The Microbe最新文献

{"title":"Comparative evaluation of DNA extraction protocols for neonatal gut microbiota profiling in a resource-limited setting","authors":"Chinenye Akpulu ,&nbsp;Aditya Kumar Lankapalli ,&nbsp;Rida Toufiq ,&nbsp;Kate Cook ,&nbsp;Edward AR Portal ,&nbsp;Rashida Yakubu Khalid ,&nbsp;Aisha Mukkadas ,&nbsp;Safiya Gambo ,&nbsp;Aliyu Aminu ,&nbsp;Kenneth Iregbu ,&nbsp;Kathryn Thomson ,&nbsp;Timothy Walsh ,&nbsp;Kirsty Sands","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate and reproducible gut microbiome profiling depends heavily on the DNA extraction method, particularly in low-biomass samples such as neonatal stool. In this study, we evaluated the performance of three commercially available DNA extraction kits; QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini, DNeasy PowerSoil Pro, and ZymoBIOMICS DNA Miniprep on neonatal stool samples collected in a resource-limited hospital in Kano, Nigeria. Samples were stored under various conditions (temperature and preservatives), and DNA was extracted and sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technologies. DNA yield differed substantially across extraction kits and storage conditions. The bead-beating-based kits: PowerSoil and ZymoBIOMICS, consistently outperformed the QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini kit, which produced negligible yields across all conditions. Both bead-beating kits achieved the highest DNA concentrations when samples were processed fresh and without preservatives, while yields declined sharply after just one day of storage. Although overall DNA yields were similar between PowerSoil and ZymoBIOMICS at all time points, PowerSoil extracts produced longer sequencing reads and higher-quality assemblies. Specifically, PowerSoil-derived libraries generated higher read-level N50 values than those from ZymoBIOMICS at both Day 0 and Week 6. While these differences were not statistically significant, a moderate effect size at Day 0 (rank-biserial correlation = 0.60) suggests a potential advantage in genome assembly continuity. Additionally, PowerSoil had a shorter processing time, enhancing its suitability for long-read metagenomics workflows in resource-limited settings. We conclude that same-day processing using bead-beating-based extraction kits improves yield and may reduce bias in neonatal gut microbiome studies. These findings are especially relevant for low-resource settings, where equipment limitations and delayed sample processing can impact data quality and study scalability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100398"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beta-glucan as a potent growth enhancer for autochthonous gut isolate Ligilactobacillus salivarius C57","authors":"Lavanya Vasudevan,&nbsp;T.S. Chandra","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glucan and other polysaccharides have been extensively studied in recent decades for their bioactive qualities and potential as nutraceuticals. Increasing research indicates that beta-glucans, due to their high fermentability, may encourage advantageous gut flora, making them useful as prebiotics to enhance gut health. The insoluble form of yeast beta-glucan is particularly reputed for its immunomodulatory effects and has not been well studied for its interaction with probiotic bacteria. This study investigates the effect of different forms of yeast beta-glucan, such as crude, purified, wet, and nano, on the growth and probiotic characteristics of two autochthonous gut isolates, <em>Ligilactobacillus salivarius</em> C57 and <em>Pediococcus pentosaceus</em> I44, isolated from caecal and ileal mucosal tissues of healthy humans, respectively. Although beta-glucan had no significant impact on the growth of <em>Pediococcus pentosaceus</em> I44, it improved the cell surface properties of the isolate. The nano-form of beta-glucan performed better in promoting the growth of <em>Ligilactobacillus salivarius</em> C57, with a 5.3-fold increase in total protein concentration compared to the control, followed by the purified form. SEM pictures showed that beta-glucan adhered around the outer surface of the <em>Ligilactobacillus salivarius</em> C57 cells, forming a protective layer that could improve probiotic survival and colonization in the human gut. The protective effect of beta-glucan adherence to the bacterial cells was evident from the improvement in the probiotic characteristics of the strain, such as acid tolerance, aggregation potential, and surface hydrophobicity. Thus, beta-glucan presents itself as a safe and potent prebiotic that can selectively stimulate the growth of the autochthonous gut isolate, <em>Ligilactobacillus salivarius</em> C57, and protect it from the harsh acidic and bile environments. It is to be noted that insoluble yeast beta-glucan is not digested in the acidic pH of the stomach and thus protects the bacteria in passage to the intestine. Therefore, this study offers a simple method for coating probiotic bacteria with beta-glucan, which will improve probiotic qualities and also confer immunological benefits to the host.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100399"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144190155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity, virulence factors and antibiotic resistance profiles of Aeromonas species isolated from farmed fish in Belarus","authors":"Sviatlana Leanovich ,&nbsp;Yauheniya Maksimyuk ,&nbsp;Sviatlana Dziahtsiaryk ,&nbsp;Anastasiya Sidarenka","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Aeromonas</em> species are regarded as significant opportunistic pathogens of fish, causing notable economic losses to aquaculture. The present study aimed to investigate the diversity of aeromonads isolated from farmed fish in Belarus, along with their virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles. A total of 40 isolates of <em>Aeromonas</em> spp. were recovered from diseased fish from 9 fish farms and 12 recreational reservoirs. Based on 16S rRNA and <em>cnp60</em> genes sequencing the majority (37.5 %) of the isolates were identified as <em>A. veronii</em>, followed by <em>A. sobria</em> (15 %), <em>A. salmonicida</em> (10 %), <em>A. rivipollensis</em> (10 %), <em>A. piscicola</em> (10 %), <em>A. media</em> (7.5 %), <em>A. allosaccharophila</em> (7.5 %), and <em>A. bestiarum</em> (2.5 %). Motility was observed in 90 % of isolates, including <em>A. salmonicida</em> strains, and 70 % of them formed capsules. All <em>Aeromonas</em> strains exhibited proteolytic and lipolytic activities, while hemolytic activity was detected in 75 % of them. The prevalent toxin-coding gene was <em>alt,</em> encoding cytotonic heat-labile enterotoxin, detected in 92 % of isolates. The genes that encode aerolysin, aerolysin-related cytotoxic enterotoxin, and hemolysin were identified in 75 %, 75 % and 25 % of isolates, respectively. Conversely, <em>ast</em> gene, encoding heat-stable cytotonic toxin, was identified in 15 % of the strains. The results of <em>in vivo</em> pathogenicity testing confirmed that isolated aeromonads could cause fish diseases. Furthermore, <em>Aeromonas</em> strains were resistant to ampicillin (100 %), amoxicillin (100 %), imipenem (80 %), kanamycin (45 %), tetracycline (42.5 %), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (22.5 %), gentamicin (20 %), norfloxacin (15 %), and ceftriaxone (12.5 %), with 42.5 % of strains demonstrated multidrug resistance. Collectively, these findings contribute to the advancement of knowledge concerning <em>Aeromonas</em> infections in aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100397"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable fungal production of pectinase in orange peel-based medium: Taguchi optimization, juice clarification and green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles for biomedical applications","authors":"S.A. Abdulmumini ,&nbsp;A. Lateef ,&nbsp;E.B. Gueguim-Kana ,&nbsp;L.S. Beukes ,&nbsp;N. Matyumza","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pectinase is a commercially important enzyme that is extensively utilized in the food, textile, and paper industries; yet, its large-scale production poses a hurdle due to high cost of pectin for its production. This research utilized Taguchi optimization to improve pectinase production from a non-aflatoxigenic local strain of <em>Aspergillus flavus</em>, using orange peel as an economical substrate. The improved pectinase was studied for juice clarification and eco-friendly synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (AFP-SeNPs), showcasing its enhanced biotechnological capabilities. The Taguchi L9 orthogonal optimization of pH, inoculum size, substrate concentration, and incubation time yielded a 397.7 % enhancement in pectinase production with maximum enzyme activity of 921.3 U/ml, which clarified orange juice by 76.6 %. Herein, we report the first study to synthesize SeNPs using pectinase which were spherical, crystalline, having sizes of 50.97–98.43 nm and absorbed maximally at 268 nm. The nanoparticles inhibited growth of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens (<em>Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae</em>, and <em>Salmonella enterica</em>) up to 25.3 mm and total suppression of fungal growth (<em>Aspergillus flavus</em>, <em>Aspergillus niger</em>, and <em>Penicillium</em> sp.), while displaying 35.9–59.3 % DPPH radical scavenging activities. Additionally, AFP-SeNPs successfully prevented blood clot formation <em>in vitro</em>. This research which uniquely combines pectinase-assisted green production of SeNPs has broadened the applications of pectinase. The multifunctional bioactivities of AFP-SeNPs—antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticoagulant—underscore their significance in biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, and industrial biotechnology. These findings would enhance sustainable enzyme manufacturing and environmentally friendly nanotechnology, providing a cost-efficient and scalable approach for future developments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100400"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex-related gut microbiota in three geographically separated Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) populations","authors":"Polina Rusanova ,&nbsp;Eleni Nikouli ,&nbsp;Michele Casini ,&nbsp;Gioacchino Bono ,&nbsp;Elena Mente ,&nbsp;Alexandra Meziti ,&nbsp;Konstantinos Kormas","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite the ecological and economic value of the Norway lobster (<em>Nephrops norvegicus</em>), its gut microbiota remains largely understudied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the gut bacterial microbiota in three geographically separated <em>N. norvegicus</em> populations from the Mediterranean and the North Seas and detect any potential sex-related microbiota differences, by high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 16S rRNA gene diversity of the gut tissue. Egg-bearing females from the Greek population, were also included in this analysis. A total of 2385 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified and between 417 and 1290 OTUs were present in each population/sex group. The dominant OTUs belonged to the Fusobacteriia and Bacteroidia (Sweden), Bacilli and Gammaproteobacteria (Italy) and Spirochaetia and Bacilli (Greece) bacterial classes. In the eggs, the Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammproteobacteria prevailed. Four OTUs related to the <em>Oceanispirochaeta</em>, <em>Kordiimonas, Desulfovibrio, Carboxylicivirga</em> genera and one unafilliated OTU were positively correlated (p values between 0.001 and 0.04) with body size, indicating their potential role in the nutrition and growth of <em>N. norvegicus</em>. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females in any of the three populations. However, statistically significant differences between populations for each sex, were found for all females (p values between 0.008 and 0.032) and for the males between the most distant populations, i.e. Italy-Sweden (p = 0.021) and Greece-Sweden (p = 0.015). The egg microbiota was statistically significant different from both the adult female (p = 0.027) and male (p = 0.046) gut microbiota. Overall, this study revealed that the <em>N. norvegicus</em> gut microbiota is differentiated between geographically distant populations and that sex-related differences are not significant.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100396"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution of serotypes and genotypes of ESBL-producing Salmonella in the pork production chain in different regions of China","authors":"Liu Yi ,&nbsp;Zhao Ge ,&nbsp;Zhang Xiyue ,&nbsp;Zhao Jianmei ,&nbsp;Gao YuBin ,&nbsp;Liu Na ,&nbsp;Wang Lin ,&nbsp;Han Yaxing ,&nbsp;Qu Zhina ,&nbsp;Liu Liheng ,&nbsp;Wang Junwei","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100389","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100389","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Salmonella</em> is the most common foodborne pathogen worldwide, and livestock and poultry products are the main attributed foods to Salmonellosis, The widely spread of ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em> increases the difficulty of treatment of infection. In order to clarify the epidemic characteristics, serotype distribution and genotypic characteristics of ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em> in the pork production chain, ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em> was screened from strains isolated from the pork production chain in six regions of China (Central, South, East, Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest). The serotypes and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were identified by PCR, and the genetic correlation of <em>Salmonella</em> in the pork production chain among different regions was analyzed by combining PFGE. The results showed that the overall detection rate of ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em> was 4.86 %, with the highest positivity rates within each subgroup in the Northwest (8.82 %), breeding (7.37 %), and feces (18.93 %). A total of 15 serotypes were identified for all <em>Salmonella</em>, with the dominant serotype being <em>S</em>. 1,4,[5],12:i:- (33.33 %). <em>S</em>. Typhimurium and ST34 are dominant in the Southwest, Northwest and Central regions, as well as in the process of breeding and cutting, and also in the feces, lymph nodes and pork. <em>S</em>. Rissen and ST469 are dominant in the South, slaughtering and carcasses. <em>S</em>. Typhimurium and ST19 are dominant in the East region. Three serotypes of ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em> were identified, and the dominant serotype was also <em>S</em>. 1,4,[5],12:i:-. A total of 16 different sequence types (STs) were identified in all <em>Salmonella</em>, of which the predominant was ST34 (38.19 %). Two STs were found in ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em>. ST34 (85.71 %) was also dominant. 105 strains of <em>S</em>. 1,4,[5],12:i:- and <em>S</em>. Typhimurium identified 71 PFGE profiles, of which nine profiles were found in ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em>. There are strains with 100 % homology between different regions, processes, and samples suggests a risk of cross-transmission. The results of this study may provide a reference for public health and food safety epidemiological investigations caused by ESBL-producing <em>Salmonella</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100389"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm profiling of the inhabitant bacteria of the Ganga River of India","authors":"Ankita Srivastava,&nbsp;Digvijay Verma","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this investigation, water and sediment samples from the Ganga River were studied to analyze bacterial diversity and its correlation with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). A significant microbial load was observed in water (0.37 × 10³–12.3 × 10³) and sediment (0.193 × 10⁵–11.26 × 10⁵) samples from the Ganga River. Of the 74 morphologically distinct bacteria, 52.70 % were Gram-negative. Molecular characterization of these bacteria classified them into three broad phyla: Firmicutes (65 %), Proteobacteria (30 %), and Bacteroidetes (5 %). Genera-level analysis indicated the dominance of <em>Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides, Staphylococcus</em>, and <em>Exiguobacterium</em> in the samples from the Ganga River. The MAR index analysis of the isolated bacteria revealed a high risk of antibiotic contamination and resistance potential. Specifically, resistance to clotrimazole (98.64 %), bacitracin (97.2 %), polymyxin (75.67 %), ampicillin (74.32 %), rifampicin, and vancomycin (52.70 %) was observed among approximately 50 % of the bacteria. Additionally, the biofilm formation activity of the isolated bacteria was assessed, with 43.24 % identified as having moderate biofilm formation activity. Therefore, the findings of this study enrich the limited information on the bacterial diversity of the Ganga River's water and sediment samples and their associated risk attributes, such as biofilm formation activity and the dissemination of ARGs. The study advocates for regulated monitoring of domestic and industrial waste before its disposal into the Ganga River. Furthermore, this study is the first report discussing the biofilm formation potential of the resident bacteria in the Ganga River.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100404"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic monitoring of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation using a microfluidic approach","authors":"Sahra Fonseca ,&nbsp;Jonathan Robidoux ,&nbsp;Marie-Pierre Cayer ,&nbsp;Jolianne Matte ,&nbsp;Steve J. Charette ,&nbsp;Danny Brouard","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100401","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100401","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The crystal violet (CV) assay was the standard for quantifying biofilm biomass but is limited by its inability to replicate dynamic environmental conditions. In contrast, microfluidic flow cells provided a promising alternative, enabling real-time monitoring of biofilm development under controlled and continuously changing environments. This study evaluated the performance of different methods for assessing biofilm formation under various growth conditions, using <em>Staphylococcus epidermidis</em> as a model bacterium. <em>S. epidermidis</em> biofilms are particularly challenging in biomaterial-related infections, highlighting the need for accurate methods to assess biofilm dynamics in such contexts. Biofilm formation was evaluated using the CV assay (adapted from ISO 4768) and single-use polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic flow cells. These flow cells featured dual identical channels, which were individually operated by syringe pumps. In the microfluidic system, inoculum of varying concentrations and types were tested with a standard culture medium. This medium was either supplemented with 0.5 % glucose or diluted 1/5 to assess its effects on biofilm development. The CV assays showed similar biofilm growth in both standard and glucose-supplemented media. However, the microfluidic system revealed that glucose was detrimental to biofilm formation. The diluted medium condition impacted biofilm formation significantly with the CV assay but had minimal effect in microfluidics. Biofilm-like structures were consistently detected using microfluidics, even under diluted or low-inoculum conditions, whereas the CV assay failed to observe them. The microfluidic approach enabled real-time biofilm monitoring, offering greater sensitivity to medium composition and inoculum effects, while the CV assay reflects static conditions where environmental changes are mediated by biofilm itself. This study highlights the importance of adopting a dynamic approach to studying biofilm growth mechanisms. The microfluidic approach presented in this study was developed for blood bank applications to contribute to advancements in knowledge on transfusion safety in hospital settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100401"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144190154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of single stranded RNA fragments recognised by TLR7/8 in Dengue and other mosquito-borne Flaviviral genomes: A bioinformatics approach","authors":"Muhammad Bashir Bello ,&nbsp;Dawoud Usman","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100406","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100406","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly TLR7 and TLR8, are crucial components of the innate immune system that detect viral single-stranded RNA (ssRNA). However, excessive TLR activation can result in a hyperinflammatory response or “cytokine storm,” contributing to severe disease outcomes. In this study, we performed a genome-wide bioinformatic analysis to quantify and compare the abundance of known TLR7 and TLR8 ssRNA-binding motifs across five clinically important mosquito-borne flaviviruses: Dengue virus (DENV), Yellow fever virus (YFV), Zika virus (ZIKV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), and West Nile virus (WNV). Our results show that DENV possesses the highest density of strong TLR7-binding motifs (e.g., UUU, UUC and their repeats), as well as key TLR8-stimulating sequences such as UUGU, UUAU, and the potent (UG)₃ motif. In contrast, WNV exhibited the lowest abundance of these immunostimulatory motifs. These differences may contribute to virus-specific variation in innate immune activation and disease severity. By highlighting distinct patterns of innate immune recognition among flaviviruses, our findings provide novel insights into flaviviral pathogenesis and may inform the design of RNA-based vaccines or antiviral therapeutics aimed at modulating TLR-mediated immune responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100406"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144230430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A critical review on the impacts of β-glucans on gut microbiota and human health","authors":"Great Iruoghene Edo ,&nbsp;Alice Njolke Mafe ,&nbsp;Ali B.M. Ali ,&nbsp;Patrick Othuke Akpoghelie ,&nbsp;Emad Yousif ,&nbsp;Endurance Fegor Isoje ,&nbsp;Ufuoma Augustina Igbuku ,&nbsp;Khalid Zainulabdeen ,&nbsp;Joseph Oghenewogaga Owheruo ,&nbsp;Arthur Efeoghene Athan Essaghah ,&nbsp;Huzaifa Umar ,&nbsp;Dina S. Ahmed ,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Alamiery","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100394","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100394","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review compiles current evidence on the effects of β-glucans on gut microbiota and human health, focusing on their structural properties, sources, and roles as a dietary fiber. Primarily sourced from cereals, fungi, and yeast, β-glucans are well-known for their prebiotic effects, fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and supporting gut health. The review further explores their immunomodulatory properties, impact on metabolic health, and potential in managing gastrointestinal disorders. Mechanistic insights highlight how β-glucans interact with the gut-immune axis, affecting systemic inflammation and metabolic pathways. A comparative analysis emphasizes their distinct advantages over other dietary fibers, while clinical applications underscore their safe incorporation into various diets. Research gaps are discussed, emphasizing the need for long-term studies, improved characterization of β-glucans, and research involving diverse populations. The review also addresses the ongoing classification debate between cereal and fungal β-glucans and its implications for future studies. Emerging research trends such as personalized nutrition, nanoencapsulation, and combination therapies are identified as promising directions. This review is timely, given the increasing interest in β-glucans within clinical and dietary settings, as they hold significant potential for enhancing gut health and reducing chronic disease risk. Future research should aim to clarify mechanisms, establish standardization, and bridge existing gaps to unlock novel therapeutic possibilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100394"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}