Journal of Microbiology最新文献

Genomic signatures associated with epidemiologically defined high-risk pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates identified by interpretable machine learning. 基因组特征与流行病学定义的高风险致病性大肠杆菌分离物通过可解释的机器学习鉴定。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-31 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2604011

Yoojung Hwang, Woo Young Cho, Woojung Lee, Insun Joo, Jeong-Ih Shin, Mi-Ran Seo, Seung-Hun Shin, Kwan Soo Ko, Kun Taek Park, Yeun-Jun Chung, Seung-Hyun Jung

{"title":"Genomic signatures associated with epidemiologically defined high-risk pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates identified by interpretable machine learning.","authors":"Yoojung Hwang, Woo Young Cho, Woojung Lee, Insun Joo, Jeong-Ih Shin, Mi-Ran Seo, Seung-Hun Shin, Kwan Soo Ko, Kun Taek Park, Yeun-Jun Chung, Seung-Hyun Jung","doi":"10.71150/jm.2604011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2604011","url":null,"abstract":"Pathogenic Escherichia coli is a major cause of foodborne illness worldwide and includes strains capable of causing severe disease. To establish a genome-informed framework for foodborne outbreak surveillance, we analyzed 1,029 E. coli isolates from clinical, food, livestock, and environmental sources using whole-genome sequencing. Pathogenic isolates obtained from human clinical cases or linked to documented outbreaks were classified as epidemiologically defined high-risk (EpiHR), whereas the remaining pathogenic isolates were classified as non-EpiHR. Virulence-associated genomic features were extracted using a bioinformatics pipeline, and four machine learning (ML) algorithms, including gradient boosting machine, random forest (RF), and support vector machines with linear and radial basis function kernels, were evaluated. Among them, the RF model showed the best performance, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98 and accuracy of 0.93 in 10-fold cross-validation. Additional leave-one-group-out validation showed retained discrimination across held-out sequence types and serotypes, although performance was reduced when isolates were grouped by isolation source. Evaluation using an independent test dataset of 1,908 publicly available pathogenic E. coli genomes showed an AUC of 0.97 and a sensitivity of 0.98. Feature importance analysis using Shapley additive explanations identified influential predictive features, including traT, etpB, and enterotoxin-associated genes. A reduced 10-feature model achieved an AUC of 0.79 in the independent test dataset, supporting its exploratory use for future simplified screening approaches. These results indicate that genome-based ML provides a sensitive framework for surveillance-oriented prioritization of EpiHR pathogenic E. coli isolates, with model predictions interpreted together with epidemiological information.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 8","pages":"e2604011"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148880985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

Berberine promotes host lipolysis to enhance antimicrobial defense against hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. 小檗碱促进宿主脂肪分解，增强抗高致病性肺炎克雷伯菌感染的抗菌防御。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-31 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2605001

Ju Yeong Lee, Hui-Jung Jung, Anwesha Ash, Seunghyeon Jeon, Miri Hyun, Ji Yeon Lee, Sang-Hee Lee, Hyuk Nam Kwon, Won-Ki Baek, Jichan Jang, Hyun Ah Kim, Jin Kyung Kim

{"title":"Berberine promotes host lipolysis to enhance antimicrobial defense against hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infection.","authors":"Ju Yeong Lee, Hui-Jung Jung, Anwesha Ash, Seunghyeon Jeon, Miri Hyun, Ji Yeon Lee, Sang-Hee Lee, Hyuk Nam Kwon, Won-Ki Baek, Jichan Jang, Hyun Ah Kim, Jin Kyung Kim","doi":"10.71150/jm.2605001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2605001","url":null,"abstract":"Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe community-acquired infections; however, the immune mechanisms controlling intracellular hvKp have yet to be clearly defined. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of berberine against hvKp infection and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms using macrophage cell models and in vivo zebrafish models. Berberine significantly reduced intracellular hvKp survival in macrophages and improved survival in hvKp-infected zebrafish. Berberine markedly attenuated proinflammatory cytokine production and inhibited the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways. Notably, we found that hvKp exploited host lipid droplets (LD) biosynthesis to support its intracellular survival, and berberine effectively suppressed LD accumulation. Mechanistically, berberine promoted the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB), thereby enhancing lipolysis. Although berberine upregulated autophagy-related gene expression during hvKp infection, it did not induce lipophagy, the selective autophagic degradation of LD. Collectively, these findings indicate that berberine has potential as a therapeutic agent against hvKp infection by modulating host lipid metabolism to restrict bacterial intracellular survival.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 8","pages":"e2605001"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

Temporal changes in culturable fungal community composition with their plastic degradation capacities in the marine plastisphere through mesocosm experiments. 通过中观实验研究海洋可培养真菌群落组成及其塑料降解能力的时间变化

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-31 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2605011

Sumin Jo, Ji Seon Kim, Wonjun Lee, Chang Wan Seo, Young Woon Lim

{"title":"Temporal changes in culturable fungal community composition with their plastic degradation capacities in the marine plastisphere through mesocosm experiments.","authors":"Sumin Jo, Ji Seon Kim, Wonjun Lee, Chang Wan Seo, Young Woon Lim","doi":"10.71150/jm.2605011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2605011","url":null,"abstract":"Plastic waste in marine environments provides novel habitats for diverse organisms, forming distinct microbial ecosystems known as the 'plastisphere'. Although bacteria of the plastisphere have been widely studied, the role of fungi in plastisphere formation and plastic degradation remains largely unexplored. Thus, we investigated temporal changes in culturable fungal community composition on three common plastic types-high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene-across the early (seven days) and mature (30 days) plastisphere developmental stages through a marine mesocosm experiment. In total, 436 fungal strains were isolated and identified as belonging to 179 taxa, with Penicillium, Cladosporium, Trichoderma, Aspergillus, and Fusarium as the dominant genera. Temporal shifts in the species richness of the dominant genera were observed: Cladosporium showed higher species richness at the early stage, whereas that of Trichoderma increased at the mature stage. Plastic degradation assays revealed that 54.6% of the strains exhibited measurable degradation capacity, with patterns varying by plastic type rather than fungal developmental stage. Scanning electron microscope observations revealed surface damage patterns including cracks, pitting, and erosion on the plastic surfaces. These findings provide novel insights into the composition and functional heterogeneity of culturable fungal communities in the marine plastisphere and suggest that plastisphere fungi play diverse ecological roles beyond direct plastic degradation.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 8","pages":"e2605011"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148880987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

From resistance mechanisms to therapy: Antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. 从耐药机制到治疗：革兰氏阴性菌的抗微生物药物耐药性。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-06 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2604017

Minho Lee

{"title":"From resistance mechanisms to therapy: Antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria.","authors":"Minho Lee","doi":"10.71150/jm.2604017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2604017","url":null,"abstract":"Antimicrobial resistance poses a major global health challenge, and infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. In contrast to many Gram-positive pathogens, Gram-negative bacteria combine intrinsic barriers with acquired determinants, including enzymatic drug inactivation, reduced outer membrane permeability, active efflux, and target modifications, which collectively compromise the efficacy of multiple antibiotic classes. Previous reviews have largely catalogued resistant pathogens or antimicrobial agents. This review provides a mechanism-focused overview of antimicrobial resistance in clinically important Gram-negative bacteria and explains how dominant resistance determinants translate into clinically relevant failure modes, such as delayed effective therapy, limited treatment options, and increased reliance on toxic last-line agents. Current and emerging therapeutic strategies are discussed through a mechanism-based lens, emphasizing newer β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and nontraditional approaches, including phages, antivirulence, and microbiome-based interventions. This review highlights the conceptual links between resistance mechanisms, clinical impact, and rational therapeutic choices and identifies priorities for future research aimed at mitigating antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative infections.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 8","pages":"e2604017"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

Fluctuating environmental adaptation shapes antibiotic survival in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 波动的环境适应影响了结核分枝杆菌中抗生素的存活。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-31 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2606004

Eun Seon Chung

{"title":"Fluctuating environmental adaptation shapes antibiotic survival in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.","authors":"Eun Seon Chung","doi":"10.71150/jm.2606004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2606004","url":null,"abstract":"Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) encounters diverse and fluctuating microenvironments during infection, including changes in nutrient availability and pH. While adaptation to individual host-associated conditions has been extensively studied, the impact of repeated environmental fluctuations on bacterial physiology and antibiotic survival remains unclear. In this study, we investigated how long-term adaptation to stable or fluctuating environments influences Mtb growth and drug responses. Mtb populations were serially passaged for six consecutive passages under combinations of different carbon sources and pH conditions that were either maintained consistently or altered across passages. Environmental history significantly affected bacterial growth dynamics and antibiotic survival. Notably, under identical final condition with cholesterol as a sole carbon source, populations adapted to a stable environment exhibited higher survival following bedaquiline and rifampicin treatment than populations exposed to fluctuating environments. These findings suggest that stable environments promote the optimization of growth and stress-response programs, whereas environmental fluctuations limit such optimization despite potentially increasing phenotypic heterogeneity and a possibility of survival. Together, our results identify environmental history as an important determinant of antibiotic survival in Mtb and highlight the need to consider dynamic host-like environments when investigating tuberculosis physiology and drug responses.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 8","pages":"e2606004"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148880996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

Long-read sequencing reveals putatively mobilizable resistance genes and multi-drug resistance plasmids underestimated by short-read metagenomics. 长读测序揭示了被短读宏基因组学低估的推定可动员的耐药基因和多药耐药质粒。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-08-01 Epub Date: 2026-08-26 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2605007

Dabin Jeon, Tatsuya Unno

{"title":"Long-read sequencing reveals putatively mobilizable resistance genes and multi-drug resistance plasmids underestimated by short-read metagenomics.","authors":"Dabin Jeon, Tatsuya Unno","doi":"10.71150/jm.2605007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2605007","url":null,"abstract":"While shotgun metagenomics is often used to profile antibiotic resistome in gut microbial communities, few studies have investigated if the choice of sequencing platform and assembly strategy affect what mobile genetic elements and antimicrobial resistance genes are recovered. In this study, we compared three platforms (Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, and PacBio HiFi) and seven assembly strategies on gut metagenomes from cattle, pig, and human as case studies. Long-read assemblies recovered 5- to 7-fold more plasmid sequence than Illumina in cattle and pig (mean 17.0 Mb vs. 3.1 Mb), while Illumina performed comparably in the less diverse human gut where high per-species coverage enabled effective short-read plasmid assembly. Long reads also detected more resistance genes on plasmid contigs. Hybrid assembly results depended on the algorithm: scaffolding-based OPERA-MS preserved long-read contiguity and recovered more plasmid-borne resistance genes, while the short-read-centric metaSPAdes hybrid mode produced fragmented assemblies. After collapsing haplotype redundancy, PacBio HiFi identified 2 and 49 unique multi-drug resistance plasmid lineages in cattle and pig, respectively. On the other hand, only 2 and 4 were identified from Illumina. Long reads also placed far more ARGs in a putative mobilization context (50-73%) compared to 14-21% for short reads. Platform and assembly strategy are thus key variables in mobilome and resistome characterization and should be accounted for in antimicrobial resistance surveillance.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 8","pages":"e2605007"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

Design guide for synthetic small regulatory RNAs for high-efficiency gene knockdown in bacteria. 细菌高效基因敲除小调控rna的合成设计指南。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-06 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2603026

Jun Ren, Yubin Kim, Hyun Jung Nam, Hyang-Mi Lee, Dokyun Na

引用次数: 0

Development and analytical evaluation of a microneutralization cytopathic effect assay for human adenovirus type 55-specific neutralizing antibodies. 人腺病毒55型特异性中和抗体微中和细胞病变效应试验的建立和分析评价。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-06 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2604007

Dae-Im Jung, Yunjeong Park, Jung-Ah Choi, Soon-Hwan Kwon, Jun Young Lee, Manki Song, Sang Hwan Seo

{"title":"Development and analytical evaluation of a microneutralization cytopathic effect assay for human adenovirus type 55-specific neutralizing antibodies.","authors":"Dae-Im Jung, Yunjeong Park, Jung-Ah Choi, Soon-Hwan Kwon, Jun Young Lee, Manki Song, Sang Hwan Seo","doi":"10.71150/jm.2604007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2604007","url":null,"abstract":"Reliable quantification of neutralizing antibodies (nAb) against human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) is critical for the evaluation of emerging vaccine candidates. While the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is currently the reference standard, its utility for large-scale studies is limited by low throughput, labor-intensive plaque counting, and prolonged assay times. In this study, we established and analytically validated a microneutralization assay based on cytopathic effect (MN-CPE) as a scalable alternative for HAdV-55-specific nAb quantification. Comparative performance analysis revealed that both assays maintain high dilution linearity, with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.988 for MN-CPE and 0.9926 for PRNT. Relative accuracy assessments using high-, middle-, and low-titer reference sera demonstrated acceptable responses across the dynamic range. Notably, the MN-CPE assay allowed for the definition of a negative-control acceptance range, providing a distinct statistical advantage over PRNT, where negative-control values were consistently zero. Furthermore, both assays successfully detected HAdV-55-specific nAbs in immunized cynomolgus macaques, with no cross-reactivity observed against other HAdV types such as HAdV-4. These findings indicate that the MN-CPE assay is analytically comparable to PRNT and serves as a practical, relatively high-capacity alternative for HAdV-55 neutralization testing in clinical and preclinical vaccine research.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 7","pages":"e2604007"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

Rhizosphere microbiome differentiation and soil environmental drivers in two Monotropastrum species. 两种单旱牧草根际微生物群分化及土壤环境驱动因素。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-31 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2602009

Qian Liu, Xiaorong Chen, Xi Liu, Lingjuan Liu, Cuiting Chen, Lingling Li, Weiqing Liang, Pan Xu, Jinbao Pu

{"title":"Rhizosphere microbiome differentiation and soil environmental drivers in two Monotropastrum species.","authors":"Qian Liu, Xiaorong Chen, Xi Liu, Lingjuan Liu, Cuiting Chen, Lingling Li, Weiqing Liang, Pan Xu, Jinbao Pu","doi":"10.71150/jm.2602009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2602009","url":null,"abstract":"This study compared the rhizosphere microbial communities of two closely related Monotropastrum species (M. humile, Mh; and M. humile var. glaberrima, Mhg) and identified key soil factors associated with their assembly. Bacterial and fungal communities were profiled by Illumina high-throughput sequencing, and soil physicochemical properties were assessed across multiple sites in Zhejiang Province, China. The bacterial communities of both species were dominated by Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota at the phylum level, while the dominant fungal groups belonged to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The two plants shared several dominant bacterial genera, including Serratia, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and Bradyrhizobium, as well as common dominant fungal genera such as Saitozyma and Podila. Despite these similarities, species-specific enrichment patterns were observed. The rhizosphere of Mhg contained higher abundances of Acidothermus and Lactarius, whereas Mh preferentially enriched Cedecea, Klebsiella, and Russula. Bacterial communities were shaped by pH, soil organic matter (SOM), available potassium (AK), and available phosphorus (AP), whereas fungal communities were primarily influenced by pH, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), and SOM (p < 0.05). These results suggest that both host identity and soil properties contribute to rhizosphere microbial assembly, with clear host-associated differentiation in microbial communities. Notably, the identified host-associated microbial taxa, particularly key mycorrhizal fungi, may serve as potential microbial inoculants, providing new opportunities for the conservation and cultivation of mycoheterotrophic plants.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 7","pages":"e2602009"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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

Transcriptomic insights into the effects of sublethal exposure to endolysin LNT113 on Escherichia coli. 亚致死暴露于内溶素LNT113对大肠杆菌影响的转录组学研究。

IF 3.8 4区生物学

Journal of Microbiology Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-07-31 DOI: 10.71150/jm.2605009

Heymin Song, Nanjoo Park, Eunsuk Kim, Seowon Jang, Sunghoon Kim, Jeongik Cho, Hyunjin Yoon

{"title":"Transcriptomic insights into the effects of sublethal exposure to endolysin LNT113 on Escherichia coli.","authors":"Heymin Song, Nanjoo Park, Eunsuk Kim, Seowon Jang, Sunghoon Kim, Jeongik Cho, Hyunjin Yoon","doi":"10.71150/jm.2605009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2605009","url":null,"abstract":"The global rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria poses a critical threat to public health, and bacteriophage-derived endolysins have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. The engineered endolysin LNT113, derived from the Escherichia coli phage PBEC131 endolysin EC340, exhibits potent lytic activity against Gram-negative bacteria. This study investigated the transcriptomic responses of E. coli to sublethal LNT113 stress and identified genetic determinants required for bacterial adaptation to endolysin-induced stress. Transcriptomic analysis identified 552 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following sublethal LNT113 exposure. Thirteen DEGs associated with stress response and envelope maintenance were individually deleted to generate thirteen mutant strains and to functionally evaluate their roles in bacterial stress tolerance. Among these, the ΔfabB and Δ(prmB-yfcL) mutants exhibited significantly reduced survival under sublethal LNT113 exposure, indicating increased susceptibility to the endolysin. Regarding the prmB-yfcL operon, individual genes were deleted to determine the gene critical for bacterial tolerance. Deletion of aroC and mepA rendered E. coli more susceptible to LNT113. Furthermore, 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine uptake assays demonstrated increased membrane permeability in the ΔfabB, ΔaroC, and ΔmepA mutants. Complementation with pWSK129::fabB, pWSK129::aroC, and pWSK129::mepA restored membrane integrity in the respective mutant strains. These findings suggest that fabB-mediated unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and mepA-dependent peptidoglycan remodeling are critical for maintaining envelope integrity under endolysin stress, whereas aroC may indirectly support bacterial tolerance to LNT113 via metabolic adaptation. This study provides insights into bacterial responses to LNT113 and offers a foundation for optimizing endolysin-based therapeutic strategies.","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"64 7","pages":"e2605009"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148663881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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