Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Escherichia coli DH5α-loaded fenugreek extract: an effective anticancer combination against human breast cancer cell lines","authors":"Hatim M. Hamadnalla,&nbsp;Hoda E. Mahmoud,&nbsp;Omayma M. Sadek,&nbsp;Ahmed S. Sultan","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13963-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13963-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women and remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Recently, bacteria-based delivery systems have emerged as promising strategies for targeted cancer therapy due to their biocompatibility, low systemic toxicity, and ability to overcome drug resistance. In this study, bacterial ghosts (BGs) derived from <i>Escherichia coli</i> DH5-α were successfully prepared using a modified sponge-like reduced protocol, achieving approximately 92% reduction in optical density and releasing 246.3 ± 5.46 µg/mL DNA and 2.5 ± 0.054 mg/mL proteins, confirming efficient cytoplasmic evacuation. Heat-killed <i>E. coli</i> (HKEc) was prepared via thermal inactivation. Ethanolic extract of fenugreek seeds (<i>Trigonella foenum-graecum</i>) was obtained with a yield of 14% and characterized by GC–MS, identifying 26 bioactive compounds, including linoleic acid ethyl ester (19.39%) and β-sitosterol (14.14%). LC–MS/MS analysis further confirmed the presence of key metabolites such as trigonelline, diosgenin, orientin, and vitexin. The extract was successfully loaded into BGs and HKEc with loading capacities of 14 µg/mg and 11.6 µg/mg, and entrapment efficiencies of 21% and 13.4%, respectively. In vitro release studies demonstrated sustained release behavior from BGs, with only 14% released after 4 h at pH 7.4 compared to 90% for free extract, indicating effective controlled delivery. Cytotoxicity analysis using the WST-1 assay revealed enhanced anticancer activity of FEE-loaded BGs, with IC₅₀ values of 1.2 mg/mL in MDA-MB-231 and 0.87 mg/mL in ZR-75–1 cells, compared to 2.2 and 1.74 mg/mL for free extract, respectively. Mechanistically, treatment resulted in significant downregulation of STAT3, mTOR, and β-catenin, alongside upregulation of STAT5, and a twofold increase in caspase-3 activity, confirming apoptosis induction. Overall, these findings highlight <i>E. coli</i>-derived bacterial ghosts as an effective and low-cost delivery platform for plant-derived anticancer compounds, offering enhanced therapeutic efficacy and controlled release for breast cancer treatment.</p><p>• <i>Escherichia coli ghosts are safe, versatile carriers with high drug-loading capacity.</i></p><p>• <i>E. coli ghosts enhance natural extract delivery, improving anticancer efficacy and targeting.</i></p><p>• <i>Fenugreek extract-loaded E. coli ghosts modulate key cancer pathways.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13452875/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696997","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":"A cumate-inducible promoter system for tuned gene expression and magnetosome overproduction in magnetotactic bacteria","authors":"Alexandra Woller,&nbsp;Alexander Knöchel,&nbsp;Michael Rheinberger,&nbsp;Jürgen M. Plitzko,&nbsp;Dirk Schüler","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13978-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13978-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Magnetosomes are membrane-bound iron-rich organelles synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria as sensors for navigation in the Earth’s magnetic field. In the well-studied model <i>Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense</i>, their multistep biosynthesis is tightly controlled by &gt; 30 specific genes clustered within a genomic magnetosome island. The lack of versatile genetic tools for strong, tunable, and orthogonal transcriptional control has impeded the analysis, engineering, and transplantation of this complex biosynthetic pathway. In addition, recent studies revealed an intricate transcriptional architecture of magnetosome gene clusters, but its significance has still remained unclear. Here, by using a bioluminescence reporter assay, we identify several novel constitutive promoters and establish the cumate-inducible repressor/promoter system CymR/P<i>cym</i> as a robust and tunable regulatory module for rapid, dose-dependent transcriptional control in <i>M. gryphiswaldense</i>. We demonstrate its successful application for genetic tuning of magnetosome biosynthesis and inducible overproduction by controlling expression of a single essential magnetosome gene in a duplicated hybrid magnetosome gene cluster background. Additionally, we show its versatility by creating a hybrid promoter within the essential long <i>mamAB</i> operon, which experimentally confirms the significance of the intragenic P<i>(mamH)</i> promoter for the generation of long polycistronic transcripts. In summary, our data underlines the importance of balanced magnetosome gene expression. We also provide a versatile framework for dynamic transcriptional control and genetic engineering strategies in <i>M. gryphiswaldense</i> and other bacteria.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div><div><div><div><table><tbody><tr><td><p><b>Keypoints</b></p><p>• <i> Several novel constitutive promoters expand the genetic toolbox of M. gryphiswaldense.</i></p><p>•<i> CymR/Pcym allows strong, controlled and tunable magnetosome gene expression.</i></p><p>• <i>A hybrid inducible magnetosome overproducer shows increased stability.</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13452763/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696970","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":"Retraction Note: Biotechnological interventions and genetic diversity assessment in Swertia sp.: a myriad source of valuable secondary metabolites","authors":"Prabhjot Kaur,&nbsp;Devendra Kumar Pandey,&nbsp;R. C. Gupta,&nbsp;Vijay Kumar,&nbsp;Padmanabh Dwivedi,&nbsp;Rupa Sanyal,&nbsp;Abhijit Dey","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13974-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13974-z","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13974-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148598042","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":"Bacterial communities in domestic washing machines associated with user-perceived odours","authors":"Sabasadat Seyednikkhoo,&nbsp;Mirko Weide,&nbsp;Markus Egert","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13972-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13972-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Washing machines are known to contain significant amounts of microorganisms with negative implications for laundry and machine hygiene. In particular, the formation of machine and laundry odour and the potential role that microorganisms might play are still far from being understood. Here, we used Oxford Nanopore–based sequencing of full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicons and quantitative PCR to qualitatively and quantitatively investigate the bacterial community composition of different parts (detergent drawer, door seal, sump) of machines categorized as odorous (<i>n</i> = 8) and non-odorous (<i>n</i> = 8) by their users. DNA was extracted from swab samples taken in a standardized manner from each machine. In total, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences (~ 1.5 kb) were obtained from the investigated machines and assigned to 1492 distinct species. The observed community compositions corroborated previous investigations using shorter gene sequences for identification. For instance, odour-related <i>Moraxella osloensis</i> showed the highest relative abundance in door seal samples. However, only a few statistically significant differences were found in overall community composition (alpha- and beta-diversity) between odorous and non-odorous machines. To investigate whether odorous machines might contain a higher microbial load, bacterial DNA was quantified by qPCR. Odorous machines showed higher median bacterial DNA concentrations across compartments, but odour category had no significant effect on bacterial abundance in a mixed-effects analysis. In summary, odorous and non-odorous machines did not differ greatly in bacterial community composition. Differences in bacterial activity or subjective odour perception may be responsible for perceived odour. Hence, future studies should include metatranscriptomic analyses and larger sample sizes.\u0000</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13972-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148598067","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":"Inhalation of cadmium oxide nanoparticles alters intestinal and pulmonary microbiomes in mice","authors":"Chahrazed Mekadim,&nbsp;Daniela Kristeková,&nbsp;Pavel Mikuška,&nbsp;Marcela Buchtová,&nbsp;Jakub Mrázek","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13970-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13970-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Exposure to cadmium (Cd), a toxic heavy metal, is a severe threat to organismal health, causing a wide range of pathological alterations in various tissues and organs. Alterations in the composition and function of the gut microbiome have been indicated across numerous animals exposed to Cd. However, the impact of Cd inhalation exposure on the pulmonary microbiome has not been well investigated yet. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of exposure to CdONPs and its clearance on both colonic and pulmonary microbiomes in mice. The diversity of both colonic and pulmonary microbiomes of exposed mice was significantly affected after 9 weeks of CdONPs inhalation. The effects of CdONPs exposure on bacterial composition and function were more pronounced in the colonic microbiome than in the pulmonary microbiome. The clearance was more efficient in the restoration of gut microbiome composition in comparison to the lung microbiome. Moreover, we evaluated a bidirectional interaction between Cd exposure and gut microbiota. <i>Duncaniella</i>, <i>Odoribacter</i>, and <i>Pontibacter</i> were the prominent biomarkers that significantly positively correlated with dysregulated functions in the colonic microbiome of exposed mice. Based on the PICRUSt2 prediction analysis, our results suggested that perturbations in the gut microbiota balance due to Cd exposure were associated with the increase in the proportion level of bacteria with excessive membrane transporters, which may potentially augment the absorption of this metal by intestinal microbiota thereby leading to the accumulation of Cd in intestinal bacteria and the potential alleviation of the Cd toxicity effect. Furthermore, genes related to metal chelators were consistent with the colonic microbiome of exposed mice, suggesting possible promotion of Cd excretion and its eventual fecal elimination. However, these observations derived from 16S rRNA profiling and PICRUSt2 predictions would need to be verified experimentally to establish any functional or mechanistic implications. This could be considered a key factor in determining the intestinal bacterial species able to minimize the toxicity of heavy metals in future therapeutic approaches.</p><p>• <i>Inhalation of CdO nanoparticles significantly alters both gut and pulmonary microbiome composition and diversity in mice.</i></p><p>• <i>Microbiome changes are more pronounced in the gut than in the lungs following inhalation exposure.</i></p><p>• <i>Partial recovery of microbiome composition occurs after the clearance period, with greater restoration in the gut than in the lung.</i></p><p>• <i>Predicted functional profiles indicate shifts in microbial metabolic potential associated with Cd exposure.</i></p><p>• <i>The findings support a potential interaction between inhaled Cd exposure and the gut microbiome, highlighting the relevance of the gut–lung axis.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13970-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148598073","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":"A novel arabinose-inducible promoter in the carotenogenic yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.","authors":"Oscar Ulises García-Flores, Rodolfo Marsch, Alejandra Sánchez-Licona, Teresa Ponce-Noyola, Luis Bernardo Flores-Cotera","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13957-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-026-13957-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous is a basidiomycetous yeast capable of synthesizing astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant carotenoid pigment. Despite appreciable research efforts, molecular tools for the genetic manipulation of this yeast remain limited. Inducible promoters are essential tools to control gene expression in response to external stimuli, such as molecules or stress signals. This regulation enables precise control of gene expression in synthetic biological systems, minimizing unwanted effects caused by constant gene expression. In the present work inducible promoters from the L-arabinitol dehydrogenase (LAD), isocitrate lyase (ICL), alpha glucosidase (AG), glycerol kinase (GUT1), and xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) genes were screened and evaluated. The promoter sequences were cloned into a plasmid containing the encoding sequence for Enhanced Yellow Fluorescent Protein (EYFP) for functional assessment. Promoter activity was quantified by fluorescence under induction and repression conditions in the engineered yeast cells. Among the promoters analyzed, only the LAD promoter led to high fluorescence under induction conditions, and low under repression. Yeast cells harboring the LAD promoter showed mostly an increasing fluorescence with culture time. Moreover, dose-response analyses with arabinose from 0.05 to 30 g/L indicated that only 2.5 g/L arabinose is needed to achieve maximum fluorescence from the yeast cells. Finally, we performed a two-stage culture of X. dendrorhous harboring the LAD promoter and arabinose as inducer for prospective novel practical applications. Overall, we believe that the LAD promoter is a promising tool for fine-tuning of protein expression in X. dendrorhous. KEY POINTS: A native arabinose-inducible promoter is disclosed in the yeast. LAD promoter exhibits a sensitive response to the inducer. A two-stage culture of X. dendrorhous allows first the accumulation biomass, and then the expression of EYFP.</p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149223324","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":"Untargeted metabolomics and in silico analysis identifies potential DNA gyrase inhibitors from an endophytic fungus Alternaria alternata P02PL2.","authors":"Aviwe N Matandela, Sphamandla E Mtambo, Wonder P Nxumalo, Sizwe I Ndlovu","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13966-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-026-13966-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The escalating threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens underscores the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents. Here, we combined a one-strain many compounds (OSMAC) and untargeted metabolomics approaches to investigate the bioactivities and the chemical space of the endophytic fungus Alternaria alternata P02PL2, isolated from a medicinal plant, Sclerocarya birrea. The antibacterial activities were assessed against contemporary clinical isolates, MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa 5625574, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) 5627679, and a collection culture of S. aureus ATCC 25923 for reference. We first tested for bioactivities across eight growth media to optimize the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. The bioactive fungal extract fractions exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. This was followed by an untargeted metabolomics analysis, which identified 41 secondary metabolites. Virtual screening, molecular docking, and 200-ns molecular dynamics simulations targeting S. aureus and P. aeruginosa DNA gyrase revealed lead compounds with superior binding affinities (e.g., fluorescein -9.2 kcal/mol for P. aeruginosa; pyrrolo[1,2-a] pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro -8.8 kcal/mol for S. aureus) compared to reference ligands. Binding free energy calculations highlighted strong affinities, with 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6,8-bis(3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl)chromen-4-one (-42.16 kcal/mol) and fluorescein (-41.42 kcal/mol) outperforming the P. aeruginosa reference ligand evo (-19.80 kcal/mol) and 80s (-48.74 kcal/mol) leading for S. aureus. Per-residue energy decomposition and quantum chemical analyses further elucidated key interactions and reactivity profiles. These results position A. alternata P02PL2 as a promising source of DNA gyrase inhibitors to combat antimicrobial resistance. KEY POINTS: • A. alternata extracts inhibits S. aureus and Pseudomonas with MIC of 0.25-0.5 mg/mL • Inhibitors included Diketopiperazine (S. aureus), C-glycosyl flavone (Pseudomonas) • In silico analyses suggest the metabolites putatively inhibit bacterial DNA gyrase.</p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149222959","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":"Integrating microbial fermentation and polymerization for sustainable polylactic acid production.","authors":"Mamata Singhvi, Takeshi Zendo, Sejal Shirke","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13935-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-026-13935-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Replacing petroleum-based plastics with sustainable alternatives requires economically viable biomanufacturing routes. This review comprehensively assimilates two critical pillars of bio-based polymer development: the microbial synthesis of lactic acid (LA) and its subsequent polymerization into polylactic acid (PLA). The first section critically examines advancements in the eco-friendly production of LA from renewable substrates through microbial fermentation. It highlights recent breakthroughs in metabolic engineering, process optimization, and cleaner downstream purification techniques to achieve high optical purity and yield. The second section focuses on the conversion of LA into PLA, detailing synthesis mechanisms via direct condensation and ring-opening polymerization (ROP). The manuscript evaluates the intricate relationships between PLA's structural, thermal, and mechanical properties, alongside state-of-the-art processing technologies such as 3D/4D printing and electrospinning. By addressing prevailing bottlenecks-specifically the high cost of raw materials and the precise control of degradation rates-this review provides a strategic roadmap for the sustainable, large-scale production of PLA, aligning bio-based polymer development with shifting environmental and commercial demands. KEY POINTS: • Microbial routes boost sustainable, high-purity lactic acid production. • Advances in PLA polymerization enhance material performance and applications. • Lignocellulosic biomass enables low-cost, eco-friendly LA and PLA production.</p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149223309","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":"A coculture system of Epicoccum nigrum with Mucor racemosus induces red pigment biosynthesis in vinegar mash.","authors":"Fengli Wang, Fangyuan Xu, Xinle Liang, Wenjie Wang","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13956-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-026-13956-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fungal pigments hold significant food industrial value due to their safe and sustainable properties. Here we identified a naturally occurring coculture pair Epicoccum nigrum SPDX618 and Mucor racemosus SPDX522 in vinegar mash that produced red pigments, which was not observed in either monoculture. Our results showed that E. nigrum acted as the pigment producer while M. racemosus served as the elicitor. Response surface methodology and pH stabilization strategy improved the yield of red pigment into 328.7 U/g. Through bioactivity-guided fractionation coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS and in silico structure reconstitution, four red pigments were preliminarily assigned as anthracycline-like compounds. RNA-seq analysis revealed a putative dual-PKS gene cluster (SPDX618009169-SPDX618009178) with exclusively upregulation in cocultured E. nigrum that is potentially involved in red pigment biosynthesis. Besides, the production of the yellow pigment epipyrone was reduced in cocultured E. nigrum, consistent with the downregulated transcription level of its biosynthesis genes. Comparative metabolomics analysis further revealed a broad downregulation in both of primary metabolism and secondary metabolism in coculture system, indicating that a competition interaction relationship also existed between E. nigrum and M. racemosus. Altogether, this study reports a fungal coculture system that exhibited red pigments production. These findings contribute to the understanding of microbial interaction-driven metabolite biosynthesis and may provide a foundation for future exploration of their potential application as a colorant. KEY POINTS: • An Epicoccum nigrum-Mucor racemosus coculture system was identified to produce red pigment for the first time. • E. nigrum acts as the red pigment producer and M. racemosus serves as the elicitor. • RNA-seq analysis tentatively identified a putative dual-PKS gene cluster upregulated in coculture that is putatively involved in red pigment biosynthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149223319","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":"Gut microbiota dynamics in free-range layer hens during outbreaks of spotty liver disease and fowl cholera—a field study","authors":"Friedrich Petranyi,&nbsp;Maria M. Whitton,&nbsp;Edina Lobo,&nbsp;Sung J. Yu,&nbsp;Ivan Milošević,&nbsp;Dragana Stanley,&nbsp;Yadav S. Bajagai","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13965-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13965-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The livestock industry faces growing constraints due to antimicrobial resistance, particularly in poultry systems that have historically relied on antibiotic use. These challenges are exacerbated in free-range production, where restrictions on antimicrobial interventions coincide with heightened exposure to infectious diseases, leading to increased mortality and reduced productivity. On-farm disease outbreaks cannot be reproduced in high ethics standards approved animal houses, where they can be modeled to recognize some patterns of pathogen dynamics. While laboratory settings enable rigorous control and monitoring, they lack the environmental, management, production, pathogen pressures and complexity found on industrial farms and therefore cannot realistically recreate disease progression. Here, we present a field study in a layer flock that experienced three disease outbreaks of spotty liver disease (SLD) and fowl cholera (FC). The treatment group was supplemented with a precision biotic, a synthetic glycan product, while weekly performance measures and responses of microbial populations across major gut sections were observed. The precision biotic supplemented birds showed higher cumulative mortality but also higher egg output. However, as this was an unreplicated field study, these differences should be interpreted as descriptive associations. The intestinal microbial community responded differently to supplementation under concurrent environmental and disease pressures. This study provides large-scale field observations during concurrent outbreaks of SLD and FC, offering real-world insights that may inform future controlled studies of disease dynamics and performance management.</p><p>• <i>Free-range systems increase disease risk, reducing health and productivity in layer flocks.</i></p><p>• <i>Precision biotics were associated with higher egg output and higher cumulative mortality in hens.</i></p><p>• <i>Gut microbiota and liver congestion differed between precision biotic supplemented and control groups.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13965-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148534870","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}