Microbial pathogenesis最新文献

{"title":"Type III Interferons (lambda) in Parasitic Infections: Balancing Mucosal Defense and Immune Modulation.","authors":"Mehdi Kian, Somayeh Mirzavand, Hamid Mahmoodpour, Fariborz Nowzari, Marzieh Ashrafmansouri, Fatemeh Nasri","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108862","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasitic infections are a significant global health issue, with pathogens often entering the hosts through mucosal surfaces. Type III interferons (IFN-λ) are key mediators of immune responses in these infections. Produced mainly at epithelial barriers, IFN-λ induces a specific set of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) that boost antiviral and antimicrobial defense without causing widespread systemic inflammation. This review examines functions of IFN-λ diverse in parasitic infections, focusing on roles in antimicrobial responses and immune modulation. Understanding these effects may lead to new therapeutic strategies that leverage IFN-λ signaling to enhance host defenses while minimizing harmful inflammation. IFN-λ plays a nuanced role in parasitic infections. In Toxoplasma gondii, IFN-λ signaling in intestinal epithelial cells and neutrophils limits the spread of the parasite and enhances humoral immunity. In Cryptosporidium infections, IFN-λ reduces parasite loads and improves survival via STAT1-dependent pathways. However, in malaria, IFN-λ4 is associated with increased susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum. In Leishmania donovani, IFN-λ3 may reduce parasite uptake in vitro, although in vivo administration could shift immune responses toward a Th2 profile, hindering parasite clearance. Elevated IFN-λ levels have been observed in helminth infections, suggesting their role in modulating inflammation and strengthening mucosal barriers. Understanding the complex effects of IFN-λ in parasitic infections may lead to new therapeutic approaches that enhance host defenses while reducing inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108862"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149195454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Porcine circoviruses in mainland China: A nationwide systematic review and meta-analysis of reported positivity and epidemiological patterns.","authors":"Ziyao Wei, Wei Wei, Rui Shi, Lianlong Wang, Lu An, Hanyi Jiang, Ke Liu, Rui Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108876","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108876","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Porcine circoviruses (PCVs) are important viral pathogens affecting swine health and production in China, but national epidemiological evidence remains fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the reported PCV positivity and epidemiological characteristics of PCVs in pigs in mainland China. Six English and Chinese databases were searched from inception to 3 February 2026. Eligible studies reported both the total number of tested pigs or samples and the number positive for PCVs. Random-effects meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and univariable meta-regression were performed to estimate pooled positivity and explore potential sources of heterogeneity. A total of 389 studies covering 32 provincial-level regions were included. Considerable between-study heterogeneity was observed. Reported positivity varied according to PCV type, diagnostic method, specimen type, pig category, sampling period, and co-detection pattern. Among the established PCV types, pooled positivity was 45.33% for PCV2, 22.37% for PCV3, 16.32% for PCV1, and 9.41% for PCV4. ELISA-based estimates were higher than PCR-based estimates, and fattening pigs showed the highest estimate among the major production stages. PCV2-PRRSV was the most frequently reported co-infection pattern. PCVs remain widely detected in Chinese swine populations, particularly PCV2. Standardized type-specific surveillance, separate reporting of serological and molecular outcomes, and comprehensive studies integrating viral-load, pathological, and sequence data are needed to better define the epidemiological and clinical significance of PCVs and inform evidence-based surveillance and control strategies in China's swine industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108876"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acid stress differentially affects virulence-associated phenotypes in atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.","authors":"Thais Cristina Gregorio Trindade, Juan Josue Puño-Sarmiento, Tânia A Tardelli Gomes","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108879","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108879","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) is an important diarrheagenic pathotype that induces attaching and effacing (AE) lesions in enterocytes while lacking bundle-forming pili. Epidemiological studies have shown an increasing prevalence of aEPEC in children and adults, regardless of diarrheal symptoms. Successful intestinal colonization depends on the capacity of enteric pathogens to withstand gastric acidity, a major host defense barrier. Because gastric pH varies with host age and physiological conditions, acid tolerance may influence pathogen survival and virulence-associated phenotypes. This study evaluated the survival of aEPEC strains under simulated gastric pH conditions and the effects of acid exposure, followed by incubation at pH 6.8, on HeLa cell adherence, invasion, AE lesion formation, and biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces. Marked physiological heterogeneity among the strains was observed. Although all strains survived under moderate acid stress (pH 3.4), only three remained viable under severe acid stress (pH 2.6). Post-stress analyses of strains 0421-1 and 1711-4 revealed strain-dependent responses. In 0421-1, biofilm formation and adherence were maintained, whereas invasion efficiency decreased after both acid treatments, and AE lesion formation decreased only at pH 3.4 (p < 0.01). In contrast, 1711-4 showed decreased biofilm formation (p < 0.01) but increased adherence (p < 0.01) and AE lesion formation (p < 0.05) after exposure to pH 2.6, while invasion efficiency remained unchanged. These findings demonstrate that acid exposure can differentially affect virulence-associated phenotypes in aEPEC, with responses varying according to the strain and the phenotype evaluated.</p>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108879"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149182979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to \"Comparison of integration sites of bovine leukemia virus-induced lymphoma between blood and lymphoma tissues using a high-density BLV-proviral capture sequencing method\" [Microb. Pathog. 221, (2026), 108849].","authors":"Noriko Fukushi, Ryosuke Matsuura, Sonoko Watanuki, Yingbao Ye, Yoshinobu Matsumoto, Kazuyoshi Hosomichi, Yoko Iwauchi, Etsuko Saitou, Yoko Aida","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108875","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108875","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108875"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149149803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: Emerging Non-Traditional Therapeutics, Clinical Translation Challenges, and Future Perspectives.","authors":"Zahra Shareef, Hafiz Iftikhar Hussain, Amjad Islam Aqib, Muhammad Sibghat Ullah Malik, Shafeeq Ur Rehman","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108871","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most severe global health threats. The rapid expansion of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) pathogens compromises the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Globally, ESKAPE organisms (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) have led to therapeutic failure, prolonged hospitalization, and increased mortality rates. This review identifies the molecular mechanisms, including enzymatic antibiotic inactivation, efflux pump overexpression, biofilm formation, and horizontal gene transfer, that underline the resistance of disseminated pathogens to antibiotics in clinical, agricultural, and environmental settings. Antibiotic overuse and pharmaceutical and agricultural discharges create persistent reservoirs for the dissemination of AMR genes. Furthermore, we evaluated the non-traditional antibacterial efficacy of antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophage therapy, monoclonal antibodies, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, anti-virulence agents, CRISPR-Cas precision antimicrobials, and nanotechnology-based drug delivery platforms. Current preclinical and clinical evidence indicates the eradication of resistant pathogens, disruption of biofilms, and preservation of host microbiota, thereby reducing the selective pressure associated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Despite these advances, major translational barriers, such as pharmacokinetic instability, manufacturing limitations, and insufficient clinical validation, restrict the implementation of the framework. In the future, the AMR management framework will require precision medicine, artificial intelligence, and One Health-based integration via multidisciplinary collaboration.</p>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108871"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149137518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A hamster model of Jarisch-Herxheimer-like reaction in experimental leptospirosis associated with IL-6 upregulation and enhanced macrophage phagocytosis.","authors":"Hiroshi Mori, Satoshi Miyahara, Mitsumasa Saito","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108761","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108761","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is an acute inflammatory response that can occur after antimicrobial treatment of spirochetal infections, and it can lead to organ dysfunction. However, no established animal model exists for investigating its pathophysiology. In this study, female golden Syrian hamsters were experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans and treated with aminobenzylpenicillin (ABPC) to evaluate antibiotic-associated physiological and immunological changes. Vital signs were monitored under anesthesia, and a JHR-like reaction (JHR-LR) was operationally defined as a marked change in heart rate occurring exclusively after antimicrobial administration. Bacterial burden, cytokine expression, and histopathological findings were analyzed. In vitro macrophage stimulation assays were also performed. Transient tachycardia was observed in a subset of infected hamsters following ABPC administration, most frequently at 5 days post-infection. This response was accompanied by increased IL-6 and IP-10/CXCL10 mRNA expression in the blood and enhanced macrophage phagocytosis of leptospires in the liver and spleen. In vitro, antibiotic-killed leptospires induced significantly higher IL-6 production in macrophages than live bacteria. Importantly, despite comparable bacterial burdens, marked JHR-LR occurs predominantly in animals with preserved body weight, suggesting that host physiological conditions rather than bacterial load alone influence the development of this reaction. These findings provide preliminary evidence that hamsters may develop antibiotic-associated inflammatory responses resembling JHR and support the utility of this model for future mechanistic studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108761"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148706755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Endophytic Myco- Bio- Control Agents (BCA) against Phytopathogens of Solanum lycopersicum L.","authors":"Vellingiri Manon Mani, Manikandan Vasuki, Sruthi Radhakrishnan, Saranya R S","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108841","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108841","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The drastic crop losses are happening globally of less than 20% due to plant diseases and the management of diseases can be effectively executed with the modern biological technologies such as bio control agents to improvise the soil fertility. Solanum lycopersicum L (Tomato) is the major cultivable crop throughout the world and various diseases were infected by several pathogenic bacteria, fungi, virus and nematodes. Varied artificial pesticides preventing the pathogenicity caused by microbes or pests were effectively implemented in the agricultural practices but the artificial pesticides cause much damages to mankind through the entry in edible part of the plant. The artificial pesticides application could be effectively prevented through the implementation of Bio Control Agents (BCA) that synergistically controls the phytopathogenicity and emphasizes the growth of plants with the metabolic interaction. The current research targets the development of endophytic fungi as BCA isolated from Marudhamalai and Vellingiri hills, Coimbatore of Western Ghats region, Tamilnadu, India against most common phytopathogens of tomato such as Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici &Alternaria solani. About 169 endophytic fungal strains were isolated and assessed for the bio- potentiality and the endophytic fungi such as Alternaria citrimacularis FC8ABr, Aspergillus terreus FCBY1, and Cladosporium tennuissimum FCBGr exhibited highest antagonistic activity and bio control activity performed by dual culture technique. Further the strains explicated the inhibitory property through the in vitro and in vivo assessments on S. lycopersicum L plants by varied inoculation techniques including root drenching, stem covering and inoculum pouring in soil. The plants were inoculated and assessed for the disease severity by score method; the effective inhibition by endophyic fungi on phytopathogens were determined for the phytochemical, biochemical and antioxidant constituents. The efficient BCA explicated the phytopathogenicity inhibition effectively and further enhanced the yield of crops/ plants.</p>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108841"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epigenetic Activation of Silent Pathways in Endophytic Aspergillus sp. EGP214 Reveals Porphyrin-Derived Antimicrobial Metabolites Targeting DNA Gyrase: In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation.","authors":"Ahmed M Abd-Elaziz, Mai Ali Mwaheb, Gehad H El Sayed, Mohamed E El Awady, Ayda K Kelany, Mohamed Abdelraof, Hoda A Kabary, Nariman R Soliman, Mohamed Ali, Mosad A Ghareeb, Asmaa M Fahim, Ahmed A Hamed, Basel Sitohy","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endophytic fungi are a reservoir for cryptic metabolites to discover new bioactive compounds through their research on inactive biosynthetic gene clusters. In this study, Aspergillus sp. EGP214 was used to identify Aspergillus sp. EGP214, which they isolated from Hyoscyamus muticus during their study. The expression of cryptic genes needed stimulation through the use of two epigenetic modifiers, which included trichostatin A as a histone deacetylase inhibitor and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine as a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, during fermentation. GC-MS analysis revealed that both treatments significantly altered the metabolic profiles, leading to the production of several unique compounds absent in the control culture. The treated extracts showed improved antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and DNA gyrase inhibitory effects with trichostatin A, treated cultures demonstrating the strongest activity at IC₅₀ = 2.2 μM against DNA Gyrase-B. The induced metabolites demonstrated permanent strong bonds to bacterial DNA gyrase and HDAC enzymes' active sites according to molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. The evaluation of ADMET characteristics and toxicity levels showed moderate lipophilicity, together with minimal systemic toxicity but restricted oral bioavailability. The research shows that epigenetic modulation serves as an effective method to activate dormant fungal biosynthetic pathways, which produce valuable secondary compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":" ","pages":"108777"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148760723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pairing antibiotics with phages: A new strategy to tackle biofilms of drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii—insights from in vitro and in vivo studies","authors":"Majid Taati Moghadam ,&nbsp;Mahsa Ziasistani ,&nbsp;Faeze Mahdiun ,&nbsp;Mohammad Hossein Sobhanipoor ,&nbsp;Massoumeh Ghasemi ,&nbsp;Elham Isaei ,&nbsp;Mahsa Kiaei","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) <em>Acinetobacter baumanii</em> is a serious challenge in hospital settings. Biofilm formation is one of these bacteria's most crucial mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Given the ineffectiveness of common antibiotics against MDR, XDR, and biofilm-forming <em>A. baumannii</em>, the healthcare system must use new strategies to combat <em>A. baumannii</em> biofilm. This study aimed to provide an overview of the in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo combination therapy of phages and antibiotics for combating <em>A. baumanii</em> biofilms. Most studies suggest that pairing antibiotics with phages could help break down <em>A. baumannii</em> biofilms and treat infections caused by these hard-to-beat superbugs, especially when using cocktail phages and colistin to inhibit biofilm formation or eradicate biofilms. Many limitations of phage therapy can be overcome by combining phage therapy with antibiotics. Additionally, protein-derived phages have been proposed as a promising alternative or complementary approach to conventional therapies, demonstrating significant antibacterial activity. When used in combination with antibiotics, they may enhance treatment efficacy by reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant <em>A. baumannii</em> and effectively eliminating their biofilms. Combining antibiotics with phage therapy may offer an effective strategy to disrupt <em>A. baumannii</em> biofilms in laboratory settings and improve treatment outcomes for patients with drug-resistant infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108290"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145994438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanism of tea saponin in alleviating intestinal damage induced by E. coli infection via the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway","authors":"Bo Zhang ,&nbsp;Bo Liao ,&nbsp;Fangjie Li ,&nbsp;Yanhong Lv ,&nbsp;Rong Liao ,&nbsp;Dengyao Xu ,&nbsp;Rou Sang ,&nbsp;Ke Li ,&nbsp;Aiguo Xin","doi":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108326","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108326","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pathogenic <em>Escherichia coli</em> is a common zoonotic pathogen that can cause host diarrhea, edema, and mortality. Tea saponin (Ts) exhibits significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its potential to mitigate acute intestinal injury caused by pathogenic <em>E. coli</em> remains unclear. This research aimed to investigate the protective effects of Ts against inflammatory pathological damage induced by <em>E. coli</em> and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Four experimental groups were established: control, <em>E. coli</em>, <em>E. coli</em> + Ts, and <em>E. coli</em> + MCC950 (a selective NLRP3 inhibitor). Inflammatory pathological damage in the mouse colon was assessed through HE staining, analysis of intestinal barrier markers (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1), ELISA of inflammatory factors, and analysis of oxidative stress markers. The expression of key apoptosis-related genes and NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway genes was detected using RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to analyze the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2 and Bax), activated forms of Caspases (Cleaved Caspase-1, Cleaved Caspase-3, Cleaved Caspase-8), tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1), and NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway proteins in mouse colon tissues. <em>E. coli</em> infection induced severe histopathological changes and intestinal barrier dysfunction in colon tissues and activated the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. This activation significantly increased the expression of pro-apoptotic genes Bax, Caspase-8, and Caspase-3, as well as the levels of their cleaved (active) forms, while markedly decreasing the expression of Bcl-2, thereby promoting apoptosis. Ts treatment notably ameliorated colon pathological injury, effectively regulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes, and significantly suppressed the transcription levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α within the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, Ts treatment significantly reduced the protein levels of cleaved Caspase-1, cleaved Caspase-3, and cleaved Caspase-8, and restored the expression of ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1. Ts effectively inhibits inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis induced by <em>E. coli</em> by modulating the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, and maintaining intestinal barrier integrity via regulating tight junction proteins, ultimately alleviating colon damage in mouse.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18599,"journal":{"name":"Microbial pathogenesis","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108326"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146081251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}