The Microbe最新文献

{"title":"Artemin: A brine shrimp-derived peptide and its influence on algal growth","authors":"Anne Maria Thomas,&nbsp;K.K. Noorjahan,&nbsp;Sruthy C. Sunil,&nbsp;V.P. Anjali,&nbsp;Navya Raj,&nbsp;K.L. Dhanya Lenin,&nbsp;Swapna P. Antony","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study identified a peptide, termed Artemin, derived from the Brine Shrimp, <em>Artemia franciscana</em>. A gene encoding a 109 amino acid peptide with an open reading frame of 327 nucleotides could be identified by detailed gene sequence analysis. Characterization of the mature peptide revealed a molecular weight of 12.21 kDa and a net charge of + 12.75. <em>In silico</em> analysis suggested that Artemin possessed a 20-amino acid antimicrobial stretch from residues I¹⁰ to S²⁹. This peptide segment was chemically synthesized and characterized for further functional characterization. As a pioneering study, the interaction of this synthetic peptide at varying concentrations (10–200 μM) against three algal strains: <em>Chlorella marina</em>, <em>Nannochloropsis salina</em> and <em>Chaetoceros calcitrans</em>, was evaluated. Interestingly, the peptide segment influenced the growth of these algal strains in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Artemin possesses potential applications in biotechnology for controlling microbial and algal populations. Future research should explore the mechanistic basis of antialgal activities of this peptide and evaluate its potential use in various environmental and industrial contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100315"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the biodiesel potential of Mucorales fungi: Emerging trends in sustainable biofuel production","authors":"Carlos Alberto Fragoso de Souza ,&nbsp;Erika Valente de Medeiros ,&nbsp;Gustavo Pereira Duda ,&nbsp;Rômulo Simões Cezar Menezes ,&nbsp;Antonio Celso Dantas Antonino ,&nbsp;José Geraldo de Andrade Pacheco Filho ,&nbsp;Ademir Sergio Ferreira Araujo","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition to a low-carbon economy necessitates sustainable energy solutions, with biofuels emerging as a key alternative. Microbial oils, particularly produced from fungi, offer promising substitutes for plant and animal-derived lipids. Fungi, especially those from the Mucorales order, are notable for their efficient lipid production in agricultural waste substrates. Species such as <em>Mucor</em> and <em>Rhizopus</em> can accumulate over 20 wt% of lipids in their dry cell, making them valuable for biodiesel production. These fungi are easier to cultivate than some unicellular organisms and can metabolize a wide range of carbon sources, even under inhibitory conditions, thus enhancing their viability for industrial applications. However, challenges such as substrate recalcitrance, strain variability, and economic viability must be addressed. Advances in genetic engineering and bioprocess optimization are crucial for overcoming these barriers. Techniques like CRISPR and synthetic biology are being employed to enhance lipid accumulation and resistance to adverse conditions. Technological innovations in bioreactor design and transesterification processes are also improving production efficiency. Integrating Mucorales fungi into biofuel production reduces dependence on fossil fuels and promotes the use of agricultural residues, contributing to a circular economy. Further research and collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers are essential to fully leverage the potential of these fungi, paving the way for sustainable biodiesel production and a greener energy future. Unlike previous studies, this review synthesizes recent advancements in genetic engineering, strain optimization, and the use of low-cost, lignocellulosic substrates, providing new insights into how mucoralean fungi as oleaginous can support a sustainable bioeconomy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100314"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143776913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative study of the gut microbiomes between Western and Indigenous cultures – Implications for health and disease","authors":"Sreenikitha K ,&nbsp;Santanu Das ,&nbsp;Tahila Andrighetti ,&nbsp;Padhmanand Sudhakar","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mammalian gut microbiome plays a critical role in multiple functions related to health and a large number of metabolic and chronic diseases/disorders. Recent studies have profiled the influence of lifestyles and dietary behavior by comparing the gut microbiome of populations with different cultural underpinnings. We aim to provide an overview of the studies that report the influence on the gut microbial composition of dietary and lifestyle patterns in different contexts such as Western industrialized countries and Indigenous cultures, and how this association may influence health and disease. An electronic search was performed on PubMed using defined search terms focused on the gut microbiome, diets, lifestyles, traditional/Indigenous populations, western/industrialized populations, human nutrition, disease, and health. Based on research articles profiling the gut microbiomes of healthy subjects from twelve human populations with different cultural backgrounds, dietary patterns, and lifestyles, we identified differentially enriched bacterial taxa. None of the taxa were found to be common to all the populations although taxa such as <em>Prevotella</em> was abundant in eight of the twelve populations. We also found additional independent evidence linking altered bacterial taxa to human health and disease outcomes, including ailments of the gastrointestinal tract such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100310"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wet season and monsoon rain events are associated with increased abundance of potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. in a tropical estuary","authors":"David Simma,&nbsp;Anna Padovan,&nbsp;Mirjam Kaestli,&nbsp;Karen Gibb","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>Vibrionaceae</em> are found in most estuaries world-wide. Warming oceans have enabled the opportunistic pathogens, <em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</em> and <em>V. vulnificus,</em> to occupy an increasing range of environments for longer periods of the year in temperate climate zones. However, little is known about their ecology in tropical regions. We studied spatio-temporal patterns and environmental drivers of abundance in <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> and <em>V. vulnificus</em> in the monsoon tropics in water, sediment and the edible mangrove snail <em>Telescopium telescopium</em>. <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> and <em>V. vulnificus</em> were more abundant during the wet season in three macro-tidal creek locations and all sample types, and this increase in abundance was associated with temperature. Interestingly, the abundance of <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> in the sediment-grazing snail <em>T. telescopium</em> was correlated to <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> concentrations in sediment rather than water. <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> and <em>V. vulnificus</em> abundance were highest during a monsoonal rain event and some of these samples were positive for <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> virulence genes. Our results suggest that the wet season, and in particular, times of extreme weather events when environmental conditions change rapidly, are potentially periods of high risk for vibriosis in tropical Australia, an area which is predicted to experience more frequent severe weather events. This work also expands our current understanding of the factors driving the abundance of potentially pathogenic <em>Vibrio spp.</em> in tropical estuaries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100311"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A one health approach addressing poultry-associated antimicrobial resistance: Human, animal and environmental perspectives","authors":"Samradhi Singh ,&nbsp;Mona Kriti ,&nbsp;Anamika K.S ,&nbsp;Poonam Sharma ,&nbsp;Namrata Pal ,&nbsp;Devojit Kumar Sarma ,&nbsp;Rajnarayan Tiwari ,&nbsp;Manoj Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotics, often viewed as a solution, are now recognized as a double-edged sword due to their widespread and improper use. As the global demand for poultry products rises, antibiotics have become a seemingly indispensable tool to meet this need. However, while this practice addresses production demands, it leaves significant health concerns. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) marks the beginning of a series of unpredictable and potentially undefendable diseases. The topic of zoonosis has gained considerable attention recently, highlighting the intricate connections between humans, animals, and the environment. This review explores the specific impacts of antibiotics—particularly ARGs and ARBs—within the poultry industry, examining the driving factors behind their rise. By delving into the One Health concept, which underscores the interconnectedness of these three domains, the review also discusses innovative strategies to minimize antibiotic use in poultry farming which are vital for preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases, ensuring a healthier environment, and ultimately achieving optimal public health across all tiers of One Health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100309"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of Plantago major (Broadleaf plantain) as a natural method for pacifier disinfection","authors":"Ingridh Oliveira de Assis ,&nbsp;Michel de Oliveira Sales Junior ,&nbsp;Mariana Simões de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Beatriz Calzavara Pereira ,&nbsp;Vitória Batista Clemente ,&nbsp;Vívian Gonçalves Carvalho Souza ,&nbsp;Ana Carolina Morais Apolônio","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the hydroalcoholic extract of <em>Plantago major</em> in controlling biofilm formation on pacifiers used by children attending daycare centers in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, extracts of <em>P. major</em>, <em>Punica granatum</em>, and <em>Camellia sinensis</em> were tested against oral microorganisms (<em>Streptococcus mutans</em> and <em>Candida albicans</em>) using the agar diffusion method. The second phase involved a pilot study with pacifier-using children (<em>n</em> = 4) to assess the extracts' effectiveness in biofilm control. In the third phase, an expanded study with additional children (<em>n</em> = 9) was conducted to further evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of <em>P. major</em> extract on pacifiers. In the first phase, <em>P. major</em> extract exhibited inhibition zones of 19.5 ± 0.9 mm for <em>S. mutans</em> and 10.2 ± 1.5 mm for <em>C. albicans</em>. <em>P. granatum</em> inhibited only <em>C. albicans</em> (14.3 ± 0.8 mm), while <em>C. sinensis</em> showed no inhibition. In the second phase, <em>P. major</em> demonstrated the highest biofilm inhibition (51.8 %), followed by <em>C. sinensis</em> (43.23 %) and <em>P. granatum</em> (40.08 %). In the third phase, <em>P. major</em> extract exhibited inhibition rates ranging from 4.52 % to 100 %, with an average of 38.24 %. A socioeconomic questionnaire administered to the children's guardians revealed that 35.71 % belonged to class C1, 21.42 % to class C2, 21.42 % to class B2, and 21.42 % to classes D and E. Given that many families have limited financial resources to purchase commercial products, <em>P. major</em> extract presents a viable and cost-effective alternative for pacifier disinfection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100308"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The application of a viability real-time PCR assay to detect viable Salmonella spp. in diarrheal stools: A spiked-stool study","authors":"Surangi H. Thilakarathna ,&nbsp;Linda Chui","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Viability PCR (vPCR) is a development of real-time PCR where, a viability dye is used to irreversibly remove DNA from compromised or dead cells to selectively amplify live cell DNA. A vPCR assay using PMAxx™ as the viability dye was tested on <em>Salmonella</em> Enteritidis-spiked diarrheal stools to study the effects of stool concentration (5, 10 and 20 %) and PMAxx™ treatment conditions on the vPCR assay. Three replicates were used for each stool concentration, stool type and spiked cell concentration. A higher PMAxx™ concentration or an extended dark incubation time did not improve (heat-killed) HK-cell removal (Ct values for 100 μM/10 min vs 200 μM/30 min were 29.3 ± 1.6 <em>vs</em> 28.7 ± 0.9 for pooled liquid stool and 30.0 ± 1.3 <em>vs</em> 28.0 ± 1.4 for pooled semi solid stools respectively for 10⁸ CFU/mL HK-cells). Spiked pooled liquid stool consisted of less stool matter and HK-cell DNA removal (Ct values ∼22, 28, 32 for 10⁹, 10⁸, and 10⁷ CFU/mL) and live cell DNA detection (Ct values ∼16, 22, 30 for 10⁸, 10⁶, and 10⁴ CFU/mL) was similar across the 3 stool concentrations. On the other hand, more stool matter in spiked pooled semi solid stool interfered with the vPCR assay and removed less HK-cell DNA (Ct values ∼27 vs 31 for 5 % vs 20 % stools with 10⁸ CFU/mL) and detected less live cell DNA (Ct values ∼26 vs 21 for 5 % vs 20 % stools with 10⁶ CFU/mL) at higher stool concentrations. Consequently, 5 % stool suspensions served best for spiked stool experiments overall to minimize false positive and false negative results. Although the <em>Salmonella</em> spp. positive stool (n = 20) concentration did not significantly affect the PCR or vPCR results overall, comparisons between stool concentrations of each stool showed better vPCR assay performance at low soft solid stool concentrations, i.e 5 %. Small sample size with focus on a single enteric pathogen and considering 2 types of stool consistencies are limitations of this study. This study explored the opportunity of using vPCR as a viability assessment tool when culture confirmation is unavailable in a clinical diagnostic world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100306"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of lyophilisation on the physiochemical and biological properties of plant-based chitosan modified- poly lactic-co-glycolic acid microparticles","authors":"A.M. N. Shatri ,&nbsp;Y. Lemmer ,&nbsp;D.R. Mumbengegwi","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Terminalia sericea, Lantana camara, Grewiatenax,</em> and <em>Corchorus tridens</em> extracts are potent against gastrointestinal bacteria. However, metabolism by gastric acid reduces their efficacy and limits their mainstream uses. Encapsulating extracts into microparticles could improve biological properties while offering protection against gastric acid. Moreover, lyophilizing microparticle suspensions could reduce swelling and bursting, while improving microparticle stability during long-term solid storage. The study aimed to investigate the effect of lyophilization on the physicochemical and biological properties of plant-based chitosan-modified-PLGA (CMPLGA) microparticles over time. The formulated microparticles were lyophilized and analyzed for size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and pH. The antibacterial and cytotoxicity of the lyophilized microparticles were also determined by agar disc diffusion and MTT. There was a significant increase in microparticle size after lyophilization due to aggregation. However, there was no statistically significant change in zeta potential and polydispersity index after lyophilization <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05. Potent antibacterial activity of the micro-dissolutions was recorded against clinical <em>Salmonella</em> and Verotoxigenic <em>Escherichia coli</em> with the lowest recorded Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 6.25 ± 0.0 µg/ml with only minimal microparticle swelling and leakage. CMPLGA microparticles containing <em>L. camara</em> showed the lowest IC₅₀ of 66.7 ± 0.005 µg/ml, indicating that microparticles are not significantly toxic to the NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic cells. The study indicates that lyophilization could be a useful method for long storage of CMPLGA microparticles as it does not preserve the surface charges and polydispersity index of the nanoparticles, while enhancing the efficacy and safety of the CMPLGA nanoparticles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100302"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143714605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multifunctional bioactivity of the [Cu(en)(Im)2](ClO4)2 complex: Antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer effects","authors":"Kandeeban Parthiban ,&nbsp;Ganeshraja Ayyakannu Sundaram ,&nbsp;Dhanraj Ganapathy","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the multifunctional bioactivity of the [Cu(en)(Im)₂](ClO₄)₂ complex, highlighting its antimicrobial and anticancer potential. The complex exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with zone of inhibition (ZOI) values ranging from 10 to 21 mm against clinically relevant pathogens, including <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, <em>Streptococcus mutans</em>, <em>Escherichia coli</em>, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em>, and <em>Candida albicans</em>. Notably, the ZOI for <em>Escherichia coli</em> reached 18 mm at 100 μL, comparable to chloramphenicol (17 mm), while its antifungal activity against <em>Candida albicans</em> (21 mm at 100 μL) approached that of fluconazole (29 mm). Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) analysis revealed statistically significant antimicrobial effects (p &lt; 0.01) against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Enterococcus faecalis</em>, and <em>Candida albicans</em>, with notable inhibition (p &lt; 0.05) observed against <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, <em>Streptococcus mutans</em>, and <em>Escherichia coli</em>. The complex also exhibited strong antibiofilm activity, reducing biofilm biomass by 91 % at 0.1 mM. Furthermore, the MTT assay confirmed the dose-dependent cytotoxicity of the complex against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while selectivity index (SI) analysis showed an IC₅₀ of 243 μM for normal HGF cells and 197 μM for MCF-7 cells (SI = 1.23), suggesting only a slight preferential toxicity toward cancer cells, which remains limited compared to standard chemotherapeutics such as Cisplatin (SI = 0.91). These findings underscore the [Cu(en)(Im)₂](ClO₄)₂ complex as a promising antimicrobial and anticancer agent, warranting further structural optimization to enhance selectivity and therapeutic efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143705097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Paraprobiotics and postbiotics from the probiotic Streptococcus lutetiensis isolated from Indian fermented food demonstrates immunomodulatory potential","authors":"Jeet P. Mehta ,&nbsp;Puspalata Sahoo ,&nbsp;Sonal Ayakar ,&nbsp;Rekha S. Singhal","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Paraprobiotics and postbiotics are emerging as innovative solutions for improving human health. They offer distinct advantages that can bypass the side effects associated with live probiotics in immunocompromised individuals. This study investigates the functional potential of <em>Streptococcus lutetiensis</em> isolated from <em>pakhala bhata</em>, a traditionally fermented Indian food, focusing on its probiotic characteristics, paraprobiotic and postbiotic preparations, metabolite profiling, and immunomodulatory effects. The strain exhibited key probiotic attributes such as gastrointestinal tolerance, auto-aggregation, cell-surface hydrophobicity, non-hemolytic nature, as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. <em>In vitro</em> studies with THP-1 macrophages revealed that paraprobiotics and postbiotics from <em>Strep. lutetiensis</em> modulated cytokine patterns similar to live probiotics. Of the 27 cytokines analyzed, 15 cytokines were secreted by both paraprobiotics and probiotics. Paraprobiotics induced higher IL-8 and IL-5 levels, while postbiotics increased that of G-CSF, IL-10, and MIP-1b. Metabolite profiling of paraprobiotics and postbiotics by GCMS and HPLC identified 26 and 33 compounds, respectively, including organic acids, alcohols, fatty acids, peptides, esters, aldehydes, and ketones, which likely contribute to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Overall, the investigated strain <em>Strep. lutetiensis</em> is a good probiotic, with paraprobiotics exhibiting immunomodulatory properties warranting further validation through animal trials. The key novelty of this research lies in the multipurpose potential of <em>Strep. lutetiensis</em> obtained from relatively unexplored East Indian fermented food <em>pakhala bhata</em> (fermented rice). This study systematically confirms its probiotic, paraprobiotic, and postbiotic potential, specifically through characterizing the composition of postbiotics as well as paraprobiotics and comparing their immune-stimulating effects at the secretion level in human macrophages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100304"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143705094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}