Medicine in Microecology最新文献

{"title":"Gut microbiota dysbiosis and probiotic interventions in childhood stunting: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic potential","authors":"Rizqi Yanuar Pauzi ,&nbsp;Annisa Nurul Ilmi ,&nbsp;Laksita Widya Kumaratih","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stunting remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, with long-term consequences for physical growth, cognitive development, and future economic productivity. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of the gut microbiota in early life nutrition, immune development, and linear growth, offering new insights into the pathogenesis of stunting. Children with stunting often exhibit reduced microbial diversity, dysbiosis, and decreased production of beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are essential for intestinal health and metabolic regulation. Probiotics, especially strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, have shown promise in modulating gut microbiota composition, enhancing nutrient absorption, improving intestinal barrier function, and promoting growth outcomes in malnourished children. This review synthesizes the current evidence on the interplay between stunting, gut microbiota, and probiotic interventions, emphasizing their mechanistic links and therapeutic potential. We also discuss the challenges in implementing probiotics at scale, including strain-specific efficacy, variability in host responses, and the need for long-term clinical trials. Targeting the gut microbiota through probiotic supplementation may serve as a complementary strategy to conventional nutritional programs to prevent and mitigate childhood stunting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100152"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145226852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thiazol-sulfonyl derivative KM9 mitigates hyperglycemia-associated steatotic liver injury in in-vitro and in-vivo models","authors":"B. Aswinanand ,&nbsp;Jeeva Balakrishnan ,&nbsp;Kathiravan Muthu Kumaradoss ,&nbsp;Mikhlid H. Almutairi ,&nbsp;Bader O. Almutairi ,&nbsp;S. Karthick Raja Namasivayam ,&nbsp;Senthilkumar Palaniappan ,&nbsp;Jesu Arockiaraj","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a growing health challenge worldwide, strongly connected to hyperglycemia (HG). This study investigates the therapeutic potential of 4-methyl-N-(6-methyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl) benzene-1-sulfonamide (named KM9), a novel compound consisting of thiazol and sulfonyl groups, for HG-associated MASLD. In silico analysis using network pharmacology verified that KM9 is involved in lipid metabolism and insulin signaling pathways. In vitro and in vivo studies using HepG2 cells and zebrafish embryos demonstrated the cytotoxicity and effective dose of KM9. These studies further revealed its ability to reduce oxidative stress indicators, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) induced by alloxan (ALN). In ALN-exposed zebrafish, KM9 significantly reduced glucose levels and enhanced glucose uptake. It also lowered lipid accumulation, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. KM9 exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by reducing macrophage localization and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Furthermore, KM9 regulated genes associated with lipogenesis (<em>fasn</em>, <em>srebp1</em>), inflammation (<em>il-6</em>, <em>tnf-α</em>), and insulin receptor expression (<em>ins</em>, <em>insra1</em>, <em>insrb1</em>). These findings demonstrate that KM9 exerts multifaceted protective effects, which collectively decrease liver damage and improve liver health, as evidenced by histopathological analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100151"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145105233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanotechnology targeting ESKAPE pathogens: Eco-friendly produced nanomaterials as an innovative antibiofilm approach","authors":"Arunagiri Ragu Prasath ,&nbsp;Chinnasamy Ragavendran ,&nbsp;Paramasivam Deepak ,&nbsp;Nathiya Thiyagarajulu","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The prevalence of antibiotic resistance has made ESKAPE pathogens a severe global health hazard, owing to the limits and regular failures of conventional treatment methods. The ESKAPE pathogens (<em>Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, and <em>Enterobacter species</em>) are the most common causes of nosocomial diseases worldwide. Most of them are multidrug-resistant isolates, which pose one of the most significant difficulties in clinical treatment. The rising incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) advantageous infections in intensive care units (ICUs) is particularly concerning, as it poses a danger to public health and significantly impacts morbidity and death rates. MDR ESKAPE bacteria make up the great bulk of these opportunistic infections. Among these issues, nanotechnology appears as a potential area in the battle against biofilms. Considering their distinct characteristics at the nanoscale, provide novel antimicrobial techniques that are not present in standard defence mechanisms. Green-synthesized nanoparticles and their <em>anti</em>-biofilm qualities are highlighted in this in-depth examination of nanotechnology's possibility to combat biofilms. The prevalence of resistant microorganisms and antibiotics environmental residues need immediate worldwide encounter to avoid antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These natural medications may also be improved by adding silver nanoparticles and mixing them with current antibiotics. By focusing on ESKAPE organisms, the AMR problem may be tackled considerably more effectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100149"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145019570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut virus axis: Unravelling viral contribution to gut microbiota dysbiosis and translational medicine in inflammatory bowel disease","authors":"Naziya Akhtar,&nbsp;Chirag Jain,&nbsp;Shikha Baghel Chauhan,&nbsp;Indu Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gut microbiota and immune system are significantly influenced by the human gut-virus axis, which is mostly composed of bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses. Through mechanisms affecting microbial balance, immunological responses, and intestinal barrier integrity, recent research emphasizes its role in the onset and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This review examines the ways in which gut viruses—bacteriophages in particular—contribute to dysbiosis through biofilm development, transduction, and bacterial diversity modulation. We also go over how the virome affects chronic inflammation and host immunological signaling. The virome in IBD patients can now be thoroughly profiled thanks to developments in metagenomic and viromic technologies, which have identified unique changes that could be used as therapeutic targets or diagnostic biomarkers. Integrating virome research into the larger framework of the gut microbiota offers a fresh viewpoint on the pathophysiology of IBD and has the potential to advance precision medicine techniques and virus-based treatments, despite the fact that the topic is still understudied.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut microbiota modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics for CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Michael Owen Hogipranata ,&nbsp;Muhammad Reva Aditya ,&nbsp;Imanuel Yuerrico Subianto ,&nbsp;Virginie Trias Salim ,&nbsp;Valeska Theodora Beatrice ,&nbsp;Kana Mardhiyyah ,&nbsp;Dewi Indiastari","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compromises the immune system by targeting key regulatory lymphocytes essential for coordinating immune responses. It continues to pose a significant global health burden, with approximately 40 million cases recorded by the end of 2023. Currently, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the key therapeutic strategy, but it has several limitations, prompting the importance of new therapeutic approaches. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of gut microbiota basesd immunomodulatory therapies, consisting of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in HIV treatment while considering clinical, socioeconomic, and therapeutic influencing factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines using multiple databases. Studies were employed based on established inclusion parameters, focusing on the efficacy of gut microbiota interventions in CD4⁺ T-cell counts.Subgroup analyses were performed based on intervention type, dosage, duration, HAART status, and clinical setting. Moreover, sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, and publication bias assessment were also performed to ensure findings robustness and explore source of heterogeneity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 21 studies were assessed in this meta-analysis. Risk of bias assessment indicated that most studies had a low risk of bias, though some concerns were noted. Prebiotics showed the greatest improvement by a mean difference (MD) of 52.15 cells/mm³ (95 % CI: −5.64 to 109.93), though not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Synbiotics showed a more consistent and statistically significant effect (MD = 39.48 cells/mm³; 95 % CI: 34.39 to 44.58; p &lt; 0.00001). Notably, greatest immunological benefits were observed among HAART-naive individuals, with low-dose prebiotics (4–10 g/day), moderate intervention durations (4–6 months), and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Sensitivity analysis using leave-one-out method confirmed findings robustness, while meta-regression identified key variables contributing to heterogeneity. Moreover, publication bias using Egger's and Begg's test was not evident in most outcomes, except for LMIC-based studies, which showed potential small-study effects.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Gut microbiota based immunomodulators show promising potential in supporting immune function among people living with HIV. However, due to study variability, high heterogeneity and wide confidence intervals (CI) in some subgroups, these findings are hypothesis-generating. Further high-quality studies should focused in homogeneous populations to validate efficacy and guide clinical implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144925949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms and key mediators of gut microbiota and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A comprehensive overview","authors":"Balapuwaduge Isuru Layan Madusanka Mendis ,&nbsp;L. Sarvananda ,&nbsp;Thilini N. Jayasinghe ,&nbsp;Iyanthimala Harshini Rajapakse ,&nbsp;Arosha Sampath Dissanayake","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gut microbiota is a major component of the human microbiome, crucial for gastrointestinal function. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been linked to the development, progression, and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through energy and fatty acid metabolism, intestinal barrier integrity, glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory pathways. Additional connections have been identified with obesity and the gut-brain axis. Key microbial metabolites include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), lipopolysaccharides, secondary bile acids (SBAs), branched-chain amino acids, tryptophan derivatives, trimethylamine N-oxide, imidazole propionate, bioactive peptides, postbiotics, and fasting-induced adipose factor. Individuals with T2DM often exhibit reduced microbial diversity, lower levels of SCFA-producing bacteria, and increased presence of opportunistic, endotoxin-producing gram-negative bacteria. Key microbial genera implicated in T2DM include <em>Clostridium, Bifidobacterium, Akkermansia, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus</em> spp., and members of the <em>Firmicutes</em> phylum. The gut microbiota is shaped by diet, medications, health conditions, genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Despite the complex inter/intra-individual variability of the gut microbiome, robust evidence may emerge through large-scale cohort studies employing deep sequencing and metagenomics. This review provides novel insights into how gut microbiota-derived metabolites influence host physiology, epigenetics and gut-brain axis signaling using comprehensive synthesis of mechanisms, microbial mediators, synergistic factors, and therapeutic modulators in a single context, allowing readers to understand the holistic role of gut microbiota in T2DM pathophysiology. As T2DM is a complex metabolic disorder requiring multidimensional approaches, such integration offers valuable perspective for prevention and therapy. Emerging strategies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and bacteriophage therapy, also show promise. A multidisciplinary research agenda, incorporating large-scale cohort studies, omics technologies, and systems biology, is essential to identify causal relationships and personalize interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Porphyromonas gingivalis modulates E-cadherin expression: a mini-review of possible involved mechanisms","authors":"Zahra Khorshidi Asl ,&nbsp;Mahtab Mottaghi ,&nbsp;Fatemeh Farshad ,&nbsp;Faezeh Azmoudeh","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><em>Porphyromonas gingivalis</em> (<em>P. gingivalis</em>), the bacterial strain responsible for pathogenic changes in periodontitis, can significantly deteriorate epithelial integrity, leading to its malfunction as a protective barrier against pathogens. As one of the known intercellular adhesive proteins, E-cadherin can be affected by <em>P. gingivalis</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This review summarizes the most recent research on the effect of this bacterium on E-cadherin, the suggested involved mechanisms, and the contribution of this protein deterioration in the systemic disease associated with periodontitis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In September 2024, a comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The search focused on articles published within the last five years. Review and non-English articles were excluded. Out of 83 records found in databases, 10 records were selected for this study.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusion</h3><div>Most recent studies have consistently demonstrated the downregulation of E-cadherin in <em>P. gingivalis</em>-infected cells and tissues. However, there remains a need to elucidate the contribution of the bacterial infection and E-cadherin downregulation that occur during systemic diseases related to periodontitis, such as Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in cancer development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioinformatics and omics revolutionizing leprosy research: Unveiling mechanisms and driving therapeutic innovations","authors":"Rousilândia de Araújo Silva ,&nbsp;Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda ,&nbsp;Maria Cidinaria Silva Alves ,&nbsp;Ana Luiza Trajano Mangueira de Melo ,&nbsp;Felipe de Albuquerque Marinho ,&nbsp;José Lamartine Soares Sobrinho ,&nbsp;Valdir de Queiroz Balbino ,&nbsp;Cristiane Moutinho-Melo","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of bioinformatics and omics technologies has revolutionized leprosy research, providing insights into <em>Mycobacterium leprae</em> (<em>M. leprae</em>) biology. In this context, the present review analyzes two decades (2001–2021) of research using computational approaches to elucidate molecular mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and support drug discovery for leprosy. The search was conducted in the Web of Science database and found 30 studies, of which 23 met the inclusion criteria with a focus on genomic, proteomic and immunoinformatics applications targeting leprosy. Key advances include the identification of unique antigenic proteins, prediction of drug resistance mechanisms, and the development of <em>in silico</em> tools for diagnostics and therapeutic targeting. Comparative genomic studies have identified genes unique to <em>M. leprae</em>, such as ML2613, that may serve as potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, bioinformatics has been used to identify biomarkers such as the recombinant antigen rMLP15, which has been shown to be effective in the diagnosis and differentiation between paucibacillary and multibacillary patients. Therefore, the present study highlights the role of bioinformatics in driving innovation for leprosy and underscores the need for continued investment in computational approaches to improve diagnostics and treatment strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144879374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of zinc-mediated nutritional immunity on uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) virulence gene expression in female recurrent UTI patients","authors":"Muthana Badeea Farhan ,&nbsp;Areej Hamad Hassan ,&nbsp;Hanan Hamed","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the influence of zinc-mediated nutritional immunity on virulence gene expression in <em>Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (</em>UPEC) among female patients <u>with</u> recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Fifty women with microbiologically confirmed UTIs were enrolled in a controlled interventional design and divided equally into zinc-supplemented and control groups. The intervention group received 40 mg elemental zinc daily for three days. Urine samples collected pre- and post-intervention were analyzed for bacterial gene expression (znuA, hlyA, fimH) using RT-qPCR, and cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-8) via ELISA. Urinary zinc levels were also quantified. The results revealed a significant increase in urinary zinc concentration following supplementation (p = 1.35 × 10⁻⁹), accompanied by marked downregulation of znuA and hlyA expression (fold changes of 0.42 and 0.53, respectively), but not fimH. Statistically significant post-intervention differences in ΔCt values for znuA and hlyA were observed only in the zinc group (p &lt; 0.001), indicating gene-specific suppression due to zinc availability. Additionally, urinary IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly lower in the zinc-supplemented group (p = 1.63 × 10⁻⁵ and 4.33 × 10⁻¹², respectively), suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect. Multivariate linear regression further identified zinc supplementation as an independent predictor of reduced IL-6 levels and increased znuA ΔCt values, while age and BMI had no significant effect <u>on these outcomes</u>. These findings support zinc's role in modulating both bacterial virulence and host inflammatory responses, highlighting its potential as an adjunct therapy for recurrent UTIs. By disrupting critical virulence mechanisms and reducing urinary cytokine levels, zinc supplementation may reduce the pathogenicity of UPEC and improve host outcomes. This study provides molecular and clinical insights that support dietary zinc modulation as a promising non-antibiotic strategy in managing recurrent UTIs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144865322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular characterisation of class I integrons in clinical multidrug-resistant Enterococcus spp.","authors":"Yasir Adil Jabbar Alabdali","doi":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medmic.2025.100142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Enterococci</em> have caused health problems and infections in recent years around the world, especially <em>E. faecalis and E. faecium</em>, due to antibiotic resistance. This study examined clinical <em>Enterococcus</em> isolates collected from patients at the Maternity and Children Hospital in Al-Samawah, Al-Muthanna Province, Iraq, focusing on class 1 integrons and their role in resistance. Enterococci isolated from different clinical samples were initially identified using selective medium, then confirmed using Taqman real-time PCR. A Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion test was used to determine the antibiotic susceptibility of isolates. The variable region of class 1 integrons was amplified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and the resulting ∼2000 bp amplicons were sequenced. Sequencing analysis of VR amplification products showed the presence of three gene cassettes encoding antibiotic resistance (<em>dhfrXII, dfrA12, aadA2</em>). Three hundred and fifty different clinical samples were isolated between July and November 2024. The current study obtained 125 (35.7 %) enterococcal isolates divided into 35 (28 %) <em>E. faecium</em> and 90 (72 %) <em>E. faecalis</em>. Among the 125 enterococcal isolates, the <em>int</em>1 gene was detected in 67.2 %, and sequencing analysis of CS amplification products showed the presence of three resistance genes in this cassette (<em>dhfrXII, dfrA12, aadA2</em>) within clinical <em>Enterococci</em>, and the phylogenetic tree showed the genetic closeness with the international isolates registered in NCBI. Moreover, the antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation rates within int1-positive enterococci were noticeably higher than those lacking the int1 gene.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36019,"journal":{"name":"Medicine in Microecology","volume":"26 ","pages":"Article 100142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}