Sharon C Kosgei, Rylee N Reagan, Olivia N Birch, Justin C Greaves
{"title":"Monitoring Lyme Disease in a Small Urban City Through Wastewater Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi.","authors":"Sharon C Kosgei, Rylee N Reagan, Olivia N Birch, Justin C Greaves","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovag046","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lyme disease remains the most reported vector-borne disease in the United States, yet traditional surveillance methods rely heavily on clinical diagnosis and laboratory confirmation, both of which are subject to underreporting and diagnostic limitations. This study evaluated the feasibility of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as a complementary surveillance tool for monitoring the lyme disease causing agent, Borrelia burgdorferi in a small urban community. It was conducted between 2023-2025 with 92 influent wastewater samples collected from two municipal treatment facilities in Bloomington, Indiana. Samples were concentrated using 0.45 µm pore size electronegative membrane filtration and analyzed via digital PCR for B. burgdorferi, with crAssphage quantified as a fecal normalization marker. B. burgdorferi was detected intermittently at low concentrations, with peak values reaching 3,649 gene copies/L. Detection exhibited pronounced seasonal variability, with the highest positivity occurring in fall (62.5%) and no detections observed in spring. No statistically significant differences were observed between treatment plants. Our findings indicate that B. burgdorferi can be detected in municipal wastewater and that detection patterns align with known seasonal trends in Lyme disease transmission. Despite low and intermittent detections, WBE may serve as a useful complementary population- level surveillance tool for B. burgdorferi in small urban systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147839791","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":"One-pot CRISPR/Cas12b-LAMP Platform for Dual-Mode Detection of Pasteurella multocida.","authors":"Ningyuan Zhong, Mengdi Wang, Weijiang, Guoxin Li, Jinfeng Miao, Huifang Yin, Phouthapane Vanhnaseng, Jiansen Gong, Zugong Yu, Xiangan Han","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovag044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pasteurella multocida is a significant bacterial pathogen that poses a significant threat to public health and causes substantial economic losses. Existing detection methods for P. multocida have limitations, including time-consuming and technically complex methods. Here, we describe a simple and accurate detection platform that combines loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas12b system. By using heparin sodium to modulate the cis-cleavage activity of Cas12b, we developed a one-pot LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12b assay in a single closed tube. The assay achieved a detection limit of 5.0 × 101 CFU·mL-1 and showed no cross-reactivity with other bacterial species, indicating high sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, we validated the clinical utility of the platform using milk samples artificially contaminated with P. multocida, which successfully detected P. multocida in the LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12b results. In summary, this study establishes a novel and robust detection system for P. multocida and highlights its potential for nucleic acid-based diagnostics in practical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147775536","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":"Fate of Clostridioides difficile spores in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth and selected foods.","authors":"Pilar Marcos, Paul Whyte, Declan Bolton","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovag043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the potential growth of C. difficile RT078 and RT126 in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth (without supplements) and in beef, chicken, cottage cheese and spinach incubated at 25°C and 37°C. Cells were enumerated on BHI agar with selective C. difficile supplements including cefoxitin, D-cycloserine and sodium taurocholate (BHIST). Growth was obtained for all ribotype-temperature combinations in BHI. Significantly higher counts, as compared to the initial concentration, were also obtained in chicken for both ribotypes at 37°C but not at 25°C. The counts achieved were 6.0 log10 cfu g-1 for RT078 and 5.8 log10 cfu g-1 for RT126, both after 4 d. Growth was not observed in beef, cottage cheese or spinach. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time growth of C. difficile has been reported on chicken meat.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147775551","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}
Lamyae Mehane, Ibrahim Sadougui, Meryem Idrissi Yahyaoui, Mohamed Taibi, Amine Elbouzidi, Reda Bellaouchi, Bouchra El Guerrouj, Rachid Sabbahi, Viktória Lilla Balázs, Aleksandar Széchenyi, Belkheir Hammouti, Abdeslam Asehraou
{"title":"Chemical composition and antimicrobial efficacy of essential oils from Cuminum cyminum leaves and seeds for preserving Sardina Pilchardus and Pagellus erythrinus.","authors":"Lamyae Mehane, Ibrahim Sadougui, Meryem Idrissi Yahyaoui, Mohamed Taibi, Amine Elbouzidi, Reda Bellaouchi, Bouchra El Guerrouj, Rachid Sabbahi, Viktória Lilla Balázs, Aleksandar Széchenyi, Belkheir Hammouti, Abdeslam Asehraou","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag037","DOIUrl":"10.1093/lambio/ovag037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds and leaves harvested in the Bouarfa region of Morocco, focusing on their potential application in food preservation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and thin layer chromatography-bioautography analyses were employed to identify key antimicrobial components in both seed and leaf EOs. GC-MS revealed that cumin seed EO was dominated by cuminaldehyde (31.07%), α-Thujenal (19.86%), and 2-Caren-10-al (18.51%), while the leaf EO contained cuminaldehyde (32.45%), γ-Terpinene (15.46%), and α-Thujenal (12.89%) as the major components. Bioautography confirmed strong antimicrobial activity, particularly for cuminaldehyde, α-Thujenal, and 2-Caren-10-al, with inhibition zones ranging from 7.5 to 16.3 mm against both bacterial and fungal pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for these compounds ranged from 0.39 to 1.56 mg mL-1, while the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) varied from 1.56 to 6.25 mg mL-1, indicating potent antibacterial effects. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of cumin-derived compounds as natural preservatives capable of extending the shelf life of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and white fish (Pagellus erythrinus) by inhibiting microbial growth. Their application in fish-based matrices demonstrates promising potential for preventing spoilage and enhancing food safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147513140","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}
Hannah Halm, Heike Köhler, Charlotte Schröder, Hendrik Scheinemann
{"title":"Inactivation of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in cattle manure by lactic acid fermentation is dependent on carbohydrate source.","authors":"Hannah Halm, Heike Köhler, Charlotte Schröder, Hendrik Scheinemann","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag015","DOIUrl":"10.1093/lambio/ovag015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is an intestinal pathogen which is excreted fecally and can be spread in the environment through contaminated manure. Lactic acid fermentation (LAF) was evaluated as a method to inactivate MAP in cattle manure (CM). As carbohydrate (CHO) sources oats and saccharose (Sac) were used. After mixing, manure was incubated at 21°C for 8 weeks. The microbial shift was determined using cultural methods. The results showed different suitability of the selected CHOs for inactivation of MAP by LAF. Using squeezed oats as an additive, culturable MAP was reduced to below the detection limit after 35 and 42 days of fermentation. Additional Sac decreased the reduction time to 21 days. With Sac only addition, inactivation of MAP was not successful and bacterial counts did not differ from the negative control. Detection of IS900 genome fragments using real time-polymerase chain-reaction (PCR) showed that the number of gene copies in the manure did not decrease during the course of the experiments. This study showed that LAF is a valuable option for decontaminating CM with natural resources in the case of paratuberculosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146041258","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":"Valorization of stale bread into protein-rich biomass: an optimized Rhizopus oryzae fermentation strategy and characterization study.","authors":"Burcu Kaya, Özlem Şahiner, Gökçe Örüntaş, Erol Kestek, Harun Efe Bozaslan, Seda Savranoğlu Kulabaş, Tugba Boyunegmez Tumer, Onur Güneşer, Yonca Karagül Yüceer","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag034","DOIUrl":"10.1093/lambio/ovag034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bread is one of the most widely consumed and most wasted foods worldwide. It contains essential nutrients; bread provides an environment for microbial growth. This study aims to maximize biomass and protein production by Rhizopus oryzae through fermentation optimization. The RNA concentration of the biomass produced under optimal conditions was quantified. The cytotoxicity was evaluated in HT-29, HUVEC, and HepG2. A dilute acid-heat pretreatment, conducted with 2.5% H2SO4 (v v-1) and 5% (w v-1) stale bread at 121°C for 2 min (4.83 g l-1 fermentable sugars, 0.86 mg 100 ml-1 hydroxymethyl furfural). Then, enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated substrate increased fermentable sugar, with an optimum enzyme concentration of 0.05% and a hydrolysis time of 2 h. Under the optimized fermentation conditions (35°C, 3 days, 200 rpm, and pH 4.5), a biomass yield of 7.06 g l-1 and a protein content of 36.76% were obtained. The RNA content of biomass was determined to be within 0.24%-0.35%. The absence of adverse effects on cellular proliferation and growth indicates the biocompatibility of the produced biomass. The results suggest that R. oryzae cultivated on stale bread is a promising candidate for functional food applications with enhanced protein content.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147458287","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}
Guoyun Yi, Rong Wang, Juan Li, Guigong Geng, Liang Cheng
{"title":"Screening of multifunctional PGPB from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and their effects on tomato growth and quality.","authors":"Guoyun Yi, Rong Wang, Juan Li, Guigong Geng, Liang Cheng","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag036","DOIUrl":"10.1093/lambio/ovag036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The identification of indigenous plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is vital for developing region-specific microbial inoculants to improve crop productivity in high-altitude agricultural ecosystems. The solubilizing strains were isolated from faba bean leaves and roots collected in alpine farmlands of Qinghai using selective media. Following this, multifunctional PGPB with plant growth-promoting traits and biocontrol activities were identified. Selected PGPB strains were introduced into the rhizosphere of tomato plants to assess their impact on growth promotion. Results revealed that strain H18 displayed nitrogen fixation, phosphorus and potassium solubilization, IAA production, and ACC deaminase activity. Additionally, it also exhibited antagonistic effects against eight fungal plant pathogens. Physiological and molecular analyses identified strain H18 belongs as Bacillus atrophaeus. This strain significantly improved tomato seed germination and enhanced growth during seedling and flowering stages, including parameters such as plant height, crown width, and stem diameter. Furthermore, during the fruiting stage, it increased yield and improved fruit quality. In conclusion, strain H18 is a multifunctional PGPB with excellent biocontrol and growth-promoting effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147513095","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":"Characterization of the redox potential during the fermentation of model wine solutions by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.","authors":"Kohei Sasaki, Ayumi Abe, Teruo Sone","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag039","DOIUrl":"10.1093/lambio/ovag039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In winemaking, the main causes of incomplete fermentation are unfavorable chemical conditions such as inappropriate pH, extreme temperature, or a shortage of nutrients. Alternatively, in spontaneous fermentation, where yeasts with sufficient fermentative capacity in the must can be scarce or absent, it is difficult to detect early signs of stuck or sluggish fermentation. Although the redox potential (ORP) is known to affect yeast metabolism during fermentation, few studies have examined the relationship between ORP behavior and fermentation dynamics across strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, ORP dynamics were investigated in 22 S. cerevisiae strains, including both commercial and wild-type strains. The ORP profiles varied considerably among the yeast strains, with some exhibiting a typical bathtub-shaped pattern and others showing an earlier ORP increase during the late stage or fluctuating trends. Statistical analysis of the ORP characteristics at each stage of fermentation showed significant differences among the groups classified by fermentation time and residual sugar. These results may suggest that changes in ORP during fermentation can reflect fermentation faults such as arrested fermentation.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147581758","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":"Anti-obesity effects of probiotics beyond BMI: a critical review of human clinical trials.","authors":"Hewa Athapaththuge Duvini Athapaththu, Gargi Dey","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag041","DOIUrl":"10.1093/lambio/ovag041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide has highlighted the need for adjunct strategies targeting metabolic dysfunction beyond simple weight reduction. This review aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that the anti-obesity effects of probiotics are mediated through modifications in fat distribution, metabolic inflammation, and appetite regulation rather than reductions in body weight or body mass index (BMI). A critical appraisal of recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials was conducted, focusing on the effects of probiotic supplementation on adiposity, fat distribution, metabolic parameters, and eating behaviors. The evidence indicates that probiotic strains, particularly Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium breve, are consistently associated with reductions in visceral fat, total body fat, waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage, while effects on body weight and BMI remain modest. Strains of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus showed improvements in satiety. Probiotic supplementation with B. breve, B. pseudocatenulatum, L. plantarum Inducia were also linked to improvements in lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, inflammatory markers, and appetite regulation. Notably, several studies reported more pronounced effects in female participants. Overall, these findings suggest that probiotics exert anti-obesity effects primarily through metabolic and compositional changes rather than direct weight loss, supporting their role as a complementary strategy in obesity management.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147593044","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}
Xiao-Lin Li, Yue-Ying Huang, Miao-Ting Li, An-Qi Shen, Qiong-Qiong Yang, Peter C K Cheung, Bo-Bo Zhang
{"title":"Multifunctional bio-preservative potential of Lactobacillus plantarum postbiotics: thermal stability and efficacy in food models.","authors":"Xiao-Lin Li, Yue-Ying Huang, Miao-Ting Li, An-Qi Shen, Qiong-Qiong Yang, Peter C K Cheung, Bo-Bo Zhang","doi":"10.1093/lambio/ovag042","DOIUrl":"10.1093/lambio/ovag042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rising health concerns over synthetic food additives have boosted demand for natural alternatives. While probiotics are known to inhibit various common food spoilage bacteria, their metabolites and inactivated cells, collectively defined as postbiotics, offer superior stability and safety. This study assessed the effectiveness of postbiotics in food preservation, focusing on environmental stress tolerance, stability, and functional traits, specifically antioxidant and antibacterial capacities. Using Lactobacillus plantarum 299 V as a model, we analyzed the antibacterial activity and stability of its postbiotics under varying thermal and pH conditions, as well as in a simulated gastrointestinal environment. Additionally, we investigated the correlation between fermentation duration and antioxidant capacity. Results indicated that postbiotics retained significant antibacterial activity after high-temperature treatment (121°C, 30 minutes) and demonstrated notable stability under gastrointestinal conditions. Significantly, postbiotics displayed consistent enhancement in total antioxidant capacity over time under various storage temperatures. Antioxidant activity peaked at 16 h of fermentation, while antibacterial effects declined at pH levels above 5. Practically, they completely inhibited Staphylococcus aureus in milk. Moreover, when incorporated with the postbiotics, edible films incorporated with them showed potent antioxidant activity, effectively preserving bananas and pork. These postbiotics serve as stable, effective bio-preservatives, providing a natural, sustainable solution for food preservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":17962,"journal":{"name":"Letters in Applied Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147674717","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}