{"title":"The <i>Siphamia-Photobacterium</i> symbiosis: a binary vertebrate model for host-microbe interactions.","authors":"Hannah K Osland, Alison L Gould","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00132-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mmbr.00132-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYAs microbial communities are increasingly recognized as central to animal development and health, simplified animal models have become valuable tools for exploring the complex dynamics of these interactions. The mutualism between siphonfish (<i>Siphamia</i> spp.) and the bioluminescent bacterium <i>Photobacterium mandapamensis</i> offers a naturally occurring, binary, gut-associated symbiosis within a vertebrate host that is a promising system for investigating host-microbe interactions. Over the past decade, the application of genomic, ecological, and microbiological approaches has revealed high levels of strain-level variation within this highly specific and stable symbiosis, highlighting its value for exploring host control and microbial diversity in vertebrate systems. These discoveries demonstrate the potential of the <i>Siphamia-P. mandapamensis</i> system as a powerful model for investigating how vertebrate hosts regulate and maintain long-term bacterial associations, particularly within gut-associated partnerships, as well as the eco-evolutionary processes that shape these relationships. This review aims to consolidate recent findings, evaluate their broader implications for vertebrate-microbe interactions, and propose future directions for research using this association as a model system.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0013225"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145086391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatially structured models of viral dynamics: a scoping review.","authors":"Thomas Williams, James M McCaw, James M Osborne","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00283-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/mmbr.00283-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYThere is growing recognition in both the experimental and modeling literature of the importance of spatial structure to the dynamics of viral infections within the host. Aided by the evolution of computing power and motivated by recent biological insights, there has been an explosion of new, spatially explicit models for within-host viral dynamics in recent years. This development has only been accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Spatially structured models offer improved biological realism and can account for dynamics that cannot be well-described by conventional, mean-field approaches. However, despite their growing popularity, spatially structured models of viral dynamics are underused in biological applications. One major obstacle to the wider application of such models is the huge variety in approaches taken, with little consensus as to which features should be included and how they should be implemented for a given biological context. Previous reviews of the field have focused on specific modeling frameworks or on models for particular viral species. Here, we instead apply a scoping review approach to the literature of spatially structured viral dynamics models as a whole to provide an exhaustive update of the state of the field. Our analysis is structured along two axes, methodology and viral species, in order to examine the breadth of techniques used and the requirements of different biological applications. We then discuss the contributions of mathematical and computational modeling to our understanding of key spatially structured aspects of viral dynamics and suggest key themes for future model development to improve robustness and biological utility.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0028324"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145069979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neurotransmitter signaling in molecular and behavioral immune responses to pathogens in <i>C. elegans</i>.","authors":"Benson Otarigho, Alejandro Aballay","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00064-25","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00064-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYNeurotransmitter signaling pathways play major roles in both molecular and behavioral defenses against pathogen invasion, shaping the ability of <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> to sense and respond to environmental challenges. Given the conservation of neurotransmitter signaling pathways, their understanding may not only provide insights into the neurobiology of <i>C. elegans</i> but also has broader implications for our understanding of neural-immune interactions and host defense mechanisms in higher organisms. In this review, we discussed the literature on various neurotransmitter signaling pathways, including serotonergic, dopaminergic/octopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic pathways, and how these pathways modulate molecular and behavioral immune defense against pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0006425"},"PeriodicalIF":7.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chiara Tarracchini, Cathy Lordan, Christian Milani, Luiza P D Moreira, Qusai M Alabedallat, Alejandra de Moreno de LeBlanc, Francesca Turroni, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Leonardo Mancabelli, Giulia Longhi, Lorraine Brennan, Jennifer Mahony, Jean Guy LeBlanc, Kanishka N Nilaweera, Paul D Cotter, Douwe van Sinderen, Marco Ventura
{"title":"Vitamin biosynthesis in the gut: interplay between mammalian host and its resident microbiota.","authors":"Chiara Tarracchini, Cathy Lordan, Christian Milani, Luiza P D Moreira, Qusai M Alabedallat, Alejandra de Moreno de LeBlanc, Francesca Turroni, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Leonardo Mancabelli, Giulia Longhi, Lorraine Brennan, Jennifer Mahony, Jean Guy LeBlanc, Kanishka N Nilaweera, Paul D Cotter, Douwe van Sinderen, Marco Ventura","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00184-23","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00184-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYIn recent years, exhaustive efforts have been made to dissect the composition of gut-associated microbial communities and associated interactions with their human host, which are thought to play a crucial role in host development, physiology, and metabolic functions. Although such studies were initially focused on the description of the compositional shifts in the microbiota that occur between different health conditions, more recently, they have provided key insights into the functional and metabolic contributions of the gut microbiota to overall host physiology. In this context, an important metabolic activity of the human gut microbiota is believed to be represented by the synthesis of various vitamins that may elicit considerable benefits to human health. A growing body of scientific literature is now available relating to (predicted) bacterial vitamin biosynthetic abilities, with ever-growing information concerning the prevalence of these biosynthetic abilities among members of the human microbiota. This review is aimed at disentangling if and how cooperative trophic interactions of human microbiota members contribute to vitamin production, and if such, gut microbiota-mediated vitamin production varies according to different life stages. Moreover, it offers a brief exploration of how different diets may influence vitamin production by shaping the overall composition and metabolic activity of the human gut microbiota while also providing preliminary insights into potential correlations between human microbiota-associated vitamin production and the occurrence of human diseases and/or metabolic disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0018423"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188732/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143764477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David L Gillett, Malyn Selinidis, Travis Seamons, Dalton George, Alexandria N Igwe, Ilenne Del Valle, Robert G Egbert, Kirsten S Hofmockel, Alicia L Johnson, Kirstin R W Matthews, Caroline A Masiello, Lauren B Stadler, James Chappell, Jonathan J Silberg
{"title":"A roadmap to understanding and anticipating microbial gene transfer in soil communities.","authors":"David L Gillett, Malyn Selinidis, Travis Seamons, Dalton George, Alexandria N Igwe, Ilenne Del Valle, Robert G Egbert, Kirsten S Hofmockel, Alicia L Johnson, Kirstin R W Matthews, Caroline A Masiello, Lauren B Stadler, James Chappell, Jonathan J Silberg","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00225-24","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00225-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYEngineered microbes are being programmed using synthetic DNA for applications in soil to overcome global challenges related to climate change, energy, food security, and pollution. However, we cannot yet predict gene transfer processes in soil to assess the frequency of unintentional transfer of engineered DNA to environmental microbes when applying synthetic biology technologies at scale. This challenge exists because of the complex and heterogeneous characteristics of soils, which contribute to the fitness and transport of cells and the exchange of genetic material within communities. Here, we describe knowledge gaps about gene transfer across soil microbiomes. We propose strategies to improve our understanding of gene transfer across soil communities, highlight the need to benchmark the performance of biocontainment measures <i>in situ</i>, and discuss responsibly engaging community stakeholders. We highlight opportunities to address knowledge gaps, such as creating a set of soil standards for studying gene transfer across diverse soil types and measuring gene transfer host range across microbiomes using emerging technologies. By comparing gene transfer rates, host range, and persistence of engineered microbes across different soils, we posit that community-scale, environment-specific models can be built that anticipate biotechnology risks. Such studies will enable the design of safer biotechnologies that allow us to realize the benefits of synthetic biology and mitigate risks associated with the release of such technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0022524"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143803663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Host specificity of gut microbiota associated with social bees: patterns and processes.","authors":"Florent Mazel, Aiswarya Prasad, Philipp Engel","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00080-23","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00080-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYGut microbes provide benefits to some animals, but their distribution and effects across diverse hosts are still poorly described. There is accumulating evidence for host specificity (i.e., a pattern where different microbes tend to associate with distinct host lineages), but the causes and consequences of this pattern are unclear. Combining experimental tests in the laboratory with broad surveys in the wild is a promising approach to gaining a comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of host specificity prevalence, origin, and importance. Social bees represent an ideal testbed for this endeavor because they are phylogenetically and functionally diverse, with host-specific, stable, and tractable gut microbiota. Furthermore, the western honeybee (<i>Apis mellifera</i>) is an emerging experimental model system for studying microbiota-host interactions. In this review, we summarize data on the prevalence and strength of host specificity of the social bee gut microbiota (bumblebees, stingless bees, and honeybees), as well as the potential and proven ecological and molecular mechanisms that maintain host specificity. Overall, we found that host specificity in bees is relatively strong and likely results from several processes, including host filtering mediated by the immune system and priority effects. However, more research is needed across multiple social bee species to confirm these findings. To help future research, we summarize emerging hypotheses in the field and propose several experimental and comparative tests. Finally, we conclude this review by highlighting the need to understand how host specificity can influence host health.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0008023"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188721/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143663742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mycobiome: an underexplored kingdom in cancer.","authors":"Yan-Yan Sun, Ning-Ning Liu","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00261-24","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00261-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYThe human microbiome, including bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses, is intimately linked to both health and disease. The relationship between bacteria and disease has received much attention and intensive investigation, while that of the fungal microbiome, also known as mycobiome, has lagged far behind bacteria. There is growing evidence showing mycobiome dysbiosis in cancer patients, and certain cancer-specific fungi may contribute to cancer progression by interacting with both host and bacteria. It was also demonstrated that the role of fungi-derived products in cancer should also not be underestimated. Therefore, investigating how fungal pathogenesis contributes to the onset and spread of cancer would yield crucial information for cancer diagnosis, prevention, and anti-cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0026124"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143624646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chris Whitfield, Steven D Kelly, Tom D Stanton, Kelly L Wyres, Bradley R Clarke, Taylor J B Forrester, Agnieszka Kowalczyk
{"title":"O-antigen polysaccharides in <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>: structures and molecular basis for antigenic diversity.","authors":"Chris Whitfield, Steven D Kelly, Tom D Stanton, Kelly L Wyres, Bradley R Clarke, Taylor J B Forrester, Agnieszka Kowalczyk","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00090-23","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00090-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARY<i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> is a gram-negative species, whose isolates are found in the environment and as commensals in the human gastrointestinal tract. This bacterium is among the leading causes of a range of nosocomial and community-acquired infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, where it can give rise to pneumonia, urinary tract infections, septicemia, and liver abscesses. Treatment of <i>K. pneumoniae</i> infections is compromised by the emergence of isolates producing carbapenemase and extended-spectrum β-lactamase enzymes, making it a high priority for new therapeutic approaches including vaccination and immunoprophylaxis. One potential target for these strategies is the O-antigen polysaccharide component of lipopolysaccharides, which are important virulence determinants for <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. Consideration of immunotherapeutic opportunities requires a comprehensive and fundamental understanding of O-polysaccharide structures, distribution of particular O serotypes in clinical isolates, and the potential for antigenic diversification. The number of recognized <i>K. pneumoniae</i> O-polysaccharide antigens has varied over time, complicated by the observation that some examples share similar structural (and potentially antigenically cross-reactive) elements, and by the existence of genetic loci for which corresponding O-polysaccharide structures have yet to be determined. Here, we provide a comprehensive integration of the current carbohydrate structures and genetic information, together with a proposal for an updated classification system for <i>K. pneumoniae</i> O-antigens, that is being implemented in Kaptive for molecular serotyping. The accumulated insight into O-polysaccharide assembly pathways is used to describe the molecular basis for O-antigen diversity in <i>K. pneumoniae</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0009023"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188745/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143674268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Viral factors underlying the pandemic potential of influenza viruses.","authors":"Gabriele Neumann, Amie J Eisfeld, Yoshihiro Kawaoka","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00066-24","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00066-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYOver the past 25 years, there has been an increasing number of mammalian (including human) infections caused by avian influenza A viruses that resulted in mild to severe illnesses. These viruses typically did not spread between mammals through aerosols in nature or in experimental settings. However, recently, this has changed, with several avian influenza A viruses exhibiting aerosol transmissibility among mammals, indicating that these viruses may pose a greater pandemic risk. In this review, we examine the current situation and discuss the mutations that may be necessary for avian influenza A viruses to efficiently replicate in mammals and transmit among them via aerosols.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0006624"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188719/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144003870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fatty acid synthesis and utilization in gram-positive bacteria: insights from <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>.","authors":"María Cecilia Mansilla, Diego de Mendoza","doi":"10.1128/mmbr.00069-23","DOIUrl":"10.1128/mmbr.00069-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>SUMMARYThe bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, consisting of roughly equal proportions of proteins and lipids, plays a crucial role in cellular growth, metabolism, and maintaining the cytoplasmic boundary. It is a dynamic, fluid matrix that separates intracellular compartments, where lipids and proteins coexist in a highly organized yet flexible arrangement. Membrane fluidity, defined as the inverse of viscosity, determines how rapidly molecules diffuse within the membrane at a given temperature. This property is vital for protein mobility and biomolecular interactions. Structurally, the membrane primarily comprises a lamellar lipid bilayer, with glycerophospholipids and fatty acids forming its core framework. In <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, a key model organism for studying gram-positive bacterial physiology, major membrane lipids include phospholipids, glycolipids, and lipoteichoic acids, the latter anchored to diacylglycerol glycolipids. This review examines the synthesis and regulation of membrane lipids in <i>B. subtilis</i>, with a focus on fatty acid biosynthesis, its diversification, and post-synthetic modifications such as desaturation. It also explores the production of phosphatidic acid and the integration of fatty acid and phospholipid biosynthesis. We review the well-characterized pathway of cold-induced membrane lipid modification in <i>B. subtilis</i>, arguably the best-studied model system for temperature sensing. This pathway is tightly linked to transcriptional responses triggered by changes in bilayer viscosity, detected by a membrane-associated thermosensor. Finally, this review highlights the importance of fatty acid biosynthesis in <i>B. subtilis</i> differentiation and its contributions to the production of biotin and lipoic acid, two universal cofactors essential for fatty acid synthesis and intermediary metabolism.</p>","PeriodicalId":18520,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"e0006923"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12188743/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}