{"title":"A novel antifungal chitinase from Chaetomium globosum: column-free purification and characterization","authors":"Cheng Jiang, Luli Li, Jialu Li","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04295-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04295-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A new chitinase gene, cloned from the biocontrol <i>Chaetomium globosum</i> W7, was designated Cgchi18. Recombinant protein Cgchi18 with 535 amino acids was expressed in <i>Escherichia coli</i>, and purified by means of a column—free purification method relying on split intein, achieving a 12.39—fold purification and a 15.61% recovery yield. The maximum activity of this approximately 60-kDa protein was observed at 45 °C and pH 5.0. Cgchi18 was activated by Mg<sup>2+</sup> and Ba<sup>2+</sup>, but inhibited by Mn<sup>2+</sup>, Co<sup>2+</sup>, Cu<sup>2+</sup>, Zn<sup>2+</sup>, Ag<sup>+</sup> and Hg<sup>2+</sup>. Cgchi18 showed high substrate specificity, only hydrolyzing β-1,4-glycoside bond in chitin and its derivatives, to liberate disaccharides or trisaccharides. For the degradation of colloidal chitin under optimal conditions, Vmax and Km of Cgchi18 were calculated as 8.05 μmol/min/mg and 3.18 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, it exhibited antifungal activity and could have a degrading effect on the spread of hyphae of pathogenic fungi. In conclusion, the chitinase Cgchi18 identified from <i>C. globosum</i> has potential for industrial and agricultural applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143638176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Insight into the microbial degradation characteristics of polylactic acid by Bacillus sp. JA-4","authors":"Jing Zhang, Juan Wu, Yueqin Dou","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04293-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04293-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, but its slow natural degradation rate and underlying mechanisms remained poorly understood. In this study, the properties of PLA degradation by <i>Bacillus</i> sp. JA-4 were investigated, and the molecular mechanisms involed in PLA degradation were elucidated through RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed biofilm-induced surface erosion, leading to the formation of cracks and holes in the PLA film. The analysis of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) confirmed ester bond cleavage (1260 cm⁻<sup>1</sup>, 1127 cm⁻<sup>1</sup>, and 1080 cm⁻<sup>1</sup>) during PLA degradation, and the degradation intermediates including lactic acid monomers and five lactic acid oligomers were identified. RNA-seq analysis indicated that there were 360 upregulated genes associated with environmental adaptation and energy metabolism, likely involved in the degradation process. The addition of gelatin, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), yeast powder, peptone, and casein significantly enhanced PLA degradation, with gelatin being the most effective inducer. By the 10th day, weight loss of 23.1% of PLA and protease activity of 31.6 U/mL were achieved at a gelatin concentration of 3%, which were higher than the control group. This study provides a novel microbial resource and theoretical foundation for the degradation of residual PLA in the environment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143638373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biosynthesis and yield improvement strategies of fengycin","authors":"Junfeng Sun, Xiaohua Qi, Chunmei Du","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04301-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04301-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Fengycin is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic predominantly synthesized by <i>Bacillus</i> species. It exhibits remarkable antifungal, antitumor, and antiadhesion activities. It also possesses advantageous properties such as low toxicity, effective antibacterial activity, and biodegradability, making it a promising candidate for applications in biocontrol, medicine, and industry. However, challenges including low yield, complex purification processes, and high production costs currently restrict its large-scale commercialization. To promote the research and development of fengycin and facilitate its practical applications, this review summarizes fengycin’s structural characteristics, subclasses, and producing bacteria. Additionally, it delves into the biosynthesis process, known regulatory factors and mechanism, as well as strategies for enhancing yield through strain improvement and fermentation condition optimization. Furthermore, it addresses the limitations and future directions for fengycin research. This review provides a valuable insights and guidance for future researchers aiming to expand fengycin’s applications in medical and agricultural fields. This work also establishes a theoretical foundation for realizing its significant commercial potential.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143638105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiayin Guo, Xiaoe He, Yanrui Bai, Hui Sun, Jing Yang
{"title":"Virulence factors of Salmonella Typhi: interplay between the bacteria and host macrophages","authors":"Jiayin Guo, Xiaoe He, Yanrui Bai, Hui Sun, Jing Yang","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04297-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04297-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Salmonella</i> Typhi (<i>S</i>. Typhi) is a Gram-negative bacterium that exclusively infects humans and causes typhoid fever– a major global public health concern responsible for approximately 9 million infections and 110,000 deaths annually. Macrophages, a key component of the innate immune system, play essential roles in pathogen clearance, antigen presentation, immune regulation, and tissue repair. As one of the primary targets of <i>S</i>. Typhi infection, macrophages significantly influence disease onset and progression. <i>S</i>. Typhi expresses a range of virulence factors, including the virulence-associated (Vi) capsule, outer membrane proteins (OMPs), flagella, fimbriae, type III secretion systems (T3SSs) and other genes encoded on <i>Salmonella</i> pathogenicity islands (SPIs), as well as toxins, regulatory factors, and virulence plasmids. These virulence factors facilitate <i>S</i>. Typhi’s intracellular survival within macrophages by mediating processes such as adhesion, invasion, nutrient acquisition and immune evasion, ultimately enabling systemic infection. This review explores the role and molecular mechanisms of <i>S</i>. Typhi virulence factors in counteracting macrophage antimicrobial functions, providing insights for future research on typhoid pathogenesis and the development of potential therapeutic interventions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143632493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shaista Arif, Mohsina Akhter, Aqsa Anwar, Sania Javaid, Zara Ashi, Mohsin Shad, Asad Rahman, Huda Abbas, Fouzia Ashraf, M. Waheed Akhtar, Muhammad Sajjad
{"title":"Immunological assessment of NSFu1: A novel fusion molecule constructed from structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 for improving COVID-19 antibody detection","authors":"Shaista Arif, Mohsina Akhter, Aqsa Anwar, Sania Javaid, Zara Ashi, Mohsin Shad, Asad Rahman, Huda Abbas, Fouzia Ashraf, M. Waheed Akhtar, Muhammad Sajjad","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04286-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04286-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has claimed millions of lives and caused significant clinical challenges. The availability of a rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive test to detect antibodies at different stages of COVID-19 is crucial for effective clinical management, epidemiological studies, and public health surveillance. Four novel peptides (SF1, SF2, SF4, SF6) and two multi-epitope fusion proteins (SFu1 and NSFu1) from less variable regions of the spike and nucleocapsid proteins were developed. After detailed in silico structural validation, all the proteins were expressed in <i>E. coli</i> (BL21), purified by Ni<sup>2+</sup> affinity chromatography, and CD spectroscopy was also executed for secondary structural analysis. The serological potential was assessed by screening 462 plasma samples from symptomatic, asymptomatic, recovered, follow-up COVID-19 cases, and 212 healthy controls. The recombinant antigens SF1, SF2, SF4, SF6, NC, SFu1, and NSFu1 showed ELISA sensitivities of 32.9%, 41.5%, 37.3%, 28.8%, 30.7%, 65.8%, and 82.0%, respectively with specificities ranging from 97 to 99% for symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. The sensitivities for the fusion proteins were nearly equivalent to the combined sensitivities of their constituent antigens. In conclusion, the NSFu1 fusion protein showing 82% sensitivity and 99% specificity could be a potential antigen for developing new molecules to achieve higher sensitivity for COVID-19 antibody detection.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143622034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microbial conversion of Limonene-containing waste into transesterifiable bio-lipids: Evaluating oleaginous bacterial isolates","authors":"Faqin Lian, Samia Qadeer, Muzammil Anjum, Shang-Tian Yang, Shahid Mahmood, Abubakr. M. Idris, Azeem Khalid, Habib Ullah, Qing Huang, Zepeng Rao","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04276-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04276-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bio-oil is increasingly recognized as a sustainable and eco-friendly energy source, offering a viable alternative to petro-diesel. This study evaluates the bio-oil production potential of a novel oleaginous strain, KM9 (<i>Serratia surfactantfaciens</i> YD25) compared with the known oleaginous species <i>R. erythropolis</i>. Growth conditions and nutrient requirements were optimized for both strains to maximize biomass production and lipid accumulation. Utilizing orange waste as a substrate not only contributes to waste minimization but also provides a renewable carbon source for microbial lipid synthesis. KM9 demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving 50% reduction in organic matter from the orange waste while simultaneously accumulating lipids upto 38% of its dry cell weight. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the transesterified lipids revealed that both KM9 and <i>R. erythropoliss</i> produced comparable levels of saturated fatty acids (38.39% and 39%, respectively), when cultivated in limonene-modified media. Notably, the use of orange waste stimulated the production of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), particularly palmitic and stearic acids, resulting in a lipid profile closely resembling that of plant-based bio-oils. These findings highlight the promising potential of the oleaginous strain KM9 for producing microbial lipids from orange waste, contributing to sustainable biodiesel production and effectively valorizing a significant agricultural waste stream.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143612283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bacillus safensis M01 reversed the inflammatory injury of mice jejunum caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88","authors":"Xin-Wen Hou, Jinxin Meng, Xiao-Tong Chen, Ji-Xin Zhao, Kai-Meng Shang, Yong-Jie Wei, Rui Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04287-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04287-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) is a major pathogen causing neonatal diarrhea in livestock, with antibiotics commonly used for control. However, antibiotic overuse has led to issues such as residues and bacterial resistance, underscoring the need for alternative prevention strategies. This study investigated the potential of <i>Bacillus safensis</i> (<i>B. safensis</i>) M01, isolated from healthy porcine feces in Shandong, China, to prevent ETEC infections. M01 exhibited over 80% inhibition of ETEC in vitro and was selected for further analysis. Pre-treatment of IPEC-J2 cells with M01 significantly reduced ETEC-induced cellular damage, enhanced cell viability, and inhibited bacterial adhesion. It modulated inflammatory responses by down-regulating IL-1β and TNF-α while up-regulating IL-10. Additionally, M01 promoted the expression of tight junction proteins, including Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1. In the C57BL/6 mouse model, pre-feeding with M01 for 14 days improved jejunal injury caused by ETEC, as indicated by increased villus height/crypt depth ratios. Similar to in vitro findings, M01 reduced IL-1β and TNF-α expression while enhancing tight junction protein levels. These results suggest that <i>B. safensis</i> M01 is a promising probiotic candidate for preventing ETEC infections in livestock, offering an effective alternative to antibiotics.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143622077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nuo Chen, Zinian Zhang, Hangzhen Lan, Huamao Wei, Shuai Zhi, Liwei Liu
{"title":"Insights for napyradiomycin family: structures, bioactivities and biosynthetic pathways","authors":"Nuo Chen, Zinian Zhang, Hangzhen Lan, Huamao Wei, Shuai Zhi, Liwei Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04291-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04291-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Napyradiomycins (NPDs), a family of structurally diverse terpenoids isolated from <i>Streptomyces</i>, have attracted significant scientific interest due to their unique halogenation patterns and potent bioactivities. Since identifying the first member from <i>Streptomyces</i> in 1986, over 50 NPDs have been characterized, demonstrating remarkable efficacy against drug-resistant bacteria and cancer cells, making them promising candidates for novel drug development. In this review, we provided an in-depth exploration of the complex chemical structure of NPDs, their diverse bioactivities, and the biosynthetic pathways involved in their formation. In particular, we collectively concluded the structure-activity relationship data to highlight the importance of the molecular features of napyradiomycins determining their therapeutic potential. Recent discoveries have shed light on the unique role of halogenases, which contribute to the structural diversity and enhance the biological potency of napyradiomycins, thus refining the known biosynthetic pathways. The data presented here aims to stimulate further research and facilitate the advancement of NPDs toward becoming first-line therapies for infectious diseases and cancer.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143602368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Design and development of a novel multi-epitope DNA vaccine candidate against infectious bronchitis virus: an immunoinformatic approach","authors":"Haoyu Liu, Tingting Liu, Xinyuan Wang, Xiaochen Zhu, Jinling He, Hui Wang, Aili Fan, Dongchao Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04283-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04283-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is one of the major respiratory diseases in poultry. At present, attenuated vaccines are the main commercial vaccines, but they have many defects. We aimed to construct a novel multi-epitope DNA vaccine based on avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) S1 and N proteins for the prevention of IBV infection. We screened the dominant B and T cell epitopes of target proteins utilizing epitope prediction tools. A new high-immunogenicity epitope peptide segment named QSN was designed and screened by linking peptide. The physicochemical properties of QSN were analyzed by bioinformatics. The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-QSN was obtained by inserting the synthesized QSN gene into the eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1. On the 7th day of age, chicks were immunized by intramuscular injection of the plasmid, and serum specific antibody IgG, cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2, and T lymphocyte subsets were detected after booster immunization. Bioinformatics analysis showed that QSN had high hydrophilicity without transmembrane region and stable structure after binding to receptor. The recombinant eukaryotic vector was successfully constructed. Two weeks after booster immunization, compared with NS group and pEGFP-N1 group, serum IgG level, concentrations of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2, and proportion of CD4<sup>+</sup> T lymphocytes in pEGFP-QSN group were significantly increased (<i>P</i> < 0.01 or <i>P</i> < 0.05). Collectively, the multi-epitope DNA could stimulate humoral and cellular immune responses in chickens and is expected to be a potential vaccine candidate against IBV infection.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143594694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Narantsetseg Byambaakhuu, Shen Duan, Ren Sa, Qing-lan Yang, Hai-Yan Xu, Cheng-Bin Shan, Ri-hua Xu, Chao-Mei Ma
{"title":"Characterization of intestinal bacteria for the production of quercetin and isoquercitrin from rutin","authors":"Narantsetseg Byambaakhuu, Shen Duan, Ren Sa, Qing-lan Yang, Hai-Yan Xu, Cheng-Bin Shan, Ri-hua Xu, Chao-Mei Ma","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04278-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04278-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study was to evaluate the potential of human intestinal bacterial species in the biotransformation of rutin to quercetin and isoquercitrin which is rarer than rutin in nature and could more potently inhibit the growth of some cancer cell lines. Bacterial strains isolated from healthy human fecal samples were identified through 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis and genome analysis. Isoquercitrin and quercetin were identified and quantified by UHPLC-QQQ-MS in multiple reaction monitoring mode. As results, the intestinal bacterial strains, comprising nine Gram-positive rods and one Gram-negative rod, were classified into <i>Enterococcus</i>, <i>Lactococcus</i>, and <i>Escherichia</i> genera. Among the ten isolates<i>, Lactococcus garvieae</i> Y3-2 and <i>Lactococcus petauri</i> Y5-4 produced higher amounts of quercetin compared to other bacteria. Interestingly, all strains of <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> species (Y4-1, Y4-2, Y5-1, and Y5-2) exhibited a relatively strong ability to convert rutin to isoquercitrin, with Y4-2 being particularly efficient. The higher L-rhamnosidase activity observed in <i>E. faecium</i> Y4-1 and <i>E. faecium</i> Y4-2 correlated with their significant yield of isoquercitrin. Four or three genes were probably involved in rutin metabolism according to the analysis of flavonoid pathway based on genome sequences. The results provided information for selecting bacterial species to convert rutin into target bioactive compounds, and for purification of pure enzymes to biosynthesize isoquercitrin.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143583406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}