Microorganisms最新文献

{"title":"First Detection of <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. DNA in Questing <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> Ticks.","authors":"Marina L Meli, Theres Meili, Benita Pineroli, Eva Boenzli, Ramon M Eichenberger, Barbara Willi, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092188","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feline cytauxzoonosis is an emerging tick-borne disease in Europe. While infections have been reported in different European countries, the tick vector remains unknown. This study investigated 665 ticks collected in 2019 (n = 160), 2022 (n = 7), and 2024 (n = 498) in a <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. hotspot region in central Switzerland (62 ticks from cats; 603 ticks from vegetation). Ticks were morphologically characterized, pooled by origin and life-stage, and screened for <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. 18S rRNA by qPCR and conventional PCR, and positive samples confirmed by sequencing. All ticks belonged to <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> (50 males, 83 females, 532 nymphs). Four tick pools from 2019 tested <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. positive: one pool of 3 non-engorged male ticks from two cats and three pools of 5-6 nymphs each from vegetation. All ticks collected in 2022 and 2024 tested negative. Amplification of the almost full-length (1535 bp, one pool) or partial (140-219 bp, three pools) 18S rRNA gene revealed a sequence identity of 98.6-100% with <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. previously detected in cats from this area. The detection of <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. in questing <i>I. ricinus</i> nymphs suggests a potential role of this tick species in the parasites' transmission cycle in Central Europe and raises the possibility of transstadial or potentially transovarial transmission. Mitochondrial gene sequencing was unsuccessful, but the detected <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. likely represent <i>Cytauxzoon europaeus</i>. Discrepancies between qPCR and conventional PCR results point to possible amplification of tick endosymbionts, highlighting the importance of confirmatory sequencing, particularly when testing tick-derived DNA. Thus, the 18S rRNA qPCR assay used appears suboptimal for screening tick samples, as its specificity in this matrix was limited. In conclusion, this is the first report of <i>Cytauxzoon</i> spp. in questing <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks in Europe. Our findings underscore the need for further research to confirm vector competence and clarify transmission dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176677","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":"Metabarcoding Unveils Seasonal Soil Microbiota Shifts and Their Influence on <i>Boletus edulis</i> and <i>Boletus reticulatus</i> Mycelium in <i>Quercus robur</i> Stands.","authors":"Serena Santolamazza-Carbone, Laura Iglesias-Bernabé, Elena Benito-Rueda, Esther Barreal, Pedro Pablo Gallego","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092196","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092196","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forest ecosystems undergo seasonal shifts in bacterial and fungal communities, but little is known about the specific microbiota associated with <i>Quercus robur</i>-<i>Boletus edulis</i> systems. This study represents the first examination of seasonal changes in soil microbiota in pedunculate oak habitats in Galicia (NW Spain) and their relationship with <i>Boletus edulis</i> and <i>Boletus reticulatus</i> mycelium prevalence and concentration. Soil microbiota richness, diversity, and composition, as well as seasonal variation in <i>Boletus</i> mycelium, were assessed using DNA metabarcoding and qPCR, respectively. Sampling was conducted in autumn at two 30-40-year-old <i>Q. robur</i> stands. Bacterial communities were dominated by <i>Acidobacteria</i> (34%) and <i>Proteobacteria</i> (33%), with <i>Acidobacterium</i> (12%), <i>Paludibaculum</i> (9%), and <i>Edaphobacter</i> (7%) identified as most abundant. Fungal communities were primarily Basidiomycota (93%), led by <i>Russula</i> (46%). For both bacteria and fungi, the highest OTU richness was observed in September, followed by a significant decrease in October and a partial recovery in November. <i>Boletus</i> species were found to exhibit positive correlations with specific bacteria (e.g., <i>Massilia</i>, <i>Rhizobium</i>) and fungi (e.g., <i>Amanita</i>, <i>Clavaria</i>, <i>Inocybe</i>, <i>Scleroderma</i>, <i>Suillus</i> and <i>Mortierella</i>), suggesting a potential influence of these microbes on mycelium development. This study provides novel insights into the seasonal dynamics of soil microbiota and their potential role in <i>Boletus</i> ecology, thereby advancing understanding of host-microbe interactions in temperate forests.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472445/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176566","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":"Emerging Roles of the Gut Microbiome in Musculoskeletal Injury and Repair.","authors":"Joseph L Roberts, Connor C Park","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092193","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092193","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the past decade, significant attention has been directed toward understanding the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease. The gut microbiota, comprising a complex and diverse community of microorganisms, has been linked to numerous conditions, including metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. Recently, a growing body of evidence has revealed a compelling relationship between gut microbiota composition and musculoskeletal injury recovery, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic target. Musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and tendon or ligament injuries, commonly lead to changes in the community structure of the gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and systemic inflammation, processes known to negatively influence tissue repair. Preclinical studies demonstrate that microbiota-targeted interventions, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, effectively restore gut barrier integrity, modulate inflammation, and normalize gut-derived metabolite profiles. Despite these promising findings, critical gaps remain in translating these effects into clinical practice, particularly regarding the mechanisms linking specific microbiota changes to improved musculoskeletal healing outcomes. Future research incorporating rigorous clinical trials, multi-omics analyses, and advanced predictive tools, including artificial intelligence and microbiome-informed digital twins, is urgently needed to fully harness the therapeutic potential of microbiome-based interventions in musculoskeletal injury recovery. This narrative review provides insights into our evolving understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiota and musculoskeletal injury and explores the potential of gut microbiota-targeted therapies for improved healing outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472215/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176507","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":"Unveiling Bacterial Diversity in Portuguese Red Wine Effluents Through a Metagenomic Approach.","authors":"Ana Gabriela Gomes, Ana Cláudia Sousa, João S Carreira, Alberto Oliveira, Marta C Justino, Carla Amarelo Santos","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092192","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The sustainable reuse of agro-industrial effluents requires a detailed understanding of their microbial composition, especially in the context of integrated vineyard-winery ecosystems. This study investigated the bacterial communities present in winery effluents generated during the early stages of red wine production, using samples collected at a winery in the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal. Metagenomic analysis targeting the 16S rRNA gene was used to characterise microbial diversity and identify taxa with potential relevance for biotechnology and environmental applications. The effluents exhibited a diverse microbiome, including <i>Prevotella paludivivens</i>, species from the <i>Lactobacillus</i> genus, and members of the Clostridiaceae family, the latter representing about 5% of the total community. Functional profiling of lactic acid bacteria revealed the predominance of <i>Oenococcus</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i> genera, highlighting adaptive traits that may be beneficial under stress conditions. These results suggest that winery effluents, often considered waste, harbour microbial communities with functional potential that extends beyond fermentation, contributing to a broader grape-wine microbial system. The findings emphasise the value of studying winemaking byproducts as reservoirs of microbial diversity and as resources for developing innovative and sustainable applications in biotechnology and environmental management within the wine industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472228/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176666","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":"Probiotic Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Moroccan Traditional Food Products.","authors":"Ange Olivier Parfait Yao, Majid Mounir, Hary Razafindralambo, Philippe Jacques","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092201","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study assessed the performance and potential use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Moroccan traditional foods as probiotics in animal feed. Five LAB strains <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> from whey sourdough, <i>Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides</i> and <i>Leuconostoc mesenteroides</i> from goat cheese, <i>Enterococcus durans</i> and <i>Lacticaseibacillus casei</i> from fermented milk were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Probiotic traits were evaluated by measuring acid/bile tolerance, cell surface hydrophobicity, emulsifying properties, antimicrobial activity and organic acid production, and safety checked through hemolysis and antibiotic sensitivity tests. <i>L. plantarum</i>, <i>L. casei</i>, and <i>E. durans</i> showed high survival rates after 24 h of culture under acid/bile stress conditions. The surface hydrophobicity of all strains ranged from 14.4 to 39.2%. <i>L. plantarum</i> showed the highest emulsifying capacity (81.4%) and stability (20%) after 24 h. Most strains inhibited pathogenic <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>, <i>Bacillus cereus</i>, and <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Metabolite profiling revealed <i>L. pseudomesenteroides</i> as an interesting butyric acid-producing bacterium and <i>L. plantarum</i> as a remarkable strain releasing high content of organic acids. Their antibiotic susceptibility and non-hemolytic nature support their safety and potential use as feed additives.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472489/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176593","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":"<i>Cutibacterium acnes</i> Phylotyping and Antibiotic Resistance to Six Antibiotics: A Bulgarian Study.","authors":"Lyudmila Boyanova, Georgi Dimitrov, Vessela Raykova, Kircho Patrikov, Raina Gergova, Rumyana Markovska","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092185","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092185","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Cutibacterium acnes</i> subspecies/phylotypes can cause infections requiring antibiotic therapy. Phylotyping of 73 (55 acneic and 18 non-acneic) <i>C. acnes</i> strains was performed, and antibiotic susceptibility was tested by E tests, breakpoint susceptibility test, or disk diffusion method. The dominant phylotype in both acneic and non-acneic strains was IA1 (56.2%). Phylotype II was >3-fold more frequent in non-acneic than acneic isolates. Resistance in acneic strains was >41% for clindamycin, 36.4% for tetracycline and 15.9% for levofloxacin, and that in non-acneic strains was >38% for clindamycin, 22.2% for tetracycline and 5.6% for levofloxacin. No strain was piperacillin/tazobactam or vancomycin resistant. Amoxicillin resistance was found in both acneic (5.4%) and non-acneic strains (11.1%), and was rare (1.8%) in phylotype I but higher (23.5%) in other strains. Double resistance was found in 32.6% of acneic and 22.2% of the non-acneic strains, and 9.3% of acneic strains displayed multidrug resistance. In conclusion, IA1 phylotype was dominant in both acneic and non-acneic strains, and type II was more frequent in non-acneic isolates. The detection (at >6%) of amoxicillin resistance represents a rare yet important finding. The presence of double/multidrug resistance strongly implies the need of susceptibility-guided therapy of the associated infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472480/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176233","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":"Neutralizing Antibodies vs. Viruses: Interacting Mechanisms and Escape Tactics.","authors":"Hao Lu, Yichen Liu, Yue Song, Longxin Chen, Limeng Zhang, Runting Li, Xiaoning Nie, Guoqiang Zhu, Xueyan Ding, Linqing Wang","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092199","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs) serve as critical components of host immune defense, countering viral infections by specifically recognizing epitopes on viral surface antigens to block viral entry and replication. This review elucidates the functional mechanisms of VNAs, with a focus on the dynamic interactions between the Fab region and viral epitopes, including steric hindrance and conformational locking, as well as the effector functions mediated by the Fc segment. Furthermore, we dissect diverse viral evasion strategies against neutralization that have emerged in recent studies, encompassing antigenic drift/shift, glycan shielding, epitope occlusion, antibody-dependent enhancement, and mutation accumulation under population immune pressure. Integrating structural biology insights with clinical evidence, we analyze challenges in developing broadly neutralizing antibodies and highlight innovative technological approaches. Our synthesis aims to establish a theoretical framework for the rational design and clinical translation of next-generation VNAs, thereby advancing novel strategies for antiviral therapeutics development.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176713","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":"Role of Lipidomics in Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review of Emerging Evidence.","authors":"Vasiliki E Georgakopoulou, Konstantinos Dodos, Vassiliki C Pitiriga","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092190","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092190","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) remain a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, yet accurate pathogen identification and risk stratification continue to pose clinical challenges. Lipidomics-the comprehensive analysis of lipid species within biological systems-has emerged as a promising tool to unravel host-pathogen interactions and reveal novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from nine original studies applying mass spectrometry-based lipidomic profiling in human LRTIs, including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Across diverse study designs, sample types, and analytical platforms, consistent alterations in lipid metabolism were observed. Perturbations in phospholipid classes, particularly phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs), were frequently associated with disease severity and immune activation. The ratios of PC to LPC and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) emerged as markers of inflammatory remodeling. Sphingolipids-including sphingomyelins (SMs) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-were identified as key modulators of monocyte and neutrophil activation. Fatty acid-derived lipid mediators such as oxylipins (e.g., 12,13-epoxyoctadecenoic acid and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid) and acylcarnitines reflected pathogen-specific immune responses and mitochondrial dysfunction. Several lipid-based classifiers demonstrated superior diagnostic and prognostic performance compared to conventional clinical scores, including the CURB-65 and pneumonia severity index. However, significant heterogeneity in experimental design, lipid identification workflows, and reporting standards limits inter-study comparability. While preliminary findings support the integration of lipidomics into infectious disease research, larger multi-omic and longitudinal studies are required. This review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of lipidomic alterations in human LRTIs and highlights their emerging translational relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472515/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176346","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":"An Overview of the Epidemiology of Multidrug Resistance and Bacterial Resistance Mechanisms: What Solutions Are Available? A Comprehensive Review.","authors":"Victoria Birlutiu, Rares-Mircea Birlutiu","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092194","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the most critical public health challenges of the 21st century, threatening to undermine the foundations of modern medicine. In 2019, bacterial infections accounted for 13.6% of all global deaths, with more than 7.7 million fatalities directly attributable to 33 bacterial pathogens, most prominently <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. Resistance mechanisms are multifactorial, encompassing enzymatic degradation, target modification, efflux pump overexpression, reduced membrane permeability, and biofilm formation, often in combination, leading to multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant, and pandrug-resistant phenotypes. Alarmingly, projections estimate that by 2050 AMR could result in over 10 million deaths annually. This comprehensive review synthesizes global epidemiological data, insights into bacterial resistance mechanisms, and emerging therapeutic solutions, including novel antibiotics such as lasso peptides and macrocyclic peptides (e.g., zosurabalpin), naturally derived compounds (e.g., corallopyronin, clovibactin, chlorotonil A), and targeted inhibitors (e.g., Debio 1453 for <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i>). Addressing the AMR crisis requires coordinated international efforts, accelerated drug discovery, and the integration of innovative non-antibiotic approaches to preserve the efficacy of existing therapies and ensure preparedness against future bacterial threats.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472688/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176543","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":"<i>Acanthospermum australe</i> Extract Inhibits the Chaperone Activity of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Heat Shock Protein 70-1.","authors":"Ntombikhona Appear Koza, Ntokozo Nkosinathi Myeza, Heinrich Hoppe, Rebamang Anthony Mosa, Abidemi Paul Kappo, Mthokozisi Blessing Cedric Simelane, Andrew Rowland Opoku","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13092195","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13092195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The resistance of malaria parasites towards the current antimalarial therapies continues to fuel the search for new antimalarial drugs, preferably from natural sources. This study aimed to investigate the potential of the dichloromethane extract of <i>Acanthospermum australe</i> to inhibit <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> heat shock protein 70-1 (<i>Pf</i>Hsp70-1). The plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay was used to determine the antiplasmodial activity of the crude extract against the chloroquine-sensitive <i>P. falciparum</i> strain 3D7. The inhibitory effect of the plant extract on the chaperone activity of <i>P. falciparum</i> heat shock protein 70-1 (<i>Pf</i>Hsp70-1) was determined using the ATPase, thermally induced luciferase and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) assays. The extract showed a significantly high activity against <i>P. falciparum</i> strain 3D7 with an IC₅₀ value of 1.3 µg/mL. A decrease in thermally induced aggregation of MDH and luciferase was observed when each of the proteins was incubated with <i>Pf</i>Hsp70-1 only. However, an increased protein aggregation was observed when the proteins were incubated with <i>Pf</i>Hsp70-1 in the presence of the plant extract. The extract also exhibited inhibitory activity on the ATPase activity of <i>Pf</i>Hsp70-1. The results obtained from this study suggest that <i>A. australe</i> extract contains compounds that could target malaria parasite Hsp70 functions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12472254/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145176743","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}