes are reviewed in PCMB. Applications that emphasize developing new antimicrobial drugs are reviewed in DMPA.