Critical Reviews in Microbiology最新文献

The therapeutic potential of phage-based antifungal treatment: strategies, mechanisms, and prospects. 基于噬菌体的抗真菌治疗的治疗潜力：策略、机制和前景。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-10-15 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2572805

Haowen Xiao, Jiayue Xie, Zhiping Luo, Xiaomin Yu, Jumei Zeng, Yuqing Li

{"title":"The therapeutic potential of phage-based antifungal treatment: strategies, mechanisms, and prospects.","authors":"Haowen Xiao, Jiayue Xie, Zhiping Luo, Xiaomin Yu, Jumei Zeng, Yuqing Li","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2572805","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2572805","url":null,"abstract":"Human fungal infections are increasingly being recognized as a significant global health threat. The burden of fungal diseases is escalating, primarily due to the rising number of at-risk individuals, compounded by the limited availability of antifungal therapies that are both effective and minimally toxic. Phages, viruses that specifically infect and kill bacteria, have long been investigated for their therapeutic potential. However, despite their success in bacteriology, the applications of phages in antifungal therapy are under active research. Particularly, phages could be used to treat fungal infections by engineering them to express fungal antigens on their surfaces, and this would trigger specific immune responses, such as activating Th1 and Th17 responses or inducing the production of neutralizing antibodies. Phages could also be combined with photodynamic inactivation (PDI) or antimicrobials to enhance treatment efficiency. Meanwhile, phages can exert direct antifungal effects by depleting iron, a crucial nutrient for fungal growth. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the phage-based antifungal treatment.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145291416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Current and emerging therapies for fungal biofilms and systemic infections. 目前和新兴的治疗真菌生物膜和全身性感染。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-10-10 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2570185

Yehia Elgammal, Rafael I Garcia Martinez, Adrian Requejo, Luis R Martinez

引用次数: 0

Picobirnavirus: how do you find where it's hiding? 小核糖核酸病毒：你如何找到它的藏身之处？

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-20 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2560918

Abbey L K Hutton, Susanna Grigson, Louise Bartle, Bhavya Papudeshi, Vijini Mallawaarachchi, Anita Tarasenko, James G Mitchell, Robert A Edwards

{"title":"Picobirnavirus: how do you find where it's hiding?","authors":"Abbey L K Hutton, Susanna Grigson, Louise Bartle, Bhavya Papudeshi, Vijini Mallawaarachchi, Anita Tarasenko, James G Mitchell, Robert A Edwards","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2560918","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2560918","url":null,"abstract":"Picobirnaviruses (PBVs) are double-stranded RNA viruses detected in various environments and host-associated samples, including those from humans, non-human animals, invertebrates and birds. First described in human fecal material, PBVs were initially hypothesized to be human enteric pathogens. However, no definitive association with disease has been established. Their pathogenic potential remains unclear, therefore, their presence in clinical or environmental samples may reflect asymptomatic colonization, indirect association or infection of a non-human host. The PBV genome exhibits remarkably high genetic diversity both within and across its genomic segments, as well as notable variability in genetic code usage. Some PBV genomes use alternative codon assignments, raising the possibility that they infect prokaryotic or otherwise unconventional hosts. This review critically examines the experimental and bioinformatic methods used to detect PBVs and infer their host range. We distinguish between methods used for PBV genome identification (e.g. PCR, metagenomic sequencing) and those aimed at host determination (e.g. culturing attempts, codon usage bias, cloning into model systems). We also evaluate the challenges and limitations associated with each approach. Elucidating PBVs' host range is essential to understanding their biological roles and ecological significance, including potential implications for human and animal health and microbial community dynamics across ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145102866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

The final gate: bacterial subversion of autophagosome-lysosome fusion as a conserved immune evasion strategy. 最后一扇门：细菌颠覆自噬体-溶酶体融合作为一种保守的免疫逃避策略。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-20 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2562930

Israt Chowdhury, Tegar Adriansyah Putra Siregar, Md Fazlul Haque, Marisa Ponpuak

{"title":"The final gate: bacterial subversion of autophagosome-lysosome fusion as a conserved immune evasion strategy.","authors":"Israt Chowdhury, Tegar Adriansyah Putra Siregar, Md Fazlul Haque, Marisa Ponpuak","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2562930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2562930","url":null,"abstract":"Autophagy is a vital component of the host cell intracellular defense arsenal, culminating in the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes to degrade invading pathogens. While autophagosome formation has been extensively studied, recent insights reveal that the final fusion step constitutes a critical immunological bottleneck that is highly vulnerable to microbial sabotage. In this review, we synthesize evidence from diverse pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella enterica, Treponema pallidum, Helicobacter pylori, Coxiella burnetii, Yersinia pestis, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, demonstrating that autophagosome-lysosome fusion blockade is not incidental but represents a convergently evolved immune evasion strategy. We dissect three mechanistic strategies employed by these pathogens: disruption of RAB GTPases, interference with the HOPS and SNARE complexes, and inhibition or misregulation of lysosomal biogenesis and positioning. Each strategy targets the fusion machinery with remarkable specificity, often hijacking host regulatory circuits. We further discuss how these insights inform therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring autophagic flux. Fusion arrest emerges as a unifying hallmark of pathogen survival, positioning autophagosome-lysosome fusion as a critical frontier in the host-pathogen conflict. We advocate a paradigm shift from studying autophagy initiation markers to evaluating fusion competence as a functional measure of autophagic immunity.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145102870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Understanding the ambiguity behind Enterococcus as a probiotic ally or a pathogenic adversary. 理解肠球菌作为益生菌盟友或致病对手背后的模糊性。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-18 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2562926

Arxel G Elnar, Geun-Bae Kim

{"title":"Understanding the ambiguity behind Enterococcus as a probiotic ally or a pathogenic adversary.","authors":"Arxel G Elnar, Geun-Bae Kim","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2562926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2562926","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Enterococcus has been extensively investigated, emphasizing either its potential as a probiotic in fermented foods or its opportunistic pathogenic nature, particularly in hospital settings. This review focuses on the defining characteristics of enterococci species to better understand their dual nature, with the goal of establishing a universal method to safely and effectively characterize probiotic enterococci. Despite harboring genes for potentially harmful enzymes and metabolites, enterococci have traditionally been used to improve the flavor profiles of artisanal dairy products. Additionally, certain strains produce antimicrobial compounds, particularly bacteriocins, which help control the microbial composition of food products. These bacteriocins have been extensively explored as alternatives to antibiotics, driven by the rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance across several bacterial species. However, enterococcal isolates of nosocomial origin are harmful. Recent studies have clarified the divergent lineages that resulted in the emergence of pathogenic and nosocomial strains, thus improving the selection process for determining whether an isolate can be utilized as a probiotic. The insights gathered in this review have important implications for developing regulations on and optimizing the use of enterococci.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-27"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145085090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Recent biotechnological advances in bioprospecting secondary metabolites from endolichenic fungi for drug discovery applications. 内源性真菌次生代谢物在药物开发中的生物技术研究进展。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-13 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2556931

Roberth Riggs Rondilla, RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel

{"title":"Recent biotechnological advances in bioprospecting secondary metabolites from endolichenic fungi for drug discovery applications.","authors":"Roberth Riggs Rondilla, RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2556931","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2556931","url":null,"abstract":"Endolichenic fungi (ELF) are symbiotic organisms residing in lichens. Since the initial report of its application in natural products and drug discovery, they have emerged as unique valuable sources of compounds with a wide range of structural diversity and biological activities. In this review, we critically examine current strategies to expand ELF metabolite diversity, with emphasis on the One Strain, Many Compounds (OSMAC) approach and metabolomics-guided profiling. We highlight how co-culture systems, epigenetic modifiers, and advanced data acquisition platforms can open new avenues for chemical space exploration. Genomic and transcriptomic studies, though still limited in ELF, reveal untapped biosynthetic potential and point toward integrative omics pipelines. Recent computational and artificial intelligence tools further accelerate genome-metabolome mining, structural elucidation, and prediction of bioactivity. We propose a forward-looking framework that combines OSMAC, integrative omics, and AI to maximize the natural product bioprospecting potential of ELF, while also uncovering their ecological roles within the lichen holobiome.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145052172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Beyond tellurite: the multifunctional roles of genes annotated as tellurium resistance determinants in bacteria. 超越碲：在细菌中作为碲抗性决定因素的基因的多功能作用。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-10 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555936

Linda Darwiche, Jennifer L Goff

{"title":"Beyond tellurite: the multifunctional roles of genes annotated as tellurium resistance determinants in bacteria.","authors":"Linda Darwiche, Jennifer L Goff","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555936","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555936","url":null,"abstract":"The metalloid tellurium (Te) is toxic to bacteria; however, the element is also extremely rare. Thus, most bacteria will never encounter Te in their environment. Nonetheless significant research has been performed on bacterial Te resistance because of the medical applications of the element. The so-called \"tellurium resistance (TeR) genes\" were first described on plasmids isolated from clinically relevant Enterobacteriaceae. With time, it has become apparent that, given the rarity of Te on the planet, these genes may have functions beyond tellurium resistance. Nonetheless, the description of these genes as \"tellurium resistance genes\" has persisted. In this review, we first examine the history and discovery of the TeR genes. We then performed an analysis of 184,000 high-quality, prokaryotic (meta)genomes, which revealed that terZABCDF, telA, and tehAB are relatively common in genome annotations and that they are frequently described as \"tellurium resistance genes\". We synthesized the literature to describe the functions of these ubiquitous genes beyond tellurium resistance. These genes have functions in diverse cellular processes including phage resistance, antibiotic resistance, virulence, oxidative stress resistance, cell cycle regulation, metal resistance, and metalation of exoenzymes. Considering this analysis, we propose that it is time to appreciate the multifunctional nature of the \"tellurium resistance genes\".","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145029191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Nevertheless, they persist: addressing the stalemate of persistence in food-associated Listeria monocytogenes research. 尽管如此，他们坚持：解决与食物相关的单核细胞增生李斯特菌研究的持久性僵局。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-09 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555938

Lauren V Alteio, Felix Spiegel, Kathrin Rychli, Martin Wagner

{"title":"Nevertheless, they persist: addressing the stalemate of persistence in food-associated Listeria monocytogenes research.","authors":"Lauren V Alteio, Felix Spiegel, Kathrin Rychli, Martin Wagner","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555938","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555938","url":null,"abstract":"Foodborne illness is a critical food safety and public health concern, often resulting from contamination events by resident pathogens in food processing environments (FPEs). Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis, can persist in FPEs over long time periods. Despite rigorous research on the phenotypic and genotypic traits of L. monocytogenes, no clear pattern has arisen to explain why some strains are able to persist. Researchers face definitional and methodological challenges, which influence identification and comparison of persistent and non-persistent strains. Moreover, only weak associations between persistence and gene-level patterns have been detected, necessitating new perspectives. In this review, we synthesize years of research based on whole genome sequencing, highlighting sequence-type and gene-level patterns linked to persistence. As these patterns do not robustly explain persistence, we critically assess how applied definitions and methodological approaches have shaped, and potentially biased, our current understanding. We evaluate existing hypotheses on persistence and suggest future research directions, integrating insights from ecology, evolution, and predictive modeling to disentangle factors and mechanisms that enable L. monocytogenes to persist in food processing environments.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145022925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Under the lens: using Raman spectroscopy as a unique system in biofilm analyses. 镜头下：利用拉曼光谱作为生物膜分析的独特系统。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-06 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555937

Zainab Bilal, William Tipping, Jason L Brown, Karen Faulds

{"title":"Under the lens: using Raman spectroscopy as a unique system in biofilm analyses.","authors":"Zainab Bilal, William Tipping, Jason L Brown, Karen Faulds","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555937","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2025.2555937","url":null,"abstract":"Biofilms are microbial communities that adhere to surfaces and each other, encapsulated in a protective extracellular matrix. These structures enhance resistance to antimicrobials, contributing to 65-80% of human infections. The transition from free-living cells to structured biofilms involves a myriad of molecular and structural adaptations. Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique that has recently been adapted for biofilm analysis. The ability to operate without interference from water makes Raman spectroscopy a valuable tool for in situ characterization of biofilms, including direct analysis from clinical samples. The technique also offers the advantage of imaging speed and the capacity to generate extensive chemical and molecular data from samples, whilst also being non-destructive. However, Raman spectroscopy is often limited by its low sensitivity, particularly when applied to microbial analysis. This limitation has been addressed with the advent of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and stimulated Raman scattering microscopy. When used in combination with traditional methods, these Raman technologies can be incredibly useful for understanding the mechanisms underlying biofilm development, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and detection and discrimination of microorganisms. In this critical review, the application of Raman spectroscopy and its derivatives as a tool for biofilm characterization is discussed along with its associated advantages and challenges.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Helicobacter pylori eradication: developing antibiotic-independent antimicrobial moieties. 根除幽门螺杆菌：开发不依赖抗生素的抗菌部分。

IF 5.1 2区生物学

Critical Reviews in Microbiology Pub Date : 2025-09-03 DOI: 10.1080/1040841X.2025.2554619

Huihui Yan, Zongkuo Li, Jianting Cai, Lingling Wang

{"title":"Helicobacter pylori eradication: developing antibiotic-independent antimicrobial moieties.","authors":"Huihui Yan, Zongkuo Li, Jianting Cai, Lingling Wang","doi":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2554619","DOIUrl":"10.1080/1040841X.2025.2554619","url":null,"abstract":"Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a common and serious infectious disease that requires eradication as it is the primary cause of gastric adenocarcinoma. However, the growing prevalence of antibiotic resistance, severe side effects, and the inability of current treatments to effectively address biofilm-embedded, intracellular, and dormant H. pylori strains, alongside their long-term gut microbiome disruptions, have rendered standard therapies increasingly ineffective. This predicament underscores the pressing need to explore antibiotic-independent antimicrobial moieties. This pursuit involves a multifaceted approach, encompassing innovative strategies that target critical regulatory points in H. pylori infection. These include the development of urease inhibitors, anti-adhesion therapies, treatments for intracellular H. pylori, strategies for eradicating dormant forms, interventions against biofilm formation, among others. Additionally, various antibiotic-independent antimicrobial moieties that can target multiple bacterial mechanisms and forms are being explored, such as intraluminal photoacoustic therapy, the use of nanoparticles, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), vaccines, phage therapy, and other cutting-edge treatments. These strategies offer promising prospects for non-antibiotic treatments to overcome this persistent and often debilitating infection.","PeriodicalId":10736,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144945776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0