The Microbe最新文献

{"title":"Antiprotozoal agents – Integration of drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, and advanced computational approaches: An in-depth review","authors":"Aviral Kaushik ,&nbsp;Naureenbanu Makarani ,&nbsp;Krupanshi Bharadava ,&nbsp;Jeetaram Gehlot ,&nbsp;Bhukya Vishnu Naik ,&nbsp;Ankita Singh ,&nbsp;Sumit Govil ,&nbsp;Radhey Shyam Kaushal","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protozoal diseases have been a global burden for decades, including fatal diseases that can lead to death, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Many of these diseases are classified under Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Diseases such as malaria (<em>Plasmodium</em> spp.), Chagas disease (<em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em>), leishmaniasis (<em>Leishmania</em> spp.), primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (<em>Naegleria fowleri</em>), and trichomoniasis (<em>Trichomonas vaginalis</em>) continue to cause substantial morbidity and mortality. This review aims to address the growing urgency of protozoal drug resistance by consolidating current knowledge and highlighting recent advancements in treatment strategies. It responds to the rapid emergence of resistant strains and expanding gap between therapeutic needs and available options, emphasizing the importance of innovative, effective and sustainable approaches to antiprotozoal drug development.Although treatment options exist, the efficacy of many frontline and second-line drugs such as Amphotericin B and miltefosine has declined due to the widespread emergence of drug resistance. It has now become critical to explore the current state of drug resistance in these protozoal infections and to discuss recent advancements in drug discovery and therapeutic strategies. This review highlights both traditional and modern approaches, including repurposing, screening, combination therapies and computational tools like <em>in silico</em> modelling. These methods offer promising avenues for identifying novel compounds and overcoming resistance mechanisms. Despite advances in individual domains, such as target identification or molecular docking, major challenges persist. Challenges include limited healthcare access in endemic areas, inadequate NTD funding, adaptive pathogen evolution and an underdeveloped antiprotozoal drug pipeline. This review underscores the urgent need for interdisciplinary research and innovative therapeutic interventions to outpace resistance and improve global health outcomes. This integration that bridges medicinal chemistry with in silico design can serve as a valuable reference for cross-disciplinary collaboration. Addressing these gaps is essential for developing sustainable, effective treatments for protozoal diseases in the post-resistance era.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100395"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167440","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":"Novel L-asparaginase from Paucilactobacillus vaccinostercus: Insights into anti-cancer potential using metagenomic, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation","authors":"Rohit Das ,&nbsp;Buddhiman Tamang ,&nbsp;Anil Bhattarai ,&nbsp;Ishfaq Nabi Najar","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100390","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100390","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current study presents the identification and characterization of six high-quality MAGs isolated from fermented bamboo shoots, namely <em>Lacticaseibacillus pantheris, Enterococcus italicus, and Paucilactobacillus vaccinostercus</em> from DBMD, <em>Enterococcus italicus</em> DBMK, <em>Pediococcus pentosaceus</em> PBMD, and <em>Lactococcus lactis</em> PBMA. Functional annotation revealed gene clusters associated with immune modulation, probiotic properties, and stress tolerance. Notably, all MAGs encode L-asparaginase, an enzyme with significant anticancer potential. Molecular docking analysis showed that <em>Paucilactobacillus vaccinostercus</em> DBMD L-asparaginase had the highest affinity toward L-asparagine (−8.5 kcal/mol), followed by <em>Enterococcus italicus</em> DBMD (−7.8 kcal/mol), whereas the commercial enzyme Elspar demonstrated substantially lower affinity (−4.2 kcal/mol). In-depth MD simulations over 100 ns confirmed that the L-asparaginase–L-asparagine complex from <em>Paucilactobacillus vaccinostercus</em> DBMD was the most stable, exhibiting a lower RMSD (0.26 ± 0.034 nm), reduced flexibility (RMSF: 0.131 nm), and tighter structural compactness (Rg: 2.047–2.059 nm) than both <em>Enterococcus italicus</em> DBMD and Elspar. MM-PBSA binding energy calculations further substantiated these findings, with <em>P. vaccinostercus</em> DBMD showing a significantly higher binding affinity (−190.28 kJ/mol) compared to <em>Enterococcus italicus</em> DBMD (−48.16 kJ/mol) and Elspar (−12.47 kJ/mol). These results highlight the dual potential of the identified MAGs as probiotics and anticancer agents, with the L-asparaginase from <em>Paucilactobacillus vaccinostercus</em> DBMD emerging as a promising therapeutic enzyme with superior performance over the commercial standard.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100390"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167436","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":"Combination of curcumin or chitosan with photodynamic therapy as an effective alternative therapy for overcoming wound infection associated with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii","authors":"Manta Yonpiam ,&nbsp;Dhammika Leshan Wannigama ,&nbsp;Aye Mya Sithu Shein ,&nbsp;Tingting Liao ,&nbsp;Cameron Hurst ,&nbsp;Peter N. Monk ,&nbsp;Mohan Amarasiri ,&nbsp;Phatthranit Phattharapornjaroen ,&nbsp;Puey Ounjai ,&nbsp;Thammakorn Saethang ,&nbsp;Vishnu Nayak Badavath ,&nbsp;Sirirat Luk-in ,&nbsp;Sumanee Nilgate ,&nbsp;Ubolrat Rirerm ,&nbsp;Sukrit Srisakul ,&nbsp;Natharin Ngamwongsatit ,&nbsp;Asada Leelahavanichkul ,&nbsp;Naveen Kumar Devanga Ragupathi ,&nbsp;Talerngsak Kanjanabuch ,&nbsp;Phurin Narkban ,&nbsp;Tanittha Chatsuwan","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant <em>Acinetobacter baumannii</em> as an opportunistic pathogen in wound infections raises significant concerns due to its antibiotic resistance and biofilm-mediated antibiotic tolerance. This underscores the urgent need to explore an alternative approach to effectively managing wound infections caused by MDR <em>A. baumannii</em>. In this study, combining subinhibitory concentrations of curcumin (25 µg/ml) or chitosan (156 µg/ml) with photodynamic therapy-PDT (10 J/cm²) resulted in a significant reduction of planktonic viabilities and biofilm biovolume of MDR <em>A. baumannii</em> clinical isolates <em>in vitro</em>. In murine <em>A. baumannii-</em>associated wound infection, a combination of curcumin (25 µg/ml) or chitosan (156 µg/ml) with PDT (10 J/cm²) resulted in complete bacterial eradication with wound healing at Day 15 of post-treatments with these combination therapies. Our study demonstrated that combining curcumin or chitosan with PDT at their subinhibitory concentrations represents a promising alternative strategy as localized therapy for effectively managing <em>A. baumannii</em>-associated wound infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100375"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144138944","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":"The regulatory effects of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B12, C, D and E on skin health, immunity and diseases","authors":"Agatha Ngukuran Jikah ,&nbsp;Great Iruoghene Edo ,&nbsp;Raghda S. Makia ,&nbsp;Emad Yousif ,&nbsp;Patrick Othuke Akpoghelie ,&nbsp;Tayser Sumer Gaaz ,&nbsp;Rapheal Ajiri Opiti ,&nbsp;Joseph Oghenewogaga Owheruo ,&nbsp;Dina S. Ahmed ,&nbsp;Endurance Fegor Isoje ,&nbsp;Ufuoma Augustina Igbuku ,&nbsp;Arthur Efeoghene Athan Essaghah ,&nbsp;Huzaifa Umar","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Numerous skin ailments including acne, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are a consequence of a compromised skin barrier. Working together with other immune cells of similar functions, the skin is seen as been intricately implicated in innate immunity. This is because several immunological reactions get initiated within the body upon the disruption of the skin barrier. More lately, an increased understanding of skin flora further elucidates the numerous connections linking the immune cells of the body and the skin flora. Vitamins are a very important class of trace elements that exert anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The development of skin ailments can be impeded by the immunomodulatory activities of vitamins. Exploring the immuno-pharmacology of these trace elements, especially as regards skin diseases may pioneer a new therapeutic trail for the management of skin ailments. This review discusses several micronutrients; vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, B12, C, D, E) and the roles they play in health, immunity and diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100393"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144138946","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":"Efficient glyphosate removal from groundwater by biogenic manganese oxides produced by Pseudomonas sagittaria","authors":"Fiorella Masotti ,&nbsp;Maria Victoria Barcarolo ,&nbsp;Maria Ines Zanor ,&nbsp;Paula Burdisso ,&nbsp;Natalia Gottig ,&nbsp;Betiana S. Garavaglia ,&nbsp;Jorgelina Ottado","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glyphosate, a synthetic phosphonate compound, is the active principle of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH). These herbicides are widely distributed in the environment of most of the economically productive lands which build on their production in glyphosate-resistant genetically modified crops. Previous studies about Argentine Pampas agroecosystem revealed the presence of glyphosate in different environmental samples including waters of agricultural basins and sediments of the large Paraná River. Here, with the aim to develop new biotechnological tools based on microorganisms to remediate glyphosate contaminated environments, sand filters with adhered bacterial isolates from this region were tested in their ability to remove glyphosate from groundwater. One of the bacterial strains tested was <em>Ochrobactrum haematophilum</em> SR, which has high efficiency to degrade glyphosate in bacterial cultures and the other, <em>Pseudomonas sagittaria</em> MOB-181, that oxidizes Mn(II) and is used to eliminate this metal from groundwater. The objective of this study was to analyze if previously isolated bacteria with ability to degrade glyphosate can bind to sand and if alone or along with Mn(II) oxidizing bacteria that have proven to remove metals can bioremediate glyphosate or even improve its removal. Our results showed that both bacteria alone were able to reduce the amount of glyphosate present in groundwater samples. In the case of <em>P. sagittaria</em> MOB-181, the effect was seen in the presence of manganese oxides, whereas in the absence of Mn(II), this bacterium did not diminish glyphosate concentration from groundwater. While <em>O. haematophilum</em> SR removed 58 % of 1.5 mM glyphosate after 14 days<em>, P. sagittaria</em> MOB-181 producing Mn oxides showed a greater efficiency, decreasing 65 % of glyphosate at the same period of time. The combined strategy using <em>P. sagittaria</em> MOB-181 in the presence of Mn(II) and <em>O. haematophilum</em> SR did not improve the removal values obtained for the first one. Thus, we provide novel alternatives applicable for the development of glyphosate removal tools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100392"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167437","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":"Repurposing of human defensins as a promising antiviral therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2","authors":"Roy Dinata ,&nbsp;Monika Vashisht ,&nbsp;Santi M. Mandal ,&nbsp;Piyush Baindara","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human defensins are also known to have promising antiviral activities against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The world has already faced panic during the COVID-19 pandemic and alarms us to get ready to fight the emergence of new highly mutated variants. Overall, there is an urgent need for promising antivirals to combat the SARS-CoV-2 and related viral pathogens. Considering the antiviral potential of human defensins, we have analyzed known human defensins against SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein and its human cell surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) for binding affinities. Our molecular docking analysis revealed that defensins could block the SARS-CoV-2 entry into the cell by interacting and blocking of viral S protein, cell surface receptor ACE2, and the complex of both. Further, validation by employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed HNP2 and HD5 as potential candidates to restrict SARS-CoV-2 entry among all analyzed human defensins. Interestingly, gene expression analysis of human defensins using available datasets is in agreement with the MD simulation results. In conclusion, results suggest HNP2 and HD5 as potential candidates that could be further investigated for the development of peptide-based vaccines and other therapeutic applications to combat SARS-CoV-2 and other related viral pathogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100388"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144134375","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":"Fungal biocontrol agents in the management of soil-borne pathogens, insect pests, and nematodes: Mechanisms and implications for sustainable agriculture","authors":"Eliakira Kisetu Nassary","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100391","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100391","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This scoping review, conducted using the PRISMA-ScR framework, synthesizes evidence on the application of fungal biocontrol agents—<em>Trichoderma</em>, <em>Beauveria</em>, <em>Metarhizium</em>, and <em>Paecilomyces</em>—in managing soil-borne pathogens, insect pests, and plant-parasitic nematodes in agricultural systems. The review identifies and categorizes the primary mechanisms employed by these fungi, including microbial competition, direct parasitism, production of bioactive secondary metabolites, and stimulation of host plant defences. Across studies, <em>Trichoderma</em> species consistently suppressed soil-borne pathogens such as <em>Fusarium</em> and <em>Rhizoctonia</em> through competitive exclusion and metabolite production, with pathogen reductions reported up to 70 %. Entomopathogenic fungi like <em>Beauveria bassiana</em> and <em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em> caused insect mortality rates of up to 80 % by penetrating host cuticles and disrupting physiological processes. <em>Paecilomyces lilacinus</em> reduced nematode populations, particularly <em>Meloidogyne</em> spp., by 60–75 %, primarily through egg parasitism. Induced resistance was observed through enhanced activity of plant defense-related enzymes and signalling pathways following fungal inoculation. In addition to pest and disease suppression, several studies documented improvements in plant vigour and biomass, attributed to root colonization and enhanced nutrient availability. The evidence compiled highlights consistent trends in the multifunctional role of fungal biocontrol agents and their potential integration into sustainable pest management strategies. These findings support their consideration as environmentally compatible alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals in diverse crop production systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100391"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123365","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":"Do waste management practices affect the internal microbiome dynamics? Let's dig inside","authors":"Mamun Mandal ,&nbsp;Raghawendra Kumar ,&nbsp;Anamika Roy ,&nbsp;Jitender Singh ,&nbsp;Abhijit Sarkar","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal sites are hubs of dynamic bioprocesses supported by intricate interactions of a diverse microbiome, the role of which is poorly known at MSW disposal sites at varying ages. This study determined bacterial diversity composition and physico–chemical properties in two dumping sites aged NDS and ODS. Both the ODS and NDS have comparable bacterial richness and diversity, as determined by high throughput metagenomic amplicon sequencing. The ODS had significantly greater bacterial diversity and richness, than the NDS, where phylum <em>Proteobacteria (31.61 %)</em> was overwhelmingly dominant followed by <em>Bacteroidota (11.06 %), Acidobacteriota (8.69 %), Actinobacteriota (8.30 %), and Planctomycetota (8.25 %).</em> The abundant presence of indicator pathogenic genera <em>Nocardia, Bacillus, Achromobacter, Enterobacter, Rhodococcus, Escherichia,</em> etc. further reflected the taxonomic and functional diversity in the dumping site. Finally, redundancy analysis (RDA) (non–symmetric levels) was done to evaluate the relationship between the dominant genus communities (such as Marmoricola, <em>Muricauda</em>, <em>Stenotrophobacter</em>, <em>Arenimonas</em>, <em>Acinetobacter</em>, <em>Truepera</em>, and <em>Thermomonas</em>) and biochemical parameters (such as Mn, Zn, Cu, K₂O, organic carbon, nitrogen content, and electric conductivity), resulting in a negative correlating interaction. These findings will help to understand the bacterial diversity and its potential risk of contamination in formal and informal dumping sites with different dump age groups. Hence, it highlighted a significant knowledge gap about the environmental consequences of open dumping sites and will help in the development of disease prevention strategies and sustainable waste management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100385"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123364","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":"Designing of a novel and potential multi-epitope-based vaccine using NS5 protein of dengue virus targeting all serotypes from India: An immunoinformatic approach","authors":"Ruchi Jaiswal,&nbsp;Pramod Kumar Kushawaha","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dengue, prevalent in over 100 countries, is caused by the four dengue virus serotypes. Despite efforts, no effective vaccine exists. This study uses immunoinformatics to develop a novel multi-epitope-based dengue vaccine using Non-structural 5 protein, known for its conservancy and ability to elicit strong T-cell response. After retrieving the sequences for all four serotypes from India, various parameters like antigenicity, allergenicity, and toxicity were analysed using VaxiJen and AllerTOPv. 2.0, and ToxinPred, respectively. All sequences were predicted to be antigenic, non-allergic, and non-toxic. The B and T-cell epitopes were predicted using ABCpred and IEDB, respectively. The epitopes were finalised for vaccine construction based on parameters like binding affinity, antigenicity, allergenicity, and immunogenicity. A total of 13 MHC-I and 11 MHC-II epitopes were selected. With the help of specific linkers, adjuvant, and PADRE sequences, the vaccine construct of 407 amino acids was constructed. It was further analysed for its antigenicity, allergenicity, and other physiochemical properties. The vaccine construct was predicted to be stable, antigenic, and non-allergenic. Further, secondary and tertiary structure prediction and refinement were also performed. Moreover, molecular docking and simulation of vaccine construct with human TLR-3 were done. Strong and stable interaction was observed with the immune receptors. Finally, in-silico cloning was performed, followed by immune simulation analysis. The vaccine construct induced strong B-cell and T-cell immune responses, the induction of other immune cells, and the production of interferons and interleukins. Finally, this study concluded that our predicted vaccine construct could be a potential and compelling candidate for all dengue virus serotypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167435","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":"Tracking antimicrobial resistance in river waters: Sources, key microbes, and detection techniques","authors":"Fahmi Naznine ,&nbsp;Zaryab Shafi ,&nbsp;Ushba Aafreen ,&nbsp;Mohammad Shahid ,&nbsp;Shumaila Parveen ,&nbsp;Mohd Ikram Ansari","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical and escalating threat to global health, driven largely by the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) across environmental matrices. Among these, river waters—frequently contaminated by municipal, hospital, industrial, and abattoir effluents—serve as key reservoirs and conduits for ARG and ARB propagation. The coexistence of antibiotics, heavy metals, and microbial communities in such waters fosters horizontal gene transfer and amplifies the spread of resistance. This review focuses on the prevalence, diversity, and persistence of ARGs in riverine ecosystems, emphasizing the role of environmental factors and anthropogenic inputs in shaping AMR dynamics. It further examines current molecular tools, including quantitative PCR, metagenomic sequencing, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting, used to detect and characterize ARGs and ARB in aquatic environments. Despite technological advances, major gaps remain in standardizing ARG quantification methods, defining threshold levels for risk assessment, and establishing effective monitoring and remediation strategies. This review outlines a strategic research roadmap, advocating for harmonized protocols, the development of ARG/ARB monitoring surrogates, and integration of molecular data into environmental risk management. Strengthening river water surveillance and mitigation efforts is essential to interrupt AMR transmission pathways and safeguard public and environmental health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100386"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167433","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}