Journal of Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Enoxacin adversely affects Salmonella enterica virulence and host pathogenesis through interference with type III secretion system type II (T3SS-II) and disruption of translocation of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island-2 (SPI2) effectors.","authors":"El-Sayed Khafagy, Gamal A Soliman, Maged S Abdel-Kader, Mahmoud M Bendary, Wael A H Hegazy, Momen Askoura","doi":"10.71150/jm.2410015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2410015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Salmonella enterica is a clinically significant oro-fecal pathogen that causes a wide variety of illnesses and can lead to epidemics. S. enterica expresses a lot of virulence factors that enhance its pathogenesis in host. For instance, S. enterica employs a type three secretion system (T3SS) to translocate a wide array of effector proteins that could change the surrounding niche ensuring suitable conditions for the thrive of Salmonella infection. Many antimicrobials have been recently introduced to overcome the annoying bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Enoxacin is member of the second-generation quinolones that possesses a considerable activity against S. enterica. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of enoxacin at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) on S. enterica virulence capability and pathogenesis in host. Enoxacin at sub-MIC significantly diminished both Salmonella invasion and intracellular replication within the host cells. The observed inhibitory effect of enoxacin on S. enterica internalization could be attributed to its ability to interfere with translocation of the T3SS effector proteins. These results were further confirmed by the finding that enoxacin at sub-MIC down-regulated the expression of the genes encoding for T3SS-type II (T3SS-II). Moreover, enoxacin at sub-MIC lessened bacterial adhesion to abiotic surface and biofilm formation which indicates a potential anti-virulence activity. Importantly, in vivo results showed a significant ability of enoxacin to protect mice against S. enterica infection and decreased bacterial colonization within animal tissues. In nutshell, current findings shed light on an additional mechanism of enoxacin at sub-MIC by interfering with Salmonella intracellular replication. The outcomes presented herein could be further invested in conquering bacterial resistance and open the door for additional effective clinical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2410015"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567483","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}

{"title":"Comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of Leuconostoc lactic acid bacteria in alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism.","authors":"Joo-Han Gwak, Yun Ji Choi, Hina Ayub, Min Kyeong Seol, Hongik Kim, Man-Young Jung","doi":"10.71150/jm.2410026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2410026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alcohol consumption can lead to the accumulation of harmful metabolites, such as acetaldehyde, contributing to various adverse health effects, including hangovers and liver damage. This study presents a comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of Leuconostoc suionicum VITA-PB2, a lactic acid bacterial strain isolated from kimchi, to elucidate its role in enhancing alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism. Genomic characterization revealed key genes encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), providing insights into the metabolic capabilities of strain VITA-PB2. Phylogenomic analyses confirmed its taxonomic classification and genetic similarity to other Leuconostoc species. Functional validation through in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated superior ethanol and acetaldehyde decomposition abilities of strain VITA-PB2, with significant reductions in blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels observed in rats administered with the strain. Further analysis indicated that while hepatic ADH activity did not significantly increase; however, ALDH expression was elevated. This suggests that the microbial ADH of strain VITA-PB2 contributed to ethanol breakdown, while both microbial and host ALDH facilitated acetaldehyde detoxification. These findings highlight the potential of strain VITA-PB2 as a functional probiotic for mitigating the toxic effects of alcohol consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2410026"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567464","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}

{"title":"Functional importance of Ser323 in cysteine desulfhydrase and cystathionine gamma-lyase MccB of Staphylococcus aureus.","authors":"Dukwon Lee, Hyojeong Lee, Kyumi Byun, Eun-Su Park, Nam-Chul Ha","doi":"10.71150/jm.2411026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2411026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzymes participate in various reactions involved in methionine and cysteine metabolism. The representative foodborne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus expresses the PLP-dependent enzyme MccB, which exhibits both cystathionine gamma-lyase (CGL) and cysteine desulfhydrase activities. In this study, we investigated the role of Ser323 in MccB, a conserved residue in many PLP-dependent enzymes in the transsulfuration pathway. Our findings reveal that Ser323 forms a hydrogen bond with the catalytic lysine in the absence of PLP, and upon internal aldimine formation, PLP-bound lysine is repositioned away from Ser323. Substituting Ser323 with alanine abolishes the enzymatic activity, similar to mutations at the catalytic lysine site. Spectroscopic analysis suggests that Ser323 is essential for the rapid formation of the internal aldimine with lysine in wild-type MccB. This study highlights the crucial role of Ser323 in catalysis, with broader implications for other PLP-dependent enzymes, and enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the selective control of foodborne pathogenic bacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2411026"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567417","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}

{"title":"Synbiotic combination of fructooligosaccharides and probiotics ameliorates the metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.","authors":"Sang Yoon Lee, Su-Been Lee, Goo-Hyun Kwon, Seol Hee Song, Jeong Ha Park, Min Ju Kim, Jung A Eom, Kyeong Jin Lee, Sang Jun Yoon, Hyunjoon Park, Sung-Min Won, Jin-Ju Jeong, Ki-Kwang Oh, Young Lim Ham, Gwang Ho Baik, Dong Joon Kim, Satya Priya Sharma, Ki Tae Suk","doi":"10.71150/jm.2411002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2411002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Synbiotics have become a new-age treatment tool for limiting the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; however, inclusive comparisons of various synbiotic treatments are still lacking. Here, we have explored and evaluated multiple synbiotic combinations incorporating three distinctive prebiotics, lactitol, lactulose and fructooligosaccharides. Of the synbiotic treatments evaluated, a combination of fructooligosaccharides and probiotics (FOS+Pro) exhibited superior protection against western diet-induced liver degeneration. This synbiotic (FOS+Pro) combination resulted in the lowest body weight gains, liver weights and liver/body weight ratios. The FOS+Pro synbiotic combination substantially alleviated liver histopathological markers and reduced serum AST and cholesterol levels. FOS+Pro ameliorated hepatic inflammation by lowering expression of proinflammatory markers including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and CCL2. FOS+Pro significantly improved steatosis by restricting the expression of lipid metabolic regulators (ACC1, FAS) and lipid transporters (CD36) in the liver. These findings are critical in suggesting that synbiotic treatments are capable of restraining western diet-induced metabolic dysfunction in the liver. Additionally, this study demonstrated that adding probiotic strains amplified the effectiveness of fructooligosaccharides but not all prebiotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2411002"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567092","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}

{"title":"LasB activation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Quorum sensing-mediated release of an auto-activation inhibitor.","authors":"Cheol Seung Lee, Xi-Hui Li, Chae-Ran Jeon, Joon-Hee Lee","doi":"10.71150/jm.2411005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2411005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes three major proteases: elastase B (LasB), protease IV (PIV), and elastase A (LasA), which play crucial roles in infection and pathogenesis. These proteases are activated sequentially from LasB in a proteolytic cascade, and LasB was previously thought to undergo auto-activation. However, our previous study suggested that LasB cannot auto-activate independently but requires additional quorum sensing (QS)-dependent factors for activation, as LasB remained inactive in QS-deficient P. aeruginosa (QS-) even under artificial overexpression. In this study, we provide evidence for the existence of a LasB inhibitor in QS- mutants: inactive LasB overexpressed in QS- strains was in its processed form and could be reactivated upon purification; when full-length LasB was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, a heterologous bacterium lacking both LasB activators and inhibitors, the protein underwent normal processing and activation; and purified active LasB was significantly inhibited by culture supernatant (CS) from QS- strains but not by CS from QS+ strains. These findings demonstrate that a LasB inhibitor exists in QS- strains, and in its absence, LasB can undergo auto-activation without requiring an activator. Based on these results, we propose an updated hypothesis: the QS-dependent LasB activator functions by removing the LasB inhibitor rather than acting directly on LasB itself, thus preventing premature LasB activation until QS response is initiated.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2411005"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143566480","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}

{"title":"Single nucleotide genome recognition and selective bacterial lysis using synthetic phages loaded with CRISPR-Cas12f1-truncated sgRNA.","authors":"Ho Joung Lee, Song Hee Jeong, Sang Jun Lee","doi":"10.71150/jm.2501012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2501012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phage specificity primarily relies on host cell-surface receptors. However, integrating cas genes and guide RNAs into phage genomes could enhance their target specificity and regulatory effects. In this study, we developed a CRISPR-Cas12f1 system-equipped bacteriophage λ model capable of detecting Escherichia coli target genes. We demonstrated that synthetic λ phages carrying Cas12f1-sgRNA can effectively prevent lysogen formation. Furthermore, we showcased that truncating the 3-end of sgRNA enables precise identification of single-nucleotide variations in the host genome. Moreover, infecting E. coli strains carrying various stx2 gene subtypes encoding Shiga toxin with bacteriophages harboring Cas12f1 and truncated sgRNAs resulted in the targeted elimination of strains with matching subtype genes. These findings underscore the ability of phages equipped with the CRISPR-Cas12f1 system to precisely control microbial hosts by recognizing genomic sequences with high resolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2501012"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143566587","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}

{"title":"Small molecule kinase inhibitor altiratinib inhibits brain cyst forming bradyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii.","authors":"Yeong Hoon Kim, Hye-Jin Ahn, Hwa Sun Kim, Ho-Woo Nam","doi":"10.71150/jm.2409001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2409001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites. This study assessed six candidate small molecule kinase inhibitors (SMKIs) against bradyzoites (ME49 strain), the reactivated form of the parasite resulting from the rupture of brain cysts. Bradyzoites were obtained from mouse brain cysts, cultured in ARPE-19 cells, and treated with afatinib and neratinib (HER2/HER4 inhibitors), ACTB-1003 and regorafenib (VEGFR-2 inhibitors), or altiratinib and foretinib (c-MET inhibitors). The effects on the growth of T. gondii were analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Changes in the host cells were assessed using markers for cell viability, apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. All inhibitors blocked the growth of bradyzoites, although afatinib was less effective. Afatinib enhanced autophagy signals, while ACTB-1003 and neratinib affected mitochondrial biosynthesis and mitophagy. Altiratinib demonstrated an effect against bradyzoites at the lowest concentration with minimal impact on the host cells. It may be effective in blocking the reactivation of brain cysts in immunodeficiency patients caused by bradyzoites.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2409001"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143566634","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}

{"title":"Advancements in dengue vaccines: A historical overview and pro-spects for following next-generation candidates.","authors":"Kai Yan, Lingjing Mao, Jiaming Lan, Zhongdang Xiao","doi":"10.71150/jm.2410018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2410018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dengue, caused by four serotypes of dengue viruses (DENV-1 to DENV-4), is the most prevalent and widely mosquito-borne viral disease affecting humans. Dengue virus (DENV) infection has been reported in over 100 countries, and approximately half of the world's population is now at risk. The paucity of universally licensed DENV vaccines highlights the urgent need to address this public health concern. Action and atten-tion to antibody-dependent enhancement increase the difficulty of vaccine development. With the worsen-ing dengue fever epidemic, Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV) and Qdenga® (TAK-003) have been approved for use in specific populations in affected areas. However, these vaccines do not provide a balanced immune response to all four DENV serotypes and the vaccination cannot cover all populations. There is still a need to develop a safe, broad-spectrum, and effective vaccine to address the increasing number of dengue cases worldwide. This review provides an overview of the existing DENV vaccines, as well as potential candidates for future studies on DENV vaccine development, and discusses the challenges and possible solutions in the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2410018"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567460","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}

{"title":"Efficiency of reverse genetics methods for rescuing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.","authors":"Chang-Joo Park, Taehun Kim, Seung-Min Yoo, Myung-Shin Lee, Nam-Hyuk Cho, Changhoon Park","doi":"10.71150/jm.2411023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2411023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacteria-free reverse genetics techniques are crucial for the efficient generation of recombinant viruses, bypassing the need for labor-intensive bacterial cloning. These methods are particularly relevant for studying the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19. This study compared the efficiency of three bacteria-free approaches-circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) with and without nick sealing and infectious sub-genomic amplicons (ISA)-to bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-based technology for rescuing SARS-CoV-2. Significant differences in viral titers following transfection were observed between methods. CPER with nick sealing generated virus titers comparable to those of the BAC-based method and 10 times higher than those of the standard CPER. In contrast, ISA demonstrated extremely low efficiency, as cytopathic effects were detected only after two passages. All rescued viruses exhibited replication kinetics consistent with those of the original strain, with no significant deviation in replication capacity. Furthermore, the utility of CPER and ISA in genetically modifying SARS-CoV-2 was demonstrated by successfully inserting the gene encoding green fluorescent protein into the genome. Overall, this study underscores the potential of bacteria-free methods, such as CPER and ISA, in advancing SARS-CoV-2 research while highlighting their significant differences in efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 2","pages":"e2411023"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143567479","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}

{"title":"Lactic acid bacteria from Ethiopian traditional beverage, Tella: technological and metabolic profiles for industrial application.","authors":"Gashaw Assefa Yehuala, Jaein Choe, Nurelegne Tefera Shibeshi, Kumsa Delessa, Asnake Desalegn, Mi-Kyung Park","doi":"10.71150/jm.2409008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.71150/jm.2409008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tella is a traditional beverage widely accepted by consumers, despite the lack of product consistency owing to its reliance on natural fermentation. This study aimed to identify potential industrial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) starter cultures based on their technological properties. Seven LAB strains isolated from Tella were characterized for their carbohydrate utilization, salt content, temperature, and acid tolerances, growth and acidification rates, and metabolite profiles. Most strains efficiently utilized various carbohydrates, with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TDM41 showing exceptional versatility. The strains exhibited similar growth characteristics. Principal component analysis of stress tolerance properties revealed that L. plantarum TDM41, Pediococcus pentosaceus TAA01, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides TDB22 exhibited superior tolerance ability. Strong acidification properties were detected in the L. plantarum TDM41, P. pentosaceus TAA01, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides TDB22 strains after 24 h incubation at 30°C. L. plantarum TDM41 displayed the fastest acidification rate throughout the analysis period. All LAB strains produced significant amounts of diverse organic acids, including lactic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, malic acid, and succinic acid, with lactic acid being the primary acid produced by each strain. Overall, strains L. plantarum TDM41 and P. pentosaceus TAA01 prove to be potential candidates for Tella industrial starter cultures and similar cereal products owing to their robust technological properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":16546,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Microbiology","volume":"63 1","pages":"e.2409008"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143080268","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}