Journal of microbiology and biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Bioactive Lipid Mediator Resolvin D5 Suppresses Melanogenesis in α-MSH-Stimulated B16F10 Cells via ROS-Associated p38/β-Catenin/MITF Regulation.","authors":"Hyeok Jin Choi, So Jung Park, Jeong Won Choi, Gyeong Eun Im, Hwan Lee, Seongmin Choi, Deok-Kun Oh, Kyung-Chul Shin, Jin Boo Jeong","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2604.04013","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2604.04013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Excessive melanin production contributes to hyperpigmentation disorders, highlighting the need for safer, mechanism-based depigmenting agents. This study investigated the anti-melanogenic effects of Resolvin D5 (RVD5) in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 melanoma cells. RVD5 significantly reduced extracellular and intracellular melanin levels without compromising cell viability or cell number. Mechanistically, RVD5 suppressed tyrosinase expression and activity, accompanied by downregulation of MITF and β-catenin. RVD5 also dose-dependently inhibited α-MSH-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK, while pharmacological inhibitor analysis suggested that p38 is a functionally dominant MAPK branch contributing to melanin output. In parallel, RVD5 reduced intracellular ROS levels, and the ROS scavenger NAC mimicked several effects of RVD5, supporting the involvement of ROS-associated signaling. Overall, RVD5 attenuates melanogenesis through antioxidant action, broad MAPK attenuation, and downregulation of the β-catenin/MITF/tyrosinase regulatory pathway.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2604013"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13286808/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148295371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CRISPR/Cas12a Technology Combined with Immunochromatographic Strips for the Portable Detection of SFTS Bunyavirus.","authors":"Hao Tang, Yuqing Xing, Guoping Lu, Jilu Shen, Qiang Zhou","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2603.03014","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2603.03014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV), is a widely distributed infection with significant mortality. Diagnosis in resource-limited settings remains challenging. For rapid and convenient diagnosis, we developed a portable rapid diagnosis method that combines Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12a technology with immunochromatographic test strips. The SFTSV RNA was amplified by reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). The homologous target sequence and single stranded DNA (ssDNA) reporter gene were cleaved by CRISPR/Cas12a in parallel, and ssDNA probes labeled with FAM fluorescein and biotin were captured by an immunochromatographic strip. Finally, the signal on the immunochromatographic strips became visible to the naked eye. Based on CRISPR/Cas12a, a rapid SFTSV detection method was developed, featuring simplicity, rapidity, low cost, and ease of use. The method was applied for the nucleic acid detection of SFTSV in 40 clinical serum samples and compared with RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The new method showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity with a detection agreement rate of 100%. The minimum detection limit of the method was 2.5 copies/μL, and no cross-reactivity with nucleic acids from other common pathogens was observed. Detection can be completed within 80 min, and results are observable with the naked eye. For the analysis of clinical samples, the method exhibits good detection performance and thus provides an attractive option for the nucleic acid detection of SFTSV in point-of-care and resource-limited medical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2603014"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13334080/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phenotypic and Genomic Analysis of <i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> MBEL10321 with Potential Probiotic Properties.","authors":"Jeong-Ah Yoon, Min-Kyung Ju, Chan-Haeng Lee, Yoon-Jong Ryu, Young Ju Jin, Myoung-Dong Kim","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2603.03018","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2603.03018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study systematically evaluated the probiotic properties of <i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> MBEL10321, isolated from Nuruk, using both phenotypic and genomic analyses, to assess its functionality and safety. <i>P. acidilactici</i> MBEL10321 demonstrated sustained viability under acidic conditions and in the presence of bile salts. The strain also exhibited notable antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic bacteria, including <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7, <i>Bacillus cereus</i>, and <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>. Its inhibitory effects exceeded those of the control strains <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i> GG and <i>P. acidilactici</i> KCTC15064. <i>P. acidilactici</i> MBEL10321 did not exhibit hemolytic activity and present safety concerns. Whole-genome analysis revealed the <i>P. acidilactici</i> MBEL10321 genome to be 2,044,106 bp, with a G+C content of 42.2%, and to contain 1,980 protein-coding genes. These genomic features were comparable to those of previously reported <i>P. acidilactici</i> strains. In addition, no antibiotic-resistance genes, virulence factors, or transferable plasmid replicons were detected. These findings suggest that <i>P. acidilactici</i> MBEL10321 is a potential probiotic candidate strain derived from the traditional fermentation starter Nuruk.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2603018"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13334079/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Charge-Competition AIEgens Induce Mitochondrial Dysfunction for Selective Eradication of <i>Candida albicans</i> while Restoring Vaginal Microbiota.","authors":"Runjie Zhang, Xiaoxue Li, Xinyi Chen, Aijun Shen, Xuemei Zhang, Chen Peng, Jin Qiu","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2601.01074","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2601.01074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The principal therapeutic challenge in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is that the non-selective nature of conventional antifungal drugs, which frequently perturb vaginal microecological homeostasis and disrupt <i>Lactobacillus</i> barrier, lead to the emergence of recurrent infection and drug resistance. This study aims to develop novel antifungal agents capable of efficiently and selectively eradicating pathogenic fungi while protecting and promoting the growth of <i>Lactobacilli</i>, with real-time monitoring capabilities and significant potential for clinical application. Harnessing the principle of charge-competition, we engineered a cationic amphiphilic aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens, named as TPE-ET), where hydrophobic chain length served as a key determinant governing membrane affinity, aggregation propensity, and antimicrobial selectivity. This design empowered potent eradication of <i>Candida albicans</i> (<i>C. albicans</i>) while concomitantly favoring the proliferation of beneficial <i>Lactobacilli</i>. Moreover, TPE-ET disrupted <i>C. albicans</i> biofilms and suppressed virulence genes related to adhesion, invasion, and drug resistance. In a murine VVC model, TPE-ET reduced fungal burden by over 90%, facilitating the repair of damaged vaginal epithelium and the reconstitution of a <i>Lactobacillus</i>-dominat vaginal microbiome. Remarkably, TPE-ET outperformed clotrimazole in restoring healthy microecological balance, as manifested by diminished <i>Proteobacteria</i> abundance alongside increased <i>Firmicutes</i> (notably <i>Lactobacillus</i>) and <i>Bacteroidetes</i>. Mechanistic studies revealed that TPE-ET exerted its remarkable antifungal activity by targeting the mitochondrial inner membrane, disrupting the metabolism-inflammation axis and eliciting mitochondrial dysfunction. Collectively, this dual merits of membrane charge-selective targeting and AIEgens-mediated visualization established an innovative therapeutic strategy for VVC, featuring superior efficacy, exquisite selectivity, and real-time monitoring capability with significant clinical potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2601074"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13265238/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148226037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to: Beneficial Effects of <i>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</i> subsp. <i>paracasei</i> ABF21013 (ACE-01) on Skin Health by Regulating MMPs Production and EGFR Signal Pathway.","authors":"Sol Lee, Eun Jeoung Lee, Chang Won Ahn, Han-Oh Park, Changmin Lee","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2026.3604.C04","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2026.3604.C04","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the article titled \"Beneficial Effects of <i>Lacticaseibacillus paracasei</i> subsp. <i>paracasei</i> ABF21013 on Skin Health by Regulating MMPs Production and EGFR Signal Pathway, we noticed a typographical error in Fig. S3 of the Supplementary Data. We would therefore like to revise Fig. S3 and submit the corrected version. We would like to correct two typographical errors in Fig. S3 and its legend. In the legend of Fig. S3, \"HT-92 cells\" should be revised to \"HT-29 cells.\" In addition, the strain number indicated in the figure should be corrected from \"ABF21069\" to \"ABF21013.\" We clarified that ABF21013 and ACE-01 refer to the same strain name and share the same deposit/accession number [deposit number: KCTC 16093BP].</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e36004"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13265235/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148226008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing the Antibacterial Activity of Endolysin against <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> through Fusion Engineering Using Antimicrobial Peptide Sub5.","authors":"Kexuan Gao, Yuhui Li, Yuxuan Wang, Chuanyan Zheng, Keyu Zhu, Xinru Mao, Jinlong Bai, Ruirui Hu, Bingbing Lei, Shengwei Hu, Xia Li, Wei Ni","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2601.01025","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2601.01025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The majority of clinically isolated <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (<i>K. pneumoniae</i>) strains are opportunistic pathogens exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR), which has driven the exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches. Endolysins, as phage-derived lytic enzymes, represent highly promising novel antimicrobial agents. However, their application against Gram-negative bacteria is constrained by the physical barrier of the outer membrane (OM). Therefore, conferring the ability for endolysins to penetrate or disrupt the OM, thereby reaching the target peptidoglycan, is crucial. In this study, we fused the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) Sub5 with LysK1, a phage-derived endolysin targeting <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. Leveraging Sub5's membrane-targeting mechanism, we enabled LysK1 to traverse the OM barrier of <i>K. pneumoniae</i>, targeting the peptidoglycan layer to exert synergistic antimicrobial effects. The results showed that, compared with LysK1, LysK1-Sub5 reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against <i>K. pneumoniae</i> by 2.7 to 6.1-fold and was able to inhibit the growth of <i>K. pneumoniae</i> within 16 h without the need for an OM permeabilizer. In addition, it exhibited stable environmental tolerance and broad-spectrum lytic activity. <i>In vivo</i> experiments using a mouse skin wound infection model demonstrated that LysK1-Sub5 accelerated wound healing and effectively reduced <i>K. pneumoniae</i> infection. This indicates LysK1-Sub5's potential as a topical antimicrobial agent against <i>K. pneumoniae</i> infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2601025"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13268922/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148258429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Qingxuan Zhike Granules Modulate Gut Dysbiosis and Enhance Intestinal Repair in Murine <i>Mycoplasma pneumonia</i>.","authors":"Shiyu Liu, Bowen Li, Meiling Wang, Jie Liu, Lijin Xu, Linhong Liu, Ai Liu, JingWei He, Lei Xiong, Na Wang","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2604.04045","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2604.04045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Qingxuan Zhike Granules (QXZKG) in pediatric <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> pneumonia (MPP), with a specific focus on its roles in modulating gut microbiota and promoting intestinal repair via the \"gut-lung axis\". A BALB/c mouse model of MPP was established for <i>in-vivo</i> experiments. Evaluations included the disease activity index (DAI), histopathological assessment of lung and intestinal tissues (H&E staining), pro-inflammatory factor levels (PCR), intestinal tight junction protein expression (Western blot), gut microbiota composition (16S rDNA sequencing), and serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. For <i>in-vitro</i> experiments, a Caco-2/RAW264.7 co-culture system was used to assess the effects of drug-containing serum on cell viability, apoptosis, inflammatory factor production, and barrier protein expression. QXZKG administration dose-dependently improved the DAI and body weight loss in MPP mice. It significantly alleviated pathological damage in both lung and intestinal tissues, reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory factors, and up-regulated the levels of intestinal tight junction proteins. Concurrently, QXZKG decreased serum LPS concentrations, restored gut microbiota diversity, and modulated its composition by increasing probiotic abundance and reducing opportunistic pathogens. <i>In-vitro</i> experiments confirmed that QXZKG-containing serum enhanced cell viability, inhibited apoptosis, reduced LPS levels, and up-regulated barrier protein expression. QXZKG is associated with modulation of the gut microbiota, enhancement of intestinal barrier function, and suppression of systemic inflammation, suggesting a potential involvement of the \"gut-lung axis\". These findings provide experimental evidence for the expanded clinical application of QXZKG.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2604045"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13334081/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148352098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to: Attenuation of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infection by <i>Clostridium hylemonae</i>.","authors":"Sueun Choi, Heewon Kwon, Woon-Ki Kim, GwangPyo Ko","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2026.3603.C03","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2026.3603.C03","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the article titled \"Attenuation of <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infection by <i>Clostridium hylemonae</i>,\" we would like to request corrections to the author information. First, the English name of the co-first author was incorrectly published as <b>Heewon Kwon</b>. The correct spelling is <b>Heeun Kwon</b>, and we kindly request that this be updated accordingly. Second, we would like to request the addition of the co-first author designation symbol (†) to both <b>Sueun Choi</b> and <b>Heeun Kwon</b> to indicate that they contributed equally to this work as co-first authors. The corrected author list is as follows, reflecting the correction of the author name from <b>Heewon Kwon</b> to <b>Heeun Kwon</b> and the addition of the cofirst author designation (†). <b>Sueun Choi^†1, Heeun Kwon^†1, Woon-Ki Kim^1,2, and GwangPyo Ko^1,3*</b> ^†These authors contributed equally to this work. We acknowledge these corrections and confirm that they do not affect the results, interpretations, or conclusions of the article. The authors would like to apologies for any inconvenience caused. (http://jmb.or.kr).</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e36003"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13253537/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148218174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural Plant Extracts Rescue Memory Deficits in <i>Drosophila</i> Neurodegeneration Models.","authors":"Jiun Sang, Yueyang Kang, Youngseok Lee","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2603.03035","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2603.03035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive impairments in cognition, stress resilience, and behavior, yet effective therapeutic interventions remain limited. Here, we performed a functional screening of Nicaraguan plant extracts using <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> models of neurodegeneration-specifically <i>Appl</i> and <i>DJ-1β</i> mutants-to identify candidate extracts with neuroprotective potential. Flies were evaluated using a multi-assay pipeline that included memory testing, reactive oxygen species-induced survival assays, sleep analysis, locomotor performance, and mRNA expression profiling. Screening identified three plant extracts-<i>Casearia corymbosa, Xylosma flexuosa</i>, and <i>Morisonia incana</i>-that significantly improved memory performance in <i>DJ-1β</i> mutants, whereas only partial memory recovery was observed in the <i>Appl</i> model, indicating genotype-dependent efficacy. None of the extracts rescued sleep defects in either disease model, suggesting limited influence on sleep-regulatory pathways. Notably, all three extracts significantly enhanced survival under oxidative stress in both <i>Appl</i> and <i>DJ-1β</i> mutants. In addition, <i>C. corymbosa</i> and <i>M. incana</i> significantly improved locomotor deficits in <i>DJ-1β</i> flies. Together, these findings demonstrate that Nicaraguan plant extracts exert selective and dissociable effects on cognitive function and oxidative stress resistance. In particular, <i>M. incana</i> emerges as a promising candidate for enhancing cellular stress resilience in neurodegenerative contexts. This work highlights the utility of <i>Drosophila</i>-based functional screening for identifying plant-derived compounds with targeted neuroprotective potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2603035"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13275258/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Fungal-Derived Bioactive Resource for Cochlear Protection: <i>Sanghuangporus sanghuang</i> Extract Mitigates Acoustic Trauma through Nrf2/HO-1 Antioxidant Axis.","authors":"Hojin Lee, Changho Lee, Yun-Tai Kim, JaeYong Park, Jaekwang Lee","doi":"10.4014/jmb.2605.05011","DOIUrl":"10.4014/jmb.2605.05011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a major form of sensorineural hearing impairment driven by oxidative stress-mediated cochlear injury. <i>Sanghuangporus sanghuang</i> (SS), a medicinal fungus extensively studied in microbiology and biotechnology, is known to produce bioactive metabolites with antioxidant properties; however, its functional role in the auditory system has not been established. This study investigated the otoprotective potential of SS extract against oxidative and acoustic stress using complementary <i>in vitro</i>, ex vivo, and <i>in vivo</i> models. In H₂O₂-treated UB-OC1 auditory cells, SS (25-200 μg/mL) dose-dependently restored cell viability and significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation. Western blot analysis demonstrated that SS suppressed the expression of apoptotic markers, including cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome C. At the molecular level, SS upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, without a significant change in Keap1 expression, indicating activation of endogenous antioxidant defense via the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling axis. Consequently, downstream antioxidant genes such as SOD1 and NQO1 were significantly upregulated. In <i>ex vivo</i> cochlear explant cultures, SS preserved hair cell integrity against H₂O₂-induced damage, as confirmed by phalloidin staining. In a murine NIHL model, oral administration of SS attenuated ABR threshold shifts, maintained Wave I amplitudes, and preserved the structural organization of outer hair cells across all cochlear turns. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that SS confers otoprotection by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant axis and mitigating oxidative stress-induced sensory cell injury, supporting the potential of SS as a fungal-derived functional bioactive resource for redox-associated cochlear protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":16481,"journal":{"name":"Journal of microbiology and biotechnology","volume":"36 ","pages":"e2605011"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13265236/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148226025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}