Microorganisms最新文献

{"title":"Selection of Probiotics for Honey Bees: The In Vitro Inhibition of <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i>, <i>Melissococcus plutonius</i>, and <i>Serratia marcescens</i> Strain Sicaria by Host-Specific Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.","authors":"Buse Dengiz, Jiří Killer, Jaroslav Havlík, Pavel Dobeš, Pavel Hyršl","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051159","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Host-specific <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> species constitute the core microbiota of the honey bee digestive tract and are recognized for their probiotic properties. One of the properties of these bacteria is the inhibition of bacterial pathogens such as <i>Paenibacillus larvae</i> and <i>Melissococcus plutonius</i>, the causative agents of American and European foulbrood, respectively. Additionally, <i>Serratia marcescens</i> has emerged as a relevant opportunistic pathogen. Although several previously published studies have examined the inhibition of selected bacterial pathogens of bees by members of the bee physiological microbiota, none have simultaneously investigated the inhibition of multiple clinical isolates of <i>P. larvae</i>, <i>M. plutonius</i>, and <i>S. marcescens</i> using a wide range of bifidobacterial and lactobacilli strains isolated from various locations within a single country. Thus, this study evaluated the antimicrobial potential of <i>Lactobacillus</i> and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> strains against these pathogens, with a focus on strain-dependent inhibition. A total of 111 bacterial strains (62 <i>Lactobacillus</i> and 49 <i>Bifidobacterium</i>) were isolated from the digestive tracts of honey bees collected from eight sites across the Czech Republic. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates were classified and tested in vitro against four <i>P. larvae</i> isolates, one <i>M. plutonius</i> isolate, and the <i>S. marcescens</i> strain sicaria in modified BHI medium. Twenty-eight strains (~26%) exhibited strong inhibition (≥21 mm) against at least two <i>P. larvae</i> isolates, while 12 strains showed moderate inhibition (16-20 mm) against all four isolates. Inhibition of <i>M. plutonius</i> and <i>S. marcescens</i> was observed in three and twenty strains, respectively. The most effective strains belonged to <i>Bifidobacterium asteroides</i>, <i>B. choladohabitans</i>, <i>B. polysaccharolyticum</i>, <i>Lactobacillus apis</i>, <i>L. helsingborgensis</i>, <i>L. kullabergensis</i>, and <i>L. melliventris</i>. These results underscore the strain-dependent nature of antimicrobial activity and highlight the importance of selecting probiotic strains with broad-spectrum pathogen inhibition to support honey bee health.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113734/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160321","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":"Anti-Biofilm Properties of Cell-Free Supernatant from <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> EA73 by In Vitro Study with <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.","authors":"Ziyao Tang, Muhammad Yousif, Samuel Kumi Okyere, Fei Liao, Siqi Peng, Lin Cheng, Feng Yang, Yuting Wang, Yanchun Hu","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051162","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Endophytes are a potential source of novel bioactive antimicrobial compounds. A previous study showed that <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> EA73, an endophytic bacterium, has promising antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>; however, the mechanisms associated with its activity have still not been investigated. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the anti-biofilm activity of a cell-free supernatant (CFS) of <i>B. velezensis</i> EA73 against <i>S. aureus</i>. In this experiment, the biofilm-eliminating effects of a CFS of <i>B. velezensis</i> EA73 against <i>S. aureus</i> were examined in vitro. RT-qPCR was used to detect the changes in genes related to biofilm formation, whereas network pharmacology was used to predict the key targets and pathways of a cell-free supernatant of <i>B. velezensis</i> EA73 against <i>S. aureus</i>-mediated diseases. The minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of the EA73 CFS against <i>S. aureus</i> was 1.28 × 10^-3 g/mL. In addition, we observed that the EA73 CFS reduced bacterial adhesion and decreased extracellular proteins, polysaccharides, and the eDNA content in the biofilm and decreased the expression of biofilm-associated genes, such as <i>icaA</i> and <i>sarA</i>. The EA73 CFS had a significant effect on <i>S. aureus</i> biofilm eradication and hence can serve as a promising antibacterial reagent.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114590/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160145","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":"In Vitro Immune Response of Mononuclear Cells to Multidrug-Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>.","authors":"Berta Cuyàs, Elisabet Cantó, Elisabet Sanchez-Ardid, Elisenda Miró, Edilmar Alvarado-Tapias, Eva Román, Maria Poca, Ferran Navarro, Andreu Ferrero-Gregori, Maria Àngels Escorsell, Silvia Vidal, German Soriano","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051164","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are linked to poor outcomes, particularly in patients with cirrhosis. The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood and may involve a different immune response against MDRO. This study aimed to compare the in vitro immune response between multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>Escherichia coli</i> and antibiotic-susceptible <i>E. coli</i> strains. Surface protein extract and DNA extract were obtained from MDR <i>E. coli</i> (n = 6) and antibiotic-susceptible <i>E. coli</i> (n = 6) strains isolated from infected patients with cirrhosis. The extracts were used to stimulate in vitro peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. After 48 h, cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12p70, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-6, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β) were measured. We observed no significant differences in cytokine production between MDR and susceptible strains. However, we identified notable interindividual variability in cytokine production for most of the cytokines studied. Only IFN-γ and IL-6 in surface extract and MCP-1 in DNA extract showed similar levels across all donors. We conclude that the cytokine profiles induced by MDR <i>E. coli</i> in vitro were similar to those in susceptible strains. These findings suggest that the poor prognosis associated with MDR <i>E. coli</i> infections is not due to a differential immune response but rather to other factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114291/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160277","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":"Exploring the Effect of Enzyme and Protein-Containing Toothpaste on Gum Health: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Silvia D'Agostino, Marco Dolci","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051158","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review critically evaluates the efficacy of enzyme- and protein-containing toothpastes in augmenting saliva's inherent protective mechanisms. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines and having been registered under PROSPERO (CRD42024558854), a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, employing a PICO-structured query with the MeSH terms \"enzymes\", \"proteins\", and \"toothpaste\". The inclusion criteria were restricted to in vivo human studies, published in English within the last 10 years, assessing the gingival effects of these toothpastes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and ROBINS-I for non-randomized controlled trials (N-RCTs). From an initial pool of 62 articles, three studies met the inclusion criteria: two RCTs exhibiting low to medium risk of bias and one N-RCT with low risk of bias. The analysis suggests that enzyme- and protein-enriched toothpastes may contribute to improved gingival health following 12 weeks and 12 months of use. However, the hypothesized effect against extrinsic black stains was not substantiated within the selected studies. These findings, while promising, are constrained by the limited number of included studies, necessitating further investigations to validate these observations and explore the broader implications of enzyme- and protein-based oral care formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160378","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":"Label-Free Flow Cytometry: A Powerful Tool to Rapidly and Accurately Assess the Efficacy of Chemical Disinfectants.","authors":"Andreea Pîndaru, Luminița Gabriela Măruțescu, Marcela Popa, Claude Lambert, Mariana-Carmen Chifiriuc","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051156","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A rapid and accurate evaluation of a chemical disinfectant's bactericidal efficacy is crucial for ensuring effective infection control, preventing the spread of pathogens, and supporting the development of new disinfectant formulations. In this study, we report a rapid, label-free flow cytometry (FCM) protocol for evaluating the bactericidal efficacy of disinfectants. Five commercial disinfectants (alcohols, oxidizing agents, and alkylating agents) were evaluated against type strains recommended by EN 13727+A2 and ten clinical strains. The label-free FCM method allowed the determination of disinfectant efficacy through assessment of scatter light profiles (FSC-H/SSC-H) and count differences. The label-free FCM provided the results in approximately 4 h and showed strong correlation with standard tests (91.4%, sensitivity 0.94 and specificity 0.98) that can take up to 48 h. Our results represent a proof-of-principle that label-free FCM can reliably assess the efficacy of chemical disinfectants, the same day, and substantially faster than the current growth-based methods. Additionally, the study highlights the potential of the FCM method for detecting the occurrence of viable but non-culturable bacteria following treatment with chlorine-based disinfectants. With its speed, accuracy, and capability to identify bacterial injuries at a single-cell level, the FCM method is a powerful tool for assessing the efficacy of new disinfectant formulations.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114458/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160392","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":"Evaluation of Growth Performance, Biochemical Composition, and Polyhydroxyalkanoates Production of Four Cyanobacterial Species Grown in Cheese Whey.","authors":"Eirini Sventzouri, Konstantinos Pispas, Georgia G Kournoutou, Maria Geroulia, Eleni Giakoumatou, Sameh Samir Ali, Michael Kornaros","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051157","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Large-scale cultivation of cyanobacteria is often limited by the high cost of synthetic culture medium and the environmental impact of nutrient consumption. Cheese whey, a major agro-industrial waste product, is rich in organic and inorganic nutrients, making it a promising low-cost alternative for microbial growth while addressing waste bioremediation. This study investigates the growth performance and the biochemical composition of four different cyanobacterial species (<i>Phormidium</i> sp., <i>Synechocystis</i> sp., <i>Chlorogloeopsis fritschii,</i> and <i>Arthrospira platensis</i>), cultivated in cheese whey (CW). Pretreated CW was used at 20% and 100% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> concentrations. All species grew satisfactorily in both concentrations, reaching biomass above 4 g L^-1 (in 100% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> CW) and 2 g L^-1 (in 20% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> CW). The highest μ_max value (0.28 ± 0.02 d^-1) was presented by <i>Synechocystis</i> sp. grown in 20% CW. Waste bioremediation of both 20 and 100% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> CW demonstrated effective nutrient removal, with COD removal exceeding 50% for most species, while total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removals reached up to 33% and 32%, respectively. Biochemical composition analysis revealed high carbohydrate and protein content, while lipid content remained below 15% in all cases. Interestingly, <i>C. fritschii</i> accumulated 11% <i>w</i>/<i>w</i> polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) during the last day of cultivation in 20% <i>v</i>/<i>v</i> CW. These findings highlight the potential of <i>C. fritschii</i> as a valuable candidate for integration into bioprocesses aimed at sustainable bioplastic production. Its ability to synthesize PHAs from agro-industrial waste not only enhances the economic viability of the process but also aligns with circular economy principles. This study is a primary step towards establishing a biorefinery concept for the cultivation of cyanobacterial species in cheese whey-based wastewater streams.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113660/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160373","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":"Impact of Temperature on the Biochemical Potential of Five Newly Isolated Strains of Microalgae Cultured in a Stirred Tank Reactor.","authors":"Panagiotis Dritsas, George Aggelis","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051155","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The microalgal strains <i>Picochlorum costavermella</i> VAS2.5, <i>Picochlorum oklahomense</i> SAG4.4, <i>Picochlorum oklahomense</i> PAT3.2B, <i>Microchloropsis gaditana</i> VON5.3, and <i>Nephroselmis pyriformis</i> PAT2.7 were cultured in a Stirred Tank Reactor at 25 °C or 20 °C in modified artificial seawater and their biotechnological potential was assessed. VAS2.5, VON5.3, and PAT2.7 were high in biomass production at both temperatures (i.e., 438.8-671.3 mg/L and 418.4-546.7 mg/L at 25 °C and 20 °C, respectively), though <i>P. oklahomense</i> strains grew only at 25 °C. The highest lipid percentage was recorded for the cultures of VAS2.5 (19.3 ± 0.7%) and VON5.3 (16.4 ± 1.5%) at 25 °C, notably rich in ^{Δ5,8,11,14,17}C20:5, while PAT2.7 proved a major producer of ^Δ9C16:1. The predominant lipid fraction was glycolipids and sphingolipids (41.3-57.4%) for VAS2.5, PAT2.7 at 25 °C and VON5.3 at 20 °C and neutral lipids (55.6-63.5%) in the other cultures, indicating the different effect of temperature on lipid synthesis of the various microalgae. Additionally, almost all strains stood out for their high protein content, exceeding 50% in the culture of PAT3.2B, but polysaccharide and pigment content were not high. The biochemical profiles of the isolates showcased their suitability for use primarily as feed additives in the aquaculture sector.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114548/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160297","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":"Oral Microbiota Dysbiosis in Firefighters and the Potential Contributing Environmental and Lifestyle Factors Based on a Case-Control Study.","authors":"Sukanta S Bhattacharya, Brijesh Yadav, Roman Jandarov, William A Jetter, Jagjit S Yadav","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051154","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Epidemiological studies show firefighters have increased risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. To explore links between occupational/environmental exposures and dysbiosis-associated health risks, this case-control study compared oral microbiota of age-matched firefighters (n = 13) and non-firefighters (n = 13) using next-generation sequencing. Firefighters exhibited significantly reduced overall microbial diversity (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) and compositional shifts. Firmicutes increased from 53.5% to 68.5%, and Bacteroidetes from 9.5% to 14.1%, while Proteobacteria decreased from 24.6% to 8.3%, and Fusobacteria from 3.3% to 1.1%. This resulted in a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (5.63 vs. 4.89 in controls), indicating a pro-inflammatory oral microenvironment. At the family level, Streptococcaceae (45.1% to 60.3%) and Prevotellaceae (6.2% to 10.0%) increased, whereas Neisseriaceae (17.7% to 4.9%) and Fusobacteriaceae (2.1% to 0.8%) decreased. The genus <i>Streptococcus</i> dominated firefighters' microbiota, rising from 45.1% to 60.3%. Diversity indices confirmed reduced microbial evenness and richness in firefighters. Metadata analysis linked frequent fire exposures to perturbations in Comamonadaceae and Carnobacteriaceae (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). Barbecue consumption, a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, correlated with elevated Spirochaetaceae and Peptostreptococcaceae. This first report on oral dysbiosis in firefighters reveals significant alterations in microbiota abundance, diversity, and evenness, implying potential health risks for this group.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160310","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":"Programming Effects of Maternal Nutrition on Intestinal Development and Microorganisms of Offspring: A Review on Pigs.","authors":"Liang Hu, Fali Wu, Lianqiang Che","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051151","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intestinal development is a critical determinant of growth and overall health in pigs. Accumulating evidence underscores the significant influence of intestinal microbiota on essential physiological functions and systemic health. Dietary nutrients play a pivotal role in regulating both intestinal development and the composition of intestinal microbiota. Optimal early-life nutrient provision ensures proper intestinal growth and functional maturation, with maternal nutrition emerging as a key factor shaping intestinal development during fetal and neonatal stages. This review synthesizes recent studies on maternal nutrient intake-encompassing protein, energy, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, probiotics, and prebiotics-and their effects on intestinal growth and health of offspring. Emerging multi-omics evidence has revealed that gestational and lactational nutrition dynamically coordinates offspring intestinal development through vertical microbial transmission and epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation. These processes further regulate intestinal barrier maturation, mucosal immunity, and enteroendocrine signaling. Collectively, this review emphasizes that enhancing maternal nutrition can promote postnatal growth by enhancing intestinal development and early microbial colonization in piglets. Further research is crucial to determining the optimal nutritional strategies during the perinatal period.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12114570/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160024","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":"Hemolysin-like Protein of '<i>Candidatus</i> Phytoplasma Mali' Is an NTPase and Binds <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> Toc33.","authors":"Kajohn Boonrod, Alisa Konnerth, Mario Braun, Gabi Krczal","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13051150","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13051150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>'<i>Candidatus</i> Phytoplasma mali' is associated with apple proliferation, a devastating disease in fruit production. Using genome analysis, a gene encoding a hemolysin-like protein was identified. It was postulated that this protein could be an effector. However, the function of this protein is unknown. It is shown that the hemolysin-like protein binds to a GTP binding protein, Toc33, of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> in yeast two-hybrid analysis and that the Toc33-binding domain is located in the C-terminus of the domain of unknown function (DUF21) of the protein. The biochemical studies reveal that the protein can hydrolyze phosphate of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. Transgenic <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i> plants expressing the protein show no discernible change in phenotype. Phytoplasma have a much-reduced genome, lacking important genes for catabolic pathways or nucleotide production; therefore, the hemolysin-like protein plays a role in the uptake of plant nucleotides from their host and hydrolyzes these nucleotides for energy and their own biosynthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12113829/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160075","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}