Applied and Environmental Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Minimal changes in microbial abundances and diversity over 7 years of emplacement for modules of compacted bentonite exposed to natural groundwater.","authors":"Harmanpreet S Sidhu, Katja Engel, Sian E Ford, Peter Keech, Mehran Behazin, W Jeffrey Binns, Nivetha Srikanthan, Myrna J Simpson, Josh D Neufeld, Gregory F Slater","doi":"10.1128/aem.01950-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01950-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The multi-national <i>in situ</i> Materials Corrosion Test (MaCoTe), being conducted at the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland, assesses the stability of bentonite as it may be utilized within deep geological repositories (DGRs), which are proposed for the safe, long-term disposal of used nuclear fuel. This experiment provides an opportunity for long-term assessments of changes in microbial communities associated with compacted subsurface bentonite samples exposed to a natural groundwater. Leveraging samples from MaCoTe, herein, we report temporal data for the abundance and community composition of microorganisms associated with compacted bentonite samples emplaced over 7 years under <i>in situ</i> subsurface conditions. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis, 16S rRNA gene quantification and sequencing, cultivation, and natural organic matter analyses all indicated no significant changes for microbial community abundances associated with inner layers of bentonite samples over the 7 years. While microbial abundances did not change in the inner layers, the PLFA data suggest potential changes in microbial community composition and could also indicate prolonged microbial turnover rates. Overall, the results support microbial stability in compacted bentonite exposed to DGR-like conditions for at least 7 years.IMPORTANCELong-term assessments of changes in microbial activity in compacted low-biomass bentonite systems analogous to deep geological repositories (DGRs) are critical to test conditions for stable engineered bentonite barrier components. This study assesses long-term temporal changes in microbial communities of compacted bentonites exposed to natural groundwater. It offers 7-year data that indicate stability of bentonite-based materials intended for use in engineered barrier systems of a DGR for the safe, long-term disposal of used nuclear fuel, with wider implications for microbial persistence in a deep subsurface environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0195024"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143490489","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":"Exploring the structure and assembly of seagrass microbial communities in rhizosphere and phyllosphere.","authors":"Xinqi Li, Hongzhen Wang, Yu Zang, Song Xue, Jiayi Xin, Lei Liu, Xuexi Tang, Jun Chen","doi":"10.1128/aem.02437-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02437-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microbial community assembly and interactions are pivotal research areas within microbial ecology, yet relevant studies in seagrass rhizospheres and phyllosphere remain relatively scarce. In this study, we utilized high-throughput sequencing technology to investigate the microbial communities in different periods and microhabitats (rhizosphere and phyllosphere) of two seagrass species (<i>Zostera marina</i> and <i>Phyllospadix iwatensis</i>). Our findings suggest that microhabitats have a more pronounced impact on the composition of seagrass-associated microbial communities compared to periods and species. Further investigations reveal that the phyllosphere microbial community exhibits a more intricate co-occurrence network and interactions than the rhizosphere microbial community. Keystone taxa show distinct functional roles in different microhabitats of seagrasses. Additionally, we observed that differences in seagrass microhabitats influence community assembly, with the rhizosphere microbial community being more influenced by deterministic processes (heterogeneous selection) compared to the phyllosphere. These findings contribute to our understanding of the intricate interactions between seagrasses and their associated microbial communities, providing valuable insights into their distribution patterns and microhabitat preferences.IMPORTANCEStudying the community structure and assembly of different microhabitats in seagrass beds contributes to revealing the complexity and dynamic processes of seagrass ecosystems. In the rhizosphere microhabitat of seagrasses, microbial communities may assist in disease resistance or enhance nutrient uptake efficiency in seagrasses. On the other hand, in the microhabitat on the surface of seagrass blades, microorganisms may be closely associated with the physiological functions and nutrient cycling of seagrass blades. Therefore, understanding the structure and assembly mechanisms of rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbial communities is crucial for exploring the interactions between seagrass and microbial communities, as well as for enhancing our comprehension of the stability and resilience of seagrass bed ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0243724"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143482023","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":"<i>Salmonella</i> serotypes in the genomic era: simplified <i>Salmonella</i> serotype interpretation from DNA sequence data.","authors":"Xiangyu Deng, Shaoting Li, Tongzhou Xu, Zhemin Zhou, Michelle M Moore, Ruth Timme, Shaohua Zhao, Charlotte Lane, Blake A Dinsmore, François-Xavier Weill, Patricia I Fields","doi":"10.1128/aem.02600-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02600-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the era of genomic characterization of strains for public health microbiology, whole genome sequencing (WGS)-enabled subtyping of <i>Salmonella</i> provides superior discrimination of strains compared to traditional methods such as serotyping. Nonetheless, serotypes are still very useful; they maintain historical continuity and facilitate clear communication. Genetic determination of serotypes from WGS data is now routine. Genetic determination of rarer serotypes can be problematic due to a lack of sequences for rare antigen types and alleles, a lack of understanding of the genetic basis for some antigens, or some inconsistencies in the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor (WKL) Scheme for <i>Salmonella</i> serotype designation. Here, we present a simplified interpretation of serotypes to address the shortcomings of genetic methods, which will allow the streamlined integration of serotype determination into the WGS workflow. The simplification represents a consensus perspective among major U.S. public health agencies and serves as a WGS-oriented interpretation of the WKL Scheme. We also present SeqSero2S, a bioinformatics tool for WGS-based serotype prediction using the simplified interpretation.IMPORTANCEThe utility of <i>Salmonella</i> serotyping has evolved from a primary subtyping method, where the need for strain discrimination justified its complexity, to a supplemental subtyping scheme and nomenclature convention, where clarity and simplicity in communication have become important for its continued use. Compared to phenotypic methods like serotyping, whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based subtyping methods excel in recognizing natural populations, which avoids grouping together strains from different genetic backgrounds or splitting genetically related strains into different groups. This simplified interpretation of serotypes addresses a shortcoming of the original scheme by combining some serotypes that are known to be genetically related. Our simplified interpretation of the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor (WKL) Scheme facilitates a complete and smooth transition of serotyping's role, especially from the public health perspective that has been shaped by the routine use of WGS.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0260024"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143481998","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":"Eco-microbiology: discovering biochemical enhancers of PET biodegradation by <i>Piscinibacter sakaiensis</i>.","authors":"Felipe-Andrés Piedra, Miguel A Salazar, Sara Abouelniaj, Raayed Rahman, Justin C Clark, Yimo Han, Zhao Wang, Anthony Maresso","doi":"10.1128/aem.02118-24","DOIUrl":"10.1128/aem.02118-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The scale of plastic pollution boggles the mind. Nearly 400 megatons of virgin plastics are produced annually, with an environmental release rate of 80%, and plastic waste, including microplastics and nanoplastics, is associated with a plethora of problems. The naturally evolved abilities of plastic-degrading microbes offer a starting point for generating sustainable and eco-centric solutions to plastic pollution-a field of endeavor we term eco-microbiology. Here, we developed an iterative discovery procedure coupling faster polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-dependent bioactivity screens with longer-term PET biodegradation assays to find biochemical boosters of PET consumption by the bacterium <i>Piscinibacter sakaiensis</i>. We discovered multiple hits supporting the enhancement of PET biodegradation, with a 0.39% dilution of growth medium #802, a rich medium similar to Luria-Bertani broth, on average more than doubling the rate of PET biodegradation both alone and in combination with 0.125% ethylene glycol. In addition, we identified other chemical species (sodium phosphate, L-serine, GABA) worth further exploring, especially in combination with growth medium #802, for enhanced PET biodegradation by <i>P. sakaiensis</i>. This work represents an important step toward the creation of a low-cost PET fermentation process needed to help solve PET plastic pollution.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Plastic pollution is an urgent issue. Adding to the well-known problems of bulk plastic litter, shed microplastics and nanoplastics are globally distributed, found in diverse organisms including human foodstuffs and tissues, and increasingly associated with chronic disease. Solutions are needed and the microbial world offers abundant help via naturally evolved consumers of plastic waste. We are working to accelerate polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic biodegradation by <i>Piscinibacter sakaiensis</i>, a recently described bacterium that evolved to slowly but completely consume PET, one of the most common types of plastic pollution. We used a combination of PET-dependent bioactivity screens and biodegradation tests to find stimulators of PET biodegradation. Out of hundreds, we found a small number of biochemical conditions that more than double the PET biodegradation rate. Our work provides a foundation for further studies to realize a fermentation process needed to help solve PET plastic pollution.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0211824"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143482016","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":"TK2268 encodes the major aminotransferase involved in the conversion from oxaloacetic acid to aspartic acid in <i>Thermococcus kodakarensis</i>.","authors":"Yu Su, Yuta Michimori, Yuto Fukuyama, Shigeru Shimamura, Takuro Nunoura, Haruyuki Atomi","doi":"10.1128/aem.02017-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02017-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Amino acid metabolism in archaea in many cases differs from those reported in bacteria and eukaryotes. The hyperthermophilic archaeon <i>Thermococcus kodakarensis</i> possesses an incomplete tricarboxylic cycle, and the biosynthesis pathway of aspartate is unknown. Here, four Class I aminotransferases in <i>T. kodakarensis</i> encoded by TK0186, TK0548, TK1094, and TK2268 were examined to identify the enzyme(s) responsible for the conversion of oxaloacetate to aspartate. Among the four proteins, the TK2268 protein (TK2268p) was the only protein to recognize oxaloacetate as the amino acceptor. With oxaloacetate, TK2268p only recognized glutamate as the amino donor. The protein also catalyzed the reverse reaction, the transamination between aspartate and 2-oxoglutarate. Substrate inhibition was observed in the presence of high concentrations of oxaloacetate or 2-oxoglutarate. Aminotransferase activity between oxaloacetate and glutamate was observed in cell extracts of the <i>T. kodakarensis</i> host strain KU216. Among the individual gene disruption strains of the four aminotransferases, a significant decrease in activity was only observed in the ΔTK2268 strain. <i>T. kodakarensis</i> KU216 does not display growth in synthetic amino acid medium when aspartate/asparagine are absent. Growth was restored upon the addition of both oxaloacetate and glutamate. Although this restoration in growth was maintained in ΔTK0186, ΔTK0548, and ΔTK1094, growth was not observed in the ΔTK2268 strain. Our results suggest that TK2268p is the predominant aminotransferase responsible for the conversion of oxaloacetate to aspartate. The growth experiments and tracer-based metabolomics using ¹³C₃-pyruvate indicated that pyruvate is a precursor of aspartate and that this conversion is dependent on TK2268p.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Based on genome sequence, the hyperthermophilic archaeon <i>Thermococcus kodakarensis</i> possesses an incomplete tricarboxylic cycle, raising questions on how this organism carries out the biosynthesis of aspartate and glutamate. The results of this study clarify two main points related to aspartate biosynthesis. We show that aspartate can be produced from oxaloacetate and identify TK2268p as the aminotransferase responsible for this reaction. The other point demonstrated in this study is that pyruvate can act as the precursor for oxaloacetate synthesis. Together with previous results, we can propose some of the roles of the individual aminotransferases in <i>T. kodakarensis</i>. TK0548p and TK0186p are involved in amino acid catabolism, with the latter along with TK1094p involved in the conversion of glyoxylate to glycine. TK2268p is responsible for the biosynthesis of aspartate from oxaloacetate.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0201724"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143482026","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":"Erratum for Zhang et al., \"Evaluating the stability of nursery-established arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal associations in apple rootstocks\".","authors":"Huiting Zhang, Wanyan Wang, Loren Honaas, Mark Mazzola, Tracey Somera","doi":"10.1128/aem.00198-25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00198-25","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0019825"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143466705","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":"Fungicide use intensity influences the soil microbiome and links to fungal disease suppressiveness in amenity turfgrass.","authors":"Ming-Yi Chou, Apoorva Tarihalkar Patil, Daowen Huo, Qiwei Lei, Jenny Kao-Kniffin, Paul Koch","doi":"10.1128/aem.01771-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01771-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Disease-suppressive soils have been documented in many economically important crops, but not in turfgrass, one of the most intensively managed plant systems in the United States. Dollar spot, caused by the fungus <i>Clarireedia jacksonii</i>, is the most economically important disease of managed turfgrass and has historically been controlled through the intensive use of fungicides. However, previous anecdotal observations of lower dollar spot severity on golf courses with less intensive fungicide histories suggest that intensive fungicide usage may suppress microbial antagonism of pathogen activity. This study explored the suppressive activity of transplanted microbiomes against dollar spot from seven locations in the Midwestern U.S. and seven locations in the Northeastern U.S. with varying fungicide use histories. Creeping bentgrass was established in pots containing homogenized sterile potting mix and field soil and inoculated with <i>C. jacksonii</i> upon maturity. Bacterial and fungal communities of root-associated soil and phyllosphere were profiled with short-amplicon sequencing to investigate the microbial community associated with disease suppression. The results showed that plants grown in the transplanted soil microbiome collected from sites with lower fungicide intensities exhibited reduced disease severity. Plant growth-promoting and pathogen-antagonistic microbes may be responsible for disease suppression, but further validation is required. Additional least squares regression analysis of the fungicides used at each location suggested that contact fungicides such as chlorothalonil and fluazinam had a greater influence on the microbiome disease suppressiveness than penetrant fungicides. Potential organisms antagonistic to <i>Clarireedia</i> were identified in the subsequent amplicon sequencing analysis, but further characterization and validation are required.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Given the current reliance on fungicides for plant disease control, this research provides new insights into the potential non-target effects of repeated fungicide usage on disease-suppressive soils. It also indicates that intensive fungicide usage can decrease the activity of beneficial soil microbes and lead to a more disease conducive microbial environment in turfgrass. The results from this study can be used to identify more sustainable disease management strategies for a variety of economically important and intensively managed pathosystems. Understanding the factors that facilitate disease-suppressive soils will contribute to more sustainable plant protection practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0177124"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143466710","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":"Complex of intratumoral mycobiome and bacteriome predicts the recurrence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.","authors":"Xinhui Mao, Huiying Huang, Limin Zhao, Feiran Li, Zhenwei Wang, Xiaohui Yuan, Hui-Ching Lau, Chi-Yao Hsueh, Ming Zhang","doi":"10.1128/aem.01954-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01954-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dysbiosis of intratumoral fungal and bacterial communities is associated with poor prognosis in various cancers. However, the mycobiome characteristics in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and its correlation with recurrence have not yet been investigated. The mycobiome in 80 LSCC samples was characterized using internal transcribed spacer sequencing, encompassing both tumor tissues and their matched para-cancerous tissues. The intratumoral bacteriome was further identified using 16S rRNA sequencing. These two microbial communities were analyzed using bioinformatics and statistical methods to determine its potential correlation with LSCC recurrence. The fungal alpha diversity in tumors was higher compared with that in para-cancerous tissues (<i>P</i> < 0.001). A significant difference in the overall fungal community patterns between tumor tissues and para-cancerous tissues was observed based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarity (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The presence of <i>Alloprevotella</i>, <i>Porphyromonas</i>, <i>Candida</i>, and <i>Fusarium</i> in tumors exhibited a correlation with alcohol consumption. The relative abundance of <i>Penicillium</i>, <i>Exophiala</i>, and <i>Aspergillus</i> in the mycobiome, as well as that of <i>Alloprevotella</i>, <i>Porphyromonas</i>, and <i>Peptostreptococcus</i> in the bacteriome significantly increased the risk of LSCC recurrence (<i>P</i> < 0.05). These six microorganisms can combine to form a <i>microbial complex</i>, which may independently contribute to recurrence risk in patients with LSCC when enriched within the tumor (hazard ratio = 6.844, <i>P</i> < 0.01). Intratumoral fungi and bacteria can be valuable indicators for assessing recurrence in patients with LSCC, indicating their potential as valuable targets for therapeutic intervention.</p><p><strong>Importance: </strong>Our results revealed that dysbiosis of intratumoral microbiota, including increased fungal community diversity and overgrowth of several fungal or bacterial organisms, is substantially linked to the recurrence of LSCC. Drinking habits might alter the laryngeal microbiota to influence the recurrence of LSCC. We also explored a method to potentially predict the recurrence of LSCC from a novel perspective. These findings could offer insights into the etiology of LSCC and pave way to prevent and treat LSCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0195424"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143466701","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":"Traits determine dispersal and colonization abilities of microbes.","authors":"Isidora Echenique-Subiabre, Sara L Jackrel, Jay McCarren, Chase C James, Elisabet Perez-Coronel, Cindy Tran, Madeline Perreault, Ugbad Farah, P Signe White, Henry K Baker, Christopher B Wall, Lindsay Sager, Scott Becker, Andrew D Barton, Jonathan B Shurin","doi":"10.1128/aem.02055-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02055-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many microbes disperse through the air, yet the phenotypic traits that enhance or constrain aerial dispersal or allow successful colonization of new habitats are poorly understood. We used a metabarcoding bacterial and eukaryotic data set to explore the trait structures of the aquatic, terrestrial, and airborne microbial communities near the Salton Sea, California, as well as those colonizing a series of experimental aquatic mesocosms. We assigned taxonomic identities to amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and matched them to functional trait values through published papers and databases that infer phenotypic and/or metabolic traits information from taxonomy. We asked what traits distinguish successful microbial dispersers and/or colonizers from terrestrial and aquatic source communities. Our study found broad differences in taxonomic and trait composition between dispersers and colonizers compared to the source soil and water communities. Dispersers were characterized by larger cell diameters, colony formation, and fermentation abilities, while colonizers tended to be phototrophs that form mucilage and have siliceous coverings. Shorter population doubling times, spore-, and/or cyst-forming organisms were more abundant among the dispersers and colonizers than the sources. These results show that the capacity for aerial dispersal and colonization varies among microbial functional groups and taxa and is related to traits that affect other functions like resource acquisition, predator avoidance, and reproduction. The ability to disperse and colonize new habitats may therefore distinguish microbial guilds based on tradeoffs among alternate ecological strategies.IMPORTANCEMicrobes have long been thought to disperse rapidly across biogeographic barriers; however, whether dispersal or colonization vary among taxa or groups or is related to cellular traits remains unknown. We use a novel approach to understand how microorganisms disperse and establish themselves in different environments by looking at their traits (physiology, morphology, life history, and behavior characteristics). By collecting samples from habitats including water, soil, and the air and colonizing experimental tanks, we found dispersal and invasion vary among microorganisms. Some taxa and functional groups are found more often in the air or colonizing aquatic environments, while others that are commonly found in the soil or water rarely disperse or invade new habitat. Interestingly, the traits that help microorganisms survive and thrive also play a role in their ability to disperse and colonize. These findings have significant implications for understanding microorganisms' success and adaptation to new environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0205524"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456815","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":"Puerarin combined with <i>Hericium erinaceus</i> insoluble dietary fiber alleviates obesity induced by high-fat diet through regulating the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway influenced by gut microbiota.","authors":"Guoze Wang, Binbin Wang, Qin Zhou, Zhimei Cheng, Li Liu, Shuai Zhang, Shi Zhou, Peng Luo","doi":"10.1128/aem.02376-24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.02376-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of puerarin (Pue) and insoluble dietary fiber from <i>Hericium erinaceus</i> (HEIDF) on obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice, focusing on their effects on lipid and glucose metabolism, gut microbiota (GM), and serum metabolites. Glucose tolerance, tissue pathology, and serum biochemical levels were conducted to assess the effects of puerarin combined with <i>Hericium Erinaceus</i> insoluble dietary fiber (LH) on glucose and lipid metabolism. 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabonomics were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that the LH group significantly reduced body weight and hepatic and adipose lipid accumulation, and improved glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia compared to the Pue or HEIDF groups alone. Moreover, the LH group exhibited enhanced regulation of GM, including increased microbial diversity, higher abundance of beneficial bacteria such as g__Lactobacillus and g__Bacillus, and a decreased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidota ratio. In addition, the LH group ameliorated HFD-induced serum metabolite changes and promoted the activation of tryptophan and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways. The combination of Pue and HEIDF exhibits a synergistic anti-obesity effect by modulating specific GM (g__Lactobacillus and g__Bacillus) and serum metabolites.IMPORTANCEThe combination of HEIDF and Pue holds significant importance in the context of obesity. This synergistic effect not only aids in weight management but may also enhance metabolic health through various mechanisms, including increased satiety and promotion of fat oxidation. Therefore, incorporating these two components into the daily diet could offer effective strategies for the prevention and intervention of obesity and its related diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":8002,"journal":{"name":"Applied and Environmental Microbiology","volume":" ","pages":"e0237624"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143456814","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}