{"title":"Insights into a Novel and Efficient Microbial Nest System for Treating Pig Farm Wastewater.","authors":"Lifei Chen, Lusheng Li, Guiying Wang, Meng Xu, Yizhen Xin, Hanhan Song, Jiale Liu, Jiani Fu, Qi Yang, Qile Tian, Yuxi Wang, Haoyang Sun, Jianqun Lin, Linxu Chen, Jiang Zhang, Jianqiang Lin","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030685","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030685","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A microbial nest system (MNS) represents a novel and efficient approach to treating solid-liquid mixtures from pig farming instead of the conventional method, which separates the solid and liquid at first using centrifugation before treating the solid and liquid. However, the key environmental factors influencing the efficiency of this system and the microbial structure are still not clear. This study aimed to elucidate the changes in an MNS considering physicochemical properties, spectral analysis, and correlations between microbial community structures and environmental factors during the treatment. The results showed that the MNS underwent three temperature stages during the treatment process of piggery slurry: a warming period, a high-temperature period, and a cooling period. In the high-temperature period, the most abundant bacterium was <i>Bacillus</i>, with a relative abundance of 22.16%, and <i>Chaetomium</i> dominated the fungal community with a relative abundance of 11.40%. Moreover, the moisture content, pH value, and electrical conductivity (EC) exhibited an increasing trend, whereas the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio and the ratio of ammonia nitrogen to nitrate nitrogen (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N/NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>-N) showed a decreasing trend. The accumulation of humic acid and fulvic acid suggested that the humification process of organic matter was occurring. The moisture content and C/N ratio were identified as crucial factors influencing the bacterial and fungal community structures, respectively. This study provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the efficiency of piggery slurry treatment using an MNS and rational optimisation of the associated processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11946184/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143719917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-19DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030684
Pedro Martínez-Ayala, Leonardo Perales-Guerrero, Adolfo Gómez-Quiroz, Brenda Berenice Avila-Cardenas, Karen Gómez-Portilla, Edson Alberto Rea-Márquez, Violeta Cassandra Vera-Cuevas, Crisoforo Alejandro Gómez-Quiroz, Jaime Briseno-Ramírez, Judith Carolina De Arcos-Jiménez
{"title":"Whole-Genome Sequencing of Linezolid-Resistant and Linezolid-Intermediate-Susceptibility <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> Clinical Isolates in a Mexican Tertiary Care University Hospital.","authors":"Pedro Martínez-Ayala, Leonardo Perales-Guerrero, Adolfo Gómez-Quiroz, Brenda Berenice Avila-Cardenas, Karen Gómez-Portilla, Edson Alberto Rea-Márquez, Violeta Cassandra Vera-Cuevas, Crisoforo Alejandro Gómez-Quiroz, Jaime Briseno-Ramírez, Judith Carolina De Arcos-Jiménez","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030684","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030684","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Linezolid-non-susceptible <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> (LNSEf) has emerged as a critical clinical concern worldwide, yet data from Latin American settings remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology and mechanisms underlying LNSEf in a Mexican tertiary care university hospital, focusing on clinical correlates and clonal relationships. A total of 392 non-duplicated <i>E. faecalis</i> isolates were collected over 12 months, of which 24 with minimum inhibitory concentrations ≥4 µg/mL underwent whole-genome sequencing to identify specific resistance determinants (<i>optrA</i>, <i>cfrA</i>, <i>23S rRNA</i> mutations) and to perform multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and phylogenetic analyses. Of the 392 isolates, 6.12% showed linezolid non-susceptibility, predominantly linked to plasmid- or chromosomally encoded <i>optrA</i>; only two isolates carried <i>cfrA</i>. No mutations were detected in 23S rRNA domain V or ribosomal proteins L3/L4. Clinically, LNSEf strains were associated with immunosuppression, previous surgical interventions, and prolonged hospital stays. Although most LNSEf isolates retained susceptibility to ampicillin, vancomycin, and daptomycin, they exhibited high rates of resistance to other antibiotic classes, particularly aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. These findings underscore the emergence of LNSEf in this region, highlighting the need for robust genomic surveillance, strict infection control, and judicious antimicrobial stewardship to curb further dissemination.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944505/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cas5 Regulates the Exposure of β-Glucan, the Cell Surface Hydrophobicity, and the Expression of Cell Wall Proteins to Remodel the <i>Candida albicans</i> Cell Wall and Participates in the Recruitment of Neutrophils.","authors":"Qiyue Zhang, Guanglin Li, Yanmei Wang, Chen Yang, Wenhui Bai, Qingqing Li, Jiye Zhang, Peipei Zhang","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030683","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030683","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Candida albicans</i> (<i>C. albicans</i>) is a major opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, underscoring the critical need to understand its pathogenic mechanisms. This study investigates the role of Cas5, a key transcription factor, in regulating <i>C. albicans</i> cell wall remodeling, virulence, and host interactions. Genetic manipulation and biochemical assays were used to examine the effects of Cas5 depletion on <i>C. albicans</i> cell wall structure, adhesion to host cells, morphology transition, innate immune cells recruitment, and pathogenicity in a BALB/C mouse model of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC). The results showed that the Cas5 depletion mediated β-glucan exposure and enhanced <i>C. albicans</i>'s ability to recruit neutrophils in vivo. Additionally, Cas5-mediated changes in cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), CWP expressions, and morphological transition promoted <i>C. albicans</i> adhesion to biologically active surfaces (host cells) and increased fungal burden in the mouse model of OPC. In conclusion, Cas5 modulates <i>C. albicans</i> cell wall remodeling by masking cell wall β-glucan, altering CSH, and regulating the expression of cell wall proteins (CWPs). Additionally, Cas5 participates in inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and enhancing the <i>C. albicans</i> adhesion to host cells, as well as facilitating morphological transitions. These actions promote the colonization and invasion of <i>C. albicans</i> in OPC pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944837/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-19DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030687
Jie Hu, Bing Xu, Jiabao Yan, Guozhi Fan
{"title":"Characteristics and Mechanisms of Simultaneous Quinoline and Ammonium Nitrogen Removal by a Robust Bacterium <i>Pseudomonas stutzeri</i> H3.","authors":"Jie Hu, Bing Xu, Jiabao Yan, Guozhi Fan","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030687","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030687","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The discharge of organic and inorganic nitrogenous pollutants in wastewater leads to eutrophication and disrupts the ecological balance. Therefore, the pressing need for an effective treatment method has become increasingly evident. A robust bacterium <i>Pseudomonas stutzeri</i> H3 capable of simultaneous organic and inorganic nitrogen removal was isolated from the activated sludge in the coking wastewater treatment system. The optimal conditions for the simultaneous removal of ammonium nitrogen and quinoline were as follows: C/N ratio of 15-20, initial pH of 7-8, culture temperature of 30 °C, and shaking speed of 150-300 rpm. At 200 mg/L ammonium nitrogen and 100 mg/L quinoline, strain H3 achieved above 90% of removal efficiency, exhibiting excellent simultaneous nitrogen removal capabilities. The outstanding nitrogen removal efficiencies in the presence of quinoline and different inorganic nitrogen sources further confirmed the simultaneous organic and inorganic nitrogen removal capability of strain H3. The whole genome sequencing and nitrogen metabolic intermediates determination of strain H3 were performed to elucidate the gene function annotations, nitrogen removal function genes, and nitrogen metabolic pathways. The findings provide a promising pathway to treat the organic and inorganic nitrogenous pollutants in wastewater.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945285/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-19DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030691
Maria Valeria Corrias, Eddi Di Marco, Carola Bonaretti, Margherita Squillario, Loredana Amoroso, Massimo Conte, Mirco Ponzoni, Roberto Biassoni
{"title":"In Infants with Neuroblastoma Standard Therapy Only Partially Reverts the Fecal Microbiome Dysbiosis Present at Diagnosis.","authors":"Maria Valeria Corrias, Eddi Di Marco, Carola Bonaretti, Margherita Squillario, Loredana Amoroso, Massimo Conte, Mirco Ponzoni, Roberto Biassoni","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030691","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030691","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The fecal microbiomes of 15 infants with neuroblastoma (NB) at the onset of the disease and after standard-of-care therapy have been prospectively analyzed compared to those of age-matched healthy infants. By applying several algorithms to 16S sequencing, we found that the fecal microbiomes of infants with NB at onset were abundant in <i>Pseudomonadota</i>, including different descendants of <i>Gammaproteobacteria.</i> After completing therapy, their abundance decreased to a level like that observed in healthy infants. In contrast, the <i>Bacillota</i> that showed at the onset an abundance like that of healthy infants doubled their amount after treatment. In infants with NB, the beta diversity of the fecal microbiomes was significantly reduced compared to healthy infants and patients at the end of treatment. The Random Forest algorithm and the Reingold-Tilford heat tree showed that <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> had a higher abundance at the onset, which declined after therapy. Picrust2 inferred pathway analysis indicated that the drug treatment was associated with a reduction in the polyamine pathway, highly represented in samples of NB at the onset. In conclusion, the dysbiosis observed in infants with NB at onset changed following standard-of-care treatment. Still, the composition at the end of treatment did not completely resemble that of healthy infants.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11946756/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-19DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030690
Yulong Peng, Luhua Jiang, Junzhao Wu, Jiejie Yang, Ziwen Guo, Manjun Miao, Zhiyuan Peng, Meng Chang, Bo Miao, Hongwei Liu, Yili Liang, Huaqun Yin, Qiang He, Xueduan Liu
{"title":"Red Mud Potentially Alleviates Ammonia Nitrogen Inhibition in Swine Manure Anaerobic Digestion by Enhancing Phage-Mediated Ammonia Assimilation.","authors":"Yulong Peng, Luhua Jiang, Junzhao Wu, Jiejie Yang, Ziwen Guo, Manjun Miao, Zhiyuan Peng, Meng Chang, Bo Miao, Hongwei Liu, Yili Liang, Huaqun Yin, Qiang He, Xueduan Liu","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030690","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030690","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Red mud has been demonstrated to improve the methane production performance of anaerobic digestion (AD). However, the influence of red mud on ammonia nitrogen inhibition during AD through the mediating role of bacteria-phages interactions in this process remains poorly understood. Thus, this study investigated the impact of red mud on nitrogen metabolism in AD and characterized the phage and prokaryotic communities through a metagenomic analysis. The results showed that red mud significantly increased methane production by 23.1% and promoted the conversion of ammonia nitrogen into organic nitrogen, resulting in a 4.8% increase in total nitrogen. Simultaneously, it enriched the key microbial genera <i>Methanothrix</i>, <i>Proteinophilum</i>, and <i>Petrimonas</i> by 0.5%, 0.8%, and 2.7%, respectively, suggesting an enhancement in syntrophic acetate oxidation with greater ammonia tolerance. A viral metagenomic analysis identified seven nitrogen-metabolism-related auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs), with <i>glnA</i> (encoding glutamine synthetase) being the most abundant. Compared to the control treatments, the red mud treatments led to a higher abundance of temperate phages and an increased number of AMGs. Furthermore, two new hosts carrying <i>glnA</i> (<i>Mycolicibacteria smegmatis</i> and <i>Kitasatopola aureofaciens</i>) were predicted, indicating that red mud expanded the host range of phages and promoted the spread of AMGs. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of phages in alleviating ammonia nitrogen inhibition and provide a novel understanding of the role of red mud in the AD of swine manure.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944383/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-18DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030680
Ji Youn Yoo, Anujit Sarkar, Hyo-Sook Song, Sunghwan Bang, Gyusik Shim, Cary Springer, Morgan E O'Brien, Yoonhwa Shin, Songhyun Ju, Sunhee Han, Sung Soo Kim, Usha Menon, Tae Gyu Choi, Maureen E Groer
{"title":"Gut Microbiome Alterations, Mental Health, and Alcohol Consumption: Investigating the Gut-Brain Axis in Firefighters.","authors":"Ji Youn Yoo, Anujit Sarkar, Hyo-Sook Song, Sunghwan Bang, Gyusik Shim, Cary Springer, Morgan E O'Brien, Yoonhwa Shin, Songhyun Ju, Sunhee Han, Sung Soo Kim, Usha Menon, Tae Gyu Choi, Maureen E Groer","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030680","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030680","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Firefighters across the world face higher risks of occupational hazards, such as exposure to chemicals, extreme heat, traumatic stressors, and intense physical demands, which can increase their vulnerability to a range of psychological and physiological difficulties. These challenges include the risk of developing chronic stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), potentially leading to detrimental negative coping patterns such as alcohol abuse. The consequent health implications impact both short-term and long-term health and well-being. This study aimed to explore the relationship between mental health status, alcohol consumption patterns, and gut microbiome alterations in firefighters from two different regions-America and Korea. By investigating these relationships, we hope to gain insights into how repeated exposure to severe stressors impacts gut health. Healthy male firefighters (ages 21-50) and controls (matched sex, geography, and age) were recruited via flyers and snowball sampling in the United States and South Korea, resulting in 203 participants (102 firefighters and 101 controls). Firefighters reported significantly higher PTSD symptoms and depression and drank 2.3 times more alcohol than the control group. American firefighters reported more drinking than Koreans. There was a significant correlation between higher alcohol consumption and the likelihood of witnessing deaths by suicide. However, there were no correlations between alcohol consumption and PTSD symptom severity. There were associations between alcohol consumption patterns and aspects of the gut microbiome. This study highlights the mental health challenges faced by firefighters, including elevated rates of PTSD, depression, and alcohol consumption, with specific microbial imbalances linked to PTSD and alcohol use, emphasizing the role of the gut-brain axis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11945892/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-18DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030681
Christopher Chan, Michael Coffey, Caitlin Murphy, Isabelle McKay, Jumaana Abdu, Keerti Paida, Rachel Y Tam, Hannah Wrigley-Carr, Bernadette Prentice, Louisa Owens, Yvonne Belessis, Sandra Chuang, Adam Jaffe, Josie van Dorst, Chee Y Ooi
{"title":"The Prevalence of Polyketide Synthase-Positive <i>E. coli</i> in Cystic Fibrosis.","authors":"Christopher Chan, Michael Coffey, Caitlin Murphy, Isabelle McKay, Jumaana Abdu, Keerti Paida, Rachel Y Tam, Hannah Wrigley-Carr, Bernadette Prentice, Louisa Owens, Yvonne Belessis, Sandra Chuang, Adam Jaffe, Josie van Dorst, Chee Y Ooi","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030681","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030681","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients experience higher risks of colorectal cancer but the pathogenesis is unclear. In the general population, polyketide synthase-positive (pks<sup>+</sup>) <i>E. coli</i> is implicated in intestinal carcinogenesis via the production of colibactin; however, the relevance in CF is unknown. In this study, we investigate pks<sup>+</sup><i>E. coli</i> prevalence in CF and potential associations between pks<sup>+</sup><i>E. coli</i>, gastrointestinal inflammation, and microbiome dynamics with fecal calprotectin and 16SrRNA gene taxonomic data. Cross-sectional analysis demonstrated no difference in pks<sup>+</sup><i>E. coli</i> carriage between CF patients and healthy controls, 21/55 (38%) vs. 26/55 (47%), <i>p</i> = 0.32. Pks<sup>+</sup><i>E. coli</i> was not associated with significant differences in mean (SD) calprotectin concentration (124 (154) vs. 158 (268) mg/kg; <i>p</i> = 0.60), microbial richness (159 (76.5) vs. 147 (70.4); <i>p</i> = 0.50) or Shannon diversity index (2.78 (0.77) vs. 2.65 (0.74); <i>p</i> = 0.50) in CF. Additionally, there was no association with exocrine pancreatic status (<i>p</i> = 0.2) or overall antibiotic use (<i>p</i> = 0.6). Longitudinally, CF subjects demonstrated intra-individual variation in pks<sup>+</sup><i>E. coli</i> presence but no significant difference in overall prevalence. Future investigation into the effects of repeat exposure on risk profile and analysis of older CF cohorts is necessary to identify if associations with colorectal cancer exist.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944406/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-18DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030675
Eliane Münte, Greta Viebahn, Amit Khurana, Jumpei Fujiki, Tomohiro Nakamura, Sonja Lang, Münevver Demir, Bernd Schnabl, Phillipp Hartmann
{"title":"<i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> Is Associated with Disease Severity in MASLD but Its Supplementation Does Not Improve Diet-Induced Steatohepatitis in Mice.","authors":"Eliane Münte, Greta Viebahn, Amit Khurana, Jumpei Fujiki, Tomohiro Nakamura, Sonja Lang, Münevver Demir, Bernd Schnabl, Phillipp Hartmann","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030675","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030675","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The gut microbiota plays an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of the butyrate-producing bacterium <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> in MASLD and whether supplementation with butyrate-producing bacteria, in particular <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i>, can ameliorate diet-induced steatohepatitis in mice. The relative abundance of the genus <i>Faecalibacterium</i> and its most abundant strain <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively, in 95 participants with MASLD and 19 healthy control subjects. Butyrate and butyrate-producing bacteria (<i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> and <i>Coprococcus comes</i>) were gavaged to C57BL/6 mice fed a steatohepatitis-inducing diet. The fecal relative abundance of <i>Faecalibacterium</i> and <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> was decreased in subjects with MASLD versus healthy controls and lower in individuals with MASLD and stage 3-4 fibrosis versus those with stage 0-2 fibrosis. Sodium-butyrate supplementation improved hepatic steatosis in mice on high-fat diet (HFD). Gavage of various butyrate-producing bacteria including <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> and <i>Coprococcus comes</i> isolated from humans did not improve HFD-induced liver disease in mice. Although the abundance of <i>Faecalibacterium prausnitzii</i> is associated with MASLD severity in humans, its gavage to mice does not improve experimental diet-induced liver disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11944644/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MicroorganismsPub Date : 2025-03-18DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13030674
Laura Trovato, Maddalena Calvo, Concetta Ilenia Palermo, Maria Rita Valenti, Guido Scalia
{"title":"The Role of the OLM CandID Real-Time PCR in the Invasive Candidiasis Diagnostic Surveillance in Intensive Care Unit Patients.","authors":"Laura Trovato, Maddalena Calvo, Concetta Ilenia Palermo, Maria Rita Valenti, Guido Scalia","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13030674","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13030674","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Molecular techniques recently integrated the candidiasis diagnostic workflow, avoiding the culture-based prolonged turn-around time and lack of sensitivity. The present retrospective study evaluated the OLM CandID Real-Time PCR on serum samples in the early and rapid candidaemia diagnosis among ICU patients. The final purpose of the protocol was to demonstrate the effectiveness of a PCR assay in the invasive candidiasis diagnostic workflow due to the high sensitivity rates and species identification possibility. The evaluation screened 60 suitable patients, accounting for 10 probable and 7 proven candidiasis cases. Patients with at least a positive (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) value underwent molecular procedures. A sensitivity of 83.3%, a specificity of 94.3%, a positive predictive value of 87.5%, and a negative predictive value of 91.7% emerged for the PCR assay. As a conclusion, <i>Candida</i> PCR assays may represent useful diagnostic assistance tools when applied together with serological markers and culture-based assays.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11946097/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143720344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}