Microbiology-Sgm最新文献

{"title":"Roles of human colonic bacteria in pectin utilization and associated cross-feeding networks revealed using synthetic co-cultures.","authors":"Michael Solvang, Freda M Farquharson, Graham Horgan, Sushila Pisano, Jesper Holck, Birgitte Zeuner, Wendy R Russell, Petra Louis","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001559","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001559","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dietary fibre is a crucial component of healthy diets via its action on the human gut microbiota, but fibre intake is well below current international dietary guidelines at the population level. Pectin is a fibre constituent in fruit and vegetables that has the promise to promote a healthy and diverse microbiota. It is a highly complex molecule, and its composition differs between plants. Here, we assessed the ability of a panel of 23 human gut bacteria to ferment pectins extracted from different plants based on their genome carriage of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and their growth in pure culture on several mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides, as well as pectins from different plant sources. Growth behaviour was overall in good agreement with CAZyme carriage, and the results were used to design synthetic co-culture communities with different combinations of pectin degraders, pectin cross-feeders and background strains not expected to play a major role in pectin degradation. For pectin degraders, <i>Lachnospira eligens</i> DSM 3376 outcompeted <i>Phocaeicola vulgatus</i> DSM 1447 and <i>Segatella copri</i> DSM 18205<i>,</i> which appeared to act more as a cross-feeder in the presence of <i>L. eligens</i> DSM 3376. Between the cross-feeders, <i>Roseburia intestinalis</i> M50/1 likely utilized breakdown products from the pectin backbone and side chains, whereas <i>Faecalibacterium duncaniae</i> A2-165 grew better in co-culture on homogalacturonan-rich pectins. Our work will help to explain individual-specific responses to pectin intake based on microbiota compositional variation and contribute to the design of personalized dietary strategies to optimize the microbiota.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144175395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oxygen microenvironments in <i>Escherichia coli</i> biofilm nutrient transport channels: insights from complementary sensing approaches.","authors":"Beatrice Bottura, Gail McConnell, Lindsey C Florek, Marina K Smiley, Ross Martin, Shannan Foylan, Ash Eana, Hannah T Dayton, Kelly N Eckartt, Alexa M Price-Whelan, Paul A Hoskisson, Gwyn W Gould, Lars E P Dietrich, Liam M Rooney","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001543","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001543","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chemical gradients and the emergence of distinct microenvironments in biofilms are vital to the stratification, maturation and overall function of microbial communities. These gradients have been well characterized throughout the biofilm mass, but the microenvironment of recently discovered nutrient transporting channels in <i>Escherichia coli</i> biofilms remains unexplored. This study employs three different oxygen sensing approaches to provide a robust quantitative overview of the oxygen gradients and microenvironments throughout the biofilm transport channel networks formed by <i>E. coli</i> macrocolony biofilms. Oxygen nanosensing combined with confocal laser scanning microscopy established that the oxygen concentration changes along the length of biofilm transport channels. Electrochemical sensing provided precise quantification of the oxygen profile in the transport channels, showing similar anoxic profiles compared with the adjacent cells. Anoxic biosensing corroborated these approaches, providing an overview of the oxygen utilization throughout the biomass. The discovery that transport channels maintain oxygen gradients contradicts the previous literature that channels are completely open to the environment along the apical surface of the biofilm. We provide a potential mechanism for the sustenance of channel microenvironments via orthogonal visualizations of biofilm thin sections showing thin layers of actively growing cells. This complete overview of the oxygen environment in biofilm transport channels primes future studies aiming to exploit these emergent structures for new bioremediation approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12056250/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143992161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Promoting global collaboration to improve bioaerosol exposure assessment and understanding of associated health impacts: outcomes from a series of workshops.","authors":"Emma L Marczylo, Simon Jackson, Christine Bell, Daniel Andrews, Martin J D Clift, Ian Crawford, Gyorgy Fejer, Robert M W Ferguson, Matthew C Fisher, Emma-Jane Goode, James Isaac, Rob Kinnersley, Julie A Morrissey, Sofya Pozdniakova, Carla Viegas, Andrew Ward, Inge M Wouters, Frederic Coulon, Zaheer A Nasir, Philippa Douglas","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001561","DOIUrl":"10.1099/mic.0.001561","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We are surrounded, in both indoor and outdoor environments, by air containing particles of biological origin (bioaerosols). We constantly inhale them, and, depending upon their size, they deposit in different parts of our airways. Despite their ubiquitous nature and our constant exposure, bioaerosol diversity and composition of the environment are not well characterized, and we understand little about which bioaerosols we are exposed to and how this impacts our health, either positively or negatively. Indoor/Outdoor Bioaerosols Interface and Relationships Network (BioAirNet), a Clean Air Programme-funded network, has recognized the need for the bioaerosol community to reflect on the current challenges facing bioaerosol exposure assessment and the determination of the associated cellular/molecular responses driving specific health outcomes. A series of online workshops for the bioaerosol community were hosted by BioAirNet in September 2022, which aimed to bring together global expertise to discuss the current challenges impeding improved assessment of bioaerosol exposure and understanding of the downstream cellular and molecular mechanisms driving health outcomes by discussing these challenges; considering where we need to be, where we are now and how we get there. Professional facilitation was key to their success, enabling the multidisciplinary bioaerosol community to explore and address these challenges within a focused and productive environment to prioritize themes and agree on action plans for continued momentum following the workshops. These themes were as follows: (1) conceptual model; (2) stakeholder mapping; (3) knowledge transfer; (4) writing project and (5) conference-type event, collectively covering research, knowledge mobilization and networking activities. A subsequent in-person follow-up workshop was held in November 2023. It provided an opportunity to share progress on the five themes, critique what had already been done and act as a launch-pad to progress the actions further. Delegates also had the opportunity to share ongoing or upcoming work, particularly projects requiring input from others, to encourage collaborative working and sharing expertise. The use of facilitated workshops is a valuable tool for all scientific communities to collectively explore and successfully address key issues within their field.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12081852/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144081637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-staphylococcal fatty acids: mode of action, bacterial resistance and implications for therapeutic application.","authors":"Edward J A Douglas, Nathanael Palk, Emily R Rudolph, Maisem Laabei","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001563","DOIUrl":"10.1099/mic.0.001563","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Novel strategies to counter multidrug-resistant pathogens such as methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> are urgently required. The antimicrobial properties of fatty acids (FAs) have long been recognized and offer significant promise as viable alternatives to, or potentiators of, conventional antibiotics. In this review, we examine the interplay between FAs and <i>S. aureus</i>, specifically detailing the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for FA-mediated inhibition and the counteracting staphylococcal systems evolved to withstand FA onslaught. Finally, we present an update on the recent therapeutic FA applications to combat <i>S. aureus</i> infection, either as a monotherapy or in combination with antibiotics or host-derived antimicrobial peptides. Given the frequency of interaction between FAs and <i>S. aureus</i> during host colonization and infection, understanding FA mode of action and deciphering <i>S. aureus</i> FA resistance strategies are central in rationally designing future anti-staphylococcal FAs and FA-combination therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12098983/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144121273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Fsr transporter of <i>Sinorhizobium meliloti</i> contributes to antimicrobial resistance and symbiosis with alfalfa.","authors":"Victor M Chávez-Jacobo, Alma R Reyes-González, Lourdes Girard, Michael F Dunn","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001566","DOIUrl":"10.1099/mic.0.001566","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters in bacteria participate in both the uptake and export of ions, metabolites or toxic compounds. In rhizobia, specific MFS transporters increase resistance to plant-produced compounds and may also affect other phenotypic traits, including symbiosis with legume host plants. Here, we describe the importance of the <i>Sinorhizobium meliloti</i> 1021 Fsr efflux pump in resistance to selected antimicrobial compounds and in modulating biofilm formation, motility and symbiotic efficiency with alfalfa. The <i>fsr</i> gene (<i>smc00990</i>) is annotated as encoding an MFS family fosmidomycin efflux pump. Unexpectedly, both the 1021 wild type and an <i>fsr</i> null mutant were highly resistant to fosmidomycin. Our assays indicate that this is due to an inability to transport the antibiotic. Unlike the wild type, the <i>fsr</i> mutant was highly sensitive to the fosmidomycin structural analogue fosfomycin, and moderately more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and deoxycholate (DOC). Root and seed exudates from alfalfa did not inhibit the growth of the wild type or <i>fsr</i> mutant. <i>fsr</i> transcription significantly increased proportionally to the concentration of fosfomycin added to cultures but was unaffected by the addition of other antibiotics, H₂O₂, DOC or SDS. Alfalfa seed exudate moderately increased <i>fsr</i> transcriptional expression. Fluorometric assays using ethidium bromide as a substrate and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone as an energy decoupler showed that Fsr was a proton-dependent efflux pump. Biofilm formation and swimming motility were decreased and increased, respectively, in the <i>fsr</i> mutant, and its symbiotic efficiency with alfalfa was decreased in terms of nodule numbers per plant and plant dry weights.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12095868/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144112513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From air to insight: the evolution of airborne DNA sequencing technologies.","authors":"Mia F G Berelson, Darren Heavens, Paul Nicholson, Matthew D Clark, Richard M Leggett","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001564","DOIUrl":"10.1099/mic.0.001564","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Historically, the analysis of airborne biological organisms relied on microscopy and culture-based techniques. However, technological advances such as PCR and next-generation sequencing now provide researchers with the ability to gather vast amounts of data on airborne environmental DNA (eDNA). Studies typically involve capturing airborne biological material, followed by nucleic acid extraction, library preparation, sequencing and taxonomic identification to characterize the eDNA at a given location. These methods have diverse applications, including pathogen detection in agriculture and human health, air quality monitoring, bioterrorism detection and biodiversity monitoring. A variety of methods are used for airborne eDNA analysis, as no single pipeline meets all needs. This review outlines current methods for sampling, extraction, sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, highlighting how different approaches can influence the resulting data and their suitability for specific use cases. It also explores current applications of airborne eDNA sampling and identifies research gaps in the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144162708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators on the pulmonary microbiota.","authors":"Joshua K Robertson, Joanna B Goldberg","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001553","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001553","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapy has significantly changed the course of the disease in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) (pwCF). The approved triple therapy of elexacaftor, tezacaftor and ivacaftor (ETI), commercially known as Trikafta, increases CFTR channel function, leading to improvements in sweat chloride concentration, exercise capacity, body mass index, lung function and chronic respiratory symptoms. Because of this, the majority of pwCF are living longer and having fewer CF exacerbations. However, colonization with the common CF respiratory pathogens persists and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Here, we review the current literature on the effect of ETI on the respiratory microbiota and discuss the challenges in addressing CF lung infections in the era of these new life-extending therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144047598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A conserved <i>Chlamydiota</i>-specific Type III Secretion System effector linked to stress response.","authors":"Thomas Kozusnik, Carole Kebbi-Beghdadi, Silvia Ardissone, Simone E Adams, Gilbert Greub","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001545","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001545","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite broad genetic variability, members of the <i>Chlamydiota</i> phylum share a crucial stress response phenotype, the formation of aberrant bodies. However, how this response operates upon exposure to different kinds of stressors is still largely unknown. In <i>Waddlia chondrophila</i>, <i>wcw_0502</i> RNA levels are upregulated in aberrant bodies induced by iron starvation. Wcw_0502 is a putative type III secretion system (T3SS) effector and has a homologue in every known chlamydial species, regardless of their host. However, the upregulation of the <i>wcw_0502</i> gene expression upon iron starvation is not conserved in other chlamydial species such as <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i>, <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>, <i>Simkania negevensis</i> or <i>Estrella lausannensis</i>. Moreover, among all the stressors examined, only heat shock induced a strong upregulation of <i>wcw_0502</i> and its <i>C. trachomatis</i> homologue, <i>ctl0271</i>. A Controlling Inverted Repeat of Chaperone Expression sequence is present in the promoter region of <i>wcw_0502</i> and its homologues. We hypothesized that in the absence of stress, the conserved repressor HrcA, in association with the Hsp60 chaperone, binds this sequence and represses transcription. A decreased occupancy of HrcA and Hsp60 at the <i>wcw_0502</i> promoter region was observed in aberrant bodies induced by iron starvation when compared to reticulate bodies, which may lead to <i>wcw_0502</i> upregulation. The precise function of this newly described T3SS effector is still unclear. A cystine knot-like domain, a structural feature never described before in bacterial proteins, was found in the C-terminal region of Wcw_0502. This structure is described as highly resistant to proteolytic, chemical and thermic stressors, an advantageous property for a secreted protein with an increased production during stresses that impact protein integrity.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12038028/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144058464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The c-di-GMP effector FleQ controls alginate production by repressing transcription of <i>algD</i> in <i>Azotobacter vinelandii</i>.","authors":"Víctor V Barrios-Rafael, Carlos L Ahumada-Manuel, Scherezada Orgaz-Ramírez, Jessica Nava-Galeana, Josefina Guzmán, Soledad Moreno, Víctor H Bustamante, Cinthia Núñez","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001556","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001556","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Production of the exopolysaccharide alginate by <i>Azotobacter vinelandii</i>, member of the <i>Pseudomonadaceae</i> family, is positively controlled by the second messenger c-di-GMP. This effect was solely attributed to the role of c-di-GMP in activating the alginate polymerase complex. In this study, the role of c-di-GMP in <i>algD</i> transcription, which encodes the key enzyme for alginate synthesis, was investigated. <i>algD</i> transcription correlated with artificially high or low levels of c-di-GMP. Moreover, FleQ, one of the best-characterized c-di-GMP effectors, was found to exert a negative effect on alginate production and <i>algD</i> transcription, as both increased in a Δ<i>fleQ</i> mutant relative to the wild-type strain or the Δ<i>fleQ</i>/<i>fleQ</i>+ complemented strain. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) confirmed that FleQ directly binds to the regulatory region of <i>algD</i>, which was consistent with the presence of two FleQ binding sites in the vicinity of the <i>algD</i> RpoS-dependent promoter. In <i>A. vinelandii</i>, c-di-GMP is essential for the expression of alginate C-5 epimerases (AlgE1-6), which are necessary for structuring the envelope of differentiated cells, known as cysts. However, FleQ was not involved in this regulation. Collectively, our results support a model in which <i>algD</i> transcription is under the positive control of c-di-GMP, while FleQ may only partially mediate this effect. In contrast, our study revealed a FleQ-independent regulatory mechanism for the control of <i>A. vinelandii</i> encystment.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12022260/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144056353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An abundance of <i>aliC</i> and <i>aliD</i> genes were identified in saliva using a novel multiplex qPCR to characterize group II non-encapsulated pneumococci with improved specificity.","authors":"Claire S Laxton, Femke L Toekiran, Tzu-Yi Lin, Beta D Lomeda, Maikel S Hislop, Lance Keller, Orchid M Allicock, Anne L Wyllie","doi":"10.1099/mic.0.001555","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pneumococcal surveillance studies are reporting increasing prevalence of non-encapsulated pneumococci (NESp). NESp are an important reservoir for genetic exchange among streptococci, including for antimicrobial resistance, and are increasingly implicated in disease. Disease-associated NESp commonly carries the virulence genes <i>pspK</i>, or <i>aliC</i> and <i>aliD</i> in their <i>cps</i> locus instead of capsule genes. While molecular methods targeting the cps region are widely used for serotyping encapsulated strains, there are few assays available for the classification of NESp, meaning it is not widely undertaken. Therefore, we exploited these genes as targets for a novel qPCR assay for detecting and classifying NESp strains with improved efficiency and specificity. We conducted bioinformatic analysis on sequences from 402 NESp and 45 other mitis-group streptococci and developed a multiplex-qPCR, targeting <i>pspK</i>, <i>aliD</i> and two regions of <i>aliC</i>. The assay was validated using 16 previously identified NESp isolates. We then applied the assay to DNA extracted from culture-enriched saliva and isolated and characterized suspected NESp colonies, with confirmation by whole genome sequencing. Bioinformatic analyses demonstrated that previously published primers for <i>aliC</i> and <i>aliD</i> had low pneumococcal specificity but indicated that targeting two regions of <i>aliC</i> would improve species specificity, without compromising sensitivity. Our novel multiplex assay accurately typed all isolates. When screening saliva, we found a high prevalence of <i>aliC</i> and <i>aliD</i>, even in samples negative for pneumococcal genes <i>lytA</i> and <i>piaB</i>. Isolated colonies which were <i>aliC</i> and <i>aliD</i> positive could be differentiated as non-pneumococcal streptococci using our assay. Our multiplex-qPCR assay can be used to efficiently screen even highly polymicrobial samples, such as saliva, for NESp genes, to detect and differentiate potentially pathogenic NESp clades from closely related mitis-group streptococci. This will allow for a better understanding of the true prevalence of NESp and its impact on pneumococcal carriage and disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":49819,"journal":{"name":"Microbiology-Sgm","volume":"171 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}