The Microbe最新文献

{"title":"Mathematical modelling and cost-effectiveness analysis of selected SAFE interventions for trachoma control","authors":"Stephen Edward","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100744","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100744","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Trachoma, caused by <em>Chlamydia trachomatis</em>, remains the leading infectious cause of blindness and continues to disproportionately affect vulnerable and marginalized populations in resource-limited settings. In this study, we develop a deterministic compartmental model for trachoma transmission involving human hosts, eye-seeking flies, and an environmental pathogen reservoir. The model distinguishes active infectious trachoma from advanced trachomatous disease and evaluates surgery, antibiotics, and environmental improvement as time-dependent control interventions within a modified SAFE framework. We derive the disease-free equilibrium and establish that it is locally asymptotically stable whenever the control reproduction number satisfies <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>c</mi></mrow></msub><mo>&lt;</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span>, while disease persistence is possible when <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>c</mi></mrow></msub><mo>&gt;</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow></math></span>. Considering the control parameters only, sensitivity analysis indicates that antibiotics <span><math><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>u</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> have the strongest negative influence on <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>c</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>, followed by environmental improvement <span><math><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>u</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span>. The optimal control results suggest that integrated intervention strategies can produce larger reductions in infection burden, advanced disease, and environmental contamination than single-control strategies under the given parameter values and intervention costs. The cost-effectiveness analysis further indicates that the combined strategy <span><math><mrow><mo>(</mo><msub><mrow><mi>u</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>1</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mrow><mi>u</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><mo>+</mo><msub><mrow><mi>u</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> achieves the greatest epidemiological impact and the lowest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio in the numerical simulations. These findings should be interpreted as model-based insights rather than definitive policy recommendations, since the results depend on assumed parameter values, intervention costs, and the illustrative simulation horizon. Overall, the study highlights the potential value of combining surgery, antibiotics, and environmental improvement in trachoma control, while emphasizing the need for empirical calibration and longer-term evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100744"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167610","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":"Mosaic genome structure of Haemophilus influenzae revealed by horizontal gene transfer of functional loci","authors":"Sonya O. Vysochanskaya ,&nbsp;Andrei A. Deviatkin","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Haemophilus influenzae</em> (Hi) exhibits high clinical and genetic diversity, but the extent to which horizontal gene transfer (HGT) shapes its functional genome remains unclear. We analyzed a 1,037-locus core-genome scheme across 6555 Hi isolates from the global PubMLST collection, characterizing locus-level divergence and phylogenetic relationships between specific Hi loci and their non-Hi homologues. For each core locus we computed pairwise nucleotide and protein distances and constructed maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees. The divergent allele clusters were compared with NCBI nt database using BLASTn algorithm. A subset of loci displayed discrete, multi-cluster distance distributions patterns indicative of whole-allele replacement. Representative loci, including <em>ftsI</em>, for which altered alleles are known to contribute to β-lactam resistance, and <em>dmsC</em> and <em>sapB</em>, which belong to systems previously implicated in non-typeable Hi (NTHi) host fitness, as well as several additional loci of unknown phenotypic consequence, contained divergent alleles that clustered with non-Hi sequences, consistent with homologous introgression. Analysis of <em>cap</em> locus also revealed mosaic structure. Regions I and III were found to be highly conserved across capsule strains, whereas the serotype-specific region II exhibited taxonomically mixed homology to other representatives of the <em>Pasteurellaceae</em> family. Like several core genes, <em>cap</em> locus has been repeatedly reshaped by HGT and recombination, consistent with mechanisms that could facilitate capsule switching. These results demonstrated that Hi genomes are mosaic: recurrent interspecific recombination had imported functional foreign alleles into core genome loci. This reticulate evolutionary mechanism challenges standard typing methods and surveillance approaches, and may have public health implications for vaccine escape and antimicrobial resistance. Presented results argue for locus-aware genomic surveillance and experimental work to determine the functional impacts of acquired alleles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100755"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148231095","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":"Understanding Streptococcus Pneumoniae: Implications for vaccines, treatments, and future directions","authors":"Suman K. Jana ,&nbsp;Divakar Sharma ,&nbsp;Sarika Sharma ,&nbsp;Sandeep Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100745","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100745","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Streptococcus pneumoniae</em> is a significant human pathogen that causes numerous diseases worldwide, posing challenges due to its antibiotic resistance. Understanding its immunological characteristics is crucial for the development of vaccines and effective treatment strategies. This review explores innate and adaptive immune responses against <em>S. pneumoniae</em> and highlights differences between antibiotic-resistant and susceptible strains. Innate responses involve Toll-like receptors (TLR), macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, activating pro-inflammatory cytokines, and phagocytosis. Adaptive responses, led by T helper cells, produce cytokines like interferon-gamma (Th1) and interleukin-17 (Th17), crucial for pathogen clearance. Antibody production by B cells supports opsonization and neutralization. However, antibiotic resistance alters surface proteins, influences immune recognition, and accelerates inflammation. As a result, infections by resistant strains create challenges in treatment effectiveness and immune response, which involve in novel strategies. Future prospective involve broad-spectrum vaccines targeting diverse serotypes, novel antibiotics, combination therapies, immunotherapies, and host-directed treatments. Supervision and understanding of immune evasion mechanisms are much required. Collaboration and research investment are fundamental in combating <em>S. pneumoniae</em> infections effectively, improving clinical outcomes, and protecting vulnerable populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100745"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148231099","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":"Cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate regulates virulence and persistence of Streptococcus mitis CCUG 31611 in a neutropenic BALB/c mouse model","authors":"Kristina Vevik ,&nbsp;Feven Tesfaldet Araya ,&nbsp;Tea Arntzen ,&nbsp;Evan Michael Vallenari ,&nbsp;Thomas M. Küntziger ,&nbsp;Ole Andreas Økstad ,&nbsp;Espen Sønderaal Bækkevold ,&nbsp;Roger Simm","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Streptococcus mitis</em> is an oral commensal which can act as an opportunistic pathogen under certain conditions. The mechanisms responsible for a transition to a pathogenic lifestyle are poorly understood. Cyclic-di-AMP (c-di-AMP) is a bacterial second messenger which is involved in regulation of virulence in many bacteria but has not been explored as a regulator of virulence in <em>S. mitis</em>. In this study, we show that <em>S. mitis</em> knockout mutants of c-di-AMP-regulating genes (<em>cdaA</em>, <em>pde1</em>, <em>pde2</em>) display attenuated virulence in neutropenic mice and altered ability to persist in host tissues compared to the wild-type (WT) with the Δ<em>pde2</em> mutant being completely absent from the spleen and heart tissues. A larger proportion of the Δ<em>cdaA</em> mutant adhered to murine macrophages <em>in vitro</em> compared to the other strains used in this study, but the Δ<em>cdaA</em> mutant was also more resistant to elimination by the macrophages. Visualization of the polysaccharide capsule by transmission electron microscopy showed that the WT and mutants were all encapsulated with a similar polysaccharide structure. We also analyzed the interaction between WT or mutants with human neutrophils and epithelial cells. Following opsonization, there was a small increase in susceptibility to elimination by neutrophils of the Δ<em>cdaA</em> mutant. There was no difference in the ability of the WT and mutants of c-di-AMP regulating genes to induce gene expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IFNγ, CXCL8 or CYP1A1 in epithelial cells stimulated with bacteria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100756"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148231096","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":"Adenovirus dual viremia with species B and C in a stem cell transplant recipient with hemorrhagic cystitis","authors":"Raquel Jara ,&nbsp;Noelia S. Reyes ,&nbsp;Eliana Hermida ,&nbsp;Alicia Lucero ,&nbsp;Diego Torres ,&nbsp;Stefan A. Boers ,&nbsp;Marcia Querci ,&nbsp;Eric C.J. Claas ,&nbsp;Marcela Echavarría","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100747","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100747","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses. In immunocompromised patients, HAdV-associated disease is more severe and dissemination is more likely. We describe an 18-year-old patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B, who received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. He developed hemorrhagic cystitis, that was initially BK virus positive and HAdV negative. His cystitis worsened and HAdV became positive in urine and blood, requiring medical intervention. HAdV genotyping was performed using two molecular methods (Sanger sequencing and whole genome next generation sequencing). Whole genome next generation sequencing showed the presence of two HAdV genotypes in blood simultaneously, while Sanger sequencing demonstrated only one genotype. The higher sensitivity of next generation sequencing allowed the detection of this coinfection in blood, a phenomenon that may have been underestimated in previous reports. In this case, the presence of two serotypes was not associated to a fatal outcome, as the patient was able to resolve the infection after cidofovir administration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100747"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148231098","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":"Viral dark matter and immune calibration: Metagenomic frontiers in host–virome interactions","authors":"Yashraj Parekh","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100746","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100746","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The human virome contains a large proportion of unclassified viral sequences collectively referred to as viral dark matter. These sequences reflect both genuine unexplored viral diversity and technical limitations arising from incomplete reference databases, fragmented assemblies, amplification bias, and insufficient functional annotation. This review evaluates how metagenomic workflows, including sampling, viral enrichment, sequencing, assembly, viral detection, and structure-based functional prediction, shape the identification and interpretation of viral dark matter. Virome-derived signals may influence host immunity through direct viral sensing and indirect phage-mediated modulation of bacterial communities. Although the connection between the virome and trained immunity remains emerging, current evidence permits a cautious immunological rheostat model in which persistent low-level viral exposure may contribute to innate immune calibration. Clinical associations between virome dysbiosis and inflammatory, metabolic, infectious, and mucosal disorders are considered with emphasis on distinguishing virome-specific effects from bacterial microbiome-driven mechanisms. Standardised pipelines, longitudinal sampling, functional validation, and integrated multi-omics approaches are needed to clarify the role of viral dark matter in human health and disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100746"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167516","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":"Promising antiparasitic effects of Diallyl disulfide against Echinococcus granulosus; targeting disruption of antioxidant defense systems","authors":"Hussam Saeed Al-Aredhi","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100727","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100727","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cystic echinococcosis, also known as hydatid disease, is a chronic parasitic infection of global concern caused by the larval stage of <em>Echinococcus granulosus</em>. The present study aimed to assess the antiparasitic effects and cellular mechanisms of action of Diallyl disulfide (DADS) against larval stage of <em>E. granulosus</em>. The antiparasitic effects of DADS on protoscoleces (PS) were assessed using the eosin exclusion test. The impact of DADS on the expression levels of antioxidant genes, including glutathione S-transferase (<em>GST</em>), thioredoxin (<em>Trx</em>), and thioredoxin peroxidase (<em>TPx</em>) in PTS, was analyzed through Real-time PCR. For cytotoxicity testing, two human cell lines, namely normal liver cells (THLE-2) and liver cancer cells (HepG2), were utilized in the MTT assay. All experiments were conducted in triplicate (n = 3). The results indicated that both the lethality and subsequent mortality of <em>E. granulosus</em> PTS significantly increased with higher concentrations of DADS and extended exposure times (p &lt; 0.001). Among the tested concentrations, DADS indicated the strongest antiparasitic effect against PS at 5 and 10 μg/mL, achieving complete protoscolicidal activity after 30 and 20 min, respectively. Additionally, the calculated CC50 values were 64.4 μg/mL for THLE-2 cells and 28.9 μg/mL for HepG2 cells. Treatment of PTS with DADS led to a dose-dependent decrease in the relative expression levels of the <em>GST, TRx, and TPx</em> genes (P &lt; 0.001), while also significantly increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species in the PTS. In conclusion, DADS exhibited potent protoscolicidal activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, achieving complete parasite inactivation at 10 μg/mL within 20 min. These effects were associated with increased ROS production and significant downregulation of <em>GST, Trx,</em> and <em>TPx</em> gene expression. Additionally, DADS indicated a beneficial selective effect on HepG2 cancer cells, with significantly lower toxicity compared to normal THLE-2 cells, underscoring its high selectivity index. These findings suggest that DADS may represent a promising candidate for further antiparasitic development. More research could concentrate on creating the accurate mechanisms of action, and efficacy and safety in vivo and clinical setting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100727"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167609","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":"Bacterial-mediated synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, and evaluation of antimicrobial activity","authors":"Eliana Daniela Lopez Venditti ,&nbsp;Pamela Soledad Bustos ,&nbsp;Karina Fernanda Crespo Andrada ,&nbsp;María Gabriela Paraje ,&nbsp;Natalia Guiñazú","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100740","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100740","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper is a promising metal for nanoparticle production due to its important physiological role and antibacterial capability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> to biosynthesize copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) both extracellularly and intracellularly, and to determine the antimicrobial potential of CuNPs derived from <em>P. aeruginosa</em> against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>E. coli</em>, <em>Candida albicans</em> and <em>Candida tropicalis.</em> Among the synthesis conditions tested, the optimal condition was extracellular synthesis with <em>P. aeruginosa</em> (ATCC 27853) in a 1:1 (v/v) ratio, with an incubation period of 72 h. The CuNPs synthesized were spherical in shape, with a size of 16.2 ± 3.5 nm. The CuNPs demonstrated significant activity against Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria and unicellular fungi. Among the microorganisms analyzed, CuNPs showed the greatest antimicrobial activity against <em>S. aureus</em>, followed by <em>C. albicans</em> and <em>C. tropicalis</em>. The CuNPs obtained through <em>P. aeruginosa</em> biosynthesis are promising candidates for functionalization with molecules that could enhance their microbicidal power.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100740"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167606","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":"Multiple respiratory viral infections and possibility of host receptor deficiency disorders","authors":"Bhawna Sharma ,&nbsp;Vinod Joshi ,&nbsp;Annette Angel ,&nbsp;Neha Singh ,&nbsp;Shareef Mohammed Buvvaji ,&nbsp;Devendra Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Khushbu Kumari ,&nbsp;Aarya Chitransh ,&nbsp;Monika Dheer ,&nbsp;Prigya Sharma ,&nbsp;Bennet Angel","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100741","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2026.100741","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Respiratory viruses cause mild to severe infections, some of these viz; pdm H1N1 2009 and SARS-CoV-2 have caused severe pandemics in the recent past. Molecular detection of respiratory viruses was undertaken in a selected cohort of patients with the symptoms of respiratory illness. The swab samples were subjected to a real-time RT-PCR assay. In house designed primers were used for amplification of individual viruses. Results showed that in 38.46% of the cases, two respiratory viruses were observed and in 16.92% of the cases, more than two respiratory viruses were detected. The common viruses were SARS-CoV-2, HCoV229E, HPIV-2, HMPV and HBoV. The combined presence of SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV229, SARS-CoV-2 and HPIV-2, and SARS-CoV-2 and HMPV were observed. Present paper reports occurrence of mixed respiratory viral infections and sensitizes the future research issue whether multiple viral infections can cause host receptor deficiency disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100741"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148167607","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":"Start codon targeted and internal transcribed spacer markers: Effective tools for assessment of genetic diversity, population study and DNA barcoding of wild and edible mushroom collections","authors":"David Okeh Igwe,&nbsp;Onyinye Constance Ihearahu,&nbsp;Jordan Graves,&nbsp;Ruth Sam,&nbsp;Fernando Quinteros,&nbsp;Chimdimnma Chinasa Esimai,&nbsp;George Nkem Ude","doi":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100642","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.microb.2025.100642","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mushrooms are valuable fungi with significant economic opportunities. In Maryland, various mushrooms with different morphological features are sold at local and international stores. Within the surrounding bushes, mushrooms are seasonally seen growing and consumers find them indistinguishable from the edible ones due to existing phenotypic similarities among them. Due to increasing demand for mushrooms, identification of elite cultivars has become imperative. Deployment of informative multilocus marker systems for unravelling reliable genetic diversity information, population indices, and species verification within edible and wild mushrooms has not been reported. This study utilized gel-based start codon targeted (SCoT) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing markers to assess genetic diversity, population, and species identification of 68 edible and 57 wild mushroom collections. SCoT analysis revealed 440 alleles, gene diversity of 0.9469 and 0.9453 as polymorphic information content. Effective number of alleles, Nei's gene diversity, and Shannon’s information index varied with increased diversities in <em>Agaricus bisporus</em>. Overall, 125 loci were polymorphic (99.21 %), with intraspecific diversity of 0.4728. Coefficient of differentiation (0.1300) showed 13 % interspecific versus 87 % intraspecific divergence, while gene flow was 3.3430. SCoT analysis distinguished edible from wild mushrooms, with some clustering in similar clades, or coordinates, indicating high genetic informativeness. ITS sequencing identified 13 species from groceries and 30 from wild collections, in which 16 were identified as edible ones. Identities varied (74.09–100 %), with <em>Agaricus bisporus</em> as the most abundant. Lichen-related and potentially harmful fungi were detected from wild collections. Intraspecific variation in <em>A. bisporus</em> ranged from 0.000 to 1.368, and 0.074–5.626 as interspecific variation, with highest (8.724) identified between <em>Pleurotus ostreatus</em> and <em>Flammulina filiformis</em>. <em>F. filiformis</em> showed highest variability. SCoT markers revealed <em>A. bisporus</em> as the most genetically diverse, while ITS identified it as the most common species across Maryland groceries. SCoT and ITS markers proved effective in this study, demonstrating potential integration in selection of mushrooms with unique genetic endowment and accurate species identification for introgression in breeding and germplasm conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101246,"journal":{"name":"The Microbe","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100642"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939461","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}