Applied and Environmental Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Large-scale phenotypic and genomic analysis of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> reveals diversity in the sensitivity to quaternary ammonium compounds but not to peracetic acid.","authors":"Mirena Ivanova, Martin Laage Kragh, Judit Szarvas, Elif Seyda Tosun, Natacha Friis Holmud, Alexander Gmeiner, Corinne Amar, Claudia Guldimann, TuAnh N Huynh, Renáta Karpíšková, Carmen Rota, Diego Gomez, Eurydice Aboagye, Andrea Etter, Patrizia Centorame, Marina Torresi, Maria Elisabetta De Angelis, Francesco Pomilio, Anders Hauge Okholm, Yinghua Xiao, Sylvia Kleta, Stefanie Lüth, Ariane Pietzka, Jovana Kovacevic, Franco Pagotto, Kathrin Rychli, Irena Zdovc, Bojan Papić, Even Heir, Solveig Langsrud, Trond Møretrø, Phillip Brown, Sophia Kathariou, Roger Stephan, Taurai Tasara, Paw Dalgaard, Patrick Murigu Kamau Njage, Annette Fagerlund, Frank Aarestrup, Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen, Pimlapas Leekitcharoenphon","doi":"10.1128/aem.01829-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01829-24","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Listeria monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; presents a significant concern for the food industry due to its ability to persist in the food processing environment. One of the factors contributing to its persistence is decreased sensitivity to disinfectants. Our objective was to assess the diversity of &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; sensitivity to food industry disinfectants by testing the response of 1,671 &lt;i&gt;L&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;i&gt;monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; isolates to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and 414 isolates to peracetic acid (PAA) using broth microdilution and growth curve analysis assays, respectively, and to categorize the isolates into sensitive and tolerant. A high phenotype-genotype concordance (95%) regarding tolerance to QACs was obtained by screening the genomes for the presence of QAC tolerance-associated genes &lt;i&gt;bcrABC&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;emrE&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;emrC,&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;qacH&lt;/i&gt;. Based on this high concordance, we assessed the QAC genes' dissemination among publicly available &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; genomes (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 39,196). Overall, QAC genes were found in 23% and 28% of the &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; collection in this study and in the global data set, respectively. &lt;i&gt;bcrABC&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;qacH&lt;/i&gt; were the most prevalent genes, with &lt;i&gt;bcrABC&lt;/i&gt; being the most detected QAC gene in the USA, while &lt;i&gt;qacH&lt;/i&gt; dominated in Europe. No significant differences (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05) in the PAA tolerance were detected among isolates belonging to different lineages, serogroups, clonal complexes, or isolation sources, highlighting limited variation in the &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; sensitivity to this disinfectant. The present work represents the largest testing of &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; sensitivity to important food industry disinfectants at the phenotypic and genomic level, revealing diversity in the tolerance to QACs while all isolates showed similar sensitivity to PAA.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Importance: &lt;/strong&gt;Contamination of &lt;i&gt;Listeria monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; within food processing environments is of great concern to the food industry due to challenges in eradicating the isolates once they become established and persistent in the environment. Genetic markers associated with increased tolerance to certain disinfectants have been identified, which alongside other biotic and abiotic factors can favor the persistence of &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; in the food production environment. By employing a comprehensive large-scale phenotypic testing and genomic analysis, this study significantly enhances the understanding of the &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; tolerance to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and the genetic determinants associated with the increased tolerance. We provide a global overview of the QAC genes prevalence among public &lt;i&gt;L. monocytogenes&lt;/i&gt; sequences and their distribution among clonal complexes, isolation sources, and geographical locations. Additionally, our comprehensive screening of the peracetic acid (PAA) sensitivity shows that this disinfectant can be used in the food industry a","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0182924"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of vectors for gene expression in <i>Pseudovibrio</i> marine bacteria.","authors":"Yitao Dai, Alessandra S Eustáquio","doi":"10.1128/aem.00207-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00207-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>α-Proteobacteria belonging to the <i>Pseudovibrio</i> genus have been isolated from different marine organisms including marine sponges, corals, and algae. This genus was first described in 2004 and has since garnered attention due to the potential ecological relevance and biotechnological application of its metabolites. For instance, we recently reported specialized metabolites that we named pseudovibriamides from <i>Pseudovibrio brasiliensis</i> Ab134. The pseudovibriamide encoding <i>ppp</i> gene cluster is found in two-thirds of <i>Pseudovibrio</i> genomes. Pseudovibriamides coordinate motility and biofilm formation, behaviors that are known to be important for host colonization. Although we previously established reverse genetics methods to delete genes via homologous recombination, no self-replicative vectors have been reported for <i>Pseudovibrio</i>. We show that plasmid vectors containing two different broad-host-range replicons, RSF1010 and pBBR1, can be used in <i>P. brasiliensis</i>. The efficiency of vector transfer by electroporation averaged ~3 × 10³ CFU/µg plasmid DNA, whereas the conjugation frequency from <i>Escherichia coli</i> ranged from 10^-3 to 10^-6. We then tested the vectors for fluorescent protein expression and consequent labeling, which allowed us to observe their effects on swarming motility and to compare plasmid stability. This study expands the genetic toolbox available for <i>Pseudovibrio</i>, which is expected to enable future ecological and biotechnological studies.IMPORTANCEThe genus <i>Pseudovibrio</i> of α-Proteobacteria has consistently been isolated from marine sponges and other marine organisms such as corals and algae. <i>Pseudovibrio</i> bacteria are a source of antibiotics and other secondary metabolites with the potential to be developed into pharmaceuticals. Moreover, the secondary metabolites they produce are important for their physiology and for interactions with other organisms. Here we expand the genetic toolbox available for <i>Pseudovibrio</i> bacteria by establishing self-replicative vectors that can be used for the expression of, for example, fluorescent proteins. The availability of genetic tools is important to enable us to explore the emerging ecological and biotechnological potentials of <i>Pseudovibrio</i> bacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0020725"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phage-host interaction in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> clinical isolates with functional and altered quorum sensing systems.","authors":"Dandan Li, Na Li, Yu Chen, Yuxuan Yang, Jue Pan, Jiabing Lin, Xiaodong Gao, Rong Bao, Chunmei Zhou, Suzhen Wang, Bijie Hu, Demeng Tan","doi":"10.1128/aem.02402-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02402-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quorum sensing (QS) plays a crucial role in regulating key traits, including the upregulation of phage receptors, which leads to heightened phage susceptibility in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. As a result, higher cell densities typically increase the risk of phage invasions. This has led to speculation that bacteria may have evolved strategies to counterbalance this increased susceptibility. Additionally, non-synonymous mutations in LasR, the master regulator of QS, are common among cystic fibrosis patients, but the impact of these mutations on phage interactions remains poorly understood. Here, we systematically investigated the role of QS in shaping these interactions using bacterial strains with functional or altered QS systems. In the QS-functional strain ZS-PA-35, disruption of the Las system reduces cell susceptibility to the type IV pili-dependent phage phipa2, delaying bacterial lysis during the early logarithmic growth phase. At high cell densities, Las-induced dormancy further inhibits phage proliferation despite enhanced phage adsorption. Notably, nutrient supplementation fully restores phage proliferation in the strains with a functional Las system. In contrast, the QS-deficient strain ZS-PA-05, carrying a LasR mutation, fails to regulate phage-host interactions via QS. Moreover, our findings reveal that within mixed microbial populations, cells benefit from the presence of closely related kin, which collectively reduce prey density and limit phage-host interaction frequencies under nutrient-rich conditions. These results underscore the flexibility of QS-regulated defense strategies, highlighting their critical role in optimizing bacterial resilience against phage predation, particularly in heterogeneous communities most vulnerable to phages.IMPORTANCEBacteria have developed various strategies to combat phage infection, posing challenges to phage therapy. In this study, we demonstrate that <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> strains with functional or altered quorum sensing (QS) systems may adapt different survival tactics for prolonged coexistence with phages, contingent upon bacterial population dynamics. The dynamics of phage infection highlight the influence of intrinsic heterogeneity mediated by QS, which leads to the emergence of different phage-host outcomes. These variants may arise as a result of coevolutionary processes or coexistence mechanisms of mutational and non-mutational defense strategies. These insights enhance our comprehension of how bacteria shield themselves against phage attacks and further underscore the complexity of such approaches for successful therapeutic interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0240224"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward simulating offshore oilfield conditions: insights into microbiologically influenced corrosion from a dual anaerobic biofilm reactor.","authors":"Liam M Jones, Maria Salta, Torben Lund Skovhus, Kathryn Thomas, Timothy Illson, Julian Wharton, Jeremy S Webb","doi":"10.1128/aem.02221-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02221-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Oilfield systems are a multifaceted ecological niche, which consistently experiences microbiologically influenced corrosion. However, simulating the environmental conditions of an offshore system within the laboratory is notoriously difficult. A novel dual anaerobic biofilm reactor protocol allowed a complex mixed-species marine biofilm to be studied. Interestingly, electroactive corrosive bacteria and fermentative electroactive bacteria growth was supported within the biofilm microenvironment. Critically, the biotic condition exhibited pits with a greater average area, which is characteristic of microbiologically influenced corrosion. This research seeks to bridge the gap between experimental and real-world scenarios, ultimately enhancing the reliability of biofilm management strategies in the industry.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>It is becoming more widely understood that any investigation of microbiologically influenced corrosion requires a multidisciplinary focus on multiple lines of evidence. Although there are numerous standards available to guide specific types of testing, there are none that focus on integrating biofilm testing. By developing a novel dual anaerobic reactor model to study biofilms, insights into the different abiotic and biotic corrosion mechanisms under relevant environmental conditions can be gained. Using multiple lines of evidence to gain a holistic understanding, more sustainable prevention and mitigation strategies can be designed. To our knowledge, this is the first time all these metrics have been combined in one unified approach. The overall aim of this paper was to explore recent advances in biofilm testing and corrosion research and provide recommendations for future standards being drafted. However, it is important to note that this article itself is not intending to serve as a standard.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0222124"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity and genomics of bacteriome-associated symbionts in treehopper <i>Darthula hardwickii</i> (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae) and implications of their nutritional functions.","authors":"Xiaohong Han, Jinrui Zhou, Qiong Guo, Christopher H Dietrich, Lin Lu, Cong Wei","doi":"10.1128/aem.01738-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01738-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Symbionts play important roles in insect nutritional ecology, and the phylogenies of some vertically transmitted symbionts mirror the host phylogeny. Here we report the diversity, distribution, transmission, and potential functions of symbionts harbored in the aetalionid treehopper <i>Darthula hardwickii</i> (Aetalionidae) using multiple methods and compare the potential functions of its obligate symbiont <i>Karelsulcia</i> with that of the related aetalionid <i>Aetalion reticulatum. D. hardwickii</i> harbors <i>Karelsulcia</i> in bacteriomes, a yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) in fat bodies, and <i>Tisiphia</i> in both the bacteriomes and fat bodies. <i>Karelsulcia</i> and YLS are vertically transmitted to the ovaries but do not cluster to form a \"symbiont ball\" in terminal oocytes, as is the case in other auchenorrhynchan insects. YLS harbored in <i>D. hardwickii</i> represents the first known instance of a fungal symbiont being associated with treehoppers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Aetalionidae are derived from within Membracidae. Gene truncation and absence were revealed in the tryptophan biosynthetic pathway of <i>Karelsulcia</i> from <i>D. hardwickii</i>, suggesting this symbiont is no longer capable of providing this essential amino acid (EAA) to its host. Tryptophan is presumed to be supplied to <i>D. hardwickii</i> by YLS since tryptophan-related genes are either absent or degraded in <i>Karelsulcia</i> and <i>Tisiphia</i>. No truncated genes were found in <i>Karelsulcia</i> from <i>A. reticulatum</i>, but it has lost genes related to the synthesis of other EAAs, as in some leafhoppers. This study sheds new light on the diversity and functions of the nutritional endosymbionts of Membracoidea and processes that may have precipitated symbiont replacement in this diverse insect lineage.IMPORTANCESymbionts in sap-feeding insects play important roles related to nutrition of their hosts, which may change through evolutionary time and vary across host and symbiont lineages. This comparative genomic study indicates that, compared to the related symbionts of other leaf- and treehoppers, the <i>Karelsulcia</i> symbiont of the treehopper <i>Darthula hardwickii</i> has lost the ability to provide the EAA tryptophan to its host. This function is apparently being performed by a coexisting yeast-like symbiont (YLS). This is the first report of a YLS in a species of treehopper, which suggests that the processes involved in symbiont replacement in treehoppers are similar to those observed in other sap-sucking auchenorrhynchan insects. Phylogenetic analyses of <i>Karelsulcia</i> lineages of Membracoidea largely mirror the host insect phylogeny but suggest that Aetalionidae may have originated from Membracidae, in contrast to some recent phylogenies based on the genomic data from the host insects.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0173824"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143539784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut-binding peptides as potential tools to reduce virus binding to honey bee gut surface proteins.","authors":"Ya Guo, Lincoln N Taylor, Ruchir Mishra, Adam G Dolezal, Bryony C Bonning","doi":"10.1128/aem.02418-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02418-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Colonies of the western honey bee, <i>Apis mellifera,</i> are severely impacted by a wide range of stressors, with <i>Varroa</i> mites and associated viruses being among the most serious threats to honey bee health. Viral load plays an important role in colony demise, with the iflavirus <i>Deformed wing virus</i> (DWV) and the dicistrovirus <i>Israeli acute paralysis virus</i> (IAPV) being of particular concern. By feeding adult honey bees on a phage display library to identify gut-binding peptides (R. Mishra, Y. Guo, P. Kumar, P. E. Cantón, C. S. Tavares, R. Banerjee, S. Kuwar, and B. C. Bonning, Curr Res Insect Sci, 1:100012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cris.2021.100012), we identified Bee midgut-Binding Peptide (BBP2.1), which shares 75% and 85% identity with regions on the DWV capsid protein and IAPV ORFx protein, respectively. These viral protein domains are likely to be instrumental in virus interaction with the honey bee gut. Pull-down assays with honey bee gut brush border membrane vesicles were used to confirm peptide-mCherry binding to the gut for BBP2.1 and the two similar virus-derived sequences, peptides BBP2.1^DWV and BBP2.1^IAPV. <i>In vitro</i> competition assays showed that all three peptides compete with both IAPV and DWV virions for binding to honey bee gut-derived brush border membrane vesicles, suggesting that the three peptides and the two viruses bind to the same proteins. Ingestion of BBP2.1 reduced the movement of DWV, but not IAPV from the honey bee gut into the body and did not rescue IAPV-associated mortality. These results are discussed in relation to the biological function of IAPV ORFx and the potential utility of virus-blocking peptides for suppression of virus infection to reduce virus load and virus-associated honey bee mortality.IMPORTANCEEach year, approximately 40% of managed honey bee hives in the United States are lost due to a variety of environmental stressors. Although increases in virus infection are among the most important factors resulting in colony loss, there are currently no effective tools for the management of virus infection in honey bees. In this study, we identified a peptide that binds to the gut of the honey bee and competes with two of the most important honey bee viruses, Israeli acute paralysis virus of bees (IAPV) and Deformed wing virus (DWV), for binding to gut proteins. <i>In vivo</i> competition between this peptide and DWV demonstrates the potential utility of gut-binding peptides for the protection of honey bees from virus infection for reduced virus-associated honey bee mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0241824"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CARPDM: cost-effective antibiotic resistome profiling of metagenomic samples using targeted enrichment.","authors":"Dirk Hackenberger, Hamna Imtiaz, Amogelang R Raphenya, Brian P Alcock, Hendrik N Poinar, Gerard D Wright, Andrew G McArthur","doi":"10.1128/aem.01876-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01876-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Better interrogation of antimicrobial resistance requires new approaches to detect the associated genes in metagenomic samples. Targeted enrichment is an ideal method for their sequencing and characterization. However, no open-source, up-to-date hybridization probe set targeting antimicrobial resistance genes exists. Here, we describe the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Probe Design Machine (CARPDM), a probe design software package made to run alongside all future Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database releases. To test its efficacy, we have created and tested two separate probe sets: allCARD, which enriches all genes encoded in the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database's protein homolog models (<i>n</i> = 4,661), and clinicalCARD, which focuses on a clinically relevant subset of resistance genes (<i>n</i> = 323). We demonstrate that allCARD increases the number of reads mapping to resistance genes by up to 594-fold. clinicalCARD performs similarly when clinically relevant genes are present, increasing the number of resistance-gene mapping reads by up to 598-fold. In parallel with this development, we have established a protocol to synthesize any probe set in-house, saving up to 350 dollars per reaction. Together, these probe sets, their associated design program CARPDM, and the protocol for in-house synthesis will democratize metagenomic resistome analyses, allowing researchers access to a cost-effective and efficient means to explore the antibiotic resistome.IMPORTANCEAntimicrobial resistance threatens to undermine all modern medicine and is driven by the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes among pathogens, environments, patients, and animals. DNA sequencing of complex samples, such as wastewater, shows considerable promise for tracking these genes and making risk assessments. However, these methods suffer from high costs and low detection limits, plus a requirement for frequent redesign due to the constantly evolving diversity of resistance genes. Building upon our Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database, our research provides software for on-demand renewal, based on the latest knowledge of resistance gene diversity, of our novel bait-capture hybridization platform that simultaneously reduces cost and increases detection levels for DNA sequencing of complex samples. The significance of our research is in the development of new software tools, reagent synthesis protocols, and hybridization enrichment protocols to provide affordable, high-resolution metagenomics DNA sequencing, which we test using environmental and wastewater samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0187624"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functional modulation of the human gut microbiome by bacteria vehicled by cheese.","authors":"Christian Milani, Giulia Longhi, Giulia Alessandri, Federico Fontana, Martina Viglioli, Chiara Tarracchini, Leonardo Mancabelli, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Silvia Petraro, Chiara Argentini, Rosaria Anzalone, Alice Viappiani, Elisa Carli, Federica Vacondio, Douwe van Sinderen, Francesca Turroni, Marco Mor, Marco Ventura","doi":"10.1128/aem.00180-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00180-25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since cheese is one of the most commonly and globally consumed fermented foods, scientific investigations in recent decades have focused on determining the impact of this dairy product on human health and well-being. However, the modulatory effect exerted by the autochthonous cheese microbial community on the taxonomic composition and associated functional potential of the gut microbiota of human is still far from being fully dissected or understood. Here, through the use of an <i>in vitro</i> human gut-simulating cultivation model in combination with multi-omics approaches, we have shown that minor rather than dominant bacterial players of the cheese microbiota are responsible for gut microbiota modulation of cheese consumers. These include taxa from the genera <i>Enterococcus</i>, <i>Bacillus</i>, <i>Clostridium,</i> and <i>Hafnia</i>. Indeed, they contribute to expand the functional potential of the intestinal microbial ecosystem by introducing genes responsible for the production of metabolites with relevant biological activity, including genes involved in the synthesis of vitamins, short-chain fatty acids, and amino acids. Furthermore, tracing of cheese microbiota-associated bacterial strains in fecal samples from cheese consumers provided evidence of horizontal transmission events, enabling the detection of particular bacterial strains transferred from cheese to humans. Moreover, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of a horizontally transmitted (cheese-to-consumer) bacterial strain, i.e., <i>Hafnia paralvei</i> T10, cultivated in a human gut environment-simulating medium, confirmed the concept that cheese-derived bacteria may expand the functional arsenal of the consumer's gut microbiota. This highlights the functional and biologically relevant contributions of food microbes acquired through cheese consumption on the human health.IMPORTANCEDiet is universally recognized as the primary factor influencing and modulating the human intestinal microbiota both taxonomically and functionally. In this context, cheese, being a fermented food with its own microbiota, serves not only as a source of nourishment for humans, but also as a source of nutrients for the consumer's gut microbiota. Additionally, it may act as a vehicle for autochthonous food-associated microorganisms which undergo transfer from cheese to the consumer, potentially influencing host gut health. The current study highlights not only that cheese microbiota-associated bacteria can be traced in the human gut microbiota, but also that they may expand the functional repertoire of the human gut microbiota, with potentially significant implications for human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0018025"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of fecal microbiota transplantation on diabetic wound healing through the IL-17A-mTOR-HIF1α signaling axis.","authors":"Chenmei Peng, Pan Lei, Hongying Qi, Qianjun Zhu, Chushun Huang, Ju Fu, Chengyu Zhao","doi":"10.1128/aem.02019-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02019-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Diabetes is the third most common chronic disorder worldwide. Diabetic wounds are a severe complication that is costly and often results in non-traumatic lower limb amputation. Recent investigations have demonstrated that the gut microbiota as a \"virtual organ\" can regulate metabolic diseases like diabetes. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an innovative therapeutic approach for promoting wound healing, but its function remains incompletely defined. A diabetes model was established by supplying mice with a high-fat diet and performing an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Diabetic wounds were then created, followed by bacterial transplantation. The relevant indexes of wound healing were evaluated to verify the promoting effect of FMT on the diabetic wounds. Human skin keratinocytes were also cultured, and cell scratch experiments were conducted to further investigate the underlying mechanism. The FMT regulated the levels of specific bacteria in the diabetic mice and helped restore the balance of intestinal microbes. This transplantation also enhanced wound healing in the diabetic mice by augmenting the closure rate, accelerating re-epithelialization, and boosting collagen deposition in skin wounds. Furthermore, FMT promoted the production of IL-17A, which significantly enhanced the growth and movement of human keratinocytes. Inhibiting molecules related to the IL-17A-mTOR-HIF1α signaling axis were shown to hinder wound re-epithelialization.This study clarifies the function of the IL-17A-mTOR-HIF1α signaling axis in the utilization of FMT in diabetic wound healing, providing a new therapeutic method and target for promoting the healing of diabetic wounds.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>The Intestinal microbiota, as the organ with the largest number of microorganisms in the body, plays a crucial role in the physiological functions of the human body. Normal microbiota can be involved in various functions such as energy absorption, metabolism, and immunity of the body, and microbiota imbalance is related to many diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Diabetes, as one of the world's three major chronic diseases, is a significant health issue that troubles more than a billion people globally. Diabetic wounds are a problem that all diabetic patients must confront when undergoing surgery, and it is an important cause of non-traumatic amputations. Exploring the role of intestinal microorganisms in the wound-healing process of diabetic mice can offer the possibility of using microorganisms as a therapeutic means to intervene in clinically related diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0201924"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143522519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A call for the United States to continue investing in science.","authors":"Ira Blader, Felicia Goodrum, Michael J Imperiale, Arturo Casadevall, Cesar Arias, Andreas Baumler, Carey-Ann Burnham, Christina Cuomo, Corrella Detweiler, Graeme Forrest, Jack Gilbert, Susan Lovett, Stanley Maloy, Alexander McAdam, Irene Newton, Gemma Reguera, George A O'Toole, Patrick D Schloss, Ashley Shade, Marvin Whiteley","doi":"10.1128/aem.00467-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00467-25","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0046725"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143514443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}