Peng M, Li J, Xu L
… +12 more, Chroumpi T, Garrigues S, Kun RS, Meng J, Aguilar-Pontes MV, Lipzen A, Ng V, Clendinen CS, Tolic N, Baker SE, Grigoriev IV, de Vries RP
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41413899
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Fungal plant biomass conversion (FPBC) is of great importance to the global carbon cycle and has been increasingly applied for the production of biofuel and biochemicals from lignocellulose. However, the comprehensive un...Fungal plant biomass conversion (FPBC) is of great importance to the global carbon cycle and has been increasingly applied for the production of biofuel and biochemicals from lignocellulose. However, the comprehensive understanding of relevant molecular mechanisms in different fungi remains challenging. Here, we comparatively analyzed the transcriptome, proteome and metabolome profile of four ascomycetes and one basidiomycete fungi during their growth on two common agricultural feedstocks (soybean hulls and corn stover). We revealed strong time-, substrate- and species-specific responses at multi-omics levels for the tested fungi, highlighting species-specific carbon utilization approaches and evolutionary adaptation to environmental niches. Notably, a remarkable expressional diversity of lignocellulose degrading enzymes, sugar transporter and metabolic genes, as well as industrially relevant metabolites were identified across different fungi and cultivation conditions. The findings improves our understanding of complex molecular networks underlying FPBC and fungal ecological roles, offering novel insights that can guide future genetic engineering of fungi for valorization of agriculture waste into value-added bioproducts.
Gomes-Gonçalves A, Van Genechten W, Ataíde P
… +8 more, Barata-Antunes C, Ghasemi F, Casal M, Teixeira MC, Ariño J, Brown AJP, Van Dijck P, Paiva S
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41400135
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Candida albicans is a fungal commensal of humans that often causes mucosal infections in otherwise healthy individuals and also serious infections in immunocompromised patients. The capacity of this fungus to colonize an...Candida albicans is a fungal commensal of humans that often causes mucosal infections in otherwise healthy individuals and also serious infections in immunocompromised patients. The capacity of this fungus to colonize and cause disease relies on its ability to grow within the host, adapting to various nutrient restrictions and physicochemical conditions. The presence of alternative carbon sources, such as the lactate produced by the local microbiota, influences C. albicans antifungal drug resistance and immune evasion. In this study, we used genome-wide transcriptomic analysis to investigate the effect of lactate exposure upon metabolic rewiring. We provide evidence that C. albicans cells respond to growth in the presence of lactate at pH 5 by regulating genes encoding micronutrient transporters, notably iron transporters. More specifically, lactate triggers the downregulation of genes on the reductive iron uptake pathway, inferring a diminished requirement for high-affinity iron uptake. This is supported by the observation that lactate promotes the intracellular accumulation of iron by C. albicans cells. Lactate even enhances the growth of iron-transport defective C. albicans cells under iron-limited conditions. Lactate is known to activate protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. However, lactate-induced iron assimilation is PKA-independent. This study provides new insights into the role of lactate in iron homeostasis-two important factors that promote C. albicans virulence in the mammalian host, where nutritional immunity is a key antimicrobial strategy.
Song Y, Kjellander C, Robinson W
… +3 more, Öhrmalm L, Giske C, Gyarmati P
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41399017
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Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a severe and often fatal condition, and a major cause of mortality in patients with hematological malignancies due to underlying conditions and anticancer therapy-induced immunodeficiency....Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a severe and often fatal condition, and a major cause of mortality in patients with hematological malignancies due to underlying conditions and anticancer therapy-induced immunodeficiency. Rapid identification of the causative pathogens is essential as BSI results in worsened prognosis, extended hospitalization, delays or dose reductions in therapy, and may progress to sepsis and septic shock if untreated. Shotgun metagenomics is a culture-independent technique capable of detecting a wide range of fungal, viral, and bacterial organisms along with their antimicrobial resistance genes. Several studies showed that shotgun metagenomics enables the diagnosis of BSI, specifically in cases where conventional methods/culture-dependent techniques fail to identify the causative pathogens. However, evaluation of the accuracy of the applied bioinformatics pipelines remains incomplete. This study aimed to compare and optimize four commonly used bioinformatics pipelines (BLAST, Kraken, Metaphlan, RTG Core) for shotgun metagenomics by assessing their accuracy in identifying pathogens in blood samples from patients with hematological malignancies and suspected BSI, with blood culture serving as the reference standard. Our work shows that the selection of bioinformatics pipelines for diagnosing BSI strongly affects the precision of the findings, and an optimized BLAST pipeline was superior to the alternatives, as it was the only method that accurately identified the causative pathogens.
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41384462
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Detecting pathogens in environmental samples using molecular-based technologies can be challenging, particularly in low biomass environments or where pathogens represent a low percentage of the community. Multiple displa...Detecting pathogens in environmental samples using molecular-based technologies can be challenging, particularly in low biomass environments or where pathogens represent a low percentage of the community. Multiple displacement amplification (MDA) is a whole genome amplification (WGA) method that has been developed for low biomass samples. However, there is a lack of information on how MDA could improve PCR and sequence-based detection and genomic characterization of pathogens in challenging environmental samples. In this study, MDA was evaluated on low template samples of the Salmonella LT2 isolate, a foodborne and waterborne environmental pathogen. MDA was also evaluated on a variety of low template mixed-microbial mock, environmental communities containing a range of Salmonella genome percentages to simulate different levels of Salmonella in the environment. Using MDA starting inputs of 1.8 × 10-1.8 × 10 Salmonella LT2 genome copies, > 99% of the Salmonella genome was recovered following MDA at > 16X depth of coverage from as few as 500,000 merged, 250 bp paired-end reads. For the mock microbial communities, moderately high levels of genome abundance distortion were evident following MDA across all communities when compared to the expected compositions, which could not be attributed to either genome size or GC content alone. Overall, MDA may provide a useful method for increasing Salmonella detection sensitivity in low target environmental samples where downstream selective targeted applications such as real-time PCR or targeted amplicon sequencing are used, but MDA may not be appropriate for identification and detection of Salmonella when using untargeted, metagenomic sequencing.
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41384457
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Patients in intensive care units, especially those immunocompromised, are prone to opportunistic infections, such as respiratory and urinary tract infections. Extended antibiotic use disrupts the production of microbiome...Patients in intensive care units, especially those immunocompromised, are prone to opportunistic infections, such as respiratory and urinary tract infections. Extended antibiotic use disrupts the production of microbiome-derived metabolites, including those involved in colonization resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is known for its multidrug resistance. Hence, prior antibiotic treatment has been shown to increase susceptibility to P. aeruginosa infection, but the role of microbiota-derived metabolic cues in this context is still elusive. This study investigates how tryptophan metabolites from the indigenous microbiota affect P. aeruginosa virulence. In vitro tests on motility, biofilm production, and pigment quantification (pyocyanin and pyoverdine) were performed on P. aeruginosa strains (PAO1, PA103, PA14) and clinical isolates. Additionally, gene expression related to virulence was analyzed, and the effects of tryptophan metabolites on experimental lung infection in mice were evaluated. Indole, indoleacetic acid (IAA), and indoleacrylic acid (IA) reduced motility and pigment production. IAA and indole promoted biofilm formation, with indole having a stronger effect. Clinical isolates showed significant phenotypic diversity, and IAA was more effective at inhibiting virulence traits than indole or IA. Mice infected with bacteria grown in the presence of IAA had lower lethality and fewer polymorphonuclear leukocyte influx compared to the control group. This suggests that tryptophan metabolites, especially IAA, can modulate P. aeruginosa virulence and may help control infection progression.
Moran M, Turner H, Yanchar J
… +3 more, Preece J, Ahlborn G, Robison R
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41381995
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The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among clinically significant pathogens necessitates the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. This study investigated 29 Bacillus and Paenibacillus isolates from the...The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among clinically significant pathogens necessitates the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. This study investigated 29 Bacillus and Paenibacillus isolates from the soil for antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant clinical pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). In both agar- and broth-based antimicrobial assays, Paenibacillus profundus strains 7.5 and M4.5 exhibited potent broad-spectrum activity, including significant inhibition of many CREs. Species identification was performed through 16S rRNA sequencing, and genome mining of three producer strains using antiSMASH revealed biosynthetic gene clusters associated with a variety of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), polyketide synthases (PKSs), and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). While many of these clusters were not associated with known antimicrobial compounds, several of them displayed high similarity to known compounds such as polymyxin B, paenilan, colistin, and paenibacterin. These findings reinforce numerous previous studies highlighting the potential of soil-derived Bacillus and Paenibacillus species as valuable sources of novel antimicrobials to address the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
He C, Chen J, Tian R
… +5 more, Zeng X, Han Q, Jiang C, Zou J, Yu T
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41381403
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Fungal colonization is a known carcinogenic accomplice in lung and colon cancer but has not been implicated in breast cancer. Here, we attempt to explore the mechanism behind fungal colonization and carcinogenesis by Mal...Fungal colonization is a known carcinogenic accomplice in lung and colon cancer but has not been implicated in breast cancer. Here, we attempt to explore the mechanism behind fungal colonization and carcinogenesis by Malassezia globosa in breast cancer. To begin with, we found an increased abundance of the fungus in tumor tissues of breast cancer patients and the fungal inhibitor Amphotericin-B impeded tumor growth in patient-derived breast cancer xenograft models. On the other hand, Malassezia globosa enhanced the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of breast cancer cells, and facilitated tumor growth in vivo. The positive effect of Malassezia globosa on tumor growth occurred via M2 macrophage polarization resulting in the activation of the pro-inflammatory MBL-C3a-C3aR signaling cascade which was reversed with the knockout of MBL expression. The proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of breast cancer cells were enhanced by culture medium from Malassezia globosa-treated THP-1 cells, which were rescued by a C3aR antagonist. In conclusion, Malassezia globosa activates MBL-C3a-C3aR signaling to trigger M2 macrophage polarization, promoting breast cancer progression and this study unravels a novel paradigm for breast cancer treatment.
Vvedenskii AV, Ivkina AS, Konanov DN
… +3 more, Savinova TA, Fedorova LS, Ilina EN
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41369020
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model organism for biofilm formation research, as it forms biofilms under diverse environmental conditions. At the same time, numerous studies have reported impaired-biofilm formation in clini...Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model organism for biofilm formation research, as it forms biofilms under diverse environmental conditions. At the same time, numerous studies have reported impaired-biofilm formation in clinical isolates; however, the genetic basis of these impairments remains unexplored. In this study, we assessed the ability of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates from a laboratory collection to form biofilms. Among these isolates, three demonstrated biofilm formation impairment. A comparative genomic analysis revealed genetic determinants associated with biofilm formation impairment, including mutations in the pelA and fleQ genes, and psl operon deletion. Interestingly, the identified loss-of-function mutations in regulatory genes involved in biofilm formation did not appear to affect the ability to form biofilms.
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41366878
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Tomatoes are produced worldwide, and in South Africa, they are cultivated in all provinces. The most destructive tomato diseases are bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas spp., and bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia sola...Tomatoes are produced worldwide, and in South Africa, they are cultivated in all provinces. The most destructive tomato diseases are bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas spp., and bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. Over the years, different strategies have been employed to control tomato disease. The disadvantage of chemical pesticides is that they alter microbial communities and sometimes remain on food commodities. Recently, studies have been conducted on biological control agents in the hope of eventually replacing the use of chemical pesticides. Some studies have discovered potential biological control agents for bacterial diseases. Better insight into host-pathogen interaction will help develop better disease management strategies. This review provides insights into plant diseases caused by Ralstonia and Xanthomonas and how they are managed.
de Souza HCA, Panzenhagen P, Dos Santos AMP
… +3 more, Portes AB, Almeida ACO, Conte Junior CA
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41366877
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Plasmids play an essential role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by facilitating the horizontal transfer of resistance genes between bacterial environments. However, large-scale investigations into the ass...Plasmids play an essential role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by facilitating the horizontal transfer of resistance genes between bacterial environments. However, large-scale investigations into the association between plasmid incompatibility groups (Inc groups) and specific resistance profiles remain limited. In this study, we analyzed 28,047 plasmid sequences from publicly available whole-genome sequencing data sets, identifying incompatibility groups in 11,288 plasmids using in silico replicon typing. Our results revealed that the majority of plasmids harbored a single replicon, while a substantial fraction carried multiple replicons, predominantly two. We evaluated the relationship between plasmid replicon spillovers and their role in the spread of resistance genes. Our results revealed that plasmids with five replicons have a significantly higher resistance potential (60%) compared to plasmids with fewer replicons, decreasing their adaptability and propensity for cointegration, which facilitates horizontal gene transfer. Among the resistance-associated plasmids, the IncF, IncI, and IncH families were predominant and acted as effective carriers of resistance genes. Comparative analyses between resistant and non-resistant plasmids did not reveal a clear visual pattern of association between the most prevalent Inc groups and specific antimicrobial classes, indicating that such relationships are shaped by contextual factors, including selective instructions, bacterial host diversity, and distribution. These findings highlight the complexity of the spread of plasmid-mediated AMR and highlight the need for integrated genomic and epidemiological approaches to better understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics that influence the spread of resistance genes.
Balasis S, Papageorgiou K, Georgiou S
… +5 more, Kolonitsiou F, Giormezis N, Kyriakopoulos A, Oikonomou C, Papageorgiou GF
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41364585
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Multi-Resistant Bacteria (MRB) is a threatening biomedical problem, whose solution is of paramount importance. Due to the antibiotics resistance there is an emerging need for novel treatment strategies and protocolls. As...Multi-Resistant Bacteria (MRB) is a threatening biomedical problem, whose solution is of paramount importance. Due to the antibiotics resistance there is an emerging need for novel treatment strategies and protocolls. As bacteria tolerance in modern chemotherapeytic agents expands, the introduction of alternative methods is fundamental. The use of High voltage Electric Pulses, through a process known as Irreversible Electroporation (IRE), is an effective alternative bacterial control method. This paper describes a new prototype high voltage nanosecond pulser and validates its effectiveness in the in-vitro growth inhibition of a clinical resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain. Radiofrequency (RF) pulses of 100 ns and 450 ns pulse width and 1 Hz and 1 kHz repetition rate respectively were tested for therapy time in the range of 20-200 s. Increasing the electric field strength up to 11.5 kV/cm and the duration of therapy time up to 200 s results in 3.5 log scale reduction in bacterial cells. Nanosecond electric pulsed fields from our prototype device inhibite S. aureus growth in in-vitro test. It is sugested to test our prototype device in ex-vivo studies and propose a therapeutic protocol for infected skin wounds.
Adeeyo AO, Edokpayi JN, Alabi MA
… +4 more, Oyetade JA, Ubomba-Jaswa E, Jaca P, Makungo R
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41361941
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The complexities of microbial detection and conventional enumeration necessitates the adoption of pragmatic alternatives. This review expands the boundaries of knowledge for microbial detection and sensing, particularly...The complexities of microbial detection and conventional enumeration necessitates the adoption of pragmatic alternatives. This review expands the boundaries of knowledge for microbial detection and sensing, particularly within the field of water quality analysis. Observed alternatives to conventional techniques for microbial analyses in recent studies include Microarray, Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and flow cytometry, while nanosensors stood out as an alternative for microbial detection in real-time. This study presents the limitation of conventional methods of detection in water and presents nanoparticles as a detection agent with possibility of incorporation into point-of-use detection. It is notable that nanosensors are currently emerging in the detection of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens in water and have been used in the detection of bacterial pathogens than viral. Nanosensors are established as good choice for rapid water analysis with application in point-of-use and analytical devices. In the use of nanozymes, the choice over natural enzymes can be linked to their unique and excellent catalytic activities, cost-effectiveness and ease of mass production.
Zheng J, Wang K, He J
… +3 more, Guan Y, Wu Y, Wu J
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41361940
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This study aimed to characterize the biofilm-forming microbial communities on clinically used dental elevators to assess their potential risks of cross-contamination and nosocomial infections resulting from percutaneous...This study aimed to characterize the biofilm-forming microbial communities on clinically used dental elevators to assess their potential risks of cross-contamination and nosocomial infections resulting from percutaneous injuries in dental healthcare settings. Over a period of 3 consecutive weeks starting on August 1, 2024, biofilm samples were collected from the tips of 15 dental elevators used on the first five wisdom teeth extraction patients daily. Total DNA was extracted, and specific barcoded primers were synthesized to construct SMRTbell sequencing libraries, which were subsequently sequenced using the PacBio Sequel II platform. The sequencing generated 923,990 circular consensus sequences (CCS), with an average of 61,599 CCS per sample. Taxonomic annotation revealed a diverse microbial community dominated by genera such as Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus, alongside unclassified taxa from the Candidatus Saccharibacteria (TM7) group. Alpha and beta diversity analyses demonstrated significant variations in microbial composition across samples, highlighting the heterogeneity of biofilm formation, while strong positive correlations observed between specific bacterial genera, such as Bacillus and Paenibacillus, suggested potential co-colonization patterns. These findings underscore the complexity of microbial contamination on dental instruments and emphasize the need for improved sterilization protocols to mitigate infection risks. Consequently, this study provides valuable insights into the microbiological safety of dental practices and highlights the utility of third-generation sequencing in advancing infection control strategies.
Mohammadhosseinzadeh F, Arefian E, Khaleghi M
… +2 more, Keshmiri Neghab H, Kashef N
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41355606
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The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance indicates the need for alternative therapeutic strategies for skin wound infections. While probiotics exhibit potential for developing such alternatives, the majority of an...The increasing problem of antibiotic resistance indicates the need for alternative therapeutic strategies for skin wound infections. While probiotics exhibit potential for developing such alternatives, the majority of antimicrobial studies focus on live cells or lysates and oral delivery. Notably, in dermatology, formulating products with live strains poses technical challenges due to stability issues in water-based systems. Postbiotics, substances made from probiotics, offer a promising, stable, and safe alternative. This study addresses the gap by evaluating the antibacterial potential of cell-free supernatants (CFSs) from six probiotic strains, with a specific focus on Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BGP1, against clinically relevant skin pathogens. CFSs were screened in vitro using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution assays against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA; UTMC 1442), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and P. aeruginosa PAO1. GC-MS analysis was used to identify bioactive compounds in the most promising CFS. Among the tested strains, BGP1 demonstrated both consistent inhibitory (MIC: 6.25 mg/mL) and bactericidal (MBC: 12.5 mg/mL) effects. GC-MS analysis identified palmitic acid (33.24%) and stearic acid (46.45%) as dominant bioactive compounds. These findings provide novel evidence that postbiotic metabolites from L. paracasei BGP1 represent a promising, broad-spectrum, stable, and nonliving candidate to conventional therapies for antibiotic-resistant skin wound infections. Further in vivo research is needed to evaluate their therapeutic potential and formulation in clinical settings.
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41355553
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The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal stability and object-to-skin transferability of the skin virome in a Korean population. Skin virus metagenomes were collected from the anatomical locations (forehe...The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal stability and object-to-skin transferability of the skin virome in a Korean population. Skin virus metagenomes were collected from the anatomical locations (forehead, left hand, and right hand) of eight healthy adults and monitored over 3 months at intervals of 6 weeks. To assess the potential transfer of virome between skin and objects, subjects were instructed to contact four types of objects (cell phones, door handles, fabric, and plastic). Virome samples were then collected from the surfaces of these objects. Viruses were identified using databases and viral annotation bioinformatics tools. Fifteen viral families were consistently found to be stable and well-transmissible across anatomical locations and four types of objects. Furthermore, the presence/absence profiles of 54 viral species belonging to these 15 viral families exhibited significant individual specificity on both the skin (p < 0.01) and the objects handled by each subject (p < 0.05). We confirmed that these 54 viral markers remain stable over time within individuals and are transferable to contacted surfaces. Additionally, we explored the potential of using the virome as an individual identification marker, which may suggest new approaches for forensic applications.
Becerra D, Rodríguez-Caballero G, Marhuenda-Egea FC
… +5 more, Olaya-Abril A, Moreno-Vivián C, Sáez LP, Luque-Almagro VM, Roldán MD
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41355481
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Accumulation of synthetic plastics in the biosphere has led to global pollution, provoking serious consequences for the environment and human health. Uncontrolled agricultural plastic landfills have the risk of becoming...Accumulation of synthetic plastics in the biosphere has led to global pollution, provoking serious consequences for the environment and human health. Uncontrolled agricultural plastic landfills have the risk of becoming a source of agrochemicals and microplastics. Biotechnological approaches to solve plastic pollution include the removal of these polymers through biological degradation, which is a friendly environmental method. The microbial communities colonizing plastic debris (plastisphere) are considered as a potential source of plastic-degrading microorganisms. In this study, a bacterial biodiversity analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene-targeted metagenomic sequencing, was achieved in the plastisphere of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) polymers from an agricultural landfill. The α-diversity analysis did not show significant differences between LDPE and PP plastispheres and the plastic-free bulk soil, while LDPE and PP bacterial communities clustered close, but separately from the bulk soil in a β-diversity analysis. Although the taxonomic composition of both plastispheres was different, they shared a significantly higher proportion of Cyanobacteria and Deinococcota than the bulk soil. Additional analyses showed different indicator families, genera and species that can be associated with plastispheres. A predictive functional analysis suggests that degradation of plastic additives in both plastispheres is probably occurring. In addition, the existence of degradation processes for specific herbicides in each plastisphere is highlighted, and the possible exposure of LDPE to both physical and biological degradation processes is also described. These results will contribute to characterize the soil plastisphere exposed to different environmental conditions, and to understand the specific biological niches where plastic-degrading microorganisms could survive.
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41346294
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Gut microbiota (GM) plays a pivotal role in human health and disease, and its alterations have been implicated in various neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Growing evidence reveals correlations...Gut microbiota (GM) plays a pivotal role in human health and disease, and its alterations have been implicated in various neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Growing evidence reveals correlations between the abundance of specific bacterial taxa and the severity of motor symptoms and intestinal dysfunction in PD. Moreover, bacterial metabolites have been shown to influence α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation and neurodegeneration. This narrative review aims to explore the current understanding of the gut-brain axis in PD, specifically the connection between GM and α-syn function in PD experimental models and patients. Several therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating gut microbiota, such as dietary interventions, fecal microbiota transplantation, and targeted bacterial therapies with the goal of alleviating or preventing PD symptoms, are examined. Understanding the mechanisms through which GM influence neurodegeneration, including inflammation, immune modulation, and microbial metabolite production, offers promising avenues for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiome.
Alam S, Nag SK, S JN
… +5 more, A M, Nair SR, Palanisamy TB, V M, C SD
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41335522
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The red color pigment prodigiosin is a potent antioxidant produced by different strains of Serratia marcescens and other bacteria. The bio pigment demonstrates many hopeful impending bioactivities. Prodigiosin is an acti...The red color pigment prodigiosin is a potent antioxidant produced by different strains of Serratia marcescens and other bacteria. The bio pigment demonstrates many hopeful impending bioactivities. Prodigiosin is an active proapoptotic agent against various cancer cell lines. In the present study, pigment produced from soil isolate Serratia marcescens VITSD2 was characterized and identified using UV, FTIR, GC-MS and NMR analysis (H NMR and C NMR). The antiproliferative activity of prodigiosin pigment from Serratia marcescens VITSD2 was evaluated on cancer cell lines. The active sites and binding patterns of molecular marker survivin was analyzed on docking against prodigiosin.A strong antioxidant potential was noticed at 5 mg/mL concentration with 70 ± 0.08% scavenging activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)-DPPH. The dose dependent inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation was observed maximum with 67 ± 0.08% cytotoxic activity at 50 µg/mL. When compared to other cell lines, A549, HL 60 and MCF-7, prodigiosin had a strong inhibitory activity on HepG2 cells. The Rf value of single band obtained in chromatography showed a value of 0.45. Maximum absorbance was observed at 535 nm. The pigment revealed the characteristic functional properties of the prodigiosin. On docking, the lowest binding energy exhibited was found to be -5.15 kcal/mol. The RMSD analysis indicated that the backbone structure converges at 18 ns before it attains stability. Pigment production from Serratia marcescens VIT SD2 offer a renewable and sustainable alternative to synthetic pigments, reducing dependence on nonrenewable resources. The study outcomes specified that the bio pigment prodigiosin extracted from Serratia marcescens VIT SD2 is a promising drug candidate for therapeutics.
Microbiologyopen
· 2025 Dec · PMID 41328710
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Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was extensively used as a pesticide until the 1990s. It was synthesized by benzene photochlorination, resulting in a mixture of stereoisomers, which included α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH, among other...Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was extensively used as a pesticide until the 1990s. It was synthesized by benzene photochlorination, resulting in a mixture of stereoisomers, which included α-, β-, γ-, and δ-HCH, among others. It was later discovered that only the γ-HCH isomer (also called lindane) had insecticidal properties, so it began to be purified from this mixture, while the remaining HCH isomers (representing around 85%-90% of industrial HCH production) were disposed of in dumpsites, generating environmental issues. Several works have studied microbial-driven biodegradation and physiological responses to γ-HCH, but information concerning the other isomers is scarce. Since previous research showed that the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 is effective at removing lindane; this study focused on its responses to the α-, β-, and δ-HCH isomers. The results showed that Anabaena tolerates α- and γ-HCH well, with little impact on growth, while β- and δ-HCH are more poorly tolerated and negatively affect growth and cell physiology. It was also found that, in the presence of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, both α- and γ-HCH are completely eliminated from supernatants while β- and δ-HCH are partially eliminated. Additionally, the linC gene was found to be expressed at twice the normal level in the presence of α- and γ-HCH at 2 mg/mL. Overall, this study reveals how Anabaena responds to key HCH isomers found in contaminated sites and supports its potential use in bioremediation.