FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-07-02eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf009
Naoise McGarry, Stephen G J Smith
{"title":"Role for RTX-family toxin HlyA of extraintestinal pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> in serum resistance.","authors":"Naoise McGarry, Stephen G J Smith","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf009","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Extraintestinal pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ExPEC) is a major cause of urinary tract infections, bacteraemia, and sepsis. CFT073 is a prototypic, urosepsis isolate of sequence type (ST) 73. ST73 isolates are associated with higher virulence scores than other pandemic clonal groups, such as ST131. This laboratory, among others, has previously shown that strain CFT073 is serum-resistant, with virulence factors such as the exopolysaccharide capsule and other extracellular polysaccharides imparting resistance to the complement system. In this study, it was shown that culture supernatants were protective in standardized serum killing assays, when compared to cultures standardized in fresh medium. Diluting cultures in fresh medium in place of conditioned medium significantly increased sensitivity of CFT073 to serum, indicating that a secreted factor may provide resistance to serum. Haemolysin, a pore-forming toxin, is secreted by CFT073 in a calcium-dependent manner. This study found that a CFT073 <i>hlyA</i> mutant is significantly more sensitive to 50% serum than the wild-type, implicating haemolysin in the response of CFT073 to serum. In addition to acting as a toxin upon secretion, it has been shown previously that HlyA forms a complex with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which permits modulation of host immune responses by HlyA whilst cell-associated. The effect of HlyA on capsule expression and serum resistance was examined and characterized in this study, with results indicating that perhaps the HlyA-LPS complex interacts with surface capsule. This study is the first to identify haemolysin as a virulence factor promoting resistance to serum in CFT073, acting whilst associated with the cell.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf009"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12231138/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144585770","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-06-24eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf008
Tim Goodall, Susheel Bhanu Busi, Robert I Griffiths, Briony Jones, Richard F Pywell, Andrew Richards, Marek Nowakowski, Daniel S Read
{"title":"Soil properties in agricultural systems affect microbial genomic traits.","authors":"Tim Goodall, Susheel Bhanu Busi, Robert I Griffiths, Briony Jones, Richard F Pywell, Andrew Richards, Marek Nowakowski, Daniel S Read","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf008","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the relationships between bacteria, their ecological and genomic traits, and their environment is important to elucidate microbial community dynamics and their roles in ecosystem functioning. Here, we examined the relationships between soil properties and bacterial traits within highly managed agricultural soil systems subjected to arable crop rotations or management as permanent grass. We assessed the bacterial communities using metabarcoding and assigned each amplicon trait scores for rRNA copy number, genome size, and guanine-cytosine (GC) content, which are classically associated with potential growth rates and specialization. We also calculated the niche breadth trait of each amplicon as a measure of social ubiquity within the examined samples. Within this soil system, we demonstrated that pH was the primary driver of bacterial traits. The weighted mean trait scores of the samples revealed that bacterial communities associated with soils at lower pH (<7) tended to have larger genomes (potential plasticity), have more rRNA (higher growth rate potential), and are more ubiquitous (have less niche specialization) than the bacterial communities from higher pH soils. Our findings highlight not only the association between pH and bacterial community composition but also the importance of pH in driving community functionality by directly influencing genomic and niche traits.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf008"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12231137/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144585771","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-06-10eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf007
S K Schmidt, M A Cramm, A J Solon, J A Bradley, C P Bueno de Mesquita, M O Cimpoiasu, R R Rubin, R Quispe Pilco, O Kuras, T P Irons
{"title":"Biological soil crust microcolonies reveal how microbial communities assemble following retreat of a High Arctic glacier.","authors":"S K Schmidt, M A Cramm, A J Solon, J A Bradley, C P Bueno de Mesquita, M O Cimpoiasu, R R Rubin, R Quispe Pilco, O Kuras, T P Irons","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf007","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Little is known about biological soil crust (BSC) formation during the early stages of primary succession following glacial retreat. Here, we report on focused sampling of twelve discrete BSC colonies near the snout of a retreating glacier in the High Arctic and show that BSC colonies had significantly higher 16S and 18S rRNA gene diversity than the simpler communities of bare sediments sampled next to each colony. Surprisingly, the colonies also had a higher degree of community dispersion than the more clustered bare sediment controls. There were only eight 16S amplicons that showed 100% prevalence in all 12 of the colonies, and the three most abundant of these keystone amplicons were cyanobacteria, including a nitrogen fixing <i>Nostoc</i>. The only 18S amplicon common to all colonies was a diatom related to <i>Sellaphora</i>. This prominence of phototrophs indicates that early-successional BSC colonies are being supported by photosynthesis rather than ancient- or aeolian-derived organic matter. Co-occurrence network analysis among the phototrophs and fungi identified several potential early-successional soil lichens. Overall, our fine-scaled sampling revealed new insights into community assembly and function in actual communities of interacting microbes (as opposed to mixed communities in bulk soil samples) during the early stages of primary succession.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf007"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12199701/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144509831","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-05-31eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf006
Letícia Linhares da Silva, Claudia Cristina Auler do Amaral Santos, Bárbara da Silva Libeck, Dirceu de Sousa Melo, Disney Ribeiro Dias, Rosane Freitas Schwan
{"title":"Indigenous-based probiotic beverage from peanuts and soybean: development, optimization, and characterization.","authors":"Letícia Linhares da Silva, Claudia Cristina Auler do Amaral Santos, Bárbara da Silva Libeck, Dirceu de Sousa Melo, Disney Ribeiro Dias, Rosane Freitas Schwan","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf006","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to develop a probiotic fermented beverage inspired by the traditional Brazilian indigenous beverage Cauim. The beverage was formulated using peanuts and soybeans and fermented using a combination of bacteria and yeast based on traditional methods of Brazilian indigenous cultures. The composition and processing conditions of the beverage were optimized using a Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology. Strains isolated from indigenous Brazilian fermentations, Pediococcus acidilactici CCMA 0347, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae CCMA 0681, were used in addition to the commercial probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus (HOWARU<sup>®</sup>). The optimized formulation contained 61.2% water-soluble peanut extract, inoculated with 8.00, 6.70, and 5.0 log CFU/ml of <i>P. acidilactici, L. acidophilus</i>, and <i>S. cerevisiae</i>, respectively. The fermented beverage maintained a high level of probiotic cell viability (>10<sup>7</sup> CFU/ml) over 35 days of storage. The metabolic activity of the microorganisms was sustained throughout storage, mirroring the behavior observed in traditional fermented foods such as Cauim. In addition to high probiotic viability, the beverage presented elevated levels of lactic acid and low pH, indicating the presence of postbiotic components. It also showed nutritional richness in proteins, isoflavones, unsaturated fatty acids, and micronutrients. Sensory analysis demonstrated good acceptance, particularly in appearance and aroma, although further improvements are needed in flavor perception. These results indicate that the optimized plant-based beverage is a promising functional food with probiotic and postbiotic properties, good sensory appeal, and potential to promote health while enhancing the cultural value of Brazilian Indigenous food traditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf006"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12203078/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144531397","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-04-25eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf005
Vanessa Silva, Catarina Freitas, Jessica Ribeiro, Gilberto Igrejas, Patricia Poeta
{"title":"Comparative analysis of antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation in <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. across One Health domains.","authors":"Vanessa Silva, Catarina Freitas, Jessica Ribeiro, Gilberto Igrejas, Patricia Poeta","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtaf005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a critical issue across various ecological interfaces, highlighting the need for a One Health approach. <i>Enterococcus</i> spp., known for their ability to acquire and disseminate resistance, serve as an excellent model due to their presence in diverse hosts and environments. This study investigates antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation capacity, and the efficacy of antibiotics on biofilm biomass reduction in isolates from multiple sources. A total of 197 <i>Enterococcus</i> isolates were used. Antimicrobial resistance was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentrations were tested against vancomycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin. Biofilm formation capacity was assessed, and 10 biofilm-formers were subjected to minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) tests to evaluate biofilm biomass reduction. The results showed high resistance rates to erythromycin (84.5%), ciprofloxacin (59.4%), and tetracycline (44.4%), with moderate resistance to ampicillin (36.2%), chloramphenicol (28%), and vancomycin (24.7%). Biofilm formation was observed in 65% of the isolates, with <i>Enterococcus hirae</i> producing the most biofilm biomass. Vancomycin and ampicillin were more effective in reducing biofilm biomass than tetracycline. Ampicillin-resistant isolates produced more biofilm, suggesting a link between resistance and biofilm formation. This study highlights the complexity of antibiotic-resistant <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. and their biofilms, emphasizing the need for research on One Health.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf005"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12077392/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144082513","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-04-15eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf004
Kudzai Hwengwere, Grant G January, Kerry L Howell, Lloyd S Peck, Mathew Upton, Melody S Clark
{"title":"Psychrotrophic Antarctic marine bacteria as potential reservoirs for novel antimicrobial genes.","authors":"Kudzai Hwengwere, Grant G January, Kerry L Howell, Lloyd S Peck, Mathew Upton, Melody S Clark","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtaf004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antarctica is a very cold, isolated continent surrounded by frozen seas, yet these extreme environmental conditions have not restricted life and diversity in the sea. The marine environment is seasonally highly productive and harbours diverse and abundant communities of organisms, with many endemic species occurring nowhere else in the world. Such communities and their associated microbiomes are increasingly recognized as an unexplored source of novel antimicrobial products. Hence, the major aim of this study was to examine the antimicrobial potential of bacteria cultured from eight Antarctic marine invertebrate species, while gathering data on Antarctic microbial thermal and salinity tolerances. All cultured bacterial species (<i>n</i> = 34) were related to known psychrotrophs, with thermal tolerances that far exceeded those of their invertebrate hosts. Of note, two strains of <i>Psychrobacter</i> and <i>Pseudomonas</i> produced antagonistic activity towards epidemic methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus</i>, and <i>Candida albicans</i> in preliminary simultaneous antagonism screens. Draft whole genome sequence analysis revealed the presence of 13 biosynthetic gene clusters; including those with potential to produce betalactones, post-translationally modified peptide products, and arylpropynes. These results emphasize the need for more extensive and systematic surveys to identify novel biomolecules from Antarctic marine bacteria that may be exploited for societal gain.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf004"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12032627/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054386","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-03-03eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf003
Alejandra de-la-Torre, Germán Mejía-Salgado, Gereon Schares
{"title":"The importance of translational research in the study of ocular toxoplasmosis: insights from the 17th International Congress on Toxoplasmosis 2024.","authors":"Alejandra de-la-Torre, Germán Mejía-Salgado, Gereon Schares","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf003","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection with significant implications for human health, particularly in its ocular form, which can lead to severe visual impairment. While both basic and clinical research have made considerable strides in understanding the biology and treatment of this parasite, challenges remain. Recent advancements in diagnostics, mainly through multimodal imaging, have improved the identification of active disease and predicting outcomes. Experimental therapies are also emerging, offering new hope for more effective treatments. However, the most critical insight from recent research, particularly emphasized at the 17th International Congress on Toxoplasmosis, is the necessity of a collaborative approach. Integrating basic and clinical research is essential for translating molecular and pathophysiological findings into effective clinical practices. This synergy is crucial for advancing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes in ocular toxoplasmosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf003"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11951098/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143756323","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2025-02-26eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtaf002
Alejandra de-la-Torre, Germán Mejía-Salgado, Armin Taghavi Eraghi, Uwe Pleyer
{"title":"Age and ocular toxoplasmosis: a narrative review.","authors":"Alejandra de-la-Torre, Germán Mejía-Salgado, Armin Taghavi Eraghi, Uwe Pleyer","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf002","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> is an extremely \"successful\" opportunistic parasite that infects most warm-blooded animals, including humans. While the infection is generally largely asymptomatic, the infection of the eye presenting as ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is a potentially blinding consequence. OT remains the most common cause of infectious retinochoroiditis and places a considerable socio-economic burden on societies, particularly in developing countries. Age is one of several factors influencing the clinical presentation and outcomes of OT. Older patients often exhibit more severe disease manifestations, larger retinal lesions, and poorer visual outcomes compared to younger individuals. This disparity is attributed to immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune function, which impairs the body's ability to control the infection effectively. Consequently, older individuals are at a higher risk of severe complications and recurrent episodes of inflammation. Understanding the interplay between age and immune response is essential for developing targeted treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes in OT.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf002"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11912558/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143652466","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":"Influenza a virus subtype H9N2 infection induces respiratory microbiota dysbiosis in chickens via type-I interferon-mediated mechanisms.","authors":"Samson Oladokun, Mohammadali Alizadeh, Amirul I Mallick, Fatemeh Fazel, Janan Shoja Doost, Katherine Blake, Myles St Denis, Sugandha Raj, Shayan Sharif","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf001","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtaf001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Avian influenza virus (AIV) poses significant threats to poultry and human health. This study investigates the impact of H9N2 AIV infection on the respiratory microbiota of chickens using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Total 48 one-day-old specific pathogen-free chickens were assigned to six groups: a control and five post-infection groups (days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9). After a 15-day microbiota stabilization period, the infected chickens received a viral inoculum (10<sup>7</sup> TCID50/ml) via ocular, intra-nasal, and intra-tracheal routes. Tracheal and broncho-alveolar lavage samples were analyzed. Significant reductions in microbiota diversity were observed on days 5, 7, and 9 post-infection, compared to d0 controls. Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance confirmed significant beta diversity differences (<i>P</i> = 0.001) between infected and uninfected groups. The microbial shifts from d5 to d9 were marked by increased Proteobacteria, decreased Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, and a rise in Dickeya. Elevated type-I interferon (IFN-β) and viperin gene expression at d5 coincided with reduced microbiota diversity, highlighting the respiratory microbiota's role in modulating host responses to AIV H9N2 infection and suggesting potential biomarkers for respiratory dysbiosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtaf001"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11843552/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484946","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}
FEMS microbesPub Date : 2024-12-28eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae035
Druhi Vaid, Alisa Zubir, Alistair Hanak, Tanda Qi, Daniela Delneri, Lu Shin Wong
{"title":"Silica hydrogels as a carbon-free solid media for the culture of diverse organisms.","authors":"Druhi Vaid, Alisa Zubir, Alistair Hanak, Tanda Qi, Daniela Delneri, Lu Shin Wong","doi":"10.1093/femsmc/xtae035","DOIUrl":"10.1093/femsmc/xtae035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacteriological agar plates are commonly used to carry out experiments for the selective growth of microorganisms and the isolation of single-strain colonies. However, the presence of agar itself may be a confounding factor since it may serve as a source of carbon and energy. Moreover, there have been ongoing constraints on the production and sourcing of agar. These concerns have led to an interest in the development of agar substitutes. Silica hydrogels are entirely inorganic carbon-free polymeric materials that lack any source of micronutrients. Herein, a revised method for the preparation of silica hydrogels as a solid culture medium is reported. These gels can be formulated with a range of nutrient-rich or minimal media supplemented with various carbon sources, and can be manipulated in the same manner as agar gels. Their use for the culture and isolation of diverse microorganisms, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi is demonstrated. These silica hydrogels supplemented with either antibiotics or other molecules of interest can also be used for microbial selection experiments.</p>","PeriodicalId":73024,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbes","volume":"6 ","pages":"xtae035"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11737323/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143017334","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}