AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-05-09eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024018
Rosette Mansour, Mohammad H El-Dakdouki, Sara Mina
{"title":"Phylogenetic group distribution and antibiotic resistance of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolates in aquatic environments of a highly populated area.","authors":"Rosette Mansour, Mohammad H El-Dakdouki, Sara Mina","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024018","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> including <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>), are recognized as a global public health threat due to their multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes and their rapid dissemination in aquatic environments. Nevertheless, studies investigating the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> in Lebanese surface water are limited.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties and microbial contamination load and to determine the distribution of AMR patterns of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> in surface water samples from different sites in the North Governorate of Lebanon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Water samples were collected from 25 major sites in North Lebanon. These samples were analyzed for the presence of total coliforms, <i>E. coli</i>, and fecal enterococci. Phenotypic and genetic characterizations were then performed for <i>E. coli</i> isolates to determine their resistance patterns and phylogenetic groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty-six samples out of 100 samples were positive for ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i>, mostly harboring bla<sub>CTX-M</sub> (40/56, 71%) including bla<sub>CTX-M-15</sub> (33/40, 82%), bla<sub>TEM</sub> gene (36/56, 64%), bla<sub>SHV</sub> (20/56, 36%), and bla<sub>OXA</sub> (16/56, 29%) including bla<sub>OXA-48</sub> gene (11/16, 69%). Most ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> isolates belonged to the extra-intestinal pathogenic phylogroup B2 (40/56, 71.4%) while 10/56 (17.9%) belonged to the commensal phylogroup A.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results highlight the need to implement effective water monitoring strategies to control transmission of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> in surface water and thus reduce the burden on human and animal health.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 2","pages":"340-362"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11194619/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-05-08eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024017
Dali Vilma Francis, Divakar Dahiya, Trupti Gokhale, Poonam Singh Nigam
{"title":"Sustainable packaging materials for fermented probiotic dairy or non-dairy food and beverage products: challenges and innovations.","authors":"Dali Vilma Francis, Divakar Dahiya, Trupti Gokhale, Poonam Singh Nigam","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024017","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The food and beverage packaging industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. Particularly the requirement for appropriate packaging materials used for the sale of fermented products is boosted due to the rising acceptance of economical functional foods available to consumers on the shelves of their local supermarkets. The most popular nutraceutical foods with increased sales include natural yogurts, probiotic-rich milk, kefir, and other fermented food and beverage products. These items have mainly been produced from dairy-based or non-dairy raw materials to provide several product options for most consumers, including vegan and lactose-intolerant populations. Therefore, there is a need for an evaluation of the potential developments and prospects that characterize the growth of the food packaging industry in the global market. The article is based on a review of information from published research, encompassing current trends, emerging technologies, challenges, innovations, and sustainability initiatives for food industry packaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 2","pages":"320-339"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11194616/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Studies on bioactivities of Manuka and regional varieties of honey for their potential use as natural antibiotic agents for infection control related to wound healing and in pharmaceutical formulations.","authors":"Divakar Dahiya, Caoimhin Mackin, Poonam Singh Nigam","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024015","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Presently, most of the reported infections are of a bacterial origin; however, this leads to a limit within the literature and research around infections caused by fungal pathogens, which are now developing resistance to antibiotic medicines. Of the natural antimicrobial agents, honey has been observed with demonstrable and highly exploitable antimicrobial and infection control related to wound healing properties; therefore, it has been incorporated into many standard pharmaceutical formulations. Generally, these products utilize a pure sample of honey as a bioactive ingredient in a product which has been purposely designed for the convenience of application. This article aims to review information available from published reports on various bioactivities of a variety of medical-grade honey products, including manuka and other conventional non-manuka types sourced from different floral types and geographical regions. Additionally, this review highlights the antibiotic activities of various types of honey products tested against pathogenic strains of bacteria, yeast and fungi, and their applications in the formulation of healthcare products.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 2","pages":"288-310"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11194624/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-05-06eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024016
Harry J Flint, Petra Louis, Sylvia H Duncan
{"title":"Why does increased microbial fermentation in the human colon shift toward butyrate?","authors":"Harry J Flint, Petra Louis, Sylvia H Duncan","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024016","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The microbial community of the human large intestine mainly ferments dietary fiber to short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are efficiently absorbed by the host. The three major SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) have different fates within the body and different effects on health. A recent analysis of 10 human volunteer studies established that the proportions of these SCFA in fecal samples significantly shifted towards butyrate as the overall concentration of SCFA increased. Butyrate plays a key role in gut health and is preferentially utilized as an energy source by the colonic epithelium. Here we discuss possible mechanisms that underlie this 'butyrate shift'; these include the selection for butyrate-producing bacteria within the microbiota by certain types of fiber, and the possibility of additional butyrate formation from lactate and acetate by metabolite cross-feeding. However, a crucial factor appears to be the pH in the proximal colon, which decreases as the SCFA concentrations increase. A mildly acidic pH has been shown to have an important impact on microbial competition and on the stoichiometry of butyrate production. Understanding these complex interactions has been greatly aided by the refinement of theoretical models of the colonic microbiota that assume a small number (10) of microbial functional groups (MFGs).</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 2","pages":"311-319"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11194621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-04-22eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024014
George O Lugonzo, Ezekiel M Njeru, William Songock, Albert A Okumu, Eric M Ndombi
{"title":"Epidemiology of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis in the western region of Kenya.","authors":"George O Lugonzo, Ezekiel M Njeru, William Songock, Albert A Okumu, Eric M Ndombi","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024014","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) (MDR-TB), or TB that is simultaneously resistant to both isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), is a barrier to successful TB control and treatment. Stratified data on MDR-TB, particularly in the high-burden western Kenya region, remain unknown. This data is important to monitor the efficacy of TB control and treatment efforts. Herein, we determined the molecular epidemiology of drug-resistant TB and associated risk factors in western Kenya. This was a non-experimental, population-based, cross-sectional study conducted between January and August 2018. Morning sputum samples of individuals suspected of pulmonary TB were collected, processed, and screened for <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> (Mtb) and drug resistance using line probe assay (LPA) and <i>Mycobacterium</i> growth indicator tubes (MGIT) culture. MGIT-positive samples were cultured on brain heart infusion (BHII) agar media, and the presence of Mtb was validated using Immunochromatographic assay (ICA). Drug sensitivity was performed on MGIT and ICA-positive but BHI-negative samples. Statistical significance was set at <i>P</i> < 0.05. Of the 622 Mtb isolates, 536 (86.2%) were susceptible to RIF and INH. The rest, 86 (13.83%), were resistant to either drugs or both. A two-sample proportional equality test revealed that the MDR-TB prevalence in western Kenya (5%) did not vary significantly from the global MDR-TB estimate (3.9%) (P = 0.196). Men comprised the majority of susceptible and resistant TB (75.9% and 77.4%%, respectively). Also, compared with healthy individuals, the prevalence of HIV was significantly higher in MDR-TB patients (35.9% vs 5.6%). Finally, TB prevalence was highest in individuals aged 25-44 years, who accounted for 58.4% of the total TB cases. Evidently, the prevalence of MDRTB in western Kenya is high. Particular attention should be paid to men, young adults, and those with HIV, who bear the greatest burden of resistant TB. Overall, there is a need to refine TB control and treatment programs in the region to yield better outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 2","pages":"273-287"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11194625/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exploring fermentation with lactic acid bacteria as a pretreatment for enhancing antioxidant potential in broccoli stem powders.","authors":"M Alegría Serna-Barrera, Claudia Bas-Bellver, Lucía Seguí, Noelia Betoret, Cristina Barrera","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024013","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fruit and vegetable industries face a major environmental challenge with food loss and waste. Broccoli stems, comprising 38% of the plant's total weight, are usually discarded by the industry producing fourth-range and ready-to-use products, despite being rich in antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and glucosinolates. Addressing the challenge of reducing waste in this sector includes the production of stable and nutrient-concentrated powders, which can be consumed directly or used as ingredients in functional food formulation. This study investigated fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (<i>Limosilactobacillus reuteri</i>, <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i>, and <i>Lactobacillus salivarius</i>) as a pretreatment for enhancing antioxidant and probiotic potential in broccoli stem powders. Results showed maximum counts 24 h after inoculation, and no effect of the previous disruption intensity on microbial growth was observed. Fermenting broccoli stems for 24 h with the three microbial strains led to a significant increase in total phenols and flavonoids but to a general reduction in the samples' capacity to scavenge DPPH and ABTS free radicals. Overall, ground broccoli stems exhibited the most favorable antioxidant properties following the 24 h fermentation step. The subsequent freeze-drying and final grinding had minimal impact on the microbial population but significantly enhanced the extractability of the antioxidant compounds. This study offers a valuable reference for researchers and stakeholders exploring the development of new products and innovations from vegetable waste.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 2","pages":"255-272"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11194623/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-03-19eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024012
Xiao Zhang, Jia Hua, Zule Song, Kejun Li
{"title":"A review: Marine aquaculture impacts marine microbial communities.","authors":"Xiao Zhang, Jia Hua, Zule Song, Kejun Li","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024012","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Marine aquaculture is key for protein production but disrupts marine ecosystems by releasing excess feed and pharmaceuticals, thus affecting marine microbes. Though vital, its environmental impact often remains overlooked. This article delves into mariculture's effects on marine microbes, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and antibiotic-resistance genes in seawater and sediments. It highlights how different mariculture practices-open, pond, and cage culture-affect these microbial communities. Mariculture's release of nutrients, antibiotics, and heavy metals alters the microbial composition, diversity, and functions. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, a promising sustainable approach, is still developing and needs refinement. A deep understanding of mariculture's impact on microbial ecosystems is crucial to minimize pollution and foster sustainable practices, paving the way for the industry's sustainable advancement.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 2","pages":"239-254"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11194620/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141451864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-03-13eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024011
Shubhra Singh, Douglas J H Shyu
{"title":"Perspective on utilization of <i>Bacillus</i> species as plant probiotics for different crops in adverse conditions.","authors":"Shubhra Singh, Douglas J H Shyu","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024011","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant probiotic bacteria are a versatile group of bacteria isolated from different environmental sources to improve plant productivity and immunity. The potential of plant probiotic-based formulations is successfully seen as growth enhancement in economically important plants. For instance, endophytic <i>Bacillus</i> species acted as plant growth-promoting bacteria, influenced crops such as cowpea and lady's finger, and increased phytochemicals in crops such as high antioxidant content in tomato fruits. The present review aims to summarize the studies of <i>Bacillus</i> species retaining probiotic properties and compare them with the conventional fertilizers on the market. Plant probiotics aim to take over the world since it is the time to rejuvenate and restore the soil and achieve sustainable development goals for the future. Comprehensive coverage of all the <i>Bacillus</i> species used to maintain plant health, promote plant growth, and fight against pathogens is crucial for establishing sustainable agriculture to face global change. Additionally, it will give the latest insight into this multifunctional agent with a detailed biocontrol mechanism and explore the antagonistic effects of <i>Bacillus</i> species in different crops.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 1","pages":"220-238"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10955172/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140208844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-03-12eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024010
Mohamed H El-Sayed, Doaa A Elsayed, Abd El-Rahman F Gomaa
{"title":"<i>Nocardiopsis synnemataformans</i> NBRM9, an extremophilic actinomycete producing extremozyme cellulase, using lignocellulosic agro-wastes and its biotechnological applications.","authors":"Mohamed H El-Sayed, Doaa A Elsayed, Abd El-Rahman F Gomaa","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024010","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Actinomycetes are an attractive source of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. The search for actinomycetes producing extremozyme cellulase using cheap lignocellulosic waste remains a priority goal of enzyme research. In this context, the extremophilic actinomycete NBRM9 showed promising cellulolytic activity in solid and liquid assays. This actinomycete was identified as <i>Nocardiopsis synnemataformans</i> based on its phenotypic characteristics alongside phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequencing (OQ380604.1). Using bean straw as the best agro-waste, the production of cellulase from this strain was statistically optimized using a response surface methodology, with the maximum activity (13.20 U/mL) achieved at an incubation temperature of 40 °C, a pH of 9, an incubation time of 7 days, and a 2% substrate concentration. The partially purified cellulase (PPC) showed promising activity and stability over a wide range of temperatures (20-90 °C), pH values (3-11), and NaCl concentrations (1-19%), with optimal activity at 50 °C, pH 9.0, and 10% salinity. Under these conditions, the enzyme retained >95% of its activity, thus indicating its extremozyme nature. The kinetics of cellulase showed that it has a V<sub>max</sub> of 20.19 ± 1.88 U/mL and a Km of 0.25 ± 0.07 mM. The immobilized PPC had a relative activity of 69.58 ± 0.13%. In the in vitro microtiter assay, the PPC was found to have a concentration-dependent anti-biofilm activity (up to 85.15 ± 1.60%). Additionally, the fermentative conversion of the hydrolyzed bean straw by <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> (KM504287.1) amounted to 65.80 ± 0.52% of the theoretical ethanol yield. Overall, for the first time, the present work reports the production of extremozymatic (thermo, alkali-, and halo-stable) cellulase from <i>N. synnemataformans</i> NBRM9. Therefore, this strain is recommended for use as a biotool in many lignocellulosic-based applications operating under harsh conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 1","pages":"187-219"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10955166/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140207875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2024-02-28eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024009
Alberto Bernacchi, Giulia Semenzato, Manuel di Mascolo, Sara Amata, Angela Bechini, Fabiola Berti, Carmela Calonico, Valentina Catania, Giovanni Emiliani, Antonia Esposito, Claudia Greco, Stefano Mocali, Nadia Mucci, Anna Padula, Antonio Palumbo Piccionello, Battogtokh Nasanbat, Gantulga Davaakhuu, Munkhtsetseg Bazarragchaa, Francesco Riga, Claudio Augugliaro, Anna Maria Puglia, Marco Zaccaroni, Fani Renato
{"title":"Antibacterial activity of <i>Arthrobacter</i> strains isolated from Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area, Mongolia.","authors":"Alberto Bernacchi, Giulia Semenzato, Manuel di Mascolo, Sara Amata, Angela Bechini, Fabiola Berti, Carmela Calonico, Valentina Catania, Giovanni Emiliani, Antonia Esposito, Claudia Greco, Stefano Mocali, Nadia Mucci, Anna Padula, Antonio Palumbo Piccionello, Battogtokh Nasanbat, Gantulga Davaakhuu, Munkhtsetseg Bazarragchaa, Francesco Riga, Claudio Augugliaro, Anna Maria Puglia, Marco Zaccaroni, Fani Renato","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2024009","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2024009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Desert soil hosts many microorganisms, whose activities are essential from an ecological viewpoint. Moreover, they are of great anthropic interest. The knowledge of extreme environments microbiomes may be beneficial for agriculture, technology, and human health. In this study, 11 <i>Arthrobacter</i> strains from topsoil samples collected from the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area in the Gobi Desert, were characterized by a combination of different techniques. The phylogenetic analysis, performed using their 16S rDNA sequences and the most similar <i>Arthrobacter</i> sequences found in databases, revealed that most of them were close to <i>A. crystallopoietes</i>, while others joined a sister group to the clade formed by <i>A. humicola, A. pascens</i>, and <i>A. oryzae</i>. The resistance of each strain to different antibiotics, heavy-metals, and NaCl was also tested as well as the inhibitory potential against human pathogens (i.e., <i>Burkholderia</i> ssp., <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus</i> ssp.) via cross-streaking, to check the production of metabolites with antimicrobial activity. Data obtained revealed that all strains were resistant to heavy metals and were able to strongly interfere with the growth of many of the human pathogens tested. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile of the 11 <i>Arthrobacter</i> strains was also analyzed. A total of 16 different metabolites were found, some of which were already known for having an inhibitory action against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Isolate MS-3A13, producing the highest quantity of VOCs, is the most efficient against <i>Burkholderia cepacia</i> complex (Bcc), <i>K. pneumoniae</i>, and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) strains. This work highlights the importance of understanding microbial populations' phenotypical characteristics and dynamics in extreme environments to uncover the antimicrobial potential of new species and strains.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"10 1","pages":"161-186"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10955175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140207877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}