Microbiological research最新文献

{"title":"IncFIBK/FIIK conjugative iuc3-carrying virulence plasmids of clinical hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae are multi-drug resistant","authors":"Xuemei Yang ,&nbsp;Heng Heng ,&nbsp;Haoshuai Zhang ,&nbsp;Mingxiu Peng ,&nbsp;Edward Wai-Chi Chan ,&nbsp;Hoi-Ping Shum ,&nbsp;Rong Zhang ,&nbsp;Sheng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aerobactin encoding loci is the key virulence factor in the virulence plasmid of <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> (<em>Kp</em>). The <em>iuc1</em> and <em>iuc2</em> loci are most commonly detected and well-studied, while the <em>iuc3</em> lineage is less understood. The study investigated comprehensively the <em>iuc3</em>-carrying plasmids in <em>Kp</em> strains providing insights into the diversity, transmission potential and contribution to <em>Kp</em> virulence. The <em>iuc3</em> was encoded on plasmids ranging from 177,328 bp to 249,880 bp, primarily of the IncFIB_K/FII_K5 type, often carrying multi-drug resistance (MDR) regions. Conjugation experiments demonstrated the transferability of <em>iuc3</em>-carrying plasmids, conferring additional resistance to recipient strains. Siderophore production assays indicated that the <em>iuc3</em> gene cluster significantly enhanced iron acquisition in transconjugants. Analysis of 69,969 <em>Kp</em> isolates from the NCBI Pathogen Detection database identified 872 <em>iuc3</em>-carrying strains across 205 STs and 69 KLs, indicating widespread genetic diversity. These strains were increasingly detected in human clinical samples over time, with additional reservoirs in animals, food, and the environment. The findings underscore the public health threat posed by <em>iuc3</em>-carrying <em>Kp</em> strains, emphasizing the need for surveillance and control measures to prevent the spread of MDR-HvKp clones. This study highlights the complex interplay between plasmid-mediated resistance, virulence, and the potential for horizontal gene transfer in <em>Klebsiella</em> spp.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128288"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721521","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":"Tryptophan metabolism and the intestinal microbiota: Implications for inflammatory bowel disease","authors":"Xue Hua,&nbsp;Yongchao Chen,&nbsp;Sujuan Ding,&nbsp;Jun Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tryptophan metabolism exerts a pivotal influence on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involving intestinal microbiota. Tryptophan (Trp) undergoes several metabolic processes that result in the formation of several bioactive compounds, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), kynurenine (KYN), and indole analogs, and these metabolites have significant roles in maintaining intestinal health and modulating immune function. The components and ability of the intestinal microbiota affect the metabolic balance of tryptophan, and dysbiosis may lead to disorders of tryptophan metabolism, which may exacerbate the condition of IBD. In this paper, we went over how the intestinal microbiota and tryptophan metabolism interact and the mechanism of tryptophan metabolism and its products in IBD, explored the regulatory roles of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway, immune cells, and immune factors in this regard, and proposed a strategy for the treatment of IBD based on tryptophan metabolism. We also mentioned that tryptophan metabolites exhibit distinct functions between Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and vary across different stages of the disease. Looking forward to the future, in-depth study of the interaction between tryptophan metabolism and intestinal microbiota can give new ideas to the clinical management of IBD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128280"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144694377","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":"Phase separation of CgSCE3 is required for heat stress resistance and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides","authors":"Zhihao Zhao ,&nbsp;Qingbiao Xie ,&nbsp;Yi Zhang ,&nbsp;Hongli Luo ,&nbsp;Bang An ,&nbsp;Qiannan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Temperature fluctuations can significantly impact molecular interactions and biochemical reactions essential for cellular homeostasis. For organisms unable to regulate their own temperature, adaptation to unpredictable thermal stress remains a significant challenge. Biomolecular condensation has emerged as a potential mechanism for encoding thermal responsiveness and ensuring biochemical robustness. However, it remains unclear whether proteins in plant-pathogenic fungi undergo phase separation in response to heat stress and whether this process contributes to host infection. Here, we investigate thermal adaptation in the filamentous fungus <em>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</em>, a major pathogen responsible for anthracnose, which causes significant economic losses in rubber tree and other tropical crops. We identify CgSCE3, an RNA-binding protein homologue highly expressed during both appressoria formation and invasive hyphal growth in <em>C. gloeosporioides</em>. CgSCE3 contains a predicted RNA recognition motif (RRM) and three intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Strikingly, CgSCE3 was found to form phase-separated condensates <em>in vivo</em> under heat shock (HS) conditions. Domain deletion analyses demonstrate that all three IDRs and the RRM contribute to phase separation, with IDR2 playing a particularly crucial role. Additionally, CgSCE3 phase separation was shown to be essential for both thermotolerance and pathogenicity of <em>C. gloeosporioides</em>. Furthermore, CgSCE3 was also found to participate in the regulation of CgPab1-mediated stress granule formation during HS. Together, these results provide mechanistic insight into protein phase separation as a conserved heat stress response strategy in phytopathogenic fungi. More broadly, our findings suggest that manipulating protein phase separation could enhance fungal stress resilience and virulence, offering potential implications for agricultural disease management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128289"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704341","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":"Metabolic adaptations underlying evolution of Mycoplasma: Nucleotide metabolism and lipid modulation mechanisms driving growth and membrane fluidity in Mycoplasma bovis","authors":"Zhangcheng Li ,&nbsp;Huafang Hao ,&nbsp;Wenjing Cui ,&nbsp;Shengli Chen ,&nbsp;Ying Zhang ,&nbsp;Rui Chen ,&nbsp;Ahmed Adel Baz ,&nbsp;Shanyu Jin ,&nbsp;Xueyan Wang ,&nbsp;Xinmin Yan ,&nbsp;Pengcheng Gao ,&nbsp;Lihua Xu ,&nbsp;Shimei Lan ,&nbsp;Yuefeng Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pathogenic Mycoplasma is a critical pathogen responsible for plant, animal, and human diseases worldwide. Understanding its genetic characteristics and adaptive evolution is essential for elucidating the related transmission mechanisms and pathogenicity. However, analysing the genetic evolution of Mycoplasma solely at the genome level provides an incomplete understanding of the biological characteristics driven by genetic variation. In this study, <em>Mycoplasma bovis</em> (<em>M. bovis</em>), a pathogen of ruminants, was used as a model organism. A multi-omics approach was employed to perform a comprehensive comparative analysis of the globally prevalent genotype ST52 strain and a novel genotype strain derived from it, which exhibited distinct biological phenotypes. The results demonstrated that the enhanced activity of the nucleotide metabolic pathways in <em>M. bovis</em> support its rapid proliferation during the logarithmic growth phase. Additionally, <em>M. bovis</em> regulates its cell membrane fluidity and enhances its adaptability to osmotic stress through modulation of lysophospholipid content. A novel protein with phospholipase activity, MB0331, was identified and found to enhance membrane fluidity and adaptability to high-glucose environments in <em>M. bovis</em>. MB0331 homologous proteins are widely present in other mycoplasma species. The active nucleotide and lipid metabolic pathways in the novel genotype strain may be correlated with abundant DNA methylation in the gene body. This comprehensive multi-omics analysis advances our understanding of the adaptive evolution of <em>M. bovis</em> and provides new insights and evidence to inform future studies regarding environmental adaptability and genetic variation mechanisms in Mycoplasma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128290"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724064","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":"Skin microbiome and skin aging: emerging strategies for manipulation","authors":"Zhiyan Wang ,&nbsp;Fengming Yuan ,&nbsp;Xuewei Zhong ,&nbsp;Shi Feng ,&nbsp;Tao Song","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the global population ages, the prevention and treatment of skin aging have become critical areas of scientific research. The aging process of the skin leads to a decline in immune function and a reduced capacity for self-repair. Skin aging is driven by various factors, including intrinsic elements (such as genetic predispositions and biological aging), and extrinsic factors (notably ultraviolet radiation). Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role of the skin microbiome in maintaining skin health and regulating the aging process. This review emphasizes the impact of biological aging and ultraviolet radiation, alongside the gut-skin axis, on skin aging. Furthermore, it explores current microbiome-based therapeutic strategies aimed at decelerating skin aging and discusses the potential of the skin microbiome in predicting biological and systemic aging-related diseases. These insights deepen our understanding of the mechanisms by which the skin microbiome influences aging and lay the groundwork for novel interventions in this field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128285"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704176","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":"Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic exploration of Avicennia germinans L.: Endophytic microbiome of leaves and roots","authors":"César Alejandro Lemos-Lucumi,&nbsp;Valentina Cárdenas-Hernández,&nbsp;Nelson Toro-Perea","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mangroves are productive coastal ecosystems with extreme environmental conditions of temperature, salinity and anthropogenic pollution. Their associated microbiota plays an essential role in plant survival, yet their functional dynamics remain poorly understood. This study characterizes the endophytic microbiome of <em>Avicennia germinans</em> L. in the Buenaventura Bay mangrove ecosystem (Colombia), using a combined metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approach. Distinct microbial communities were observed in leaves and pneumatophores. Root-associated endophytes exhibited higher taxonomic richness and greater transcriptional activity. Functional gene expression revealed enrichment of pathways related to osmotic and oxidative stress responses, hydrocarbon degradation, nitrogen metabolism, and ion homeostasis. The expression of efflux pumps, NADH dehydrogenase, cytochromes, chaperones, H⁺-ATPases, and H⁺/Na⁺ antiporters suggest active microbial participation in salinity, heavy metal, xenobiotics and stress resistance. These findings highlight the adaptive versatility of the endophytic microbiome in <em>A. germinans</em> and support its potential for biotechnological applications in stress resistance and bioremediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128287"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704342","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":"Gut microbiota and myelination: Crosstalk across the lifespan and microbiota-based modulation strategies","authors":"Qing Li ,&nbsp;Gang Wang ,&nbsp;Jianxin Zhao ,&nbsp;Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Peijun Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Myelin, a lipid-rich sheath that insulates axons, is essential for efficient neural signal transmission and the modulation of neural circuits. Its formation, maintenance, and regeneration are tightly regulated processes that shape neurodevelopment, cognition, and emotional stability. Recent evidence positions the gut microbiota as a critical modulator of myelination, orchestrating metabolic signaling, immune homeostasis, and neuroinflammatory responses. Notably, the synchronized development and remodeling of gut microbiota and myelin across key life stages suggest a dynamic and bidirectional interplay essential for sustaining neurological health. Disruptions in this axis are increasingly recognized as contributing factors in dysmyelination-related disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Harnessing microbiota-targeted interventions—such as fecal microbiota transplantation, dietary modulation, and probiotic therapies—holds promise for restoring myelin integrity and mitigating disease pathology. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the gut microbiota-myelin interface, delineating mechanistic insights and translational opportunities for microbiome-based therapeutic strategies in neuroprotection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128286"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144694376","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":"Cryptosporidium dense granule effector MUC5 interacts with host actin cytoskeleton through CD2AP","authors":"Yangsiqi Ao ,&nbsp;Fuxian Yang ,&nbsp;Jieping Li ,&nbsp;Xiaoqing Gong ,&nbsp;Huimin Liu ,&nbsp;Yilin Wu ,&nbsp;Ping Zhu ,&nbsp;Yanhua Xu ,&nbsp;Na Li ,&nbsp;Rui Xu ,&nbsp;Yaqiong Guo ,&nbsp;L. David Sibley ,&nbsp;Lihua Xiao ,&nbsp;Yaoyu Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Summary</h3><div>The parasite <em>Cryptosporidium</em> modulates the host cell cytoskeleton and microvilli during invasion and development. Identification of effector molecules and their targets is essential for understanding parasite-host interactions and pathogenesis. Here, we examined seven mucin glycoproteins (MUC1-MUC7) located on chromosome 2 of <em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em> using gene tagging. These small proteins are expressed in different secretory organelles including dense granules (DG), small granules (SG), and the rhoptry (ROP), and all but one are exported to the cytoplasm or microvilli of infected cells. Mutational studies of MUC5 revealed that its N-terminus contains a host cell targeting motif with a critical leucine residue at position 39. Immunoprecipitation and mutational studies showed that MUC5 interacts with the host cytoskeleton via its Px(P/A)xPR motifs and the SH3 domain of CD2AP. Deletion of <em>MUC5</em> reduced the pathogenicity of a virulent isolate. These findings demonstrate the export of multiple <em>Cryptosporidium</em> DG and SG proteins into host cells and microvilli, and reveal a novel molecular mechanism by which <em>Cryptosporidium</em> effectors modulate the host cytoskeleton.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128284"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687001","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":"Common mycorrhizal network transfers virus infection signals between neighboring grapevines","authors":"Tomislav Radić ,&nbsp;Emanuel Gaši ,&nbsp;Mate Čarija ,&nbsp;Rosemary Vuković ,&nbsp;Vicent Arbona ,&nbsp;Miguel González-Guzmán ,&nbsp;Raffaella Balestrini ,&nbsp;Giorgio Gambino ,&nbsp;Marjana Regvar ,&nbsp;Matevž Likar ,&nbsp;Fabiano Sillo ,&nbsp;Katarina Hančević","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arbuscular common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) allow plants to exchange signals, enabling responses to biotic and abiotic stresses in neighboring individuals. However, no studies documenting the transmission of signals from virus-infected plants through CMNs have been published so far. The aim of this study was to investigate whether virus-free grapevine plants, connected via CMNs to grapevines infected with grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), exhibit physiological or molecular responses to the neighboring virus infection. A three-year greenhouse experiment was conducted, in which virus-free and virus-infected grapevines were either connected or not via CMN. Five and fifteen months after AMF inoculation, we assessed oxidative stress markers, antioxidative enzyme activities, hormonal profiles, photosynthetic performance, pigment concentrations, growth parameters, and leaf nutrient content. In addition, expression levels of nine selected genes were measured at the second sampling. The virus-free receiver plants showed elevated levels of abscisic acid (ABA) and its derivate, phaseic acid (PA), as well as increased leaf magnesium concentrations, indicating a physiological response to the neighboring infection. The presence of CMN also influenced physiological traits in donor plants, particularly in ABA metabolism, antioxidant activity of ascorbate peroxidase, and leaf magnesium content, depending on their virus infection status. These findings provide novel evidence that grapevine plants can perceive viral stress in neighbouring plants through CMN connections, and highlight the important role of ABA signalling in these interactions. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of plant communication and stress perception, with potential implications for managing viral diseases in perennial crops.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128283"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687002","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":"Antitoxin HigA orchestrates T3SS/T6SS expression in aquatic pathogen Edwardsiella piscicida","authors":"Chunli Li ,&nbsp;Yufeng Tian ,&nbsp;Qiyao Wang ,&nbsp;Shuai Shao","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2025.128281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are widely distributed in bacteria and archaea, playing crucial roles in multiple biological processes. As the type II TA system in <em>Edwardsiella piscicida,</em> HigB contributes to biofilm formation, intracellular propagation, and host infection. Here, we demonstrated that the cognate antitoxin HigA functions as a key virulence transcriptional regulator. RNA-seq and GSEA analysis revealed that HigA orchestrates the expression of genes associated with type III and type VI secretion systems. Extracellular protein profiles further confirmed that HigA promotes the secretion of T3SS/T6SS proteins. In addition, HigA enhances the pathogenesis of <em>E. piscicida</em> in zebrafish. Collectively, our results highlight that HigA functions as a transcriptional activator, integrating TA system regulation into the broader virulence network in <em>E. piscicida</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 128281"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144662530","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}