FEMS microbes最新文献

{"title":"Roles of three carbonic anhydrases in <i>in vitro</i> growth, pH homeostasis, metabolism, and intracellular survival of <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i>.","authors":"Sanjay V Alokabandara, Hsin-Wen Liang, Aloka B Bandara","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag021","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In many bacterial species, carbonic anhydrases (CAs) have been shown to play crucial roles in metabolism, cellular pH homeostasis, growth, and/or pathogenicity. Thus, these enzymes are considered as vital targets of drug development. We investigated the importance of CAs to growth, cellular metabolism, pH homeostasis, and intracellular survival of &lt;i&gt;Neisseria gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt;. BLAST searches of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt; genome sequence revealed the presence of three genes respectively homologous to αCA, βCA, and γCA genes of other bacteria. The putative αCA protein of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt; was found to localize to the periplasm, whereas the other two proteins were predicted to reside in the cytoplasm. All three CAs of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt; shared up to 99% identity with CAs of other bacteria. Three isogenic mutants were constructed by disrupting the αCA, βCA, and γCA genes. The mutants were complemented by reincorporating the disrupted CA genes into each of the mutants. All three CA mutants were similar to the parent &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt; in terms of their growth at 5% CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;. Nevertheless, unlike the parent or the other CA mutants, the ΔβCA mutant failed to grow at ambient air or 2% or 3% CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, highlighting the importance of the βCA for CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; hydration in decreased CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; environments. The pH of the culture medium decreased during proliferation of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt; cells, nevertheless, the least decline of pH was observed in the ΔβCA mutant culture. These findings suggest that &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt; prefers slightly acidic growth environment and βCA is important for pH homeostasis. Acetyl-CoA, which is a substrate for Malonyl-CoA biosynthesis in cell, was recovered in relatively increased amounts from the ΔαCA and ΔβCA mutant cells, underscoring a possible relationship between the αCA and βCA functions and cellular metabolism. Relative to the parent strain, the ΔαCA and ΔβCA mutants were recovered from infected ME-180 cells in decreased numbers, highlighting the importance of the αCA and βCA in intracellular survival and replication. Several other publications have reported αCA as an essential protein for the viability of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt;. Since our findings on αCA were not in agreement with those published reports, we constructed an additional mutant of αCA gene by deleting the entire ORF of this gene. This second ΔαCA mutant was similar to our first ΔαCA mutant and the parent strain in terms of growth in ambient CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; concentrations. Thus, we conclude that αCA is dispensable for the viability of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt;. Unlike our ΔαCA or ΔβCA mutants, our ΔγCA mutant was not different from the parent in growth, metabolism, or intracellular survival. Overall, we conclude that αCA is dispensable for the viability, growth, and pH homeostasis but is important for metabolism and intracellular survival of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt;. The βCA is indispensable for the viability of &lt;i&gt;N. gonorrhoeae&lt;/i&gt;, a","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag021"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13147457/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846596","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":"A propolis-rich hive environment affects redox gene expression and gut microbiota at the individual and social level in honey bees.","authors":"Kirk E Anderson, Duan C Copeland, Brendon M Mott, Oliver L Kortenkamp, Robert J Erickson, Nathan O Allen, Patrick W Maes, Naomi Chao, Hollie Dalenberg, Marla Spivak","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The microbiome of the honey bee is associated with immunity, oxidative state, and disease susceptibility. Here we investigated the effects of increased colony-level propolis exposure on gut microbiota and host worker immune and redox gene expression. Sampling pre-marked adult worker bees at 9-days post emergence revealed significantly larger populations of core microbiota in worker guts from propolis-rich colonies, but little change in taxonomic composition or relative structure. We found an overall trend towards decreased expression of immune genes in propolis-rich colonies. The expressions of both pro-phenol oxidase and catalase were significantly reduced in the worker fat body suggesting that propolis-rich colonies better support host redox balance in individual workers. Increased propolis levels resulted in greater expression of superoxide dismutase from the worker fat body and social head glands, consistent with tissue-specific expression considered beneficial in model organisms and humans. Our results suggest that propolis-rich conditions and social head gland secretions contribute to total redox activity throughout the niche space of social immunity. Moreover, our results are consistent with a companion paper that sampled the same colonies and age cohorts, reporting drastic increases in beneficial native bacteria and reduced pathogen prevalence on the mouthparts, a primary marker of social immunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag019"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13137985/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846965","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":"The <i>pagN</i> gene: a dual genetic determinant for biofilm formation and virulence in <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium.","authors":"Asiye Nur Karaca, Nefise Akçelik, Mustafa Akçelik","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Typhimurium persists across environments and causes disease by coordinating biofilm formation and host invasion. Although PagN is a known adhesin and invasin, its role in regulating these processes is unclear. We investigated PagN's contribution to biofilm development and pathogenicity using a chromosomal <i>pagN</i> deletion mutant (Δ<i>pagN</i>) and a complemented strain. Deletion did not affect growth but significantly reduced biofilm formation on polystyrene at 20°C and 28°C. The mutant showed altered morphotypes, reduced cellulose, impaired pellicle formation, delayed autoaggregation, and restricted motility. In Caco-2 cells, <i>pagN</i> loss reduced adhesion by ∼60% and abolished invasion by >90%. Ectopic expression of <i>pagN</i> successfully abrogated phenotypic shifts, confirming gene specificity. Comparative transcriptomics revealed a niche-specific regulatory footprint; the profound <i>hilA</i> (SPI-1) repression in planktonic cultures was not recapitulated in biofilms. Instead, the mutant exhibited targeted <i>csgD-yaiC</i> attenuation during biofilm development, alongside robust <i>fimF</i> induction, indicating a potential compensatory shift in the adhesive landscape. Network analysis suggests PagN is integrated into global circuits, influencing pathways through the regulator of capsule synthesis (Rcs) system. These findings demonstrate PagN is a key determinant linking biofilm development with virulence regulation in <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium, coordinating environmental persistence and host-pathogen interaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag017"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13101988/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790811","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":"Role of ergosterol biosynthesis in growth, drug sensitivity, and host colonization of honey bee trypanosomatid parasite, <i>Lotmaria passim</i>.","authors":"Xuye Yuan, Tatsuhiko Kadowaki","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Lotmaria passim</i> is a widespread trypanosomatid parasite of the honey bee gut, yet the metabolic pathways underpinning its growth and infection remain poorly defined. Like other kinetoplastids, <i>L. passim</i> synthesizes ergosterol as its principal membrane sterol, but the functional significance of this pathway in an insect-associated lineage has not been experimentally assessed. We investigated ergosterol biosynthesis in <i>L. passim</i> through phylogenetic analyses, targeted gene disruption, sterol profiling, and honey bee infection assays. Early sterol biosynthetic enzymes displayed non-canonical evolutionary affiliations, whereas late stage enzymes localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. Genetic analyses showed that sterol C-8 isomerase appears to be essential for parasite viability, while sterol C-5 desaturase (SC5D) is dispensable <i>in vitro. SC5D</i>-null mutants (<i>Lp</i>Δ<i>SC5D</i>) accumulated ergosta-7,22-dienol, confirming its role in the final step of ergosterol synthesis. Although <i>Lp</i>Δ<i>SC5D</i> grew normally at optimal temperature, they exhibited temperature-sensitive growth defects, abnormal morphology, amphotericin B resistance, and a marked reduction in honey bee gut colonization. These findings demonstrate that while <i>L. passim</i> can tolerate altered sterol composition in culture, intact ergosterol biosynthesis is critical for environmental resilience and successful host infection. Sterol metabolism thus emerges as a key determinant of fitness and infection in this insect-associated trypanosomatid.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag020"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13142150/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846490","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":"Lactic acid bacteria dominate urban Bokashi: a participatory, culture-independent pilot study of microbial diversity and functional potential in household-scale food waste fermentation.","authors":"Katharina Kujala, Veera Kinnunen","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, concerns over declining biodiversity in urban spaces have increased. Urban Bokashi composting (i.e. microaerobic or anaerobic fermentation of food waste indoors) has been suggested as a possibility to promote microbial diversity in the domestic environment. However, studies on microbial communities in household-scale Bokashi and their potential impacts on health and environment are lacking. Thus, the present pilot study investigated microbial communities in different stages of the Bokashi composting process in collaboration with six Bokashi practitioners by looking into physicochemical characteristics as well as microbial community composition (16S amplicon sequencing, 34 samples) and functional potential (shotgun metagenome sequencing, 11 samples). The collective results indicate that i) microbial communities in Bokashi compost differed between stages, but also between households, ii) microbial communities were dominated by lactic acid bacteria like <i>Lentilactobacillus</i> or <i>Lacticaseibacillus</i>, iii) metabolic pathways for the production of diverse organic acids were detected, iv) application of Bokashi ferment or leachate to soil can supply nutrients and organic acids to promote plant growth but does not substantially affect soil microbial community composition, and v) potentially pathogenic organisms were detected in extremely low abundances. Thus, urban Bokashi is likely not associated with increased health risks and positive impacts are feasible.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag018"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13134446/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824403","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":"Evidence for ecological adaptation of reductive citric acid and reverse oxidative citric acid cycles based on a survey of genomes from autotrophic <i>Bacteria</i>.","authors":"Kathleen M Scott, Daniel P Walsh, Lydia Napier, Maryna Bohdanovska, Quinn Conde, Ana C Machado-Olavarria, Sanjay Madala, Samantha M Meade, Kim T Nguyen, Tammy Nguyen, Daryn O'Malley, Haley Palmer, Kavita J Parbhoo, Alexandra Pfent, Riley Phillips, Victoria Pontes Busato, Madina Rakhmonova, Desiree Ruiz, Erin Small, Shaniah S Spence, Anjali Thakur","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The reductive citric acid (rTCA) and reverse oxidative TCA (roTCA) cycles are used by autotrophic <i>Bacteria</i> to fix dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) at deep-sea and terrestrial hot springs, water treatment facilities, acid rock drainage, sediments and aquatic habitats including lake redoxclines, and more. rTCA and roTCA cycles operating in these contexts likely reflect selective pressures present in them. This genome survey examines the versions of the rTCA and roTCA cycles present in the completed genome sequences of several phyla of <i>Bacteria</i>. The versions of these cycles correlate in part with the phyla to which the organisms belong, as well as with their habitats. There are many potential mechanisms for navigating the carboxylation of C₃ compounds, which may diminish its metabolic cost. There are variations in electron donors for reductive steps in these cycles that could push them in a reductive direction. The predicted O₂ sensitivity of several enzymes correlates with organisms' lifestyles. The presence of genes encoding DIC transporters and carbonic anhydrases correlates with habitat pH. Understanding how these cycles have responded to billions of years of selective pressure in a variety of habitats may provide insights into engineering autotrophic biochemistries to function well in a variety of industrial contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag016"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13147460/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846962","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":"Ammonia as a parameter shaping habitability on icy moons.","authors":"Cassie M Hopton, Charles S Cockell","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The search for life now extends beyond the traditional habitable zone to include the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. These moons feature ice-covered surfaces overlying substantial oceans formed primarily of liquid water and other potential constituents, such as ammonia. On Earth, ammonia supports biochemistry at low concentrations by providing nitrogen but becomes disruptive at higher concentrations. Ammonia could therefore influence the habitability of extraterrestrial oceans, yet this topic has received limited attention in the literature. This review synthesises current research on ammonia in Saturn's icy moons, Enceladus and Titan, and its effects on terrestrial life. We summarize the celestial incorporation, speciation, and phase behaviour of ammonia and review data on its occurrence and concentration in icy moon oceans. We examine the role of ammonia in prebiotic chemistry, biochemistry, and toxicity. Focusing on bacteria, we compare known survival limits in ammonia to estimated ammonia concentrations on Enceladus and Titan. We find that bacterial survival limits exceed concentrations estimated on Enceladus, but are below those estimated on Titan, and propose that ammonia measurements are crucial for assessing extraterrestrial habitability. Finally, we highlight outstanding knowledge gaps and challenges that influence our understanding of how ammonia shapes the potential for life beyond Earth.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag015"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13094550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790838","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":"Methanotrophy dominated symbiosis in novel species <i>Gigantidas niobengalensis</i> from the cold seeps of Krishna-Godavari basin.","authors":"Nitisha Sangodkar, Maria Judith Gonsalves, Delcy R Nazareth","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Bathymodiolus</i> mussels, which are prominent invertebrates at cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, are known for hosting symbiotic microbes within their gills. In this study, the microbial communities associated with the gills of novel bathymodioline mussel <i>Gigantidas niobengalensis</i> from an active cold seep site of Krishna-Godavari (K-G) basin was investigated by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The average abundance of culturable methanotrophs in the gill tissues was 3.4 ± 0.9 × 10⁴ CFU g^-1 with average methane oxidation rates of 1.71 ± 0.04 to 1.89 ± 0.02 µM g^-1 d^-1 under aerobic and 1.86 ± 0.001 to 1.98 ± 0.005 µM g^-1 d^-1 under anaerobic conditions. Metagenomic analysis revealed dominance of methanotrophs within the microbial communities comprising of >55% bacterial and >28% archaeal methanotrophs; with phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Euryarchaeota, and Crenarcheaota being prevalent. Functional classification highlighted methane metabolism (20%) and carbon fixation (22%) as major energy metabolism pathways. This study represents the first metagenomic characterization of gill-associated symbionts in the novel cold seep mussel <i>G. niobengalensis</i> from the Indian Ocean. The findings fill a knowledge gap on chemosynthetic symbioses in Indian cold seep ecosystems and provide insights into metabolic adaptation of <i>G. niobengalensis</i> in the cold seep ecosystem.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag014"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13101978/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147790832","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":"A simple <i>ex vivo</i> bladder infection model permits study of host-pathogen interactions in urinary tract infection.","authors":"Rixa-Mareike Köhn, Laura Ramirez Finn, Méline Durand, Ariana Costas, Bill Söderström, Livia Lacerda Mariano, Molly A Ingersoll","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urinary tract infections (UTI) are very common infections. To study UTI, researchers often use animal models, but studying certain phenotypes is difficult and comes with ethical and administrative challenges. To address these challenges, we developed a reproducible and cost-effective model to study UTI using donated mouse bladders that would otherwise be discarded. This model, which is easily mastered, supports study of interactions between the host and bacteria in a controlled environment. We found that uropathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> colonization and invasion in our model was comparable to <i>in vivo</i> mouse models. To optimize reproducibility, we tested variables including incubator conditions, and biological factors like donor mouse sex or pregnancy. Our method allows assessment of early host-pathogen interactions, immune cell uptake, the impact of age and sex, and diverse bacterial strains or treatments. In some countries, sharing material from animals sacrificed for other reasons does not require additional ethical approval, providing a resource for labs without animal access and reducing administrative burden. Given the breadth of the model to test sex, age, mouse and bacterial strain, or any parameter that can be adapted to a 96-well plate, this model has potential application beyond infection or even beyond the bladder to other tissues.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag012"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13001586/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147500604","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":"Characterization of the clade 4 non-toxigenic <i>C. difficile</i> isolate L-NTCD03 carrying the <i>cfr</i>(B) gene.","authors":"Britt Nibbering, Sam Nooij, Céline Harmanus, Ingrid M J G Sanders, Inez M Miedema, Quinten R Ducarmon, Rolf H A M Vossen, Susan L Kloet, Colleen K Ardis, Robert A Britton, Farnaz Yousefi, Jenna Bayne, Chandrashekhar Charavaryamath, Andy Law, Morgan L Murphy, Brett Sponseller, Eric R Burrough, Alejandro Ramirez, Shankumar Mooyottu, Tanja Opriessnig, Ed J Kuijper, Meta Roestenberg, Wiep Klaas Smits","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtag010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtag010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) is a toxin-mediated gastro-intestinal disease. Yet, <i>C. difficile</i> is a phylogenetically diverse species that includes many non-toxigenic strains. In general, these are understudied, despite having significant potential impact for our understanding of the colonization process and as therapeutic modalities. Here, we present an in-depth characterization-including the complete genome sequence-of the non-toxigenic <i>C. difficile</i> strain L-NTCD03. This strain belongs to PCR ribotype 416, clade 4 and multilocus sequence type 39. It is resistant to multiple antimicrobials, but not those used for treatment of CDI. We validated the relevance of the <i>cfr</i>(B) gene from this strain in antimicrobial resistance to clindamycin, linezolid, retapamulin, and streptogramin A. We found the L-NTCD03 strain to be non-toxic in various assays. Altogether, L-NTCD03 is a promising candidate for developing into a live biotherapeutic product.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"7 ","pages":"xtag010"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12955701/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147357848","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}