Microorganisms最新文献

{"title":"Thermally Induced <i>lux</i>-Operon Promoter of <i>Photorhabdus hainanensis</i> and <i>Photorhabdus temperata</i>.","authors":"Vadim V Fomin, Valeriia O Matveeva, Kamilla V Mekhantseva, Daniil I Sakharov, Sergei E Spiridonov, Sergey V Bazhenov, Nanette Hope Sumaya, Ilya V Manukhov","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092076","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The bioluminescence of entomopathogenic bacteria of the genus <i>Photorhabdus</i> was considered to be constitutive. However, it has recently been shown that under heat shock conditions, <i>lux</i>-operon is activated in <i>Photorhabdus temperata</i> cells. In the present study, bioluminescence thermoactivation was investigated in two isolated strains, <i>Photorhabdus hainanensis</i> FV2401 and <i>P. temperata</i> FV2402. The luminescence of the more thermotolerant <i>P. hainanensis</i> cells was activated at higher temperatures than that of <i>P. temperata</i>. At the maximum induction temperatures of 37 °C for FV2401 and 34 °C for FV2402, higher bioluminescence activation was observed in FV2401, whereas the increase in <i>lux</i>-genes mRNA levels was approximately the same in both strains. In <i>P. hainanensis</i>, elevated temperatures also affected the expression of the <i>hexA</i>, <i>madB</i>, and <i>csrB</i> genes, which are indirectly involved in luminescence in <i>Photorhabdus</i>. The heat-activated <i>lux</i>-operon promoter in <i>P. hainanensis</i> and <i>P. temperata</i> was determined. This is a σ⁷⁰-dependent promoter that differs in its distance from the <i>luxC</i> start codon. When promoter variants with or without the 5'-UTR mRNA were transferred to the heterologous <i>Escherichia coli</i> system, heat activation of luminescence was retained in constructs containing only the promoter and was independent of σ³² and σ^E, whereas constructs with the 5'-UTR exhibited repression of luminescence following thermoactivation. The obtained data on the temperature-induced promoter of the <i>lux</i>-operon can broaden understanding of the ecological and biological functions of <i>Photorhabdus</i> bioluminescence under heat shock conditions and provide a basis for the development of novel biosensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609902/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062730","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":"Efficient Cadmium-Tolerant Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Loaded on Bone-Derived Biochar Effectively Alleviated Cadmium Pollution and Phosphorus Deficiency in <i>Brassica napus</i> L. Plantation.","authors":"Zhilian Gong, Xiao Zhang, Zhengyan Chou, Lingshan Li, Xuejiao Chen, Yong Li, Lin Wan, Zhipeng Xie, Jinrui Zhang, Haocheng Wang, Ziyuan Qiu","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092072","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Both cadmium (Cd) contamination and phosphorus deficiency pose major constraints to sustainable crop production. This study loaded highly efficient Cd-tolerant phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (CdTPSB) onto calcium- and phosphorus-rich pig bone biochar (PBB) to construct a functional composite (MPBB), which was subsequently applied in a <i>Brassica napus</i> L. pot experiment. The results revealed that the CdTPSB possessed strong capabilities in phosphate solubilization (383.67-520.19 mg L^-1), Cd immobilization (64.67-66.67%), IAA production (113.24-114.27 μg mL^-1), and siderophore activity (65.02-89.08%). Batch experiments further showed that MPBB's efficiencies in phosphate solubilization and Cd immobilization were significantly enhanced, which was putatively attributable to improved CdTPSB colonization and viability as well as to the activation of PBB functional groups. In the pot experiment, relative to the control treatment, MPBB significantly decreased the soil diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-extractable Cd content by 50.47% while increasing the soil labile phosphorus content by 3.32 times (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05). This was correlated with the enrichment of Cd-immobilizing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, the upregulation of phosphate-solubilizing functional genes (<i>pqqC</i> and <i>phoD</i>), and enhanced soil enzyme activity. Consequently, Cd content in the shoots of <i>Brassica napus</i> L. was further decreased by 74.00%, which was correlated with increased polysaccharide content and enhanced Cd retention in root cell walls. Overall, this study highlighted MPBB's potential as an eco-friendly Cd remediation agent and phosphate fertilizer to support the sustainable production of <i>Brassica napus</i> L.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609747/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062652","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":"Paired In Vitro Susceptibility of Cefiderocol and Colistin in Colistin-Resistant, Extensively Drug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli: A Single-Centre, MIC-Based Analysis of 236 Clinical Isolates.","authors":"Elena Hogea, Nicolae Ciprian Pilut, Felix Bratosin, Andra-Nicole Rusnac, Oana Plavitu, Livia Stanga, Horia Silviu Branea","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092071","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative bacilli increasingly exhaust therapeutic options, leaving colistin and cefiderocol as last-resort agents. We assessed whether cefiderocol retains in vitro activity against colistin-resistant isolates, without inferring clinical efficacy. We analysed 236 non-duplicate XDR Gram-negative isolates from 220 patients. Cefiderocol and colistin MICs were determined via reference broth microdilution with EUCAST-required quality control (iron-depleted broth for cefiderocol; <i>mcr-1</i>-positive <i>Escherichia coli</i> NCTC 13846 for colistin) and interpreted using species-specific EUCAST v16.1 (2026) breakpoints (cefiderocol: Enterobacterales S ≤ 2, I 4, R > 4 mg/L; <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> S ≤ 2, R > 2 mg/L; colistin: <i>P. aeruginosa</i> S ≤ 4 mg/L). Because EUCAST publishes no clinical cefiderocol breakpoint for <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, the primary analysis comprised species with breakpoints for both agents (<i>n</i> = 150; 126 paired); <i>A. baumannii</i> is reported as an MIC distribution and the pooled 236-isolate comparison as secondary. In the primary analysis, 120/150 isolates (80.0%) were cefiderocol-susceptible at standard or increased exposure. Among paired isolates, cefiderocol covered 77.0% versus 43.7% for colistin; agreement was negligible (Cohen's κ = 0.020), with 54 isolates favouring cefiderocol and 12 the reverse (McNemar <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conditional in vitro susceptibility among 71 colistin-resistant isolates was 76.1% (95% CI 65.0-84.5), giving 33.3 percentage points of incremental coverage and one additional cefiderocol-susceptible isolate per 2.3 matched isolates tested. Secondary analyses were directionally consistent (incremental coverage 21.8-33.3 points). These in vitro findings support paired testing of both agents to identify isolates retaining cefiderocol activity when colistin does not; clinical benefit was not assessed.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609237/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062790","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":"Proteomic Profiling Reveals Intracellular Regulatory Network Disturbance Induced by QseB Deletion in <i>Glaesserella parasuis</i>.","authors":"Xuefeng Yan, Congwei Gu, Mingde Zhao, Lvqin He","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092073","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The highly conserved QseB/QseC two-component system (TCS) in <i>Glaesserella parasuis</i> (<i>G. parasuis</i>) regulates gene expression, with QseC as a histidine kinase and QseB as a response regulator. This study employed data-independent acquisition (DIA) quantitative proteomics to investigate the effects of <i>qseB</i> deletion on bacterial morphology, proteome, and molecular regulation. Electron microscopy revealed that the Δ<i>qseB</i> mutant exhibited ultrastructural damage, including cell shrinkage, membrane impairment, cell wall separation, and protoplast dissolution, indicating that the loss of <i>qseB</i> resulted in severe compromise of cellular structural integrity. A total of 1493 proteins were identified by DIA quantitative proteomics. Fifty-five proteins were differentially expressed between the Δ<i>qseB</i> mutant and the wild-type strain SC1401. Among them, 24 were upregulated and 31 were downregulated. Upregulated proteins were mainly heat shock proteins (DnaK, HslV/U, ClpB), molecular chaperones (GroL, HtpG, HslO), and co-chaperone GroES, along with translation inhibitors RaiA and RsfS. These proteins participate in stress response, protein folding, and proteostasis maintenance. The downregulated proteins included QseC, LolB, CarB, ThiL, and Tgt, which are linked to TCSs, quorum sensing, and transport functions. KEGG analysis indicated that the differentially expressed proteins are involved in RNA degradation, amino acid metabolism, and ABC transporters. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified 10 core hub proteins, including GroEL, HslU, and QseC. These proteins may play key roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Integrated multi-omics analysis identified three genes (<i>dnaK</i>, <i>hslU</i>, <i>hslO</i>) that were differentially expressed in both transcriptomic and proteomic data. qRT-PCR results confirmed these findings. In summary, loss of <i>qseB</i> disrupts the QseB/QseC system. This affects stress response, metabolism, and cell structure. These changes may affect bacterial fitness and host adaptation, providing clues for understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of <i>G. parasuis</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608904/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062767","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":"Antibiotic Selection for Sustained Local Therapy May Be Important to Reduce <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Dominance Against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and Bone Response Modulation in an Ovine Polymicrobial Fracture-Related Infection Model.","authors":"Dustin Williams, Robert Falconer, David Rothberg, Mario Lopez, Jacob Adams, Alice Miller, Richard Tyler Epperson, Brooke Kawaguchi, Caroline Garrett, Paul Pasquina, Nicholas Ashton","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092062","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Polymicrobial fracture-related infections (FRIs) underpinned by bacterial biofilms pose therapeutic challenges distinct from those of monomicrobial infection, as interspecies dynamics may alter both antimicrobial response and host tissue injury. This study evaluated systemic and local antibiotic strategies in an ovine FRI model co-inoculated with a polymicrobial <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> biofilm. At 21 days, untreated positive controls retained substantial total bioburden yet paradoxically preserved bone volume and exhibited low osteoclast activity, contrasting with the marked osteolysis previously observed in monomicrobial infection controls using this model. Although untreated controls remained <i>S. aureus</i> predominant, their <i>S. aureus</i>:<i>P. aeruginosa</i> ratio declined from approximately 200:1 at inoculation to 15:1, indicating a progressive ecological shift over time. A systemic levofloxacin plus rifampin regimen more effectively reduced <i>S. aureus</i> than <i>P. aeruginosa</i>. Likewise, all antibiotic-treated groups shifted from an <i>S. aureus</i>-dominant inoculum toward <i>P. aeruginosa</i> predominance, consistent with unequal antimicrobial suppression altering polymicrobial pathogen balance. Single-dose local antibiotic powder and calcium sulfate bead strategies provided inconsistent microbiological benefit and failed to preserve bone. Reloadable local antibiotic delivery reduced <i>S. aureus</i> tissue bioburden and preserved the greatest bone volume among antibiotic-treated groups but the antibiotics selected for delivery did not prevent persistent <i>P. aeruginosa</i> colonization or the shift in pathogen balance. These findings indicate that microbiological burden reduction, residual pathogen composition, and bone preservation may result in distinct treatment outcomes in polymicrobial FRI. This study highlights the need for appropriate antibiotic selection with ecologically informed, dual targeted local and systemic strategies to manage polymicrobial, biofilm-complicated FRIs.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609462/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062651","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":"Functional Heterogeneity of <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> Subspecies in the Immune Microenvironment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.","authors":"Megumu Yano, Tomonori Kamiya, Yuki Yamamoto, Teppei Kouga, Masahiro Oishi, Miki Nishio, Akira Suzuki, Kishiko Sunami, Naoko Ohtani","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092067","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092067","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) develops through multiple pathogenic and environmental factors. Increasing evidence suggests that the oral microbiota, particularly intratumoral bacteria, is also associated with OSCC progression; however, the relationship between individual bacterial subspecies and the tumor immune microenvironment remains poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i> is enriched in OSCC tissues. In this study, we investigated the biological and immunological properties of <i>F. nucleatum</i> subspecies, with a particular focus on regulatory T-cell (Treg) induction. We reanalyzed our 16S rRNA gene sequencing dataset from 12 oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma specimens at the amplicon sequence variant (ASV) level and examined archived human OSCC tissues by immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Treg differentiation and bacterial metabolite production were examined in vitro, and selected <i>F. nucleatum</i> subspecies were evaluated in a mouse tongue carcinogenesis model (<i>n</i> = 6/group). ASVs most closely matching <i>F. nucleatum</i> subsp. <i>animalis</i> were the most abundant among the detected <i>F. nucleatum</i>-associated ASVs. In three human OSCC specimens with detectable <i>F. nucleatum</i>, FOXP3-positive cells preferentially accumulated in the peritumoral stroma. In vitro, culture supernatants from <i>F. nucleatum</i> subsp. <i>animalis</i>, but not subsp. <i>polymorphum</i>, promoted Treg differentiation in two independent experiments, and butyrate production may be associated with the Treg-promoting strains. In vivo, subsp. <i>animalis</i> significantly increased Ki67-positive, nuclear YAP1-positive, and Foxp3-positive cell numbers, whereas subsp. <i>polymorphum</i> significantly increased only nuclear YAP1-positive cell numbers. Furthermore, FISH demonstrated spatial proximity between <i>F. nucleatum</i> and FOXP3-positive cells in a human OSCC case. These findings indicate functional heterogeneity among <i>F. nucleatum</i> subspecies and suggest that their effects on epithelial and immune parameters differ among subspecies. Our findings support possible subspecies-specific immunomodulatory effects of <i>F. nucleatum</i> in OSCC and highlight the importance of subspecies- and strain-level analyses for understanding the biological significance of the intratumoral microbiota.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609895/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062676","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":"IRAK-M Knockout Exacerbates Inflammation in Mice Infected with <i>Streptococcus equi</i> subsp. <i>zooepidemicus</i>: Observation in the Jejunum.","authors":"Yuxin Che, Yi Xie, Xinyi Qiu, Junxi Lin, Yixin Xiu, Taoyu Yu, Xiaoshu Zhan, Jiedan Liao, Yunfei Huang, Yaqiong Ye, Ziteng Deng","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092068","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Streptococcus equi</i> subsp. <i>zooepidemicus</i> (SEZ) causes severe infections, but the role of the negative regulator interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase M (IRAK-M) in SEZ-induced inflammation is unclear. In this study, male C57BL/6 mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of SEZ at 2 × 10⁷ CFU and were examined 24 h post-injection. SEZ infection triggered overt jejunal hemorrhage and upregulation of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA, confirming local inflammation, with a concurrent marked reduction in both mRNA and protein levels of IRAK M in the jejunum, hinting at its possible role. We next used IRAK-M knockout (IRAK-M^-/-) mice and found that, compared with the WT+SEZ group, the knockout group displayed more severe jejunal hemorrhage, histopathological scores, and neutrophil infiltration, along with a higher bacterial burden and further elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. Mechanistically, IRAK-M deficiency in the jejunum further increased the mRNA expression of MyD88, TRIF, TRAF6, IKKα+β, NF-κBp50, and NF-κBp65 and decreased IκBα mRNA compared with the WT+SEZ group. These findings were paralleled at the protein level, as demonstrated by Western blotting for MyD88, TRAF6, and IKKα+β, and by immunofluorescence in peritoneal macrophages. Importantly, IRAK-M deficiency drove a shift toward the M1 macrophage phenotype in both jejunal tissues and peritoneal macrophages, characterized by upregulation of CD16, CD32, CD80, CD86, iNOS, and MHC II, and downregulation of the M2-associated markers Arg1 and CD206. These findings reveal that SEZ infection causes jejunal inflammation and that IRAK-M knockout worsens this condition, pointing to a role for IRAK-M in regulating inflammatory readouts in this model.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609866/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062739","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":"Repurposing Ponatinib Hydrochloride as an Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Agent Against Multidrug-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.","authors":"Xinhua Wang, Na Kong","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092066","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the continuous escalation of antimicrobial resistance, drug repurposing based on approved drugs has emerged as a promising strategy for the development of novel anti-infective agents. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of the FDA-approved drug Ponatinib hydrochloride against multidrug-resistant <i>S. aureus</i>. Broth microdilution assay showed that ponatinib hydrochloride exhibited potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, while the MICs against Gram-negative bacteria were all >100 μM. In addition, the MICs against 15 clinical multidrug-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> isolates ranged from 6.25 to 25 μM. Time-kill assay further revealed a pronounced concentration- and time-dependent bactericidal effect, with bacterial viability reduced to nearly the detection limit within 24 h at 4 × MIC. Anti-biofilm assays showed that ponatinib hydrochloride significantly inhibited <i>S. aureus</i> biofilm formation and disrupted mature biofilms. Moreover, serial passaging for 30 days did not induce an obvious increase in resistance. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that ponatinib hydrochloride increased membrane permeability, induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and markedly reduced ATP levels. Finally, in a mouse infection model, ponatinib hydrochloride significantly improved the survival of infected mice, with a survival rate of 70% observed in the 15 mg/kg treatment group, while also reducing bacterial burdens and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in tissues. Collectively, ponatinib hydrochloride exhibits potent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> both in vitro and in vivo and represents a promising candidate for anti-MRSA therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609517/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062840","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":"Re-Emerging Bacterial Pathogens, Resistance Genes and Promising Bioindicators in Raw and Treated Sewage-Addressing a Known Issue from a Different Angle and Perspective.","authors":"Karol Korzekwa, Agnieszka Bisak, Tomasz Lepionka, Oliwia Obuch-Woszczatyńska, Klaudia Bylińska, Agnieszka Kauc, Katarzyna Skuza, Bartosz Zaborski, Małgorzata Krzyżowska","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092069","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Municipal wastewater catchments are significant sources of symbiotic, opportunistic, and drug-resistant bacteria that can acquire or enhance their resistance. This \"re-emergence of threats\" presents a serious public health issue, especially during crisis conditions (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to propose a sampling algorithm, identify strategically important sites within the wastewater catchment, expand the range of bacterial indicators, and rapidly confirm potential threats using in vitro diagnostics in both raw and treated sewage. A parallel objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of sequencing methods in pre-epidemic studies. The research was conducted as part of a long-term surveillance program at transportation hubs, healthcare facilities, residential complexes, and wastewater treatment plants in Warsaw, Poland. Total nucleic acid (TNA) was isolated from samples, amplified using qPCR kits, and selected samples underwent next-generation sequencing. In raw sewage, the most frequently detected regions included sequences complementary to the bacterial <i>vanB</i> gene, the Integron Verona-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) gene, and markers for <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>. Treated environmental effluents primarily contained DNA fragments complementary to the bacterial <i>vanB</i> sequence, along with genes related to resistance against oxacillin and imipenem, as well as the VIM gene and <i>Legionella</i> sp. 16S rRNA sequencing of the sewage samples revealed the presence of 12 promising bacterial indicators relevant to public health and environmental hygiene. The proposed algorithm aligns with the provisions of EU Directive 2024/3019 and in vitro diagnostic tests demonstrated the potential and utility of rapid screening analyses of wastewater during disruptions or crises, as well as in situations involving equipment shortages and logistical challenges in healthcare. The proposed expanded range of bioindicators could expedite decision-making regarding preventive measures and medical support for various counties, hospitals, and transportation hubs in large urban areas. The sequencing results further emphasized the need to broaden the scope of the bacterial indicators for environmental surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609701/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062798","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":"Immune Profiling and Rapid Molecular Diagnostics in Severe Respiratory Infections and Sepsis: The Potential Clinical Perspective of CD169 and CD64.","authors":"Chiara Cipriani, Marialaura Fanelli, Vita Petrone, Marina Piccari, Emanuela Balestrieri, Claudia Matteucci, Loredana Sarmati, Nicola Cotugno, Marco Iannetta, Antonella Minutolo, Sandro Grelli","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms14092070","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms14092070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute respiratory infections and sepsis remain major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Rapid pathogen identification and characterization of the host immune response are crucial for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment. CD169 and CD64 have emerged as promising biomarkers for differentiating viral and bacterial infections. This study aimed to characterize hospitalized patients with severe respiratory infections and/or suspected sepsis by evaluating the potential diagnostic performance of CD169 and CD64 and describing pathogen-associated immune profiles. In this pilot study, nineteen patients admitted to Policlinico Tor Vergata were enrolled within the multicenter SIS-NET project together with healthy donors. Respiratory pathogens were identified on sputum and nasopharyngeal swabs using the FAST multiplex molecular assay. Clinical, biochemical, and immunological parameters were collected during hospitalization. Flow cytometry was performed to assess CD169 and CD64 expression and circulating leukocyte subsets. Patients showed marked etiological heterogeneity, including viral, bacterial, fungal, and mixed infections. Elevated inflammatory markers were commonly observed. CD169 expression on HLA-DR+ monocytes significantly increased in patients with only viral infections, especially COVID-19 (n = 4), whereas CD64 expression was higher in patients with only bacterial infections (n = 4). We have also analyzed the opportunistic infections in 5 people that live with HIV infection (PLWH) compared with the other subgroups. These findings support the integration of rapid molecular diagnostics and immune profiling to improve the characterization of severe respiratory infections and highlight CD169 and CD64 as useful biomarkers for patient stratification and clinical management.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13609393/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149062623","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}