The Microbe最新文献

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

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

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

{"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}