AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2023-08-21eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023033
Tjokorda Istri Pramitasuri, Ni Made Susilawathi, Ni Made Adi Tarini, Aa Raka Sudewi, Matthew C Evans
{"title":"Cholesterol dependent cytolysins and the brain: Revealing a potential therapeutic avenue for bacterial meningitis.","authors":"Tjokorda Istri Pramitasuri, Ni Made Susilawathi, Ni Made Adi Tarini, Aa Raka Sudewi, Matthew C Evans","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023033","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2023033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacterial meningitis is a catastrophic nervous system disorder with high mortality and wide range of morbidities. Some of the meningitis-causing bacteria occupy cholesterol dependent cytolysins (CDCs) to increase their pathogenicity and arrange immune-evasion strategy. Studies have observed that the relationship between CDCs and pathogenicity in these meningitides is complex and involves interactions between CDC, blood-brain barrier (BBB), glial cells and neurons. In BBB, these CDCs acts on capillary endothelium, tight junction (TJ) proteins and neurovascular unit (NVU). CDCs also observed to elicit intriguing effects on brain inflammation which involves microglia and astrocyte activations, along with neuronal damage as the end-point of pathological pathways in bacterial meningitis. As some studies mentioned potential advantage of CDC-targeted therapeutic mechanisms to combat CNS infections, it might be a fruitful avenue to deepen our understanding of CDC as a candidate for adjuvant therapy to combat bacterial meningitis.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"1 1","pages":"647-667"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10758573/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70221507","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 : 2023-08-10eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023032
Manuela Oliveira, Eva Cunha, Luís Tavares, Isa Serrano
{"title":"<i>P. aeruginosa</i> interactions with other microbes in biofilms during co-infection.","authors":"Manuela Oliveira, Eva Cunha, Luís Tavares, Isa Serrano","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023032","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2023032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review addresses the topic of biofilms, including their development and the interaction between different counterparts. There is evidence that various diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, otitis media, diabetic foot wound infections, and certain cancers, are promoted and aggravated by the presence of polymicrobial biofilms. Biofilms are composed by heterogeneous communities of microorganisms protected by a matrix of polysaccharides. The different types of interactions between microorganisms gives rise to an increased resistance to antimicrobials and to the host's defense mechanisms, with the consequent worsening of disease symptoms. Therefore, infections caused by polymicrobial biofilms affecting different human organs and systems will be discussed, as well as the role of the interactions between the gram-negative bacteria <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, which is at the base of major polymicrobial infections, and other bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the establishment of human infections and diseases. Considering that polymicrobial biofilms are key to bacterial pathogenicity, it is fundamental to evaluate which microbes are involved in a certain disease to convey an appropriate and efficacious antimicrobial therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"1 1","pages":"612-646"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10758579/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70221393","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":"Molecular and biotechnological characteristics of proteolytic activity from <i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i> as a proteolytic lactic acid bacteria to enhance protein-derived bioactive peptides.","authors":"Srisan Phupaboon, Farah J Hashim, Parichat Phumkhachorn, Pongsak Rattanachaikunsopon","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023031","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2023031","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The demand for healthy food items with a high nutrient value of bioavailability and bioaccessibility has created a need for continuous development of technology and food ingredients like bioactive peptides. This study aimed to investigate seven proteolytic lactic acid bacteria (PLABs) isolated from the <i>plaa-som</i> (fermented fish) sample originated from silver BARB species for production of proteolytic enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes produced by (PLABs) were used further to create potent bioactive peptides by hydrolyzing proteins throughout PLAB-probiotics enhancer. Protein derived-bioactive peptides was tested the proteolytic activity on different protein sources and examined bioactivities including antioxidative and antimicrobial effect for further use in functional foods. Results of screened-PLAB strains showed high proteolytic activity namely <i>Streptococcus thermophilus</i> strains (KKUPA22 and KKUPK13). These strains have proteolytic system consisting of extracellular and cell-bound enzymes that used for degrading protein in fish flesh protein (FFP) and skim milk (SKM) broth media. Proteolytic activity of tested bacterial enzymes was estimated after incubation at 45, 37, and 50 °C. Furthermore, FFP hydrolysates were formed with various peptides and has small molecular weights (checked by SDS-PAGE) in the range of10.5 to 22 kDa), exhibiting strong activity. Data revealed that <i>S. thermophilus</i> strains (KKUPA22 and KKUPK13) had high antioxidant activity in term of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical-scavenging inhibition, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) reducing power capacity. Both strains (KKUPA22 and KKUPK13) of <i>S. thermophilus</i> have higher antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria than against Gram-positive bacteria. We have confirmed presence of proteolytic (<i>prt</i>) gene regions in <i>S. thermophilus</i> strains using specific primers via PCR amplification. Results showed highest homology (100%) with the <i>prt</i>S gene of <i>S. thermophillus</i> located on the cell envelope proteolytic enzymes (CEPEs) such as serine proteinase. Therefore, it concluded that the proteolytic system of tested PLAB strains able to generate bioactive peptides-derived proteins having active biological property, good mechanism of degradability, and bioaccessibility for further use in catalyzing protein of functional foods.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"1 1","pages":"591-611"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10758578/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70221279","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 : 2023-04-13eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023020
Lucia Spicuzza, Davide Campagna, Chiara Di Maria, Enrico Sciacca, Salvatore Mancuso, Carlo Vancheri, Gianluca Sambataro
{"title":"An update on lateral flow immunoassay for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.","authors":"Lucia Spicuzza, Davide Campagna, Chiara Di Maria, Enrico Sciacca, Salvatore Mancuso, Carlo Vancheri, Gianluca Sambataro","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023020","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2023020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the last three years, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented number of novel diagnostic tests have been developed. Assays to evaluate the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 have been widely considered as part of the control strategy. The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), to detect both IgM and IgG against SARS-CoV-2, has been widely studied as a point-of-care (POC) test. Compared to laboratory tests, LFIAs are faster, cheaper and user-friendly, thus available also in areas with low economic resources. Soon after the onset of the pandemic, numerous kits for rapid antibody detection were put on the market with an emergency use authorization. However, since then, scientists have tried to better define the accuracy of these tests and their usefulness in different contexts. In fact, while during the first phase of the pandemic LFIAs for antibody detection were auxiliary to molecular tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19, successively these tests became a tool of seroprevalence surveillance to address infection control policies. When in 2021 a massive vaccination campaign was implemented worldwide, the interest in LFIA reemerged due to the need to establish the extent and the longevity of immunization in the vaccinated population and to establish priorities to guide health policies in low-income countries with limited access to vaccines. Here, we summarize the accuracy, the advantages and limits of LFIAs as POC tests for antibody detection, highlighting the efforts that have been made to improve this technology over the last few years.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"9 2","pages":"375-401"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10113162/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9521127","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 : 2023-03-29eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023015
Rakhi Harne, Brittany Williams, Hazem F M Abdelal, Susan L Baldwin, Rhea N Coler
{"title":"SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune responses.","authors":"Rakhi Harne, Brittany Williams, Hazem F M Abdelal, Susan L Baldwin, Rhea N Coler","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023015","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2023015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The recent pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to be an enormous global challenge faced by the healthcare sector. Availability of new vaccines and drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2 and sequelae of COVID-19 has given the world hope in ending the pandemic. However, the emergence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome every couple of months in different parts of world is a persistent danger to public health. Currently there is no single treatment to eradicate the risk of COVID-19. The widespread transmission of SARS-CoV-2 due to the Omicron variant necessitates continued work on the development and implementation of effective vaccines. Moreover, there is evidence that mutations in the receptor domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein led to the decrease in current vaccine efficacy by escaping antibody recognition. Therefore, it is essential to actively identify the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 evades the host immune system, study the long-lasting effects of COVID-19 and develop therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans and preclinical models. In this review, we describe the pathogenic mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as the innate and adaptive host immune responses to infection. We address the ongoing need to develop effective vaccines that provide protection against different variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as validated endpoint assays to evaluate the immunogenicity of vaccines in the pipeline, medications, anti-viral drug therapies and public health measures, that will be required to successfully end the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"9 2","pages":"245-276"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10113164/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9820224","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 : 2023-01-16eCollection Date: 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023002
Maria I Zapata-Cardona, Lizdany Florez-Alvarez, Ariadna L Guerra-Sandoval, Mateo Chvatal-Medina, Carlos M Guerra-Almonacid, Jaime Hincapie-Garcia, Juan C Hernandez, Maria T Rugeles, Wildeman Zapata-Builes
{"title":"In vitro and in silico evaluation of antiretrovirals against SARS-CoV-2: A drug repurposing approach.","authors":"Maria I Zapata-Cardona, Lizdany Florez-Alvarez, Ariadna L Guerra-Sandoval, Mateo Chvatal-Medina, Carlos M Guerra-Almonacid, Jaime Hincapie-Garcia, Juan C Hernandez, Maria T Rugeles, Wildeman Zapata-Builes","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023002","DOIUrl":"10.3934/microbiol.2023002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Drug repurposing is a valuable strategy for rapidly developing drugs for treating COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral effect of six antiretrovirals against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in silico.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The cytotoxicity of lamivudine, emtricitabine, tenofovir, abacavir, efavirenz and raltegravir on Vero E6 was evaluated by MTT assay. The antiviral activity of each of these compounds was evaluated via a pre-post treatment strategy. The reduction in the viral titer was assessed by plaque assay. In addition, the affinities of the antiretroviral interaction with viral targets RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase), ExoN-NSP10 (exoribonuclease and its cofactor, the non-structural protein 10) complex and 3CLpro (3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease) were evaluated by molecular docking.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lamivudine exhibited antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 at 200 µM (58.3%) and 100 µM (66.7%), while emtricitabine showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity at 100 µM (59.6%), 50 µM (43.4%) and 25 µM (33.3%). Raltegravir inhibited SARS-CoV-2 at 25, 12.5 and 6.3 µM (43.3%, 39.9% and 38.2%, respectively). The interaction between the antiretrovirals and SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, ExoN-NSP10 and 3CLpro yielded favorable binding energies (from -4.9 kcal/mol to -7.7 kcal/mol) using bioinformatics methods.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Lamivudine, emtricitabine and raltegravir showed in vitro antiviral effects against the D614G strain of SARS-CoV-2. Raltegravir was the compound with the greatest in vitro antiviral potential at low concentrations, and it showed the highest binding affinities with crucial SARS-CoV-2 proteins during the viral replication cycle. However, further studies on the therapeutic utility of raltegravir in patients with COVID-19 are required.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"20-40"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2023-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9988408/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9082904","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 : 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023001
Jessie Melo, Célia Quintas
{"title":"Minimally processed fruits as vehicles for foodborne pathogens.","authors":"Jessie Melo, Célia Quintas","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/microbiol.2023001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The consumption of minimally processed fruit (MPF) has increased over the last decade due to a novel trend in the food market along with the raising consumers demand for fresh, organic, convenient foods and the search for healthier lifestyles. Although represented by one of the most expanded sectors in recent years, the microbiological safety of MPF and its role as an emergent foodborne vehicle has caused great concern to the food industry and public health authorities. Such food products may expose consumers to a risk of foodborne infection as they are not subjected to prior microbial lethal methods to ensure the removal or destruction of pathogens before consumption. A considerable number of foodborne disease cases linked to MPF have been reported and pathogenic strains of <i>Salmonella enterica</i>, <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, as well as Norovirus accounted for the majority of cases. Microbial spoilage is also an issue of concern as it may result in huge economic losses among the various stakeholders involved in the manufacturing and commercialization of MPF. Contamination can take place at any step of production/manufacturing and identifying the nature and sources of microbial growth in the farm-to-fork chain is crucial to ensure appropriate handling practices for producers, retailers, and consumers. This review aims to summarize information about the microbiological hazards associated with the consumption of MPF and also highlight the importance of establishing effective control measures and developing coordinated strategies in order to enhance their safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"9 1","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9988415/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9076085","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 : 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023036
Victor V. Suntsov
{"title":"Molecular phylogenies of the plague microbe <i>Yersinia pestis</i>: an environmental assessment","authors":"Victor V. Suntsov","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/microbiol.2023036","url":null,"abstract":"<abstract> <p>Two approaches are applied to studies of the phylogeny of the plague microbe <italic>Yersinia pestis</italic>, i.e., the reconstruction of its history: Molecular genetic (MG) and ecological (ECO). The MG approach dominates. Phylogenies created with MG and ECO methods are not congruent. MG conclusions contradict the known facts and patterns of ecology, biogeography, paleontology, etc. We discuss some obvious contradictions and inconsistencies and suggest that real phylogenies of the plague microbe can be constructed only on the basis of the integration of MG and ECO approaches.</p> </abstract>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136368001","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}
AIMS MicrobiologyPub Date : 2023-01-01DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023038
Noah T Thompson, David A Kitzenberg, Daniel J Kao
{"title":"Persister-mediated emergence of antimicrobial resistance in agriculture due to antibiotic growth promoters","authors":"Noah T Thompson, David A Kitzenberg, Daniel J Kao","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/microbiol.2023038","url":null,"abstract":"<abstract> <p>The creation and continued development of antibiotics have revolutionized human health and disease for the past century. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance represents a major threat to human health, and practices that contribute to the development of this threat need to be addressed. Since the 1950s, antibiotics have been used in low doses to increase growth and decrease the feed requirement of animal-derived food sources. A consequence of this practice is the accelerated emergence of antimicrobial resistance that can influence human health through its distribution via animal food products. In the laboratory setting, sublethal doses of antibiotics promote the expansion of bacterial persister populations, a low energy, low metabolism phenotype characterized broadly by antibiotic tolerance. Furthermore, the induction of persister bacteria has been positively correlated with an increased emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. This body of evidence suggests that the use of antibiotics in agriculture at subtherapeutic levels is actively catalyzing the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria through the expansion of bacterial persister populations, which is potentially leading to increased infections in humans and decreased antibiotic potency. There is an urgent need to address this debilitating effect on antibiotics and its influence on human health. In this review, we summarize the recent literature on the topic of emerging antimicrobial resistance and its association with bacterial persister populations.</p> </abstract>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135705605","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":"Preliminary indication of the role of AHL-dependent quorum sensing systems in calcium carbonate precipitation in Gram-negative bacteria","authors":"Paola Cacchio, Marika Pellegrini, Beatrice Farda, Rihab Djebaili, Silvia Tabacchioni, Maddalena Del Gallo","doi":"10.3934/microbiol.2023035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3934/microbiol.2023035","url":null,"abstract":"<abstract> <p>Numerous microbial species participate in precipitation of carbonates in various natural environments, including soils, geological formations, freshwater biofilms and oceans. Despite the geochemical interest of such a biomineralization process, its molecular mechanisms and adaptive aspects remain poorly known. Many Gram-negative bacteria use cell-to-cell communication systems relying on N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHLs) signal molecules to express certain phenotypic traits in a density-dependent manner, a phenomenon referred as to quorum-sensing (QS). In this work, bacterial isolates collected from cave and rhizosphere soil were analyzed to study the occurrence of the AHL-mediated QS in bacterial calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>) precipitation. To test the production of AHLs signal molecules, we cross-streaked Gram-negative calcifying strains, selected among the environmental strains studied, with the AHL-negative mutant <italic>Chromobacterium subtsugae</italic> strain CV026. Only <italic>Burkholderia ambifaria</italic> LMG 11351 was able to restore violacein production in CV026 among the tested strains. The constructed AHL-negative mutant of <italic>B. ambifaria</italic> LMG 11351 could not precipitate CaCO<sub>3</sub> on B-4 agar. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis on CaCO<sub>3</sub> crystals obtained <italic>in vitro</italic> shows crystals of different morphologies, calcified biofilms and bacteria in close contact with the precipitated crystals. In the inner layers of the bioliths deposited by <italic>B. ambifaria</italic> LMG 11351, a stream-like organization of the <italic>Burkholderia</italic> imprints was not detected by SEM. Our data provide preliminary evidence that the activation of AHL-regulated genes may be a prerequisite for <italic>in vitro</italic> bacterial carbonatogenesis, in some cases, confirming the specific role of bacteria as CaCO<sub>3</sub> precipitating agents. We enhance the understanding of bacterial CaCO<sub>3</sub> biomineralization and its potential biotechnology implications for QS-based strategies to enhance or decrease CaCO<sub>3</sub> precipitation through specific bacterial processes. The AHL-negative mutant of <italic>B. ambifaria</italic> LMG 11351 (a well-known plant growth-promoting bacterium) could also be used to study plant-bacteria interactions. The adaptive role of bacterial CaCO<sub>3</sub> biomineralization was also discussed.</p> </abstract>","PeriodicalId":46108,"journal":{"name":"AIMS Microbiology","volume":"98 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135755345","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}