Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins最新文献

{"title":"Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolome Analysis Reveal Potential Non-Invasive Biomarkers For Acute Myocardial Infarction.","authors":"Ikram Khan, Xiaodong Xie, Zhiqiang Li","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11219-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11219-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although the gut microbiome is recognized as crucial for human health, its combined effects with microbial metabolites on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain poorly understood. This study investigated gut microbiome composition using 16 S rRNA sequencing and untargeted LC-MS metabolomics profiles from 24 AMI patients and 24 healthy individuals to identify microbial biomarkers, metabolite signatures, and key functional pathways. No significant difference was observed in alpha diversity, whereas beta diversity differed significantly between AMI patients and controls. At the taxonomic level, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Escherichia_Shigella, Collinsella, and Klebsiella were increased, while Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Bifidobacterium were decreased in the AMI group compared with controls. Metabolomic profiling identified seven metabolites with strong discriminatory power for AMI, with area under the curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.91 to 0.99. Among these, S‑adenosyl‑L‑homocysteine, Cyanidin 3‑[6‑(4‑glucosylcoumaryl)sophoroside] 5‑glucoside, and 5‑Methyltetrahydrofolate were found to be upregulated, whereas Prostaglandin J2, Leukotriene A4, and 5‑HEPE were downregulated. Based on these findings, the upregulated metabolites S‑Adenosyl‑L‑homocysteine, Cyanidin 3‑[6‑(4‑glucosylcoumaryl)sophoroside] 5‑glucoside, 5‑Methyltetrahydrofolate, and the downregulated metabolites Prostaglandin J2, Leukotriene A4, and 5‑HEPE represent candidate non‑invasive biomarkers for AMI that warrant further validation. Functional pathway analysis highlighted pronounced disruptions in arginine biosynthesis and the folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism. Spearman correlation analysis showed that specific gut microbial taxa were significantly associated with clinical parameters and metabolites implicated in AMI-related pathways. These findings revealed distinct microbial and metabolic profiles in Chinese patients with AMI compared to healthy controls. Future research should investigate causal mechanisms and evaluate microbiota-targeted approaches for cardiovascular disease prevention and therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149113907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strain-Carrier Matching Strategy Enhances Gastrointestinal Survival and Mucosal Adhesion of Dietary Probiotics Encapsulated in Thiolated Pectin-Alginate Hydrogels.","authors":"Fan Zhang, Libing Zhang, Pengfei Li, Ruhui Liu, Qinghuan Yu, Wenchuan Guo, Fangfang Yue, Xin Lü","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11224-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11224-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study addresses the limitations of conventional probiotic delivery systems by introducing a strain-carrier matching principle, which systematically aligns carrier properties with strain-specific characteristics. A thiolated low-methoxyl pectin/alginate composite hydrogel platform was developed, featuring a mucoadhesive outer layer with thiolated modified pectin to enhance intestinal retention. Two distinct carriers (pectin-based and alginate-based) were systematically evaluated across nine probiotic strains for encapsulation efficiency (92.44 ± 0.23% to 99.86 ± 0.13%), simulated gastrointestinal (GI) survival for 4 h (53.57 ± 0.12% to 96.04 ± 0.47%), and mucoadhesive capacity (22.23 ± 1.90% to 50.31 ± 1.81%). While both systems demonstrated strong adhesive and protective effects under simulated gastrointestinal conditions compared with free cells, significant strain-specific differences in encapsulation performance and survival were observed. Notably, intrinsically acid- and bile-tolerant strains (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TM3-23 and Pediococcus acidilactici G1-14) exhibited a reduced relative enhancement, revealing that carrier efficacy is fundamentally determined by microbial surface physicochemical properties and inherent physiological resilience. These findings establish the critical \"strain-encapsulation carrier\" matching principle, revealing that optimal delivery requires aligning carrier properties with specific strain characteristics. This work transcends conventional encapsulation paradigms and provides a theoretical framework for designing next-generation functional foods and strain-carrier matching probiotic products that ensure enhanced intestinal mucoadhesion and stability.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149114025","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lactobacillus and Tryptophan Supplementation Improve Renal Function and are Associated with Metabolomic Alterations in a Mouse Model of Chronic Kidney Disease.","authors":"Miaoyu Yin, Mengdi Li, Yan Zhang, Bingxiao Wang, Guanhua Li, Ge Wu","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11237-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11237-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gut microbiota has been implicated in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus may alleviate renal injury through metabolic modulation, whereas tryptophan metabolism may have divergent effects in CKD. However, whether Lactobacillus and tryptophan supplementation are associated with distinct or overlapping metabolic profiles in CKD remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus and tryptophan supplementation and characterize the associated serum and fecal metabolomic alterations in an adenine-induced CKD mouse model. Six-week-old male mice were fed adenine for 3 weeks to induce CKD, followed by 8 weeks of treatment: saline for control (NC, CKD), Lactobacillus (2 × 10⁷ CFU; CKD + Lac), or Tryptophan (4 mmol/kg; CKD + Try). Renal function markers (SCr, BUN, CysC), inflammatory markers (CRP, PCT), and histopathology were assessed at experimental endpoint (week 12). Serum and fecal metabolomics were analyzed using UPLC-HDMS, followed by PCA, OPLS-DA and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Adenine induced significant renal injury, as indicated by elevated SCr, BUN, CysC, CRP, and PCT levels, together with marked interstitial fibrosis and tubular epithelial degeneration. These alterations were partially attenuated by either Lactobacillus or tryptophan supplementation. In CKD + Lac mice, 250 serum and 332 fecal metabolites were altered across 5 pathways, including tyrosine, β-alanine, and riboflavin metabolism, prolactin signaling, and ABC transporters. In CKD + Try mice, 310 serum and 381 fecal metabolites were changed, involving tyrosine, biotin, linoleic acid, and amino acid metabolism, prolactin signaling, lipolysis, and arginine biosynthesis. Both Lactobacillus and tryptophan supplementation partially improved renal function and attenuated renal injury in adenine-induced CKD mice and were associated with altered serum and fecal metabolite profiles involving tyrosine, arginine, and related metabolic pathways. Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149081904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lactobacillus johnsonii BS15 Alleviates Fluoride-Induced Intestinal Barrier Injury by Regulating the RhoA/ROCK-Mediated Cytoskeletal Remodeling.","authors":"Dandan Wang, Jinge Xin, Wei Liu, Ping Lin, Yanxi Zhou, Hesong Wang, Dong Zeng, Limin Wei, Xueqin Ni, Yang Bai","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11232-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11232-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic fluoride exposure is a significant environmental health concern known to induce severe intestinal barrier dysfunction and systemic toxicity. This study investigated the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Lactobacillus johnsonii BS15 (L. johnsonii BS15) against fluoride-induced intestinal barrier injury in mice. Our results demonstrated that L. johnsonii BS15 intervention ameliorated multifaceted damage caused by high fluoride exposure at functional, structural and oxidative levels: it lowered serum concentration of diamine oxidase (DAO), a marker of intestinal barrier damage; mitigated intestinal pathological lesions including crypt hyperplasia and reduced villus‑to‑crypt ratio; and suppressed oxidative‑stress‑related upregulation of ileal Duox2/Duoxa2 mRNA. Mechanistically, L. johnsonii BS15 inhibited the fluoride-induced elevation of the RhoA/ROCK/p-MLC signaling axis, consequently mitigating pathological F-actin stress fiber polymerization and restoring cytoskeletal dynamic equilibrium. L. johnsonii BS15 intervention restored the integrity of the tight junction complex by restoring the membrane localization and expression levels of ZO-1 and Claudin-1, repairing the membrane continuity of Occludin, and inhibiting the abnormal translocation and accumulation of β-catenin into the cytoplasm. In conclusion, high fluoride-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction was attenuated in mice receiving L. johnsonii BS15, a process involving downregulation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway and downregulation of oxidative stress‑related Duox2/Duoxa2 mRNA expression. These findings reveal a potential microbiota-based intervention strategy and provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of fluorosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149081835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alginate-Grape Pomace Flour Microcapsules for Enhanced Protection and Delivery of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG.","authors":"Luciana Furlaneto Maia, Milena Matesco Carreteiro, Matheus Henrique Nogueira, Luana de Carvalho, Mariana Lima Braga, André Ricardo Peron Dos Santos, Bruna Camila Souza Lima, Márcia Cristina Furlaneto","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11228-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11228-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The incorporation of plant-derived fibers as co-encapsulating agents has emerged as a strategy to improve probiotic stability and functionality. This study evaluated grape pomace flour (GF) as a co-encapsulant in sodium alginate (SA) based microcapsules containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, focusing on structural properties, thermal resistance, antioxidant activity, gastrointestinal survival, and viability in orange juice. High encapsulation efficiencies were obtained for alginate (94.80%) and alginate-GF systems (91.13%), with viable counts above 8.3 log CFU/mL. FTIR, DSC, and TGA analyses demonstrated molecular interactions between alginate and GF, resulting in modified thermal transitions and enhanced matrix cohesion. SA/GF microcapsules showed improved refrigerated stability, maintaining ≥ 8.0 log CFU/mL after 28 days at 4 °C, whereas free cells declined to 3.3-4.0 log CFU/mL. During rapid pasteurization (72 °C/15 s), SA/GF capsules preserved 11 log CFU/g, compared to 7.15 log CFU/g in alginate-only capsules, while free cells were completely inactivated. Under simulated gastric conditions, SA/GF capsules maintained 8.60-9.19 log CFU/g, whereas alginate-only capsules decreased to 5.94 log CFU/g after 90 min, and free cells became undetectable after 120 min. In simulated intestinal juice, SA/GF capsules recovered to 9.45 log CFU/g at 120 min. In orange juice, free cells showed > 2.5 log reduction within 3 days, while encapsulated formulations exhibited reductions < 1 log over 9 days (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, GF reinforced the alginate matrix, reduced microbial inactivation, and improved probiotic resistance and survival, supporting its application as a sustainable co-encapsulant in functional foods.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149081832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"RK-14: A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Targeting Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Catheter-Associated Biofilms.","authors":"Insha Mehraj, Ram Kumar Pandit, Sabia Qureshi, Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Tanvir Ul Hassan Dar, Mushtaq Ahmad Najar, Misba Shafiq, Sahar Saleem Bhat","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11226-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11226-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biofilm-associated infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria pose major challenges to effective antimicrobial therapy. In this study, the short cationic antimicrobial peptide RK-14 (RIWKIWKKIWKIWK-NH₂) was designed using an integrated artificial intelligence (AI)- and machine learning (ML)-assisted approach and subsequently evaluated using computational predictions and in vitro analyses. RK-14 exhibited bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and ESBL-positive Escherichia coli, with MICs of 16-64 µM and MBCs of 32-128 µM. RK-14 showed strong concentration-dependent antibiofilm activity (80-99% inhibition), outperforming LL-37, vancomycin, and colistin. Against mature catheter-associated biofilms, RK-14 achieved 87-91% eradication at 1 × MIC, compared with 77-87% for LL-37 and markedly lower activity of vancomycin and colistin. Consistently, catheter-associated CFU counts were significantly reduced following RK-14 treatment compared with the comparator treatments. Fluorescence microscopy revealed pronounced reductions in bacterial numbers and marked morphological alterations in both E. coli and S. aureus. Membrane disruption was further supported by strong membrane-binding affinity and increased propidium iodide uptake. RK-14 also suppressed key biofilm- and virulence-associated genes, including luxS, csgD, icaD, and spa. In ESBL-positive E. coli, RK-14 reduced luxS and csgD expression to approximately 0.36-0.48-fold and 0.17-0.43-fold, respectively, relative to the untreated control. In methicillin-resistant S. aureus, RK-14 reduced icaD and spa expression to approximately 0.47-fold and 0.64-fold, respectively. These effects were generally greater than or comparable to those observed following LL-37 and conventional antibiotic treatment. The peptide retained activity under various temperature and ionic conditions and showed low cytotoxicity at effective concentrations, although hemolysis increased at higher concentrations. Overall, RK-14 demonstrates potent bactericidal and antibiofilm activity, effective disruption of mature catheter-associated biofilms, and a favorable preliminary selectivity profile, supporting its further investigation as a promising lead peptide against MDR bacterial infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149081916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lactiplantibacillus plantarum as a Biosafe Microbial Bridge in the Gut-Environment Continuum.","authors":"Haykush Batikyan, Lena Malkhasyan, Susanna Mirzabekyan, Elya Pepoyan, Lianna Grigoryan, Anahit Manvelyan, Astghik Pepoyan","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11222-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11222-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sustainable microbial technologies require agents that combine biosafety with multifunctionality across human, animal, plant, and environmental systems. This narrative review provides a comparative analysis of the biosafety profiles and functional capabilities of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and selected microbial agents used in green technologies, including Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Azospirillum, and Rhizobium. Particular attention is given to the versatility of selected Lpb. plantarum strains and their applications in soil and water remediation, agriculture, and fermented food systems. Recent studies indicate that certain Lpb. plantarum strains contribute to the biosorption and detoxification of metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu, and Mn, while also supporting gut microbiota modulation, immune regulation, plant growth promotion, phytopathogen suppression, and mitigation of microplastic-associated toxicity. These observations build upon the previously proposed concept of a \"One Health probiotic,\" defined as a probiotic microorganism with beneficial or neutral effects across human, animal, plant, and environmental domains, toward the \"gut-environment continuum\" framework describing how microbial functions may operate across interconnected soil-plant-animal-human systems. Although available evidence highlights the potential of selected Lpb. plantarum strains as microbial resources with favorable biosafety profiles, many reported functions remain strain-dependent and require further validation under field conditions. By integrating findings from environmental microbiology, sustainable agriculture, and probiotic research, this review discusses both the opportunities and limitations of applying Lpb. plantarum within One Health-oriented green technologies and sustainable pollution management. Rather than proposing Lpb. plantarum as a universally applicable solution, the review presents selected strains as informative models for evaluating how microorganisms with well-established biosafety records may complement established microbial candidates in environmental biotechnology. More broadly, this review highlights that biosafety should be considered alongside functional performance during early selection of microbial candidates for One Health-oriented environmental and agricultural applications, while recognizing that all candidate microorganisms require ecological and biosafety assessment prior to environmental deployment.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149081856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An engineered probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain for Amuc_1100 delivery in a CT26 colorectal tumor model.","authors":"Xinxin Wang, Yihang Wang, Daoyan Wu, Yingqian Kang, Renmin Li, Guang Yang, Guozong Chen, Zhenghong Chen, Wei Hong, Guzhen Cui","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11234-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11234-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Engineered probiotics provide a microbial platform for the localized delivery of bioactive proteins. Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is an attractive bacterial chassis for this purpose because of its ability to colonize tumors and its genetic tractability. Amuc_1100, an outer membrane protein of Akkermansia muciniphila, has shown antitumor and immunomodulatory effects after oral administration. However, whether EcN-based delivery can improve the antitumor performance of microbiome-derived proteins such as Amuc_1100 remains unclear. Here, EcN was engineered with a pelB-His-Amuc_1100 expression cassette to generate EcN(pAmuc), which was evaluated in an immunocompetent CT26 colorectal tumor model. After a single intravenous administration, viable EcN(pAmuc) remained recoverable from tumors for up to 21 days, and His-tagged cargo-related protein signals were detected in tumor tissue at the study endpoint. EcN(pAmuc) reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival compared with untreated CT26-bearing mice and the oral recombinant Amuc_1100 regimen, with median survival increasing from 21 to 33 days relative to the untreated group. Treatment was accompanied by an increase in intratumoral CD3-positive cell proportion from 3.39% to 9.35% and TUNEL positivity from 5.08% to 10.41%, together with lower Ki-67 positivity and intratumoral TGF-β levels and a higher splenic CD8⁺ T-cell proportion. Short-term safety-related assessments, including body weight, organ weights, peripheral white blood cell counts, serum creatinine, and major-organ histology, revealed no clear treatment-associated abnormalities under the conditions tested. These findings support EcN as a delivery chassis for Amuc_1100 and provide a basis for further optimization of this engineered probiotic platform in colorectal tumor models.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149075922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antifungal Potential of Peptide-Enriched Fractions Isolated from Capsicum frutescens Seeds Against Yeasts of the Genus Candida.","authors":"Layrana de Azevedo Dos Santos, Marciele Souza da Silva, Gabriel Bonan Taveira, Vitor Batista Pinto, Marcos Paulo Da Conceição Moura Silva, Gabriella Rodrigues Gonçalves, André de Oliveira Carvalho, Rosana Rodrigues, Valdirene Moreira Gomes","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11235-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11235-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing emergence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens has heightened the search for new antimicrobial compounds with previously unexplored modes of action. Among candidate molecules for control of fungal diseases, plant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted considerable interest because they are natural molecules with broad-spectrum inhibitory activities against microorganisms. In this study, peptide-enriched fractions obtained from Capsicum frutescens seeds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity and mechanisms of action against Candida species. Hemotoxicity was evaluated in vitro using sheep erythrocyte lysis, and inhibitory effects against serine protease and α-amylase enzymes were also determined. Initially, the protein-rich extract obtained was fractionated by reverse-phase chromatography on an HPLC system, resulting in five major fractions (F1-F5). Enzymatic assay revealed that all these fractions inhibited the activity of human salivary α-amylase, with F2 exhibiting 100% inhibition of activity. Fractions F2 and F3 exhibited the highest antifungal activity, inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans by 83% and 69% and Candida parapsilosis by 71% and 57%, respectively (200 µg mL^- 1). These fractions reduced cell viability and increased membrane permeabilization. Additional mechanistic analyses suggested distinct cellular effects, with F2 associated with alterations in cell wall integrity and F3 associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Partial sequence analysis indicated similarity to plant defense peptides, including heveins, defensins, and vicilin proteins. Importantly, both fractions exhibited low hemolytic activity, indicating selectivity toward fungal cells. Thus, the results highlight the potential of peptide-enriched fractions from C. frutescens seeds as multifunctional antifungal agents and support their relevance for the development of new strategies to control Candida infections.</p>","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149075901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oral Administration of a Probiotic Blend Modulates Immuno-Antioxidant Status, Semen Quality, Cytokines, and Endocrine Profiles in Rabbit Bucks.","authors":"Ramya Ahmad Sindi, Eman A M Al-Samarai, Sameh Abdelnour, Ali S A Saleem, Mohamed M A Abd-Elkarim","doi":"10.1007/s12602-026-11231-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-11231-3","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Probiotics exert numerous beneficial effects on immunity, metabolic homeostasis, and intestinal health across species; however, their specific role in modulating semen quality and reproductive-related physiological parameters remains poorly understood. This study evaluates the effects of an orally administered multi-strain probiotic blend comprising Lacticaseibacillus casei, Bacillus subtilis, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (1:1:1:1 ratio) on semen quality, antioxidant, immune, and inflammatory responses in rabbit bucks. A total of 33 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to three equal experimental groups (n = 11 per group); a control group receiving a basal diet (LB0) or two groups supplemented orally with the probiotic mixture three times weekly at doses of 0.25 × 10&lt;sup&gt;9&lt;/sup&gt; (LB0.25) or 0.5 × 10&lt;sup&gt;9&lt;/sup&gt; (LB0.5) CFU/ animal/dose. Both probiotic doses significantly enhanced semen quality including ejaculate volume, sperm viability, total progressive motility, and individual motility, while markedly reducing sperm abnormalities compared with the control group (P &lt; 0.05). In seminal plasma, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were significantly elevated, whereas oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels were markedly suppressed (P &lt; 0.05) in probiotic-treated groups. Probiotic treatment also upregulated sperm mitochondrial enzyme activities, specifically malate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase (P &lt; 0.05), without adversely affecting hepatic or renal function markers (P &gt; 0.05). Immunostimulatory benefits of probiotics administration were evidenced by significant increases in serum IgG, IgM, lysozyme activity, and complement C4 levels (P &lt; 0.01). Concurrently, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, and TNF-α), amyloid A, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nitric oxide (NO), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were significantly reduced in all probiotic-treated groups (P &lt; 0.05), confirming a robust anti-inflammatory effect. Blood antioxidant profiles (CAT, GPx, and TAC) were elevated alongside significant reductions in MDA (P &lt; 0.05) by probiotics addition. Furthermore, reproductive endocrine profiles (FSH, LH, testosterone) and metabolic adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) were significantly enhanced (P &lt; 0.05). Oral probiotic administration favorably preserved and enhanced the histological architecture of intestinal and testicular tissues (P &lt; 0.05). Intestinal morphometry revealed significantly increased villus height, villus width, and goblet cell density, while testicular morphometry showed significant increases in seminiferous tubule density, diameter, and germinal epithelial height (P &lt; 0.05). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated that probiotic treatment positively correlated with immune response, endocrine profiles, and antioxidant capacity, while inversely correlating w","PeriodicalId":20506,"journal":{"name":"Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}