Trends in MicrobiologyPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.10.001
Yee Tsui, Xueqi Wu, Xi Zhang, Ye Peng, Chris Ka Pun Mok, Francis K L Chan, Siew C Ng, Hein Min Tun
{"title":"Short-chain fatty acids in viral infection: the underlying mechanisms, opportunities, and challenges.","authors":"Yee Tsui, Xueqi Wu, Xi Zhang, Ye Peng, Chris Ka Pun Mok, Francis K L Chan, Siew C Ng, Hein Min Tun","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Viral infections can cause cellular pathway derangements, cell death, and immunopathological responses, leading to host inflammation. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by the microbiota, have emerged as a potential therapeutic for viral infections due to their ability to modulate these processes. However, SCFAs have been reported to have both beneficial and detrimental effects, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms. This review highlights the complex mechanisms underlying SCFAs' effects on viral infection outcomes. We also emphasize the importance of considering how SCFAs' activities may differ under diverse contexts, including but not limited to target cells with different metabolic wiring, different viral causes of infection, the target organism/cell's nutrient availability and/or energy balance, and hosts with varying microbiome compositions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"302-320"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142589935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gugulethu T Moyo, Burcu Tepekule, Leolin Katsidzira, Martin J Blaser, C Jessica E Metcalf
{"title":"Getting ahead of human-associated microbial decline in Africa: the urgency of sampling in light of epidemiological transition.","authors":"Gugulethu T Moyo, Burcu Tepekule, Leolin Katsidzira, Martin J Blaser, C Jessica E Metcalf","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evidence is growing that human-associated early-life microbial diversity modulates health over the long term, via effects in the infant termed 'immune and metabolic education'. Documenting high microbial diversity contexts, such as in Africa, thus, has rich potential for understanding this aspect of the landscape of health. Yet, change on the continent is occurring rapidly, and microbial communities are shifting as behaviors and diets are altered, and antibiotic use expands; we may be losing the opportunity to obtain relevant data. After introducing what is known about the effects of early life microbial diversity on late life health, we provide an overview of what is known of the current, and expected future, trajectory of human-associated microbial diversity in Africa, introducing data on the core drivers. We argue that critical insights may be lost if better understanding of infant microbial communities in Africa is not obtained soon.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143531897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dikla Nachmias, Béla P Frohn, Carsten Sachse, Itzhak Mizrahi, Natalie Elia
{"title":"ESCRTs - a multi-purpose membrane remodeling device encoded in all life forms.","authors":"Dikla Nachmias, Béla P Frohn, Carsten Sachse, Itzhak Mizrahi, Natalie Elia","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport) membrane remodeling complex, found across all life forms, exhibits a versatility that transcends evolutionary boundaries. From orchestrating the constriction of micron-wide tubes in cell division to facilitating the budding of 50 nm vesicles in receptor degradation, ESCRTs perform diverse functions in animal cells. However, the basis of this functional diversity remains enigmatic. While extensively studied in eukaryotes, the role of ESCRTs in prokaryotes is only beginning to emerge. This review synthesizes data on ESCRT systems across the tree of life, focusing on microorganisms and drawing parallels to their functions in human cells. This comparative approach highlights the remarkable plasticity of the ESCRT system across functional, structural, and genomic levels in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This integrated knowledge supports a model in which the ESCRT system evolved as a multipurpose membrane remodeling tool, adaptable to specific functions within and across organisms. Our review not only underscores the significance of ESCRTs in microorganisms but also paves the way for exciting avenues of research into the intricacies of cellular membrane dynamics, offering valuable insights into the evolution of cellular complexity across diverse organisms and ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143469352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jim Zoladek, Séverine Deymier, Andrea Cimarelli, Sébastien Nisole
{"title":"Not all RNAs are created equal for the antiviral RNase ISG20.","authors":"Jim Zoladek, Séverine Deymier, Andrea Cimarelli, Sébastien Nisole","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ISG20 is a broad-spectrum antiviral protein capable of specifically degrading viral RNA. Here, we examine the different strategies developed by viruses to evade ISG20-mediated restriction, shedding light on how this exonuclease distinguishes between self and non-self RNAs, and highlighting the many questions that remain unanswered.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143459198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xinming Xu, Caja Dinesen, Adele Pioppi, Ákos T Kovács, Carlos N Lozano-Andrade
{"title":"Composing a microbial symphony: synthetic communities for promoting plant growth.","authors":"Xinming Xu, Caja Dinesen, Adele Pioppi, Ákos T Kovács, Carlos N Lozano-Andrade","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant microbiomes are pivotal for host development, influencing growth, health, fitness, and evolution, and have emerged as promising resources for sustainable agriculture. However, leveraging these microbiomes to improve crop yield and resilience is challenging due to the huge diversity of plant-associated and soil microorganisms and their intricate interactions. Recently, synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) have been exploited as a reductionist approach to harness microbial benefits and to understand multispecies interactions. Additionally, the advanced functionality of SynComs promises to surpass classic single-strain-based biosolutions. Nevertheless, challenges remain in designing customized, robust, and predictable SynComs for agronomic use. Here, we synthesize and discuss the logical and implemented approaches used to design and assemble SynComs, highlighting important principles, challenges, and trends in utilizing SynComs as alternatives to agrochemicals.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143450326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Lost Kingdom: commensal protists in the gut microbiota.","authors":"Elias R Gerrick, Michael R Howitt","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tim.2025.01.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The gut microbiota critically influences many aspects of host biology, from nutrient acquisition to immunological function, and is integral to metazoan life. While most microbiome research has focused on bacteria, the intestinal microbiota encompasses a diverse constellation of microorganisms, including viruses, fungi, archaea, and protists. Among these microbes, commensal protists have been particularly neglected, to the point that their status as true members of the microbiota remained contentious. However, findings over the past decade revealed that commensal protists, particularly those in the Parabasalia phylum (parabasalids), perform keystone roles within the intestinal ecosystem. Emerging evidence highlights how parabasalids dramatically impact host immunity, gut microbiome ecology, and host susceptibility to both infectious and inflammatory diseases. In this review, we discuss the recent discoveries of the varied and powerful roles of commensal parabasalids in the intestinal microbiota and outline the challenges and opportunities in this burgeoning new area of the microbiome field.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in MicrobiologyPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.11.008
Guy D Eslick, Alfred C Y Tay, Li Zhang, Barry J Marshall
{"title":"The 22nd International Workshop on Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Related Organisms (CHRO) 2024.","authors":"Guy D Eslick, Alfred C Y Tay, Li Zhang, Barry J Marshall","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.11.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.11.008","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"133-136"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in MicrobiologyPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-11-21DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.10.006
Susan L Fink
{"title":"Reference errors in microbiology literature: 'pyroptosis' and others.","authors":"Susan L Fink","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.10.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.10.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>References in the published microbiology literature provide the foundation for current scientific knowledge within the field. However, reference errors can occur, as discussed here, including an illustrative example on the origin of the term 'pyroptosis'.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"145-146"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11798686/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142693697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in MicrobiologyPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-01-04DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.12.004
Rachael Dangarembizi, Jennifer Claire Hoving, David R Boulware, Arnaldo Lopes Colombo, Nelesh P Govender, Rita Oladele, Vu Quoc Dat, Ilan S Schwartz, Gordon D Brown
{"title":"AIDS-related mycoses: advances, challenges, and future directions.","authors":"Rachael Dangarembizi, Jennifer Claire Hoving, David R Boulware, Arnaldo Lopes Colombo, Nelesh P Govender, Rita Oladele, Vu Quoc Dat, Ilan S Schwartz, Gordon D Brown","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fungal infections are a major contributor to mortality for people with HIV/AIDS. Recently, researchers, clinicians, industry experts, and policymakers convened for the triennial AIDS-Related Mycoses Meeting to address critical gaps in the management of AIDS-related mycoses. Delegates highlighted several scientifically driven milestones that have significantly reduced fungal-related deaths, and the need to address outstanding challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"141-144"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in MicrobiologyPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.09.003
Jennifer M DeBruyn, Sarah W Keenan, Lois S Taylor
{"title":"From carrion to soil: microbial recycling of animal carcasses.","authors":"Jennifer M DeBruyn, Sarah W Keenan, Lois S Taylor","doi":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tim.2024.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Decomposer microbial communities are gatekeepers in the redistribution of carbon and nutrients from dead animals (carrion) to terrestrial ecosystems. The flush of decomposition products from a carcass creates a hot spot of microbial activity in the soil below, and the animal's microbiome is released into the environment, mixing with soil communities. Changes in soil physicochemistry, especially reduced oxygen, temporarily constrain microbial nutrient cycling, and influence the timing of these processes and the fate of carrion resources. Carcass-related factors, such as mass, tissue composition, or even microbiome composition may also influence the functional assembly and succession of decomposer communities. Understanding these local scale microbially mediated processes is important for predicting consequences of carrion decomposition beyond the hot spot and hot moment.</p>","PeriodicalId":23275,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"194-207"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142366592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}