Microbiological research最新文献

{"title":"The contribution of root border cells as a defense barrier against soil-borne pathogen Verticillium dahliae: Insights from the host cotton and the non-host corn","authors":"Sen Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Wang ,&nbsp;Dan Zhang ,&nbsp;Ruichi Hua,&nbsp;Yijin Yan,&nbsp;Juan Yang,&nbsp;Jinhu Ma,&nbsp;Jie Wang,&nbsp;Xiaohuan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Verticillium wilt can be caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen <em>Verticillium dahliae</em> (<em>V. dahliae)</em>. It is a destructive vascular pathogen that infects more than 200 plant species, including economically important crops such as cotton. The disease induces severe symptoms such as wilting, chlorosis, and necrosis, ultimately resulting in substantial yield losses. Conventional management strategies, including chemical fungicides and crop rotation, have exhibited limited effectiveness against <em>V. dahliae</em>, emphasizing the urgent need to elucidate innate plant resistance mechanisms for breeding Verticillium-resistant varieties. In this study, the defense mechanisms of root border cells (RBCs) against <em>V. dahliae</em> were investigated. Fluorescence microscopy and cryo-scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that RBCs were viable and free cells, exhibiting round, intermediate, and elongated morphologies. <em>In vitro</em> co-culture assays revealed that viable RBCs isolated from cotton or corn markedly suppressed the growth of <em>V. dahliae</em>, whereas heat-inactivated RBCs lost this antifungal capacity, confirming that the defense mechanism was viability-dependent. Further analysis indicated that under <em>V. dahliae</em> stress, RBCs secreted a thickened mucilage layer enriched in pectin and extracellular DNA (exDNA), which encapsulated fungal hyphae and formed a physical barrier. Metabolomic profiling of RBC secretions from both cotton and corn identified a conserved set of metabolites, including compounds involved in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, valine, leucine, and isoleucine metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, which could contribute to chemical defense against pathogens. These findings demonstrate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying RBC-mediated inhibition of <em>V. dahliae</em> infection and provide insights for developing Verticillium wilt resistance breeding strategies in cotton.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128452"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078914","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":"Comparative pan-genomics and in vivo validation identify genetic factors important for virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum and serovar Enteritidis in the avian host","authors":"Xiao Fei ,&nbsp;Jennifer Moussa ,&nbsp;Priscila Regina Guerra ,&nbsp;Sajid Nisar ,&nbsp;Yibing Ma ,&nbsp;Weizhe Wang ,&nbsp;Mauro M.S. Saraiva ,&nbsp;Heng Li ,&nbsp;Zhemin Zhou ,&nbsp;John Elmerdahl Olsen","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128453","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128453","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Salmonella enterica</em> subspecies <em>enterica</em> serovar Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum (SGa) and Pullorum (SPu) are avian-specific pathogens causing systemic disease, while <em>S</em>. Enteritidis (SEnt) is a broad host range serovar causing gastroenteritis. The genomic mechanisms underlying this difference in host range and pathogenicity remain incompletely understood. Here, we performed a large-scale pan-genome analysis of 5440 poultry-derived genomes (4927 SEnt, 106 SGa, 407 SPu) integrated with functional chicken and macrophage experiments. Compared with SEnt, avian-specific SGa and SPu exhibited extensive pseudogenization and shared 87 genes absent in SEnt, organized into four major genomic clusters (PG_1–PG_4) enriched in type VI secretion system genes and prophage-derived elements. Conserved SNPs distinguishing SGa/SPu from SEnt were enriched in carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism pathways, suggesting potential metabolic divergences during infection. Infection experiments in chickens using deletion mutants revealed that deletions of genes in SPI-2 (<em>ssaE</em>, <em>ssaT</em>) and fimbrial genes (<em>stfA</em>, <em>safA</em>) were important for systemic infection of chicken with both SGa and SEnt, despite pseudogenization of fimbrial operons in SGa. Mutants in SPI-13 and SPI-14 were only significantly attenuated in SGa. The specific prophage region PG_3 was important for systemic infection in SGa, while a distinct prophage element (ENT_2) enhanced infection in SEnt. Together, these findings bridge comparative genomics with experimental validation, identifying genomic degradation, prophage acquisition, and serovar-specific pathogenicity islands as putative mechanisms underlying avian host specificity and systemic pathogenesis in <em>Salmonella</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128453"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024358","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":"The effect of Sinorhizobium meliloti volatilomes and synthetic long-chain methylketones on soil and Medicago truncatula microbiomes","authors":"Pieter van Dillewijn ,&nbsp;Lydia M. Bernabéu-Roda ,&nbsp;Virginia Cuéllar ,&nbsp;Rafael Núñez ,&nbsp;Otto Geiger ,&nbsp;Isabel M. López-Lara ,&nbsp;María J. Soto","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128456","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128456","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial volatile compounds play important roles in intra- and interkingdom interactions but little is known about their effects on soil and plant microbiomes. The legume symbiont <em>Sinorhizobium meliloti</em> (Sm) releases volatile methylketones (MKs), one of which acts as an infochemical among bacteria and hampers plant-bacteria interactions. Inactivation of the fatty acyl-CoA ligase FadD in Sm moderately enhances MK production. To further explore the ecological role of MKs on soil and plant bacterial communities, we aimed at obtaining an MK-overproducing Sm strain by deleting the 3-oxoacyl-CoA thiolase-encoding <em>fadA</em> gene. Analyses of the Sm wild-type (WT) and <em>fad</em> mutant volatilomes identified seventeen compounds, primarily consisting of MKs and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). The <em>fadA</em> mutant released more MKs than the <em>fadD</em> mutant, and substantially more than the WT, whereas FAME emission was increased in the <em>fadD</em> mutant. Exposure of natural soil and the <em>Medicago truncatula</em> rhizosphere to WT and <em>fadA</em> volatilomes or synthetic volatile MKs did not significantly alter bacterial alpha or beta diversity but certain genera responded differentially to each condition. Interestingly, Sm volatilomes significantly affected root endosphere <em>Ensifer</em>/<em>Sinorhizobium</em> populations by maintaining their abundance over time, in contrast to control conditions or exposure to synthetic volatile MKs. This study provides new insights on the synthesis of rhizobial volatile compounds and represents the first exploration of the effects of rhizobial volatilomes on soil and plant bacterial communities, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex molecular bases underlying plant-bacteria interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128456"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024359","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":"The sodium alginate-producing gene algD reduces Pseudomonas putida strain XMS-1-mediated Cd uptake in Lactuca sativa by increasing the relative abundances of Cd stabilization-related bacterial communities and functional genes","authors":"Yanyan Ge ,&nbsp;Fangfang Jiang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Zhang ,&nbsp;Qi Sheng ,&nbsp;Linyan He ,&nbsp;Xiafang Sheng","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128463","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128463","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, the effects of <em>Pseudomonas putida</em> strain XMS-1 and its sodium alginate (SA)-producing gene <em>algD</em> deletion mutant (∆<em>algD</em>) on cadmium (Cd) immobilization in solution, and Cd availability and uptake in lettuce plants and mechanisms involved in the contaminated soils were investigated. Compared with XMS-1, ∆<em>algD</em> increased the solution Cd concentration by 57 % and reduced the cell surface-adsorbed and intracellular Cd contents by 44–57 % after 36 h of incubation. Compared with XMS-1, ∆<em>algD</em> significantly decreased the lettuce biomass, iron/manganese oxide- and organic matter-bound Cd contents, pH values, and polysaccharide and mineral-associated organic carbon contents and increased the exchange of Cd and lettuce leaf Cd contents in the soils. Furthermore, compared with XMS-1, ∆<em>algD</em> significantly reduced the relative abundances of Cd-immobilizing related abundant (<em>Knoellia</em>, <em>Pseudomonas</em>, <em>Lysobacter</em>, <em>Microbacterium</em>, and <em>Flavisolibacter</em>) and rare (<em>Saccharothrix</em>, <em>Pajaroellobacter</em>, <em>Dyadobacter</em>, <em>Stenotrophomonas</em>, <em>Candidatus Koribacter</em>, and <em>Mumia</em>) genera and functional genes <em>mnxG</em>, <em>cumA</em>, <em>mnp</em>, and <em>epsA</em> involved in manganese oxidation, ferromanganese nodule formation, and exopolysaccharide production in the rhizosphere soils of lettuce plants compared to XMS-1. Correlation analysis revealed negative relationships between the relative abundances of these bacterial populations and Cd uptake in lettuce tissues. These findings suggest the significant effects of <em>algD</em> in XMS-1 on reducing Cd availability and accumulation in lettuce through enriching the Cd-immobilizing related bacterial communities and functional genes in the contaminated soils. Our findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying <em>algD</em>-mediated reduction in Cd accumulation in lettuce by XMS-1, laying a crucial foundation for the use of SA-producing bacteria to ensure safe vegetable production in the Cd-contaminated soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128463"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113658","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":"Corrigendum to ‘The hidden players: the mycobiome of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors’ [Microbiol. Res. 303 (2026) 128392]","authors":"Camille Estrin,&nbsp;Sébastien Bertout,&nbsp;Virginie Bellet","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128440","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128440"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145966461","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":"Genomic insights into high-yield carotenoid production from renewable resources in radiation-resistant Deinococcus yunweiensis KCTC3955 and its optimization through fed-batch fermentation","authors":"Chi Young Hwang ,&nbsp;Eui-Sang Cho ,&nbsp;Soyoung Jeong ,&nbsp;Jong-Hyun Jung ,&nbsp;Myung-Ji Seo","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environmental impacts of climate change highlight the need for sustainable bioprocesses using low-cost feedstocks. Microbial fermentation offers an eco-friendly method to produce value-added compounds from renewable resources. Deinoxanthin, a unique carotenoid pigment produced by radiation-resistant bacteria, <em>Deinococcus</em>, has pharmaceutical and food industry applications. However, most microorganisms preferentially utilize glucose as their primary carbon source, limiting their capacity to ferment byproducts or waste-derived resources effectively. Here, we hypothesized that identifying microbial hosts capable of metabolizing a broader range of nutrients could improve fermentation efficiency. Through whole-genome sequencing, we identified that <em>D. yunweiensis</em> KCTC3955 possesses multiple nutrient transporters and is capable of efficiently utilizing glycerol and various nitrogen sources for carotenoid production. Using one-factor-at-a-time and response surface methodologies, we optimized conditions with glycerol, achieving a 4.45-fold increase in carotenoid yield. Notably, key biosynthetic genes (<em>dxr, idi, ispF, ispH</em>, and <em>cruF</em>) were highly up-regulated under mixed nutrient conditions. Fed-batch fermentation with mixed renewable resources such as glycerol and corn steep liquor reached 23.22 mg/L carotenoid production and 15.48 mg/L/day productivity after 36 h, representing over 11- and 15-fold improvements compared to non-optimized conditions. These results highlight <em>D. yunweiensis</em> KCTC3955 as a strong candidate for carotenoid production from mixed renewable substrates</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128443"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024361","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 communities and their multifaceted roles in immune defense and social behavior of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)","authors":"Ezzeldin Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Raghda Nasser ,&nbsp;Jiayi Zhang ,&nbsp;Solabomi Olaitan Ayoade ,&nbsp;Lei Chen ,&nbsp;Hui Yu ,&nbsp;Liangliang Sang ,&nbsp;Rahila Hafeez ,&nbsp;Jinyan Luo ,&nbsp;Jianfei Lu ,&nbsp;Bin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The red imported fire ant (<em>Solenopsis invicta</em>) is an invasive species recognized for its aggressive behavior, posing significant risks to human health and local ecosystems. Pathogenic microbes, including fungi, bacteria, and viruses, play a critical role in the population of this pest and limiting its damage. Recent studies highlight the essential functions of gut microbiota, particularly bacteria, in enhancing <em>S. invicta</em>'s immune responses to these pathogens. This review examines the diversity of gut microbiota in <em>S. invicta</em>, elucidating their contributions to immunity against pathogenic infections and their impact on the ant's overall activity and behavior. Previous studies indicate that the gut microbiota of <em>S. invicta</em> comprises various bacterial genera, including <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, <em>Actinobacteria</em>, <em>Staphylococcus</em>, <em>Lactococcus</em>, <em>Ralstonia</em>, <em>Achromobacter</em>, and <em>Lansdales</em>, which play vital roles, particularly in digestion, nutrient synthesis, and immune function against pathogens. Furthermore, the composition of gut microbiota significantly influences foraging efficiency and social interactions within <em>S. invicta</em> colonies. Therefore, understanding the role of gut microbiota in the behavior and activity of <em>S. invicta</em> provides valuable insights for developing effective management strategies to control their populations. This review summarizes previous research on gut microbiota in <em>S. invicta</em>, focusing on its ecological significance and implications for future pest management studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128438"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145948009","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":"Endophytic fungus-induced phenazine-1-carboxylic acid production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa enhances biocontrol of rice spikelet rot disease","authors":"Shi-Yi Huang ,&nbsp;Zi-Han Zhao ,&nbsp;Jia-Yan Xu ,&nbsp;Yaseen Ullah ,&nbsp;Yan-Jun Fei ,&nbsp;Xiang-Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Han Wu ,&nbsp;Hui-Jun Jiang ,&nbsp;Kai Sun ,&nbsp;Xin-Yue Xu ,&nbsp;Yong Zhang ,&nbsp;Wei Zhang ,&nbsp;Chuan-Chao Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rice spikelet rot disease (RSRD) is a late-stage disease that affects rice spikes, leading to grain discoloration, deformation, and a reduced seed-setting rate. Recent studies suggest that the endophytic fungus <em>Phomopsis liquidambaris</em> plays a crucial role in reshaping the microbial community within rice spikes, promoting the enrichment of functionally active microorganisms with potent antagonistic properties, such as <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>. These beneficial microbes can effectively suppress pathogen infection, thus mitigating the impact of RSRD. Despite these findings, the interaction between <em>Ph. liquidambaris</em> and the key antagonistic microorganism <em>P. aeruginosa</em> remains unclear. In this study, we found that <em>Ph. liquidambaris</em> and <em>P. aeruginosa</em> acted synergistically to reduce the RSRD incidence, disease severity, and grain fumonisin content by 56.15, 44.44, and 23.65 %, respectively. To further investigate the underlying mechanism, we conducted coculture experiments, which revealed that <em>Ph. liquidambaris</em> stimulated <em>P. aeruginosa</em> to increase the production of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), a key antimicrobial compound. PCA significantly inhibited the growth of <em>Fusarium proliferatum</em> and suppressed fumonisin biosynthesis. Pot experiments further confirmed its efficacy in preventing and controlling RSRD. Overall, this study demonstrated that fungal<img>bacterial interactions stimulate the production of antimicrobial compounds, offering new insights into their potential for pathogen suppression and plant disease control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128439"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981392","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":"Copper gluconate drives adherent-invasive Escherichia coli LF82 into a viable-but-non-culturable state: Mechanisms of persistence and susceptibility","authors":"Zinuo An,&nbsp;Liangbin Hu,&nbsp;Lili Zhao,&nbsp;Wensheng Liang,&nbsp;Hongbo Li,&nbsp;Tian Lu,&nbsp;Haizhen Mo,&nbsp;Liping Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adherent-invasive <em>Escherichia coli</em> (AIEC) LF82 is closely linked to Crohn’s disease and can persist within macrophages in a quiescent, growth-arrested state. Here, we show that cupric gluconate (Cu Glu) promoted cell death in <em>E. coli</em> MG1655, yet drove <em>E. coli</em> LF82 into a viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) state. VBNC induction was time dependent and modulated by temperature. VBNC cells remained susceptible to ampicillin and tetracycline but were tolerant to ciprofloxacin. To probe whether capsule-associated factors contribute to the strain-dependent outcome, we heterologously expressed <em>kpsM</em>, <em>kpsT</em>, or <em>kpsMT</em> in MG1655. This increased MG1655 tolerance to Cu Glu but did not induce a VBNC phenotype. Cu Glu increased intracellular Cu⁺ and ROS in LF82 without detectable lipid peroxidation or DNA damage. Copper or ferrous-iron chelation prevented VBNC entry and rescued cells otherwise destined to die, whereas redox modulators shifted VBNC outcomes. Glutathione and catalase resuscitated a small subset, implicating H₂O₂-driven oxidative stress in VBNC fate. Proteomics revealed repression of energy metabolism together with enhanced outer-membrane maintenance and Fe-S cluster repair. Notably, ascorbic acid (Vc) abolished resuscitation and rapidly killed VBNC cells by promoting labile Fe²⁺ release and, together with Cu⁺, amplifying Fenton chemistry to damage membranes without a lipid-peroxidation signature. These findings define a copper-dependent VBNC program in LF82 and provide mechanistic insight into how metal redox imbalance and oxidative stress shape VBNC maintenance and clearance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128457"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078985","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":"Recent advances in gold and zinc oxide nanoparticles: Antibiofilm action, mechanisms beyond ROS generation, and in vivo efficacy","authors":"Prasanga M. Kumarage ,&nbsp;Tasbiha Gul ,&nbsp;Nicholas J. Green ,&nbsp;Samuel J.T. Wardell ,&nbsp;M. Azam Ali ,&nbsp;Minati Choudhury ,&nbsp;Daniel Pletzer","doi":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micres.2026.128441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gold (Au) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (AuNPs/ZnONPs, respectively) are well-established antimicrobial nanomaterials with broad-spectrum activity and multifaceted mechanisms of action. This review highlights recent advances, focusing on their antibiofilm activity, novel antimicrobial mechanisms, and therapeutic potential in <em>in vivo</em> infection models. Beyond traditional antibacterial effects, these nanoparticles exhibit potent antibiofilm activity and disrupt multiple cellular targets, including cell wall biosynthesis, membrane transport and efflux pumps, energy metabolism, biofilm formation, quorum sensing pathways, and DNA replication and repair, thereby targeting microorganisms on several fronts simultaneously. <em>In vivo</em> studies, particularly biofilm-relevant infection models, remain comparatively limited; however, available evidence indicates that AuNPs/ZnONPs can reduce bacterial burden, promote wound healing, and improve survival, positioning them as promising candidates for next-generation therapeutics. However, despite promising outcomes, challenges such as nanoparticle cytotoxicity, stability, and delivery efficiency remain significant hurdles to clinical translation. Careful optimization of nanoparticle physicochemical properties, along with the development of advanced functionalization and targeting strategies, will be crucial for enhancing the therapeutic index and safety. Moreover, combining these nanoparticles with existing antibiotics and leveraging computational tools, including artificial intelligence, could accelerate the design of next-generation nanotherapeutics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18564,"journal":{"name":"Microbiological research","volume":"306 ","pages":"Article 128441"},"PeriodicalIF":6.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981353","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}