The Microbe最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Marine actinomycetes: A promising source of novel therapeutics and pharmaceutical bioactive compounds – A review","authors":"Jamal Abdulaziz Arbab Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Satyanarayana Botcha ,&nbsp;Subhashini Devi Prattipati","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100383","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100383","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine actinomycetes serve as a rich source of bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic and pharmaceutical value. These organisms offer excellent opportunities for developing novel biologically active substances with unique and diverse chemical compositions, emphasizing their biological importance and the wide range of metabolites that have potential medical and industrial applications for humans. These metabolites include polypeptides, peptides, alkaloids, terpenes, fatty acids, and pigments, which demonstrate antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as enzymes and enzyme inhibitors. Marine actinomycetes possess vast potential for developing new compounds; they exhibit antagonistic properties against numerous pathogenic microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant bacteria. The discovery of these novel compounds has been instrumental in addressing global antimicrobial resistance. Pretreatment techniques, selective media, and antibiotics in enrichment culture effectively isolate new actinomycetes that produce various secondary metabolites. Recent molecular methods enhance the detection, identification, and analysis of their chemical composition and metabolites. Advances in sequencing, genomic mining, and bioinformatics have improved the taxonomic classification and species identification of actinomycetes through DNA isolation. Optimizing these approaches is crucial for advancing research, discovering new biologically active natural products, developing effective treatments, and tackling the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. This review emphasizes the potential of marine actinomycetes in developing novel therapeutics, their isolation and characterization, their role in discovering pharmaceutical bioactive compounds, combating antimicrobial resistance, and their critical contributions to modern medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100383"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106309","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":"Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains: Its impact on public health in and around Murarai, West Bengal, India","authors":"Debadin Bose ,&nbsp;Kajal Kumar Mondal ,&nbsp;Pinaki Ranjan Chatterjee","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100379","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of the present study is to conduct a comprehensive investigation on shiga toxin-producing <em>Escherichia coli</em> (STEC) responsible for the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in surface water samples in and around the study area and calculate a probable risk conferred by them due to their existence. To assess the impact of this bacterium on public health, water samples were analysed on the basis of bacteriological and physiochemical parameters. Bacteriological parameters include Most Probable Number (MPN) count, isolation, microscopy, biochemical characterization, 16 s rDNA sequencing, heavy metal and antibiotic resistance pattern of the strains; whereas physiochemical parameter include calculation of TDS, pH, hardness, temperature and conductivity of water samples. Total thirty water samples were collected randomly and these were found contaminated with human excreta. The water bodies of the area have high TDS, high conductivity, and high saline condition with alkaline pH. The biochemical analysis and 16 s rDNA sequencing undoubtedly prove the identity of the isolated strains as STEC strains of <em>E. coli</em>. They are highly sensitive to Cadmium, moderately sensitive to Cobalt but less sensitive to Copper and Nickel and do not have any significant resistance to any one of the antibiotics used in this study. The risk estimation of the study area was calculated on the basis of epidemiological data and findings of Payment and Hurst as well as in accordance with the principles and guidelines for the conduct of microbiological risk assessment developed by Codex Alimentarious. The principles and guidelines for the conduct of microbiological risk assessment developed by Codex Alimentarious estimate the annual risk of infection in Murarai is nearly 18 % which is more accurate and higher than that of the findings of Payment and Hurst. The assessment indicates that the resident of this area are living under high risk of infection of the HUS. This is the first confirmed risk assessment report of Shiga toxin-producing <em>E. coli</em> (STEC) and its impact on public health from this area of West Bengal. The study highlights that the contamination is predominantly anthropogenic in nature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100379"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167434","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":"Antimicrobial activity of reference Lactobacillus strains against WHO priority drug-resistant pathogens through an integrated in vitro and bacteriocin gene clusters analysis","authors":"Vidhi Shah ,&nbsp;Richa Soni ,&nbsp;Milan Dabhi ,&nbsp;Dweipayan Goswami ,&nbsp;Rushikesh Joshi","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the antimicrobial properties of probiotic strains against twelve clinically relevant drug-resistant pathogens, including those classified as 'High priority' by the World Health Organization (WHO) for their significant antibiotic resistance. The probiotic strains, <em>Lactobacillus acidophilus</em> (LA, NCDC 13), <em>Lacticaseibacillus casei</em> (LC, NCDC 17), and <em>Lactobacillus plantarum</em> (LP, NCDC 20), were sourced from the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal, India. Pathogens were isolated from clinical specimens, identified via Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and their antibiotic resistance profiles characterized using the VITEK® 2 system. The antibacterial effects of the probiotic strains were assessed using agar well diffusion and agar slab methods, demonstrating a spectrum of inhibitory activities against all twelve pathogens. Additionally, <em>in silico</em> genomic analysis was performed to explore the genetic basis of these antibacterial effects. Whole genome sequences of the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) equivalents for the NDRI strains were traced and obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, then analyzed using BAGEL-4 to identify bacteriocin gene clusters. This analysis revealed the presence of diverse bacteriocin gene clusters, encoding bacteriocins such as Acidocin, Enterolysin A, Helveticin J, Lactococcin, Sakacin, and Enterocin X, which are known for their antimicrobial properties. These findings provide a genetic basis for the observed in vitro antibacterial activities, highlighting the potential of these <em>Lactobacillus</em> strains to inhibit drug-resistant pathogens. This integrated approach confirms the potential of the NDRI-derived <em>Lactobacillus</em> strains as alternative therapeutic agents against WHO-designated priority pathogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100378"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144138945","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":"High-risk AMR genes blaCMY-42, blaCTX-M-15, and blaNDM-5 in raw milk: A foodborne transmission concern","authors":"Devangi B. Mangroliya,&nbsp;Hetvi J. Adhyaru,&nbsp;Jayesh H. Kabariya,&nbsp;Vimal M. Ramani","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100377","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100377","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobial resistance in raw milk threatens public health by spreading multidrug resistance via horizontal gene transfer. This study investigates the prevalence and genetic diversity of ESBL and carbapenem-resistant <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> in raw milk from Gujarat, India. The <em>in-vitro</em> and <em>in-silico</em> antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) to assess antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors (VFs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), phylogeny and genetic diversity was carried out. AST revealed both <em>E. coli</em> and <em>K. pneumoniae</em> were highly resistant to beta-lactam class of antibiotics including 3rd &amp; 4th generation cephalosporins. WGS was employed to characterize 20 isolates (10 <em>E. coli</em> and 10 <em>K. pneumoniae</em>) for the analysis of ARGs, VFs and MGEs. Based on WGS data, identified <em>bla</em>_CTX-M-15, <em>bla</em>_NDM-5, and <em>bla</em>_CMY-42 genes as key drivers of resistance detected on both strains. Virulence genes linked to horizontal gene transfer, such as traT and traJ were detected. The study found that insertion sequences (IS), including ISEc9, IS3, and IS21, as well as composite transposons like Tn5403 and Tn6082, were mainly distributed across isolates. A diverse array of beta-lactam and carbapenem resistance genes were detected on plasmid associated contigs in <em>E. coli</em> and <em>K. pneumoniae</em> isolates from raw milk, underscoring the risk of food-borne transmission of resistance genes. Implementing a \"One Health\" approach is essential to address the interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health and prevent the further spread of MDR bacteria from raw milk to humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100377"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166486","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":"Why non-aureus Staphylococcus (NAS) isolated from bovine milk should be a concern for the rise of superbugs","authors":"Bruna Lourenço Crippa ,&nbsp;Rafaela da Silva Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Rafaela de Melo Tavares ,&nbsp;Rafaela Martins Morasi ,&nbsp;Jaqueline Milagres de Almeida ,&nbsp;Ricardo Seiti Yamatogi ,&nbsp;Nathália Cristina Cirone Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Non-<em>aureus</em> Staphylococci (NAS) are most often reported as a group, but there are currently over 70 recognized species. Some species are becoming increasingly antibiotic-resistant, mainly by acquiring resistance genes. Therefore, knowing the genotypic profile of these species provides valuable information about the pathogenic potential of these microorganisms, which in turn facilitates more effective therapeutic approaches against these pathogens. This work aimed to analyze the genetic profile of 14 methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus</em> non-<em>aureus</em> spp. (MRNAS) isolated from milk cows with low and high somatic cell count (SCC), and dairy cows with clinical mastitis. The isolates were selected after identifying the <em>mec</em>A gene using conventional PCR from a previous analysis. Then, using whole genome sequencing (WGS), the genomes were analyzed for the presence of resistance genes and virulence genes, identification of the SCC<em>mec</em> type, presence of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as bacteriophages and plasmids, sequence type (ST) and phylogenetic analysis. The results showed the presence of twenty-three acquired resistance genes and twenty-nine virulence genes. The SCC<em>mec</em> type was identified in 9 (64 %) of the 14 genomes analyzed. Plasmids and bacteriophages responsible for transferring resistance genes were also identified, containing genes such as those for resistance to streptomycin, erythromycin, lantibiotics, trimethoprim, and lincosamide. The phylogenetic tree showed three distinct clades, having a diverse number of STs between the genomes, which, combined with WGS, allowed the efficient typing of the NAS genomes. These results show that the <em>S. epidermidis</em> species was more pathogenic than the others analyzed. Furthermore, all NAS genomes presented virulence and resistance genes, in addition to MGEs responsible for the horizontal transfer of these genes between species, which is very worrying. Although studies indicate NAS as a secondary pathogen of mastitis, its control is necessary due to the large number of virulence and resistance genes found in this analysis; and the presence of MGEs responsible for gene transfer between species. In addition, milk can be an agent of transmission for these resistant microorganisms to consumers, thus contributing to the increase in antimicrobial resistance in animals and humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100376"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123366","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 high thermal resistance of Bacillus cereus spores inoculated in rice flour","authors":"Marco E. Perez-Reyes ,&nbsp;Barakatullah Mohammadi ,&nbsp;Ren Yang ,&nbsp;Sathish Yerrapati ,&nbsp;Zachary Cartwright ,&nbsp;Juming Tang ,&nbsp;Stephanie Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Numerous studies highlight the increased thermal resistance of bacteria in low-moisture food, mainly due to <em>Salmonella</em> outbreaks reported in products such as milk powder and peanut butter. However, most research focuses on bacterial vegetative forms. This study assessed the thermal resistance of <em>Bacillus cereus</em> spores isolated from U.S. pre-launch spacecraft, known to withstand multiple cleaning protocols. <em>B. cereus</em> spores were inoculated in rice flour with an initial water activity (a_w) of 0.48 and treated at temperatures of 90°, 95°, and 100°C. The a_w change was evaluated at specific temperature intervals using an Aqualab Vapor Sorption Analyzer and relative humidity sensors. The D-values at the selected temperatures were determined using aluminum thermal death test cells. The a_w value increased (P &lt; 0.05) from 0.48 to 0.85 ± 0.02, 0.86 ± 0.01, and 0.89 ± 0.02 at 90°, 95°, and 100°C. The D-values from the spores ranged from 20.33 to 27.8 h and 30.8–40.7 h for the selected <em>B. cereus</em> strains. A high thermal resistance was observed in the spores, primarily due to the harsh environments where these bacteria samples were collected. This work demonstrates the spores' ability to survive thermal treatment and the necessity to develop alternative methods for inactivating these bacteria in low-moisture foods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100382"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144115310","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":"Microgravity transforms Bacillus cereus 1272 into a more resilient infectious pathogen","authors":"Debarchan Mondal ,&nbsp;Sudip Baran Haiti ,&nbsp;Pinaki Biswas ,&nbsp;Sakshi Singh ,&nbsp;Niloy Chatterjee ,&nbsp;Debjyoti Paul ,&nbsp;Kakoli Singh Sardar ,&nbsp;Asish Kumar Mukhopadhyay ,&nbsp;Suvro Chatterjee ,&nbsp;Pubali Dhar","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100381","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100381","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS) provides unique and vistas of opportunities for cutting-edge research in biological systems. Weightlessness profoundly influences physical and biological processes, making it a critical area of scientific research. This study examined the response of <em>Bacillus cereus</em> 1272, a significant food-borne pathogen, to simulated microgravity conditions through comprehensive <em>in vitro</em> (microbial growth kinetics, biofilm assay and antimicrobial assay) and <em>in situ</em> (bacterial survival assays within real food system) analyses. Investigations focused on multiple physiological parameters, including growth characteristics, cellular responses to cold stress, membrane fatty acid composition, morphological changes, biofilm production, and antimicrobial susceptibility. During a 24 h experimental period, <em>B. cereus</em> 1272 demonstrated significant adaptations under microgravity conditions compared to standard gravity environments. Key findings revealed a notably higher bacterial growth rate and increased membrane fatty acid unsaturation in microgravity. Substantial modifications were observed in cellular morphology, aggregation patterns, and biofilm formation. Critically, antimicrobial resistance significantly amplified under simulated microgravity conditions, presenting important implications for astronaut health, food safety during space missions, and potential challenges in long-duration space exploration. These results underscore the complex bacterial adaptive mechanisms in microgravity and highlight the necessity of understanding pathogen behavior in extraterrestrial environments, particularly for future interplanetary travel and extended space missions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100381"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084021","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":"Hydroalcoholic extract of Punica granatum L. (pomegranate) leaf: A promising phytotherapeutic agent against oral pathogens","authors":"Luciana Cláudia Diniz Tavares ,&nbsp;Mariana Simões de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Bernardo Canêdo Martins ,&nbsp;Daphne Fonseca Coppoli Lanferini ,&nbsp;Benjamin Fragneaud ,&nbsp;Antonio Carlos Sant’ana ,&nbsp;Guilherme Diniz Tavares ,&nbsp;Ana Carolina Morais Apolônio","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dental biofilm (DB) is a complex microbial structure in which implementing an appropriate approach to prevent its development is difficult due to the diversity of microorganisms and the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to its formation. The search for natural products with therapeutic activities has been reported due to their benefits such as lower toxicity, better biocompatibility and more accessible costs when compared to traditional antimicrobials. In this sense, <em>Punica granatum</em> (Pomegranate) has been the focus of studies due to its bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a hydroalcoholic extract of Punica <em>granatum</em> leaves (HPE), including the evaluation of its bioactive compound profile, as well as to investigate its antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against oral pathogens by means of in vitro assays, in addition to testing and evaluating its cytotoxicity, with a view to its potential use as a therapeutic agent in the control of oral infections. To obtain the HPE, leaves of the PG species were collected at coordinates 21°45'51\"S. 43°22'55\"W macerated in hydroalcoholic solution (50 %), and then dried by evaporation. First broth microdilution tests were used an than, tests to inhibit biofilm adhesion and disintegration were carried out to evaluate its antimicrobial properties against <em>Streptococcus mutans</em> and <em>Streptococcus sobrinus</em> biofilms. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the molecular interactions present and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to see the homogeneity HPE. The cytotoxicity of HPE on J774A1 cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. HPE exerted significant antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells, monospecie and mixed biofilms. It was able to express bactericidal activity for most strains tested. At the biofilm disintegration assay HPE at 2MIC value was similar to azithromycin. The ability of HPE to inhibit biofilm formation may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds, shown by spectroscopy assays, which have antimicrobial properties. Going ahead, HPE does not express cytotoxicity, instead it improves the viability of macrophages. Future studies are needed to evaluate the pharmacological properties and its efficacy, but the results shown here are promised.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100384"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144167438","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":"Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus spp. from Lake Victoria as potential feed supplement in aquaponic production system","authors":"TyNiah Dates ,&nbsp;Loretta Harrison ,&nbsp;Cersey Ochieng Onyango ,&nbsp;Lucy Aketch Wanga ,&nbsp;Oscar Omondi Donde ,&nbsp;Anne Osano ,&nbsp;Joshua Ogendo","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing reliance on antimicrobials in aquaculture to manage fish diseases has contributed to the spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, necessitating alternative solutions. Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits, have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance fish health, digestion, and environmental sustainability. However, many probiotic applications in aquaculture utilize terrestrial-derived strains, despite the advantages of host-specific probiotics adapted to aquatic environments. This study aimed to isolate and evaluate the probiotic potential of <em>Lactobacillus</em> species from the water, sediments, skin, gills, and intestines of Nile tilapia (<em>Oreochromis niloticus</em>) from the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria. Samples were collected from both cage-cultured and free-range fish, and bacterial isolation was conducted using De Man- Rogosa- Sharpe (MRS) agar, followed by morphological and biochemical characterization. The isolates were assessed for probiotic attributes, including acid and salt tolerance, and antimicrobial activity against <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> using the disc diffusion method. Ten <em>Lactobacillus</em> isolates were identified, all exhibiting gram-positive characteristics and catalase negativity. Most isolates showed high acid tolerance, maintaining over 70 % viability at pH 3.0, and demonstrated resilience to high salt concentrations (4.5 % and 6.5 %). Antimicrobial assays revealed that isolate 1 exhibited the strongest inhibitory effects. These findings suggest that <em>Lactobacillus</em> isolates from Nile tilapia possess promising probiotic properties and could serve as effective feed supplements in aquaponics and sustainable aquaculture. Further in vivo studies are recommended to evaluate their efficacy in improving fish health and growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100380"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144069570","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}