Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology最新文献

{"title":"Mucin O-glycan degradation by GH101 underpins mucosal persistence of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010","authors":"Aryanna Muscò,&nbsp;Giulia Longhi,&nbsp;Emanuele Selleri,&nbsp;Emma Gennaioli,&nbsp;Gabriele Andrea Lugli,&nbsp;Chiara Tarracchini,&nbsp;Massimiliano Giovanni Bianchi,&nbsp;Ovidio Bussolati,&nbsp;Marco Ventura,&nbsp;Francesca Turroni","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13964-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13964-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Host-derived mucin O-glycans constitute a key chemical component of the human intestinal niche and are continuously encountered by gut-adapted bifidobacterial cells, thereby playing a pivotal role in host–microbe interactions. Among these microbes, <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> is one of the most persistent members of the human gut microbiota. Comparative genomic analyses of mucosa-associated strains of this species have revealed a gene conserved across its pangenome, predicted to encode a GH101 glycoside hydrolase involved in mucin degradation. In this study, we performed a molecular characterization of the GH101 enzyme encoded by <i>B. bifidum</i> PRL2010. Insertional mutagenesis of the GH101 gene from the PRL2010 genome resulted in a marked reduction in bacterial adhesion to mucin-secreting epithelial cells, along with a significant growth difference when N-acetyl-galactosamine was provided as the sole carbon source. These findings indicate that GH101 mediates the initial cleavage of O-GalNAc core 1 structures, representing a crucial step for the adhesion to human mucosa. However, this enzyme represents only one component of the broader set of glycosidases required for the complete degradation of host mucins. Overall, our results establish a mechanistic link between metabolic specialization and ecological fitness, providing insights into how mucin-adapted commensals may contribute to interactions with the human gut mucosa.</p><p>• <i>The GH101 glycoside hydrolase of Bifidobacterium bifidum PRL2010 plays a pivotal role in host mucin utilization by initiating the cleavage of O-GalNAc core 1 structures.</i></p><p>• <i>Insertional mutant of the GH101 gene impairs both mucosal adhesion and growth on N-acetyl-galactosamine.</i></p><p>• <i>These findings reveal a mechanistic connection between mucin glycan metabolism and ecological fitness by mucin-adapted bifidobacterial commensals.</i></p><p>Within the intestinal ecosystem, <i>Bifidobacterium bifidum</i> PRL2010 utilizes epithelial mucin through the activity of glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzymes, releasing sugars that support microbial cross-feeding. GH101-deficient mutants lose mucin-degrading capacity and show impaired growth on mucin, demonstrating the essential role of GH101 in mucin utilization and gut microbe interactions. Created in BioRender. Turroni, F. (2026) https://BioRender.com/jhll48f</p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13964-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148497155","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 multifunctional starch debranching enzyme from Myxococcus sp. V11","authors":"Siting Feng,&nbsp;Peipei Peng,&nbsp;Jinsong Ouyang,&nbsp;Yuxuan Wang,&nbsp;Jinming You,&nbsp;Fei Wang","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13961-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13961-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>MDBE, a novel multifunctional isoamylase derived from <i>Myxococcus</i> sp. V11, was heterologously expressed in the <i>Escherichia coli</i> BL21 (DE3). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that MDBE is a multifunctional starch debranching enzyme belonging to the glycoside hydrolase GH13_11 family. Functional identification revealed that MDBE exhibits bifunctional hydrolytic activity, enabling it to hydrolyze both α-1,4 and α-1,6 glycosidic bonds, thereby allowing the degradation of both amylose and amylopectin. Moreover, MDBE can transfer α-1,4-glucan oligosaccharides between molecules through a newly discovered 4-α-D-glucanotransferase activity, resulting in the production of serial oligosaccharides. Under conditions devoid of any added ions, the specific enzyme activity of MDBE was determined to be 250.5 μmol·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹ and 209. μmol·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹ when using corn starch and amylose as substrates, respectively. Application of the Michaelis–Menten equation allowed the calculation of the <i>V</i>_max<i>, K</i>_m<i>,</i> and <i>k</i>_<i>ca</i><i>t</i> of MDBE for amylose, yielding values of 3171.8 μmol·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹, 17.7 mM, and 18.9 min⁻¹, respectively. The hydrolysis rates of MDBE towards corn starch, amylose, and amylopectin were 50%, 48%, and 44%, respectively. In combined enzyme hydrolysis of amylopectin, the yields of G1 and G2 increased by 1.1-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively, compared to the application of maltogenic amylase (BMAL) alone. Our results suggest that MDBE has potential for future applications in starch hydrolysis and bioconversion, pending further optimization of its catalytic efficiency and stability under industrial conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658700/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148497162","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":"Conditional superiorities and unaddressed bottlenecks: a critical review of artificial intelligence for waterborne microbial detection","authors":"Weiqi Liu,&nbsp;Qiang Tang,&nbsp;Min Shen,&nbsp;Lin Zhang,&nbsp;Xu Jia","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13917-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13917-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Although conventional microbial detection approaches for water samples are widely applied, they still suffer from prolonged assay durations (24–72 h), low sensitivity, and the absence of real-time monitoring capacity. Artificial intelligence (AI) has demonstrated conditional advantages in specific experimental environments, such as achieving a sensitivity of 99% for detecting Cryptosporidium and Giardia in low turbidity water (based on approximately 12,000 annotated images, using fivefold cross validation, completed under laboratory conditions); however, such advantages tend to diminish or vanish in high-turbidity water matrices or when training datasets are insufficient. This review critically evaluates four categories of AI-driven approaches: image-based analysis, spectroscopic techniques, genome, and metagenomic sequencing, as well as predictive pollution modeling. While AI helps boost detection efficiency, precision, and analytical capacity, a set of long-standing obstacles restrict its real-world deployment. The main issues involve non-standardized datasets, low model interpretability, weak generalization over various water substrates, and a substantial gap between lab-based performance and on-site operational outcomes. In summary, to fully exploit the capabilities of AI in aquatic microbial detection, greater emphasis should be placed on on-site validation, unified data specifications, and practical performance benchmarks, rather than further algorithmic innovation. This review seeks to provide practical references for scholars and practitioners working in the fields of microbiology, AI and water quality monitoring and management.</p><p><i>• AI shows favorable performance for microbial detection under lab conditions</i>.\u0000</p><p><i>• Model performance declines greatly in complex water with many practical barriers</i>.\u0000</p><p><i>• Standardized data and validation will advance real-world application</i>. </p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658678/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148468543","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":"Development and analytical validation of a dual-gene isothermal assay for Nipah virus detection","authors":"Shyam Sundar Nandi,&nbsp;Sonali A. Sawant,&nbsp;Pragya D. Yadav,&nbsp;Anita Shete-Aich,&nbsp;Triparna D. Majumdar,&nbsp;Kalpesh C. Bavkar,&nbsp;Anupam Mukherjee,&nbsp;Jagadish M. Deshpande","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13932-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13932-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic virus characterized by fatal encephalitis and severe respiratory illness, with case-fatality rates reaching 75%. Given the lack of licensed vaccines or therapeutics, rapid and accurate detection is paramount for outbreak containment. While real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) remains the gold standard, its requirement for sophisticated laboratory infrastructure limits its utility in resource-constrained field settings. In this study, we developed and validated a rapid, colorimetric dual-target reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay targeting the conserved matrix and nucleocapsid genes to enhance diagnostic reliability. Optimized at 62 °C for 40 min, the assay provides a clear visual colorimetric interpretation. A total of 137 samples were evaluated: in vitro-transcribed (IVT) RNA and tissue culture fluid isolate dilutions for limit of detection assessment, 57 non-NiV viral samples for cross-reactivity assessment, and 10 experimentally spiked positive clinical matrices used as proxy clinical specimens together with 50 confirmed NiV-negative clinical swabs for preliminary proxy diagnostic performance evaluation. The dual-target assay demonstrated 100% analytical sensitivity (95% confidence interval or CI, 72.2–100.0) and 100% specificity (95% CI, 92.9–100.0), showing perfect agreement (<i>κ</i> = 1.00) with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The composite “matrix or nucleocapsid” interpretation rule supported complete detection in the tested proxy positive clinical-matrix specimens. This simple, cost-effective, and portable molecular tool is well-suited for decentralized diagnostics, supporting early detection and surveillance in NiV-endemic regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658751/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148468568","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":"Design of solid phase microextraction patches for the detection of volatile metabolites associated with Burkholderia cepacia","authors":"Sk Rahabar Ali,&nbsp;Debsmita Mandal,&nbsp;Shyam Sundar Nandi,&nbsp;Chiranjit Ghosh,&nbsp;Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13962-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13962-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Burkholderia cepacia</i>, a gram-negative bacillus, is widely recognized as an emerging pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The conventional culture-based method takes 5–7 days, posing a challenge for rapid bacterial identification. Here, we developed a thin-film solid phase microextraction (TF-SPME) device by coating a fiberglass sheet with hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) particles and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers, exploiting an automatic film applicator to maintain coating uniformity. The coated sheet was trimmed into multiple microextraction sampling tools, and the individual patches were optimized using a McReynolds standard solution containing benzene, 2-pentanone, pyridine, octane, 1-nitropropane, and 1-pentanol compounds. Headspace sampling was performed to capture the highly volatile compounds, whereas comparatively less volatile and polar compounds were extracted through the direct immersion by the microextraction patches. The TF-SPME patches were desorbed in a gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, and the chromatogram revealed the emission of 34 metabolites associated with <i>B. cepacia</i> pathogen during the growth phase. This study demonstrated the feasibility of the utilization of simple, cost-effective microextraction patches for the extraction of <i>B. cepacia</i> specific metabolites. Moreover, the greenness assessment score (BAGI score = 70 and AGREE = 0.68) established the sustainability of the sample preparation technique. Further validation with clinical specimen may facilitate the future clinical research for the identification of <i>B. cepacia</i>.</p><p>• <i>Fiberglass-based polymer-coated microextraction patches were fabricated</i></p><p>• <i>Fabricated patches were optimized for capturing volatile metabolites</i></p><p>• <i>Burkholderia cepacia was screened through in-vitro metabolic profiling by patches</i></p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13962-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148444019","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":"Effects of iron nanoparticles and electro-stimulation on biohydrogen production by Clostridium pasteurianum","authors":"Danielli Azevedo Monico,&nbsp;Guilherme Bueno Bresciani,&nbsp;Adalgisa Rodrigues de Andrade,&nbsp;Valeria Reginatto","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13951-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13951-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biological hydrogen (H₂) production is a promising alternative to fossil-based energy processes, and strategies capable of improving H₂ yields are required to enhance its industrial feasibility. In this study, iron nanoparticles supported on carbon black (Fe/CB) were evaluated, for the first time, alone and in combination with electro-stimulated fermentation (EF), to enhance H₂ production by <i>Clostridium pasteurianum</i> DSMZ 525. Suspended Fe/CB and Fe/CB immobilized on the anode were employed and compared with traditional fermentation (TF) and EF. Under TF conditions, suspended and immobilized Fe/CB increased H₂ production by 16.7% and 62.5%, respectively, while increasing organic acid concentrations by 3.6- and 4.7-fold. The highest H₂ concentration (129.82 mmol L⁻¹) and H₂ yield were achieved under EF (0.4 V) without Fe/CB. Under this condition, organic acid and cell biomass concentrations decreased by 83% and twofold, respectively. In contrast, the addition of suspended or immobilized Fe/CB during EF decreased H₂ production by 29% and 24%, respectively, while substantially increasing organic acid concentrations. Overall, Fe/CB enhanced H₂ production during TF, particularly when immobilized on the anode, whereas EF alone proved to be the most effective strategy for maximizing H₂ production. These findings demonstrate that electro-stimulation can redirect microbial metabolism toward H₂ evolution, while Fe/CB supplementation may be more suitable for promoting the formation of value-added fermentation products. The results provide new insights into the combined use of conductive materials and electro-fermentation for controlling product selectivity in <i>Clostridium</i>-based bioprocesses.</p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13951-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148443990","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":"Vitamin D3 as an antimicrobial and antiviral immunonutrient in aquaculture","authors":"Syeda Maira Hamid,&nbsp;Hussain Syed Babar,&nbsp;Xiaoting Zheng,&nbsp;Zhulan Nie","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13953-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13953-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bacterial and viral diseases continue to remain major problem in aquaculture, and the growing limitations on the use of antibiotics have intensified a growing focus on host-directed nutrition-based disease management strategies. While vitamin D₃ (VD₃) has been recognized for its role in calcium–phosphorus metabolism, it is now increasingly recognized to exert an immunonutrient role in fish, which includes modulation of antimicrobial peptide production, inflammatory regulation, epithelial barrier integrity, oxidative homeostasis, microbiota-associated immune interactions, and antiviral signaling. This review critically synthesizes current knowledge on VD₃ metabolism and vitamin D receptor (VDR)-mediated signaling in relation to disease resilience in cultured aquatic species, with particular emphasis on antibacterial, antiviral, and functional-feed applications. Across experimental studies, VD₃ supplementation has frequently been associated with enhanced phagocytic activity, lysozyme and complement function, antimicrobial peptide induction, cytokine modulation, and improved mucosal stability. Emerging evidence further implicates VD₃ in type I interferon and JAK–STAT-associated antiviral pathways. However, these responses remain highly variable across species, supplementation doses, developmental stages, and environmental conditions, reflecting substantial biological and methodological heterogeneity. Importantly, the current evidence base is still frequently composed of transcriptomic and short-term laboratory studies with comparatively few studies demonstrating functional validity in form of pathogen-load reduction, histopathological protection, improvement of survival, or production level. The translation value for VD₃ is still not fully understood, although it holds promise for use in integrated functional feed systems. Overall, effective application will depend on species-specific dose optimization, long-term safety assessment, and stronger field-scale validation across diverse aquaculture systems.</p><p>• <i>Vitamin D</i>₃<i> modulate antimicrobial peptides and innate and antibacterial immunity in fish</i>.</p><p>• <i>VD</i>₃<i> activates interferon pathways and strengthens antiviral defenses</i>.</p><p>• <i>Optimal VD</i>₃<i> dosing improves resilience; field validation is needed in aquaculture</i>.</p><p>Vitamin D₃ supports host-directed antimicrobial and antiviral immunity in fish via VDR-mediated immune modulation rather than direct pathogen targeting. Its application as a functional feed additive may contribute to antibiotic-reduced and sustainable aquaculture in a species-dependent manner.</p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13953-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148434914","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":"Cadavers stored under refrigerated conditions as a source of cold-adapted microscopic fungi","authors":"Klaudyna Spychała,&nbsp;Agata Piecuch,&nbsp;Łukasz Szleszkowski,&nbsp;Agata Thannhäuser,&nbsp;Marcin Kadej,&nbsp;Rafał Ogórek","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13958-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13958-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fungi are frequently observed on human remains during decomposition; however, little is known about fungal communities associated with cadavers stored under refrigerated conditions. This study aimed to characterize the cultivable fungal diversity of human cadavers subjected to long-term cold storage and to identify taxa capable of persisting under these conditions. A total of 12 cadavers were examined, including refrigerated cadavers stored at 4 °C, frozen cadavers, and one non-refrigerated comparison case recovered from an indoor environment. Fungi were isolated using culture-based methods and identified using morphological and molecular approaches. The influence of four culture media (Yeast Peptone Glucose – YPG, Potato Dextrose Agar – PDA, Sabouraud agar with glucose – SGA, and Modified Leeming–Notman agar – MLNA) and three incubation temperatures (5, 24, and 37 °C) on fungal recovery was also evaluated. In total, 270 fungal isolates representing 73 species were obtained. The most frequently isolated species were <i>Yarrowia lipolytica</i>, <i>Penicillium crustosum</i>, <i>Debaryomyces hansenii</i>, <i>Penicillium polonicum</i>, and <i>Pseudogymnoascus pannorum</i>. PDA medium and incubation at 24 °C yielded the highest species richness. A negative correlation was observed between fungal species richness and storage time in a cold room. Several fungal taxa were recorded for the first time from human cadavers. These findings provide new baseline data on fungi associated with cold-stored human remains and contribute to the development of forensic and environmental mycology.</p><p>• <i>Fungal species recovered from refrigerated human cadavers.</i></p><p>• <i>Penicillium and yeast species dominated the fungal assemblages.</i></p><p>• <i>Species richness decreased with increasing storage time.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13638924/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148418260","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":"Back to the roots: Cannabis sativa L. root metabolism, microbiomes, and biotechnological potential","authors":"Marta Libik-Konieczny,&nbsp;Natalia Hordyńska-Tomsia,&nbsp;Zofia Mazur,&nbsp;Kamil Zieliński,&nbsp;Mateusz Bibro,&nbsp;Jakub Kurczab,&nbsp;Aneta Gerszberg,&nbsp;Katarzyna Hnatuszko-Konka,&nbsp;Paulina Supel,&nbsp;Piotr Waligórski,&nbsp;Paweł A. Rodziewicz","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13955-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13955-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. roots have been less studied than aboveground organs, despite their key role in plant physiology, metabolism, and interactions with biotic and abiotic factors. Metabolomic and phytochemical analyses reveal that roots synthesize a diverse array of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties, highlighting their biotechnological potential. Root exudation patterns and interactions with endophytic microorganisms modulate rhizosphere microbial networks that support nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, pathogen resistance, and whole-plant physiology. Root-derived phytohormones and other signalling molecules may participate in coordinating biochemical pathways between belowground and aboveground tissues, with potential effects on secondary metabolism in aerial tissues. Recent advances in metabolomics, transcriptomics, microfluidic rhizosphere systems, and root-specific genetic engineering now enable detailed investigation of root metabolism in <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. This review synthesises current knowledge on the metabolic roles of <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. roots, their interactions with the rhizosphere microbiome, and root-derived systemic signalling. It emphasises aspects of root biology that are central to fundamental plant processes and to the development of sustainable strategies for optimising phytochemical yields. By placing roots at the forefront, this synthesis underscores the need to expand research beyond aerial tissues to fully understand and harness the biotechnological potential of <i>Cannabis</i> species.</p><p>• <i>Root metabolism and signalling regulate whole-plant-metabolic pathways</i></p><p>• <i>Root-associated microbiomes influence nutrient dynamics and phytochemical profiles</i></p><p>• <i>Root culture systems provide a scalable platform for biotechnological manipulation aimed at the production of bioactive compounds.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13955-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148418263","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":"Targeted genome editing of the non-model cyanobacterium Cyanothece PCC 7425 via CRISPR/Cas12a","authors":"Monis Athar Khan,&nbsp;Anne Durand,&nbsp;Fériel Skouri-Panet,&nbsp;Karim Benzerara,&nbsp;Corinne Cassier-Chauvat,&nbsp;Franck Chauvat,&nbsp;Soufian Ouchane","doi":"10.1007/s00253-026-13959-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00253-026-13959-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cyanobacteria are diverse photosynthetic microorganisms of great interest for fundamental science and sustainable biotechnological applications. However, their polyploidy makes genetic manipulation challenging and time-consuming. The development of CRISPR/Cas tools has greatly accelerated genome editing and metabolic engineering of some cyanobacterial model species. In this work, we extend the CRISPR/Cas12a system for targeted gene deletion in the non-model cyanobacterium <i>Cyanothece</i> sp. PCC 7425, interesting for its ability to perform intracellular calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) biomineralization, nitrogen fixation, etc. We demonstrate for the first time its tractability to gene knockout by generating deletion mutants of four genes (<i>cax3-cax4</i>, <i>gor</i>, and <i>sodB</i>) acting in metabolism and/or response to stresses, using Cas12a-mediated homologous recombination. Importantly, full chromosome segregation was rapidly achieved after a single round of selection in all cases. All mutants were genotypically and phenotypically characterised. Moreover, biochemical analysis in the case of the <i>ΔsodB</i> mutant further confirmed its targeted deletion. Overall, CRISPR/Cas12a provides a rapid and efficient system for genome editing in <i>Cyanothece</i> sp. PCC 7425, establishing this organism as a versatile model for studying oxidative stress pathways, metal toxicity, and moreover, the still poorly known mechanism(s) of intracellular CaCO₃ biomineralization.</p><p>• <i>Rapid and efficient CRISPR/Cas12a editing established in Cyanothece sp. PCC 7425.</i></p><p>• <i>Fully segregated knockout mutants obtained after a single selection round.</i></p><p>• <i>Platform for exploring the biotechnological potential of Cyanothece sp. PCC 7425.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":8342,"journal":{"name":"Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology","volume":"110 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00253-026-13959-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148418255","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}