Microorganisms最新文献

{"title":"The Role of Quantitative Real-Time PCR in the Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Diagnosis: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Laura Trovato, Maddalena Calvo, Concetta Ilenia Palermo, Guido Scalia","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020409","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020409","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) reports significant mortality rates among critically ill patients. A prompt microbiological diagnosis is essential to establish a coherent antifungal treatment. Despite its low sensitivity and prolonged turn-around time, culture represents the conventional diagnostic technique. Additionally, galactomannan detection may support the diagnostic process. Ultimate generation methods, such as the real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR), integrated the diagnostic procedure to improve the overall laboratory effectiveness, especially regarding a quantitative <i>Aspergillus</i> spp. DNA detection. Herein, we propose a retrospective analysis where a quantitative real-time PCR was performed on respiratory samples belonging to patients with or without probable pulmonary aspergillosis. The study enrolled 62 samples, whose PCR results were compared to culture and galactomannan indexes. Additionally, clinical and general data were collected for all the patients. The qPCR assay reported 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value, while specificity reached 59.2% and the positive predictive value was 76.1%. Moreover, IPA patients reported fungal DNA loads higher than 10³ in a logarithmic scale, while non-aspergillosis episodes reported a maximum level of 10³. We hypothesized a future possibility to define a specific cut-off in distinguishing colonization from infection cases, requiring further investigations and speculations about IPA patients and respiratory samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11858512/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502655","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":"Sheep-Derived <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> M5 Enhances Immunity and Antioxidant Capacity, Alleviates Diarrhea, and Improves Intestinal Health in Early-Weaned Lambs.","authors":"Zhuo Wang, Yuwei Zhao, Dingkun Fan, Jixian Zhang, Qiyu Diao, Kai Cui","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020404","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020404","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The early weaning of lambs frequently leads to weakened immunity, impaired intestinal function, and increased susceptibility to intestinal disease. <i>Lactobacillus</i> plays a role in regulating immunity, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and maintaining intestinal health. This study aims to isolate a strain of <i>Lactobacillus</i> with favorable probiotic properties from sheep feces and investigate its effects on the intestinal health of early-weaned lambs. In this study, the growth characteristics, acid production capacity, bacteriostatic capacity, bile salt tolerance, gastrointestinal fluid tolerance, self-coagulation capacity, and surface hydrophobicity of <i>Lactobacillus</i> isolated from sheep feces were analyzed for in vitro probiotic properties. <i>Lactobacilli</i> with strong probiotic properties were used for in vivo validation. A total of 72 Hu lambs were allocated into four groups: a ewe-reared group (ER), early-weaning group (EW), low-dose <i>Lactobacillus</i> group (LL), and high-dose <i>Lactobacillus</i> group (HL). Early weaning was performed in the EW, LL, and HL groups at the age of 28 days. <i>Lactobacillus johnsonii</i> M5 (<i>L. johnsonii</i> M5), isolated from sheep feces, exhibited strong probiotic properties in vitro. Feeding EW lambs with a low dose of <i>L. johnsonii</i> M5 significantly reduced their diarrhea rate (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Its supplementation increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in serum and jejunal mucosa and decreased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared to the EW group, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were significantly increased in the LL group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Compared to the EW group, feeding with <i>L. johnsonii</i> M5 increased the content of anti-inflammatory cytokines, while reducing the content of pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum and jejunal mucosa (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Feeding early-weaned lambs with <i>L. johnsonii</i> M5 also decreased jejunal crypt depth and increased occludin and claudin-1 in jejunal mucosa (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These findings indicate that feeding early-weaned lambs with <i>L</i>. <i>johnsonii</i> M5 enhances their immunity and antioxidant capacity, improving intestinal health, and mitigates diarrhea in early-weaned lambs.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11858287/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502582","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":"Phenotypic Ultra-Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Ceftazidime-Avibactam: In Support of Antimicrobial Stewardship.","authors":"Inês Martins-Oliveira, Blanca Pérez-Viso, Rosário Gomes, David Abreu, Ana Silva-Dias, Rafael Cantón, Cidália Pina-Vaz","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020414","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020414","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) is a potent broad-spectrum drug combination covering extended-spectrum β-lactamases, AmpC, and carbapenemases of class A and D, OXA-48-type producers. Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing is crucial for the timely de-escalation/escalation of therapy. We evaluate CZA susceptibility using the CE-IVD FASTgramneg kit (FASTinov^®), a ground-breaking 2 h assay, based on flow cytometry technology for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The assay involved rapid bacterial extraction and purification from positive blood cultures (PBCs), followed by a 1 h 37 °C incubation and flow cytometry analysis (Cytoflex, Beckman-Coulter). The susceptibility report was generated using a proprietary software and interpreted using EUCAST and CLSI 2024 criteria. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated against a reference standardized method (disk diffusion) according to ISO20776-2:2021. Overall, 135 Enterobacterales and 73 <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> isolates were studied. Thirty-four isolates were resistant to CZA, including six <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and 28 Enterobacterales (24 metallo-beta-lactamase producers, three KPC variants, and one co-producing KPC+NDM). Sensitivity and specificity reached 100% when using EUCAST and CLSI criteria compared with the reference method. The FASTinov ultra-rapid susceptibility assay for CZA demonstrated excellent results, potentially enabling de-escalation/escalation even before the second dose. Combining the speed of a molecular assay with the comprehensive information of a phenotypic test offers valuable insights for treatment decisions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11858068/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502108","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>Listeria monocytogenes</i> Modulates Macrophage Inflammatory Responses to Facilitate Its Intracellular Survival by Manipulating Macrophage-Derived Exosomal ncRNAs.","authors":"Jian Jiao, Zhongmei Ma, Nengxiu Li, Fushuang Duan, Xuepeng Cai, Yufei Zuo, Jie Li, Qingling Meng, Jun Qiao","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020410","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020410","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles secreted by cells that play vital regulatory roles in intercellular communication and immune responses. <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (<i>L. Monocytogenes</i>, <i>LM</i>) is a notable Gram-positive intracellular parasitic bacterium that infects humans and diverse animal species. However, the specific biological function of exosomes secreted by macrophages during <i>L. Monocytogenes</i> infection (hereafter EXO-LM) remains elusive. Here, we discovered that EXO-LM stimulated the secretion of inflammation-associated cytokines by macrophages, facilitating the intracellular survival of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> within macrophages. Transcriptomic analysis shows that EXO-LM significantly upregulates immune recognition and inflammation-related signaling pathways in macrophages. Furthermore, a ceRNA regulatory network comprising exosomal ncRNAs and macrophage RNAs was constructed through EXO-LM transcriptome sequencing. Utilizing bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter assays, we identified two potential binding sites between lncRNA Rpl13a-213 and miR-132-3p. Cell transfection experiments demonstrated that Rpl13a-213 overexpression augmented pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in macrophages, in contrast to the suppression by miR-132-3p overexpression. The decrease in Rpl13a-213 upon EXO-LM stimulation enhances miR-132-3p expression, dampening the inflammatory response in macrophages and aiding <i>L. monocytogenes</i> intracellular survival. This study unveils the immunomodulatory function of exosomal ncRNAs originating from macrophages, which provides fresh perspectives into the mechanisms underlying macrophage inflammatory response regulation by <i>L. monocytogenes</i>-infected cell-derived exosomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11858176/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502326","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":"Descriptive Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Genotype IV SHEV ORF3-Expressing HepG2 Cells.","authors":"Hanwei Jiao, Chi Meng, Fengyuan Jiao, Gengxu Zhou, Lingjie Wang, Shengping Wu, Cailiang Fan, Jixiang Li, Liting Cao, Yu Zhao, Yichen Luo","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020412","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020412","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Swine hepatitis E (HEV) is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the swine hepatitis E virus (SHEV). Open reading frame 3 (ORF3) is a key virulence factor in swine HEV, playing a crucial role in the release of viral particles, the modulation of the host innate immune response, and regulation of autophagy and apoptosis, etc. However, its main function and pathogenic mechanism remain incompletely understood. <b>Results:</b> In our study, adenoviruses ADV4-ORF3 and ADV4-GFP were successfully constructed and mediated the overexpression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-ORF3 and EGFP in HepG2 cells. A total of 217 differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were screened by high-throughput sequencing, and 27 statistically significant differentially expressed genes were screened for further quantitative real-time reverse transcription (qRT-PCR) verification by functional enrichment (Gene Ontology [GO] and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes [KEGG]). They are mainly involved in six pathways: the cellular response to unfolded protein, inflammatory response, cytokine activity, TNF signaling pathway, influenza A, and pathways in cancer. In a comparative analysis of transcriptome and mRNA expression profiles of lncRNA sequencing, the results showed that 3 mRNAs of GPX1, MDM4, and CLDN and 39 transcripts overlapped and have been identified. <b>Conclusions:</b> Eight differential genes, HSPA1A, HSPA1B, PLD3, RELA, GPI, SAMHD1, RPS6KA4, and PIK3CB, were successfully verified. Comparing and analyzing the results of the two sequencing methods indicated that the 3 mRNAs of GPX1, MDM4, and CLDN and 39 transcripts overlapped and have been identified in SHEV ORF3-expressing HepG2 cells, which has laid a genetic foundation for the physiological function and mechanism of SHEV ORF3.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11858143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502345","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":"Histopathological and Proteomics Analysis of Shrimp <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> Infected with <i>Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei</i>.","authors":"Ping Ni, Yingyao Ma, Bingxin Shi, Mengqiang Wang","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020402","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei</i> (EHP) is a microsporidian pathogen that primarily infects the hepatopancreas of <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>. Previous studies on EHP detection primarily focused on histology, in situ hybridization (ISH), and PCR, mainly concentrating on hepatopancreatic infections, with limited research on extra-hepatopancreatic tissues. This study investigates the pathogenic mechanisms of EHP infection in <i>L. vannamei</i> through molecular quantification, histopathology, and proteomics analysis. RT-qPCR was employed to examine the infection differences across various tissues at the molecular level, revealing that the hepatopancreas, stomach, midgut, muscle, gills, and antennal glands are susceptible tissues. Pathological analysis, combining H&E staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry, identified the EHP-targeted sites at the tissue level. Masson's staining effectively highlighted fibrosis, unveiling the histopathological characteristics of chronic EHP infection, while immunohistochemistry enhanced the specificity of EHP localization. The pathological features of EHP infection were primarily characterized by inflammation, cell degeneration and necrosis, and the accumulation of microsporidia in the cytoplasm. Proteomics analysis was used to interpret the histopathological findings, revealing significant enrichment of pathways related to inflammation, immune regulation, metabolism, and apoptosis regulation. These findings provide new insights into the infection mechanisms and tissue tropism of EHP.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11857975/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502512","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":"Predictive Value of Direct Disk Diffusion Testing from Positive Blood Cultures for Detection of Antimicrobial Nonsusceptibility.","authors":"Tammy Ting-Yan Wong, Chung-Ho Lee, Hester Wing-Sum Luk, Cindy Wing-Sze Tse, Pak-Leung Ho","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020398","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020398","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global threat, particularly in the context of bloodstream infections. Early antimicrobial susceptibility testing plays a crucial role in guiding clinicians to optimize treatment and enhance patient outcomes. Direct disk diffusion testing (dDDT), utilizing positive blood culture broth as an inoculum, provides results one day earlier than the standard method using bacterial colonies. This retrospective study evaluated the ability of dDDT to predict nonsusceptibility to commonly used antibiotics. From January 2021 to December 2023, a total of 1473 blood cultures positive for a single pathogen (Enterobacterales, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, β-hemolytic streptococci, or <i>Enterococcus</i> spp.) were examined. The results of dDDT were compared against the standard disk diffusion method as the reference standard. A total of 9754 organism-antibiotic pairs were analyzed. The positive predictive values were more than 98% for clinically significant resistant phenotypes, including ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefepime, and meropenem nonsusceptibility in Enterobacterales, ceftazidime and meropenem nonsusceptibility in <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, and cefoxitin resistance in <i>S. aureus</i>. Overall, sensitivities exceeded 98% for the majority of organism-antibiotic pairs, with specificities ranging from 88.4% to 100%. Categorical agreement was high at 97.9%, ranging from 88.8% to 100% across organism groups. The overall rates of major error and very major error were very low, at 0.2% and 0.04%, respectively, and ranged from 0% to 1.5% and 0% to 0.04%, respectively, across organism groups. In conclusion, dDDT is a reliable and expedient method for detecting antibiotic nonsusceptibility, making it a valuable tool for the timely management of bloodstream infections caused by resistant organisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11857890/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502354","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":"Visceral Leishmaniasis in a 25-Year-Old Female Kidney Transplant Recipient from a Non-Endemic Region: A Case Report from Romania.","authors":"Alin Gabriel Mihu, Mariana Patiu, Delia Monica Dima, Daniela Adriana Oatis, Cristina Mihaela Cismaru, Rodica Lighezan, Tudor Rares Olariu","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020403","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020403","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Visceral leishmaniasis is a rare parasitic infection in non-endemic regions such as Romania. We report the case of a 25-year-old female kidney transplant recipient from Cluj County, Romania, who developed persistent bicytopenia with anemia and thrombocytopenia. Despite no history of travel outside Cluj County and being the only organ recipient from the same donor to experience signs and symptoms, she was diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis. The second bone marrow aspirate performed revealed <i>Leishmania</i> amastigotes. She was quickly sent to Victor Babes Infectious Disease Hospital in Bucharest for additional tests and treatment. The kidney function of the patient was maintained. This case highlights the importance of considering leishmaniasis in immunosuppressed patients presenting with unexplained cytopenia, even in non-endemic regions. This is the first documented case of visceral leishmaniasis in a kidney transplant recipient in Romania. The present report could serve as a foundation for future educational programs targeted toward informing both healthcare providers and patients about the risks, diagnosis, and management of leishmaniasis in immunosuppressed individuals in non-endemic regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11858124/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502412","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":"The Role of Active Packaging in the Defense Against Foodborne Pathogens with Particular Attention to Bacteriophages.","authors":"Rajesh V Wagh, Ruchir Priyadarshi, Ajahar Khan, Zohreh Riahi, Jeyakumar Saranya Packialakshmi, Pavan Kumar, Sandeep N Rindhe, Jong-Whan Rhim","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020401","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020401","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing demand for food safety and the need to combat emerging foodborne pathogens have driven the development of innovative packaging solutions. Active packaging, particularly those incorporating antimicrobial agents, has emerged as a promising approach to enhance food preservation and safety. Among these agents, bacteriophages (phages) have gained significant attention due to their specificity, efficacy, and natural origin. This manuscript explores the role of active packaging in protecting against foodborne pathogens, with a particular focus on bacteriophages. The review overviews recent advances in antimicrobials in food packaging, followed by a detailed discussion of bacteriophages, including their classification, mode of action, multidisciplinary applications, and their use as antimicrobial agents in active food packaging. The manuscript also highlights commercially available bacteriophage-based products and addresses the challenges and limitations associated with their integration into packaging materials. Despite their potential, issues such as stability, regulatory hurdles, and consumer acceptance remain critical considerations. In conclusion, bacteriophages represent a promising tool in active packaging for enhancing food safety, but further research and innovation are needed to overcome existing barriers and fully realize their potential in the food industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11858251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502641","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":"Molecular Evolution of the <i>Fusion</i> (<i>F</i>) Genes in Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 2.","authors":"Tatsuya Shirai, Fuminori Mizukoshi, Ryusuke Kimura, Rina Matsuoka, Mitsuru Sada, Kazuya Shirato, Haruyuki Ishii, Akihide Ryo, Hirokazu Kimura","doi":"10.3390/microorganisms13020399","DOIUrl":"10.3390/microorganisms13020399","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV2) is a clinically significant respiratory pathogen, which highlights the necessity of studies on its molecular evolution. This study investigated the evolutionary dynamics, phylodynamics, and structural characteristics of the HPIV2 fusion (<i>F</i>) gene using a comprehensive dataset spanning multiple decades and geographic regions. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two distinct clusters of HPIV2 <i>F</i> gene sequences, which were estimated to have diverged from a common ancestor approximately a century ago. Cluster 1 demonstrated a higher evolutionary rate and genetic diversity compared to the more stable cluster 2. Bayesian Skyline Plot analyses indicated a significant increase in the effective population size of the <i>F</i> gene between 2005 and 2015; potentially linked to enhanced diagnostic and surveillance capabilities. Structural modeling identified conserved conformational epitopes predominantly in the apex and stalk regions of the F protein. These findings underscore the evolutionary constraints and antigenic landscape of the HPIV2 F protein.</p>","PeriodicalId":18667,"journal":{"name":"Microorganisms","volume":"13 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11857903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143502501","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}