Archives of Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Molecular and functional analysis of a putative pyocin S9, with endonuclease activity from P. chlororaphis subsp aurantiaca PB-St2","authors":"Maryam Zareen,&nbsp;Deeba Noreen Baig,&nbsp;Muhammad Imran,&nbsp;Zabish Khaliq,&nbsp;Kausar Abdulla Malik,&nbsp;Andreas Bechthold,&nbsp;Samina Mehnaz","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04345-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04345-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pyocins are bacteriocins which are explicitly associated with pseudomonads. In this study, the genome mining and in-depth sequence analysis identified three similar S9-like (a, b, and c), an S3-like (d) and one R-type pyocin systems from <i>P. chlororaphis</i> subsp <i>aurantiaca</i> PB-St2. The phenotypic screening of bacteriocin production by PB-St2 indicated narrow-spectrum bactericidal activity against closely related <i>Pseudomonas</i> species i.e., <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAi, PAc1, PAc3, PAc4; <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> Psi-RS1 and <i>Pseudomonas kilonensis</i> OSRS3. Herein, the proposed pyocin S9c was further selected for molecular and functional characterization. The presumptive N-terminal receptor binding domain of candidate system lacks significant similarity with any characterized HNH-type pyocin S DN<i>ases</i> from <i>P. aeruginosa.</i> In contrast, the cytotoxic domain showed 53% sequence similarity with pyocin S8 and 70% to pyocin S9. Thus, pyocin S9c was suggested as an isoform under the Class I DN<i>ase</i> (H-N-H) family in pyocin S9 cluster, commonly found in <i>P. chlororaphis</i> subsp. <i>aurantiaca</i> and <i>P. chlororaphis</i> subsp <i>aureofaciens</i> strains. Molecular screening of the pyocin S9c system revealed its presence in 6 out of 7 tested strains of <i>P. chlororaphis</i> subsp. <i>aurantiaca</i> GS1, GS3, GS4, GS6, ARS38, FS2 and one <i>P. chlororaphis</i> RP4 relative strains, isolated from diverse plant hosts. The 1.59 kb fragment consisting of two structural genes of pyocin-immunity operon (S9c) in <i>P. aurantiaca</i> PB-St2 were cloned in <i>pET28a</i>(+) and expressed in <i>Escherichia coli</i> BL21 DE3 (pLysS) strain as a fusion protein with histidine tag. The recombinant cytotoxic protein of pyocin S9c operon was purified with N-term His-tag with a molecular weight of ≈ 50 kDa. The identity of target protein was affirmed by tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The purified cytotoxic protein was active against <i>P. chlororaphis</i> subsp. <i>aurantiaca</i> GS7, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.5 µg/ml. The mechanism of cytotoxicity was affirmed as a metal-dependent endonuclease by evidence of non-specific hydrolysis of pTZ57R plasmid isoforms. These results indicate that pyocin S9c can contribute to the rhizo-competence of this strain in plant-associated natural habitats, occupied by related <i>Pseudomonas</i> strains.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143919051","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":"Responses of natural plastisphere community and zooplankton to microplastic pollution: a review on novel remediation strategies","authors":"Malayaj Rai,&nbsp;Raunak Dhanker,&nbsp;Nidhi Sharma,&nbsp; Kamakshi,&nbsp;Shashank S. Kamble,&nbsp;Archana Tiwari,&nbsp;Zhi-Yan Du,&nbsp;Heba I. Mohamed","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04334-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04334-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MP) in different environments has been well documented. Microplastic contamination has rapidly become a serious environmental issue, threatening marine ecosystems and human health. MP has been reported to accumulate organic pollutants associated with various microbial communities. The MP hazard is specifically serious in urban lakes, near-shore beaches, and benthic sediments. To prevent the further spread of MP and mitigate the increasing level of MP contamination, along with its associated environmental and economic concerns, it is essential to address mitigation strategies and their negative impacts. Contributed by low degradability, hydrophobicity, and sorption potential, the plastic surface acts as an important substrate colonized by several microorganisms known as the plastisphere community. Adaptive responses of the plastisphere community, MP ingestion, and surface modifications by the zooplankton provide insight into novel remediation strategies based on integrated natural community-level approaches. Zooplankton studies are extensive and encompass assessments of their abundance, biomass, distribution, and DNA meta-barcoding. Additionally, zooplankton has been utilized as an indicator in various freshwater environmental policies. Overall, employing zooplankton as an indicator in environmental policies is a vital tool for assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems and can assist in guiding management and conservation efforts. This review summarizes (i) the current literature on the estimation of MP distribution in aquatic environments, (ii) the effects of MP accumulation on the environment and its inhabitants, i.e., the interactions with marine microbiota,, (iii) addresses the bioremediation strategies with an emphasis on microbial degradation, ecological functioning and adaptive responses of marine microbes and finally, (iv) the directions of further research aiming to in situ mitigation of MP pollution. Recent advancements have focused on innovative methods such as membrane bioreactors, synthetic biology, organosilane-based techniques, biofilm-mediated remediation, and nanomaterial-enabled strategies. Nano-enabled technologies show substantial potential to enhance microplastic removal efficiency. Further investigation is necessary to develop advanced treatment technologies that can enhance the removal efficiency of microplastics (MPs) in drinking water. Additionally, more research is needed to understand the toxic impacts of MPs on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and other important habitats.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143913934","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":"Enhanced recombinant xylanase B expression in Komagataella phaffii through metabolic engineering of methanol utilization","authors":"Aibo Feng,&nbsp;Taiyu Liu,&nbsp;Wenjie Cong,&nbsp;Hualan Zhou,&nbsp;Jianguo Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04333-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04333-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Aspergillus niger</i> ATCC 1015 xylanase B is an important enzyme in food industry and agricultural lignocellulose utilization. Heterologous expression of xylanase B by microbial chassis cells attracted a lot of attentions, especially <i>Komagataella phaffii</i>. Co-expressing enzymes involved in methanol metabolism and cofactor recycling by recombinant <i>K. phaffii</i> increased recombinant xylanase B expression efficiently in this study. Firstly <i>K. phaffii</i> formaldehyde dehydrogenase (Fld) was co-expressed to promote formaldehyde dissimilation. Furtherly, Saccharomyces cerevisiae NADH kinase Pos5 promoting NADPH production and <i>K. phaffii</i> 2-oxoglutarate transporter (Odc1) involving in the regeneration of mitochondrial NAD + were co-expressed to maintain the NAD + /NADH balance by converting 2-oxoglutarate to malate. The volumetric productivity and specific productivity of xylanase B were 26.22 U/(mL·h) and 8.27 U/(g·h), which were 93.2% increment of volumetric productivity and 101.8% increment of specific productivity respectively. Furtherly, increasing the utilization of methanol allows more carbon flow to the metabolic pathway, thus increasing the production of recombinant proteins. Fld, Pos5, and Odc1 co-expression enhanced methanol consumption by 10%, without retardation of specific growth rate, provided an engineered <i>K. phaffii</i> to express recombinant xylanase B expression significantly. In this study, the multi-enzyme co-expression strategy provided the expression level of recombinant protein increment effectively for food and agricultural industry.</p><h3>Graphic 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 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143902806","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":"Synergistic pathogenesis: exploring biofilms, efflux pumps and secretion systems in Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus","authors":"Praisy Joy Bell I,&nbsp;Rajiniraja Muniyan","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04336-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04336-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis, particularly among ESKAPE pathogens: <i>Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, and <i>Enterobacter</i> species. Among them, <i>A. baumannii</i> and <i>S. aureus</i> are major contributors to nosocomial infections, with high prevalence in intensive care units and immunocompromised patients. Their ability to resist multiple antibiotic classes complicates treatment strategies, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Key resistance mechanisms, including biofilm formation, efflux pump activity, and horizontal gene transfer, enhance their survival and persistence. Furthermore, interactions during polymicrobial infections intensify disease severity through synergistic effects that promote both virulence and resistance. The epidemiological burden of these pathogens highlights the urgent need for novel antimicrobial strategies and targeted interventions. This review explores their virulence factors, resistance mechanisms, pathogenic interactions, and clinical implications, emphasizing the necessity of innovative therapeutic approaches to combat their growing threat.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143896797","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":"Temporal changes in cold-inducible and uncharacterized Csps under heat and oxidative stress signify a role in bacterial stress response and adaptation","authors":"Evieann Cardoza,&nbsp;Harinder Singh","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04317-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04317-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>E. coli</i> has a family of nine homologous cold shock proteins (Csps) of which few members are considered stress proteins. Even with high sequence and structural similarity, not all Csps are expressed after a cold shock, and some are not even considered true Csps. Their designation of “cold shock proteins” is therefore misleading. Understanding their roles could shed light on the necessity of multiple Csps in a single bacterium. This study aims to decipher their expression pattern and understand their probable stress-induced functional roles. We analyzed the transcript abundance of <i>csps</i> in response to conditions of nutrients and stresses of cold, heat, and oxidative. The observations revealed diverse induction patterns, with most stresses inducing the uncharacterized and cold-inducible group. In terms of growth in nutrient media, <i>cspA</i>, <i>cspC, cspD,</i> and <i>cspE</i> have varying induction patterns under a rich and minimal medium, while other csps have a stable expression over the growth phases. In response to cold, along with the cold-inducible group, <i>cspF,</i> and cspH are induced whereas cspC, cspD, and <i>cspE</i> do not have a drastic induction pattern. The <i>cspD</i>, <i>cspH,</i> and <i>cspB</i> are particularly upregulated in response to heat, while the levels of <i>cspC</i> decrease over time. Additionally, exposure to 10mM H₂O₂ significantly upregulated <i>cspA</i>, <i>cspF,</i> and <i>cspI</i> at 15 min and, along with them, <i>cspC, cspE,</i> and <i>cspH</i> at 30 min. In conclusion, this article describes the novel stress induction pattern of all <i>csps</i> and lays emphasis on <i>cspF</i> and <i>cspH</i> that are still to be assigned a functional role. Therefore, though structurally similar, Csps are differentially expressed and could have stress-induced functional roles within the stress response network of <i>E. coli</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143896796","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":"Discovery of phenoxazine congeners as novel α-glucosidase inhibitors and identification of their biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces sp. CB00316","authors":"Lin Jiang,&nbsp;Pingzhi Huang,&nbsp;Aijie Li,&nbsp;Bin Fen,&nbsp;Yani Zhong,&nbsp;Caijun Tang,&nbsp;Guangling Wu,&nbsp;Wenlei Wang,&nbsp;Yuhan Chen,&nbsp;Jian Pan,&nbsp;Genyun Tang,&nbsp;Hong Pu","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04337-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04337-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>α-Glucosidase is considered an ideal target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. <i>Streptomyces</i> species are known to produce a plethora of bioactive metabolites. On the basis of genomic information, the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) strategy and various chromatographic separation techniques, two compounds, bezerramycin A (<b>1</b>) and elloxazinone A (<b>2</b>), were identified from among <i>Streptomyces</i> sp. CB00316 metabolites. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated and compound <b>2</b> showed the strongest activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 74.31 ± 3.74 µM. In silico molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the in vitro activities of these α-glucosidase inhibitors. In addition, we investigated the biosynthetic gene clusters and metabolic pathways of compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>. These findings highlight the potential of phenoxazines as lead compounds to combat the development of type 2 diabetes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143883612","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":"Efficacy of ultraviolet-light emitting diodes in bacterial inactivation and DNA damage via sensitivity evaluation using multiple wavelengths and bacterial strains","authors":"Kai Ishida,&nbsp;Mina Matsubara,&nbsp;Miharu Nagahashi,&nbsp;Yushi Onoda,&nbsp;Toshihiko Aizawa,&nbsp;Shigeharu Yamauchi,&nbsp;Yasuo Fujikawa,&nbsp;Tomotake Tanaka,&nbsp;Yasuko Kadomura-Ishikawa,&nbsp;Takashi Uebanso,&nbsp;Masatake Akutagawa,&nbsp;Kazuaki Mawatari,&nbsp;Akira Takahashi","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04324-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04324-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ultraviolet-light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) have garnered attention for their efficient bacterial inactivation. However, in previous studies, it has been difficult to strictly compare the bacterial inactivation effect of UV irradiation among wavelengths differing by a few nanometers because detailed UV irradiation conditions for comparison, such as the LED characteristics at each wavelength and power supply characteristics, have not been established. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate UV inactivation of 10 bacterial strains across 13 wavelengths (250–365 nm) using a standardized irradiation system previously reported to identify the most effective wavelengths for prevention of bacterial infection and contamination. Bacterial inactivation dose response curves were generated to determine the fluence required to archive 1–3 log₁₀ inactivation. The results indicated that Gram-negative bacteria exhibited higher initial sensitivity compared with Gram-positive bacteria. Wavelength-dependent inactivation peaked at 263–270 nm, correlating strongly with cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer production (r &gt; 0.9 for most strains). Deconvolution analysis confirmed that bacterial inhibition was maximal around 267.6 nm. Furthermore, UV-LEDs outperformed low-pressure mercury lamps in terms of bacterial inactivation under equivalent fluences, attributed to differences in spectral emission profiles. These findings will help optimize UV-LED sterilization methods for broader applications in microbial control.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00203-025-04324-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbially-influenced corrosion in low carbon stainless steel (SS-304L) by viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria of spent nuclear fuel pool","authors":"Sudhir K. Shukla,&nbsp;Dugeshwar Karley,&nbsp;Namrata Upadhyay,&nbsp;T. Subba Rao","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04268-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04268-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microorganisms can pose significant challenges in causing corrosion of low carbon stainless steel (SS-304L) in closed dynamic systems such as spent nuclear fuel (SNF) pools This study investigates the corrosion behaviour of SS-304L in the presence of biofilm-forming bacteria and ‘viable but non-culturable’ (VBNC) bacteria present in SNF pool water. Electrochemical measurements such as, open circuit potential (E_OCP), pitting potential (E_pit), and corrosion rate were measured. Confocal and metallurgical microscopy, were used to provide insights into biofilm morphology and localized corrosion features. Confocal scanning laser microscopy analysis showed variation in biofilm morphology and distribution. The uniform biofilm growth by the four SNF bacterial isolates exhibited corrosion inhibition property. Electrochemical measurements, such as E_OCP and E_pit, revealed the putative role of VBNC bacteria in the corrosion of SS-304L. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study also showed the role of biofilm mediated corrosion inhibition property. Biochemical characterization of extracellular polymeric substance of biofilms revealed very high protein content, which provided an interesting hypothesis regarding SS-304L corrosion prevention. The formation of biofilm protective layer and the probability for localized corrosion by SNF pool water bacteria are described. This study elucidates the complex interplay between microbial biofilms and plausible corrosion in the SNF pool environment that has critical implications to the nuclear power industry.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871239","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":"Synergistic effect of high-pressure thermal sterilization and muramidase on Bacillus subtilis spores: alterations in intrasporal components, inner membrane permeability, and structural integrity","authors":"Jiajia Li,&nbsp;Weishan Xin,&nbsp;Dunhua Liu,&nbsp;Mengze Wang,&nbsp;Mingan Liu,&nbsp;Ke Bi,&nbsp;Yue Liu,&nbsp;Zhong Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04331-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04331-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The sporicidal mechanism of high-pressure thermal sterilization (HPTS) combined with muramidase against <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> spores was investigated. Results demonstrated that HPTS at 600 MPa/75°C with 0.3% muramidase achieved a 6.09 log reduction in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> spores. The combined processing significantly increased the leakage of protein, nucleic acid, and dipicolinic acid, while significantly reducing Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed notable morphological changes in spores after combined processing. A significant increase in propidium iodide (PI)-infiltrated spores indicated enhanced spore inner membrane permeability (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05). molecular composition analysis further showed disordered arrangement of fatty acid acyl chains, structural alterations in nucleic acids and proteins, and increased the peptidoglycan layer flexibility. These findings provided insights into the sporicidal mechanism of HPTS combined with muramidase.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143856639","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":"Procalcitonin contributes to hippocampal neuronal damage and impairment of LTP: implications for cognitive dysfunction in LPS-induced neuroinflammation rat model","authors":"Wen Li,&nbsp;Changgeng Song,&nbsp;Xiaona Li,&nbsp;Huimin Zhou,&nbsp;Xianghui Zhao,&nbsp;Wen Jiang","doi":"10.1007/s00203-025-04330-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00203-025-04330-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bacterial meningitis (BM) can lead to cognitive impairment, seriously affecting patients’ quality of life. Our previous study demonstrated a significant increase in procalcitonin (PCT) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in BM patients, but the functional implications remain unknown. We found high expression of PCT in the hippocampus of LPS-induced neuroinflammation models. PCT had a neurotoxic effect on the primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. The high dose of PCT induced neuronal apoptosis. The low dose of PCT impaired the arborization of hippocampal neurons and reduced the expression of the growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and synaptophysin (SYN). Furthermore, long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal brain slices was decreased after PCT perfusion ex vivo. Our results indicated that PCT had neurotoxic effects on neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, potentially leading to cognitive impairment after BM.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8279,"journal":{"name":"Archives of Microbiology","volume":"207 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143856638","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}