Gut Pathogens最新文献

{"title":"Genotypes, antibiotic resistance, and virulence diversity among Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex isolates in Taiwan.","authors":"Chiung-Ju Chen, Chiao-Yu Kao, Ya-Yu Cheng, Rong-Xuan Wu, Yen-Zhen Zhang, Daniel Yeng-Fong Lin, Ming-Cheng Wang, Wei-Hung Lin, Ching-Hao Teng, Hsu-Feng Lu, Yu-Tsung Huang, Pei-Fang Tsai, Ying-Chi Li, Shih-Fen Tseng, Li-Cheng Yen, Cheng-Yen Kao","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00817-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00817-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. quasipneumoniae, and K. variicola are members of the K. pneumoniae species complex (KpSC) with distinct genotypes, virulence, and antibiotic resistance traits. However, their distribution and characteristics in Taiwan remain unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We evaluated 809 KpSC isolates (377 from bacteremia and 432 from urinary tract infections) collected at National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) (1999-2022), identified by multiplex PCR and 16S rDNA sequencing, and characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, virulence gene profiling, capsular typing, biofilm assays, and Galleria mellonella larvae infection models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 809 KpSC isolates, 752 (93.0%) were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae, 37 (4.6%) as K. quasipneumoniae, and 20 (2.4%) as K. variicola. MALDI-TOF was unable to identify any of the 37 K. quasipneumoniae isolates correctly, but it accurately identified 17 of the 20 K. variicola isolates. K62 was the most prevalent capsular type among K. pneumoniae isolates (7/50, 14%), while K54 was the most common among K. quasipneumoniae isolates (5/37, 13.5%). Among the 20 K. variicola isolates, K35 and K49 were the major capsular serotypes, each represented by three isolates (3/20, 15%). Notably, 16.8% of KpSC isolates could not be assigned to any serotype based on wzi sequencing. The prevalence of iucA, iroB, irp1, irp2, _prmpA, _prmpA2, and peg-344 was significantly higher in K. pneumoniae than in K. quasipneumoniae and K. variicola. In contrast, only kfuBC was more common in K. variicola than in K. pneumoniae and K. quasipneumoniae. The virulence score was highest in K. pneumoniae (6.2 genes), followed by K. quasipneumoniae (4.6 genes) and K. variicola (4.4 genes) (p = 0.002). K. pneumoniae demonstrated significantly higher resistance rates to gentamicin (p = 0.005), ciprofloxacin (p = 0.013), levofloxacin (p = 0.003), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (p = 0.036), compared to K. quasipneumoniae and K. variicola. The biofilm formation capacity of K. pneumoniae was found to be higher than that of K. quasipneumoniae and K. variicola. However, on day seven, the survival rate of larvae infected with K. pneumoniae was 25.1%, while only 9.7% and 8.5% of larvae survived in K. quasipneumoniae and K. variicola, respectively (p < 0.0001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>K. pneumoniae, K. quasipneumoniae, and K. variicola in Taiwan exhibit distinct genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. K. quasipneumoniae and K. variicola displayed higher mortality in larvae infection model, underscoring the importance of continued surveillance of their dissemination.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13072495/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147365018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Novel indole-based sulfonate and sulfamate derivatives as potent and selective urease inhibitors targeting Helicobacter pylori: a promising therapeutic strategy.","authors":"Ghalia Khoder, Esra M Mustafa, Sumera Zaib, Anil Ravi, Afnan I Shahin, Seyed-Omar Zaraei, Nehal Rana, Hanan S Anbar, Hafiz Saqib Ali, Shamsul Qumar, Merylin Sebastian, Ragheb Alsheikh Zein, Mohammed I El-Gamal","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00814-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00814-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is strongly associated with peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, compounded by the growing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Current antibiotic eradication therapies often lead to gut dysbiosis and treatment failure, highlighting the urgent need for targeted, alternative therapies. In this study, a novel series of indole-based heterocycles bearing sulfonate or sulfamate functionalities was designed, synthesized, and evaluated as potential urease inhibitors. Several derivatives exhibited potent urease inhibition using a cell-free urease assay, with compound 1n emerging as the most active inhibitor (IC₅₀ = 0.23 ± 0.33 µM), approximately 100-fold more potent than thiourea (IC₅₀ = 23.2 ± 11.0 µM). Antibacterial screening confirmed significant activity against H. pylori, particularly for compounds 1k (MIC < 1.5 µM) and 1 h (MIC = 2.31 ± 1.15 µM), both of which also demonstrated direct and significant inhibition of H. pylori urease in vitro. These compounds displayed remarkable selectivity, showing no inhibitory effect on E. coli and six Lactobacillus strains, suggesting a beneficial role in maintaining gut microflora unlike conventional antibiotic therapy. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays on human gastric epithelial (AGS) and dermal fibroblast (F180) cells confirmed minimal toxicity, while Caco-2 permeability studies indicated low systemic absorption, suggesting localized gastrointestinal activity. Molecular docking revealed strong interactions of 1 h and 1k within the H. pylori urease active site. In silico ADMET analysis predicted low CNS toxicity, moderate CYP450 inhibition, and absence of PAINS alerts. Overall, these findings identify promising lead molecules for the development of potent, selective, and safer urease inhibitors against H. pylori.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13047793/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147354780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The dual role of intestinal parasites in shaping human gut microbiota: distinguishing helminthic and protozoan dynamics.","authors":"Siti Farah Norasyikeen Sidi Omar, Romano Ngui, Timothy Jinam, Sam Froze Jiee, Hee Siong Lim, Paul Cliff Simon Divis, Lesley Maurice Bilung, Yvonne Ai Lian Lim","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00815-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00815-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human gut microbiota is essential for supporting the host's health and immune system. Imbalances in this microbiota, known as dysbiosis, are associated with numerous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Despite extensive research on bacterial components, the significant modulatory role of eukaryotic gut inhabitants, particularly intestinal parasites, remains largely overlooked. While traditionally viewed as pathogens, emerging evidence highlights a profound duality in their role, suggesting they are integral and active modulators of the gut microbiota and challenging the conventional view of parasitism. For instance, helminths often induce microbial diversity and promote the expansion of anti-inflammatory microbes. Conversely, pathogenic protozoa are generally associated with reduced microbial diversity, fostering the growth of pathobionts and leading to significant gut dysbiosis. However, these interactions are highly context-dependent, and a comprehensive understanding is hindered by varied findings and limited data, particularly concerning protozoan infections. Furthermore, while mechanistic evidence is robust, human intervention studies remain limited. This narrative review synthesises the complex interrelationship between intestinal parasites and the human gut microbiota, distinguishing the distinct dynamics of helminthic and protozoan infections. Specifically, this review examines the inherent duality of intestinal parasites by investigating parasite-specific factors, including species, parasite burden, and coinfections, which can impact gut microbial composition and function. Ultimately, this review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the profound influence of the gut ecosystem, shifting the paradigm beyond solely pathogenic views.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13059267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147343961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hidden burden of intestinal Klebsiella pneumoniae in Taiwan: insights into pathogenic potentials and genomic diversity.","authors":"Chun-Hsing Liao, Chi-Wei Lin, Ying-Ning Ho, Ke San Lim, Ming-Ti Kao, Chun-Ru Hsu","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00810-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-026-00810-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major human pathogen implicated in both nosocomial and community-acquired infections, such as pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). The emergence and global proliferation of hypervirulent and multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae have positioned it as a significant clinical and public health threat. The intestine is one of the main reservoirs of K. pneumoniae in the human body, with varied gastrointestinal (GI) carriage rates reported across different geographical regions. Clinical studies have suggested that K. pneumoniae infections may be preceded by gastrointestinal colonization. However, the pathogenic potential of gastrointestinal strains in the general population remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, genetic diversity, drug resistance profiles, and virulence potential of K. pneumoniae from the intestinal microflora in the community.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two hundred and four intestinal strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated from 307 adults undergoing health check-ups at a hospital in Taiwan. The intestinal carriage rate of K. pneumoniae was 63.2%, higher in females (66.2%) than in males (50.8%). Phenotypic testing revealed that 20.1% of strains were hypermucoviscous, 30.4% serum-resistant, 18.1% phagocytosis-resistant, and 24.5% were high biofilm producers. Most strains (96.1%) exhibited intestinal cell adhesion equal to or greater than a highly adhesive clinical strain. Multidrug resistance was observed in 3.43% (7/204) of intestinal colonization strains. Whole-genome-sequencing (WGS) analysis of 204 intestinal strains demonstrated marked genetic diversity across phylogroups and capsular types. Major virulence genes were detected in 19.6% of strains, predominantly within the Kp1 phylogroup. Notably, principal PLA-associated clones ST23-KL1 and ST65-KL2 were identified among gut strains and exhibited hypervirulence in a murine model. However, two ST23-KL1 strains carried deletions in magA and displayed attenuated in vivo virulence, demonstrating significant intra-clonal diversity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Intestinal carriage of K. pneumoniae is highly prevalent and genetically diverse in Taiwan, with hypervirulent and multidrug-resistant strains present in the community. The association of virulence genes with anti-phagocytosis and adhesion phenotypes underscores the gut as a reservoir for clinically important clones. Ongoing surveillance of intestinal K. pneumoniae is warranted to monitor the emergence and evolution of pathogenic and resistant bacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147304991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-organ multi-omics profiling of microbiome and metabolome along the gut-liver axis in MASH model mice induced by western diet and MC4R knockout.","authors":"Mitsuharu Matsumoto, Osamu Miura, Takeo Moriya, Hitomi Ogino, Megumi Hirayama, Akira Mitsui, Takaharu Hirayama, Yukihiko Ebisuno, Manami Kaneko, Yoshinori Satomi, Yasunori Nio","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00813-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00813-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13040703/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147304984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metagenomic analysis of the human gut virome reveals functional signatures and viral stability across hospitalized and non-hospitalized diarrheal and non-diarrheal individuals.","authors":"Angie L Ramírez, Luisa Páez, Laura Vega, Viviana Aya, Carolina Hernández, Nicolas Luna, Marina Muñoz, Luz Helena Patiño, Juan David Ramírez","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00811-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00811-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The human gut virome is a fundamental yet understudied component of the intestinal microbiome. However, its taxonomic composition and functional potential in Latin American populations remain poorly understood, particularly under clinical stressors such as hospitalization and diarrhea conditions often linked to microbial dysbiosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a hybrid metagenomic analysis of the human gut virome from 37 fecal samples: 10 from patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU), 13 from hospitalized patients outside the ICU (Non-ICU), and 14 from non-diarrheic individuals, including taxonomic and functional profiling of viruses and detection of viral auxiliary metabolic genes (vAMGs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 494 high-quality viral vOTUs, from which 37,619 ORFs were predicted. Taxonomically, Caudoviricetes and Intestiviridae were consistently present across all groups, supporting their role as part of a conserved core virome. Functionally, we identified 309 putative vAMGs spanning 90 functional categories, primarily related to metabolism and environmental information processing. Non-diarrheic individuals harbored a higher number and diversity of vAMGs compared to hospitalized groups (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.01), whereas ICU and Non-ICU patients showed reduced and more variable functional profiles. Beta diversity analysis revealed that diarrhea status, rather than hospitalization per se, was associated with modest but significant shifts in functional composition (PERMANOVA, R² = 0.047, p = 0.025), driven by quantitative changes in shared AMGs rather than the presence of unique functions. Notably, resistance-related vAMGs, including bacitracin transporters and Zinc D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidase, were detected across samples, highlighting the potential of phages as mobile reservoirs of antibiotic resistance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Together, our findings indicate that hospitalization and diarrhea do not markedly alter the taxonomic structure of the gut virome but are associated with modest shifts in viral functional potential. The maintenance of a stable viral community alongside variable AMG repertoires suggests that phages may modulate host-microbiome interactions primarily through functional fine-tuning rather than large-scale community restructuring. Our study provides evidence for the ecological resilience of the human gut virome and underscores the need to integrate viral communities into resistome research.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12927239/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147270776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gram-negative gut colonization in children newly diagnosed with malignancy: microbiology, antimicrobial resistance pattern, and clinical implications.","authors":"Ali Amanati, Asiyeh Dezhkam, Farzaneh Safari, Bahman Pourabbass, Shima Sepehrpour, Sadaf Asaei, Hossein Molavi Vardanjani, Sarvin Sajedianfard, Elahe Meftah, Alireza Abbasi, Seyed Reza Abdipour Mehrian","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00812-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00812-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) pose significant treatment difficulties owing to their high levels of antibiotic resistance. This study investigated the gut colonization rates of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBL) gram-negative bacteria (GNB). Moreover, this study evaluated the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of CP-CRE and ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria. It also examines the potential infectious complications that may arise in pediatric patients recently diagnosed with cancer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective cohort study was conducted at a referral teaching oncology hospital in Shiraz, Iran. Fecal samples were collected at three time points: within 48-72 h of hospitalization, at the end of the first chemotherapy session, and during the next admission. The first sample identified cases of community-acquired colonization, whereas the second and third samples assessed hospital-acquired colonization by gram-negative bacteria. The infectious outcomes examined in this study included neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis), a life-threatening condition, and bloodstream infection.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for all gram-negative isolates using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)-standardized disk diffusion methods. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production was screened and confirmed phenotypically, according to the CLSI criteria. In a subset of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect key β-lactamase and carbapenemase genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA-48, blaNDM, and blaKPC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty-one patients with a median age of 6.0 ± 0.49 years and a male: female ratio of 1.25 were included. 57 (70%) patients had community-acquired (CA) colonization with GNB, whereas eight (10%) had hospital-acquired (HA) colonization. E. coli and Klebsiella spp. were the most common pathogens in both colonization groups. In vitro susceptibility testing showed that colistin, amikacin, and carbapenems had the highest activity against the isolates. ESBL-producing GNB were detected in 91/157 (58%) fecal samples, and CP-CRE was detected in 23/157 (14.6%) samples. Twelve (21%) CA colonizers developed infectious outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high incidence of CP-CRE colonization underscores the urgent need to monitor and control the spread of these highly resistant bacteria among newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients in oncology settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13032549/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147270811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epithelial cell-derived exosomes carry NamiRNA-143-5p and promote ASPN expression in fibroblasts to induce Helicobacter pylori infected gastritis progression.","authors":"Zheng Zhang, Shuyue Yang, Mengran Zhao, Wenjing Sun, Rui Xu, Anni Zhou, Sifan Liu, Mingyang Ma, Peng Li","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00808-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-026-00808-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) associated gastritis, fibroblasts are recruited to inflammatory sites and secrete multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, immunohistochemical staining revealed that ASPN expression was significantly upregulated in fibroblasts from H. pylori positive gastritis tissues, whereas its level remained unchanged in fibroblasts directly infected with H. pylori. Co-culture assays demonstrated that exosomes released from H. pylori infected epithelial cells induced the upregulation of ASPN and its downstream cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, and TGF-β) in fibroblasts. MicroRNA sequencing and correlation analyses identified miR-143-5p as an exosomal miRNA enriched after H. pylori infection that potentially regulates ASPN. Immunofluorescence confirmed that exosomes derived from epithelial cells carrying miR-143-5p were internalized by fibroblasts. Further immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical analyses showed nuclear accumulation of miR-143-5p in fibroblasts in both the H. pylori infected epithelial cell co-culture system and H. pylori positive gastritis tissues. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that miR-143-5p functions as a nuclear activating microRNA (NamiRNA-143-5p), binding to the super-enhancer region of ASPN, increasing H3K27ac enrichment, and promoting its transcription. In vivo, antagomir-143-5p reduced H. pylori induced ASPN and cytokine overexpression, thereby alleviating gastric inflammation. Thus, we conclude that exosomal NamiRNA-143-5p from H. pylori infected epithelial cells upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines in fibroblasts by activating ASPN expression through a super-enhancer-dependent pathway, thereby positioning this axis as a potential therapeutic target for H. pylori associated gastric disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146776351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut microbiota signatures and predictive model of KPS in advanced colorectal cancer patients.","authors":"Qinfen Wang, Qingchao Meng, Quanli Chen, Yi Yang, Kun Yang, Rongmu Xia, Weiling Kong, Jiangli Chen","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00801-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00801-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The gut microbiota is associated with host health and disease, but its relationship with functional performance status (KPS) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients remains unexplored. We performed 16 S rRNA gene sequencing on fecal samples from 73 advanced CRC patients (47 high-KPS, 26 low-KPS) and used subsequent microbiota analysis alongside random forest modeling to identify KPS-specific signatures. β-Diversity analysis revealed distinct microbial communities between groups. The high-KPS group (Group A) was enriched in beneficial taxa such as Bifidobacterium and Prevotella_2, while the low-KPS group (Group B) showed an increase in Enterococcus. Metabolic pathway inference indicated enrichment of pathways linked to tumor progression (e.g., cytochrome P450 metabolism) in the low-KPS group. A random forest model constructed with 10 differential genera achieved high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.992). This study describes for the first time an association between gut microbiota composition and performance status in CRC patients, identifying specific microbial patterns associated with KPS in advanced disease. These findings provide a rationale for future research into microbiota-targeted interventions and a basis for using microbial biomarkers to assess patient status and guide therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13003618/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146226611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced pathogen detection and gut microbiome alterations in pyogenic liver abscess: insights from next-generation sequencing.","authors":"Ju Sun Song, Young Kul Jung, Solbi Kweon, Seong-Hee Kang, Hyung Joon Yim, Seung Kak Shin, Gwang Hyeon Choi, Eun Sun Jang, Hae Lim Lee, Sung Won Lee, Jung Hwan Yu, Ji Eun Han, Soon Sun Kim, Sang Gyune Kim, Young Seok Kim, Min Jae Kim, Jeong-Ju Yoo","doi":"10.1186/s13099-026-00799-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13099-026-00799-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a life-threatening infection with high mortality in Asia. Although Klebsiella pneumoniae is commonly implicated, emerging data suggest a more diverse microbial spectrum. This study investigated pathogen detection using conventional culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS) and characterized gut microbiome alterations in PLA patients compared to healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a prospective, multicenter cohort study conducted across eight tertiary hospitals. We enrolled 100 PLA patients who underwent percutaneous aspiration. Abscess aspirates underwent both conventional culture and 16 S rRNA-based NGS. Stool samples from PLA patients and 100 healthy controls were analyzed for gut microbiome composition using NGS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Culture positivity was 82%, with abscess cultures positive in 77 cases and blood cultures in 32. K. pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated pathogen (67%), and polymicrobial infections were identified in only 3% of cases by culture. NGS of abscess aspirates was available in 92% of patients, including 15 culture-negative cases. NGS identified polymicrobial infections in 16.3% of patients-more than fivefold higher than culture. Among 77 patients who underwent both culture and NGS, 13 (16.9%) showed discordance, mostly due to polymicrobial or anaerobic organisms identified by NGS. Stool NGS analysis revealed significantly reduced alpha diversity in PLA patients compared to healthy controls (Shannon index 2.9 vs. 3.5, p < 0.001), increased abundance of Enterococcus species (27.1% vs. 8.6%, p < 0.001), and depletion of SCFA-producing genera including Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Lachnospira species. Despite K. pneumoniae dominance in abscesses, its stool abundance did not significantly differ between PLA patients and controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>NGS improves the detection of anaerobes and mixed infections in PLA. The gut microbiota of PLA patients shows marked dysbiosis, suggesting a potential role in disease pathogenesis and future therapeutic targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":12833,"journal":{"name":"Gut Pathogens","volume":" ","pages":"16"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12922343/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146206794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}