Microbiology And Molecular Biology Reviews[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Revisiting cattle respiratory health: key roles of the gut-lung axis in the dynamics of respiratory tract pathobiome.
Wang Y, Malmuthuge N, Yao J … +1 more , Guan LL
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41165307 · Full text
SUMMARYDespite the increasing preventative efforts (vaccines, hygiene, pre-conditioning), respiratory tract (RT) infections pose a significant challenge across mammalian species. Recently, there has been a greater emphas...
SUMMARYDespite the increasing preventative efforts (vaccines, hygiene, pre-conditioning), respiratory tract (RT) infections pose a significant challenge across mammalian species. Recently, there has been a greater emphasis on promoting healthy microbiome colonization to mitigate respiratory infection in humans and livestock species. In livestock animals, especially in cattle, RT microbiome research has mainly focused on characterizing the respiratory tract microbial community in healthy and sick animals, aiming to identify microbiota linked to disease or health status. However, this approach overlooked the dynamics of RT microbiome that comprises commensal opportunistic pathogens (an element of the pathobiome) contributing to the infection and disease pathogenesis. Moreover, there is a lack of attempts to evaluate the interactions among host immunity-microbiome-pathobiome during pathogenesis for the development of successful microbiome-based interventions to improve cattle respiratory health. Recent research has revealed new insights into the gut-lung axis (GLA) and the regulatory role of the gut microbiota in determining host susceptibility or resilience to respiratory infections. Therefore, this review aims to critically discuss the roles of RT microbiome (including pathobiome) and GLA in respiratory health, while elucidating the mechanisms driving the dynamic transition from a commensal state to pathogenic state during microbiome dysbiosis and immune dysregulation, and identifying microbiome targets for RT health improvement.
Reconsidering the blood-brain barrier: histopathology and microanatomy of cryptococcal CNS infection.
Sorrell TC, Davis JM
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41117536 · Full text
SUMMARYMeningoencephalitis is the most severe form of cryptococcal infection. Pathogenic cryptococcal species enter the body primarily via the respiratory system. The central nervous system (CNS) is by far the most commo...
SUMMARYMeningoencephalitis is the most severe form of cryptococcal infection. Pathogenic cryptococcal species enter the body primarily via the respiratory system. The central nervous system (CNS) is by far the most common site of cryptococcal dissemination, despite its reputation as a privileged anatomical space. Results from both and experiments have suggested multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms for entering the CNS, but no single one has been proven responsible for this remarkable neurotropism. While experimental approaches to the problem have centered around a uniform conception of the blood-brain barrier, a review of the histopathological forms of CNS disease shows marked variety in the locations and forms of lesions and their relevant anatomical barriers. Based on the microanatomy, it is likely that the pathway from blood into the CNS differs from lesion type to lesion type. In considering the genesis of cryptococcal CNS infection, we will first summarize cryptococcal virulence determinants of relevance to CNS infection and the conceptualization of the blood-brain barrier, its history, and functions. Next, we will summarize modes of cryptococcal entry through the blood-brain barrier and the interplay between fungal virulence determinants and host factors. We will outline the common histological findings of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis and examine the relevant vascular structures, discussing their implications for mechanisms of dissemination in the context of the vasculature, the host cellular and metabolic environment, and cryptococcal virulence factors in different parts of the CNS. Finally, we will discuss the value of different animal and models of cryptococcal infection and the endothelial glycocalyx, a ubiquitous feature of endothelial surfaces seldom considered in microbial pathogenesis.
Gene regulation in : adaptive control in a dynamic host environment.
Ryan D
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41104934 · Full text
occupies a dynamic position within the human gut. Though it comprises a relatively minor fraction of the gut microbiota, it is disproportionately enriched at extraintestinal sites of infection. This ability to survive in...
occupies a dynamic position within the human gut. Though it comprises a relatively minor fraction of the gut microbiota, it is disproportionately enriched at extraintestinal sites of infection. This ability to survive in contrasting host environments pivots on a regulatory framework that is both modular and highly plastic. Rather than deploying a suite of hierarchical global regulators, employs numerous operon-embedded transcriptional switches, including site-specific DNA inversions, phase-variable epigenetic systems, extracytoplasmic function sigma/anti-sigma factor pairs, and hybrid two-component systems. These networks are further complemented by cis-regulatory elongation checkpoints and post-transcriptional control by small RNAs. This review explores the full spectrum of these regulatory mechanisms, highlighting how they facilitate niche adaptation, surface variation, immune evasion, and metabolic prioritization. It also explores intraspecies variation focusing on glycan metabolism, antibiotic resistance, and virulence. Additionally, it outlines recombination-driven regulation, alongside extracytoplasmic function sigma factor diversification, flexible promoter architecture, and elongation checkpoints, each contributing to the evolution of transcriptional control in . Finally, it outlines unanswered questions, including the largely unexplored sRNA regulon, the coordination of DNA inversions, elongation control, and phase-variable methylation, and proposes experimental strategies to investigate the integration of these regulatory systems during environmental transitions. Taken together, emerges as a model bacterium for studying decentralized gene regulation in complex microbial ecosystems, with implications for both microbial ecology and therapeutic targeting of the gut microbiota.
Deceiving the gatekeepers: virus modulation of gap junctions.
Tishchenko A, Van Raemdonck F, Favoreel HW
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41090915 · Full text
SUMMARYGap junctions (GJs) are specialized intercellular channels that mediate the direct exchange of ions, metabolites, and signaling molecules between adjacent cells, playing essential roles in tissue homeostasis and i...
SUMMARYGap junctions (GJs) are specialized intercellular channels that mediate the direct exchange of ions, metabolites, and signaling molecules between adjacent cells, playing essential roles in tissue homeostasis and immune coordination. Their function is tightly controlled by connexin isoform composition, trafficking and turnover, and post-translational modifications, particularly phosphorylation and ubiquitination. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the diverse strategies employed by DNA and RNA viruses, including members of the , , , , , and families, to modulate gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and the constituent connexin proteins. We highlight mechanisms such as phosphorylation-induced GJ closure and degradation, subcellular mislocalization, and transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of connexin expression. Viral modulation of GJIC serves a variety of purposes, including promoting viral spread, suppressing innate immune responses mediated by the cGAMP/STING pathway, and facilitating oncogenic transformation. Downregulation and/or selective reprogramming of GJIC during viral transformation mirrors changes seen in non-viral cancers, indicating that GJIC manipulation represents a shared mechanism underpinning both viral and non-viral cellular transformation in solid tumors. By integrating findings across diverse virus families, this review underscores GJIC modulation as a central virus-host interaction axis and identifies potential therapeutic targets for modulating GJIC in viral infections.
HIV reservoirs in lymphomagenesis: hidden driver in the era of viral suppression?
Li Y, Xiao Q, Yu F … +1 more , Zhang F
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41055344 · Full text
SUMMARYDespite advancements in antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV (PLWH) remain at high risk of lymphoma. The persistence of HIV reservoirs and their spatial association with lymphoma highlights the need to c...
SUMMARYDespite advancements in antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV (PLWH) remain at high risk of lymphoma. The persistence of HIV reservoirs and their spatial association with lymphoma highlights the need to clarify their role in lymphomagenesis. HIV reservoirs, which are established early during infection and maintained through clonal expansion, epigenetic silencing, and immune evasion, may contribute to lymphomagenesis through four interconnected mechanisms: provirus integration effects, viral protein-mediated disturbances, microenvironment dysregulation, and reservoir reactivation. Current therapeutic approaches that simultaneously target HIV reservoirs and lymphoma-including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors-show promise but face substantial challenges. There is an urgent need to develop accessible strategies that can both eradicate HIV reservoirs and mitigate lymphoma risk. Such efforts may ultimately enable a "double cure" for PLWH with lymphoma, offering new hope against this life-threatening comorbidity. This review summarizes the potential links between HIV reservoirs and HIV-associated lymphoma and outlines emerging therapeutic avenues toward achieving a double cure.
Microbial phenazines: biosynthesis, structural diversity, evolution, regulation, and biological significance.
Mavrodi DV, Blankenfeldt W, Mavrodi OV … +2 more , Weller DM, Thomashow LS
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41031813 · Full text
SUMMARYPhenazines are small, redox-active secondary metabolites produced by various bacterial species. These compounds participate in electron-transfer reactions, aiding microbes in surviving stressful or oxygen-limited...
SUMMARYPhenazines are small, redox-active secondary metabolites produced by various bacterial species. These compounds participate in electron-transfer reactions, aiding microbes in surviving stressful or oxygen-limited environments. In this review, we examine the extensive structural diversity of phenazines and trace the evolutionary history of their biosynthetic pathways, which often move between distantly related species through horizontal gene transfer. We also explore how environmental factors such as nutrient levels and cell-to-cell signaling regulate phenazine production. Beyond their roles in microbial physiology, phenazines influence interactions among organisms, acting as antimicrobial agents, signaling molecules, and factors that shape microbiome dynamics in soils, plant roots, and other habitats. A better understanding of phenazine biology reveals how microbes adapt and thrive in diverse environments and emphasizes the potential applications of these compounds in agriculture and human health.
Genetic and environmental control of parasexual reproduction in the pathogenic species.
Cao C, Tao L, Hu T … +4 more , Chu H, Perry AM, Nobile CJ, Huang G
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 41031812 · Full text
SUMMARY species are major yeast pathogens that cause both mucosal candidiasis and life-threatening invasive infections. Most species, including , have long been thought to be "imperfect" due to the lack of a complete se...
SUMMARY species are major yeast pathogens that cause both mucosal candidiasis and life-threatening invasive infections. Most species, including , have long been thought to be "imperfect" due to the lack of a complete sexual reproduction cycle. Since the discovery of the mating type-like locus in in 1999, the regulation of (para)sexual reproduction has been intensively investigated in this organism as well as in several phylogenetically closely related species. The (para)sexual cycle is not only critical for the generation of genetic and phenotypic diversity but is also involved in the regulation of other biological processes, such as morphological transitions, biofilm development, and virulence in pathogenic fungi. In this review article, we focus on the unique characteristics and genetic and environmental regulatory mechanisms of parasexual reproduction in the pathogenic species. We discuss the relationship between the white-opaque switching and mating in the species, particularly in . We describe recent findings on environmental factors, genetic regulators, and key signaling pathways involved in sexual mating in and related species. Finally, we discuss the mating potential and associated regulatory machinery in several species, where parasexual reproduction has not been observed and bring to light some open-ended questions regarding the unique features of parasexual reproduction that should be addressed in future studies in the field.
Prions and protein aggregates as pathogens, self-propagating structures, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets.
Caughey B, Artikis E, Shoup D … +7 more , Orrú CD, Alam P, Parveen S, King S, Soukup J, Hughson AG, Priola SA
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 40996260 · Full text
SUMMARYMany mammalian diseases appear to be caused primarily by the abnormal accumulation of self-propagating assemblies of specific host proteins such as Aβ and tau in Alzheimer's disease, α-synuclein (aSyn) in Parkinso...
SUMMARYMany mammalian diseases appear to be caused primarily by the abnormal accumulation of self-propagating assemblies of specific host proteins such as Aβ and tau in Alzheimer's disease, α-synuclein (aSyn) in Parkinson's disease, and prion protein (PrP) in classical prion diseases. Most proteinopathies involve a prion-like spreading of the aggregates from localized sites of initiation within the host and, sometimes, between individuals. Often, the pathological assemblies take the form of amyloid fibrils, the cores of many of which have been solved by cryo-electron microscopy, revealing disease-specific, strain-like conformers of the given protein. Amyloids grow via seeded polymerization, a mechanism that is being widely exploited to develop ultrasensitive and specific amplification assays for pathological seeds as biomarkers. Such assays can aid fundamental research, diagnostics, prognostics, and clinical trials for multiple proteinopathies that have been challenging to diagnose and treat. Here, we review the structural biology, transmissibilities, spreading mechanisms, and detection of proteopathic aggregates as well as therapeutic approaches to limiting their accumulation.
Y-box binding proteins in immunity and RNA virus infection.
Strilets T, Garcia-Blanco MA
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 40985650 · Full text
Y-box binding proteins (YBXs) are abundant and conserved nucleic acid-binding proteins that interact with cellular and viral RNAs to modify their stability, localization, and translation. In this review, we summarize the...
Y-box binding proteins (YBXs) are abundant and conserved nucleic acid-binding proteins that interact with cellular and viral RNAs to modify their stability, localization, and translation. In this review, we summarize the biochemical activities and biological functions of the three human YBX paralogs. Furthermore, we highlight features of RNAs bound by YBXs, including sequence motifs, modifications, and secondary structures. We hypothesize how these features are cooperatively used by YBXs for paralog-specific recognition of RNA targets. Furthermore, we discuss the interactions of YBXs with cellular non-coding RNAs known to be associated with autoimmune diseases. We postulate on how YBXs may interact with these RNAs to maintain cellular homeostasis and prevent aberrant immune activation. Finally, we summarize the roles of YBXs in the life cycles of pathogenic RNA viruses and propose the use of RNA viruses as a valuable tool to dissect unresolved questions in YBX biology.
Archaeal RNA processing and regulation: expanding the functional landscape.
Liang Y, Qi W, Dong X … +1 more , Li J
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 40985649 · Full text
SUMMARYRNA processing governs RNA function and gene regulation across all domains of life. In Archaea, recent advances in transcriptomics, genetics, and structural biology have uncovered a strikingly complex landscape of...
SUMMARYRNA processing governs RNA function and gene regulation across all domains of life. In Archaea, recent advances in transcriptomics, genetics, and structural biology have uncovered a strikingly complex landscape of RNA processing and regulation. This review provides an up-to-date and comprehensive synthesis of archaeal RNA biology, covering the processing of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and small noncoding RNAs, including C/D box and H/ACA box sRNAs, SRP RNA, and CRISPR RNAs, as well as emerging insights into mRNA processing and decay. We emphasize the growing knowledge of regulatory sRNAs, including tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), which introduce new layers of archaeal RNA-based gene control. We also describe the roles of key ribonucleases and RNA chaperones in coordinating RNA processing and post-transcriptional control. These discoveries expand our understanding of how archaea employ RNA-centric strategies to orchestrate gene expression with remarkable specificity and adaptability. By integrating mechanistic insights with evolutionary context, this review provides a new framework for understanding archaeal RNA biology and its relevance to the modular evolution of RNA-based regulation. We also identify major knowledge gaps and propose future research priorities, emphasizing the potential of next-generation approaches to drive the next wave of discovery.
The symbiosis: a binary vertebrate model for host-microbe interactions.
Osland HK, Gould AL
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 40970734 · Full text
SUMMARYAs microbial communities are increasingly recognized as central to animal development and health, simplified animal models have become valuable tools for exploring the complex dynamics of these interactions. The m...
SUMMARYAs microbial communities are increasingly recognized as central to animal development and health, simplified animal models have become valuable tools for exploring the complex dynamics of these interactions. The mutualism between siphonfish ( spp.) and the bioluminescent bacterium offers a naturally occurring, binary, gut-associated symbiosis within a vertebrate host that is a promising system for investigating host-microbe interactions. Over the past decade, the application of genomic, ecological, and microbiological approaches has revealed high levels of strain-level variation within this highly specific and stable symbiosis, highlighting its value for exploring host control and microbial diversity in vertebrate systems. These discoveries demonstrate the potential of the system as a powerful model for investigating how vertebrate hosts regulate and maintain long-term bacterial associations, particularly within gut-associated partnerships, as well as the eco-evolutionary processes that shape these relationships. This review aims to consolidate recent findings, evaluate their broader implications for vertebrate-microbe interactions, and propose future directions for research using this association as a model system.
Microbial plastic degradation: enzymes, pathways, challenges, and perspectives.
Pérez-García P, Sass K, Wongwattanarat S … +12 more , Amann J, Feuerriegel G, Neumann T, Bäse N, Schmitz LS, Dierkes RF, Gurschke MF, Wypych A, Bounabi H, de Divitiis M, Vollstedt C, Streit WR
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 40970732 · Full text
SUMMARYSynthetic polymers have transformed modern life, giving rise to a wide spectrum of versatile materials commonly known as plastics. They are essential to industries including packaging, medical devices, automotive,...
SUMMARYSynthetic polymers have transformed modern life, giving rise to a wide spectrum of versatile materials commonly known as plastics. They are essential to industries including packaging, medical devices, automotive, textiles, and many consumer goods. However, significant environmental challenges have emerged because of the same properties that make plastics so useful. Of the estimated 400-450 million tons (Mt) of plastics produced each year, nearly 80 percent end up in the environment. Many of these plastics will persist in nature for hundreds or even thousands of years because they are mostly not biodegradable or poorly biodegradable. The identification of polymer-active microorganisms and enzymes that target most fossil fuel-based plastics is one of the greatest challenges microbiologists are facing today. Currently, more than 255 functionally verified plastic-active enzymes from more than 11 microbial phyla are known. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the microbial pathways and enzymes involved in the degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA) oligomers, ester-based polyurethane (PUR), and polycarbonates (PC), as well as some of the most widely used bioplastics. We also highlight the challenges microbiologists face in identifying microorganisms acting on highly persistent commodity polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ether-based PUR, PA, polystyrene (PS), epoxy resins, and synthetic rubber (SR), for which no truly efficient degraders are currently known. We highlight methods used to discover novel microorganisms and enzymes involved in biodegradation and measure and quantify their activities. Finally, we will review the biotechnological applications of microbial-driven plastics recycling.
Spatially structured models of viral dynamics: a scoping review.
Williams T, McCaw JM, Osborne JM
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 40956089 · Full text
SUMMARYThere is growing recognition in both the experimental and modeling literature of the importance of spatial structure to the dynamics of viral infections within the host. Aided by the evolution of computing power a...
SUMMARYThere is growing recognition in both the experimental and modeling literature of the importance of spatial structure to the dynamics of viral infections within the host. Aided by the evolution of computing power and motivated by recent biological insights, there has been an explosion of new, spatially explicit models for within-host viral dynamics in recent years. This development has only been accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Spatially structured models offer improved biological realism and can account for dynamics that cannot be well-described by conventional, mean-field approaches. However, despite their growing popularity, spatially structured models of viral dynamics are underused in biological applications. One major obstacle to the wider application of such models is the huge variety in approaches taken, with little consensus as to which features should be included and how they should be implemented for a given biological context. Previous reviews of the field have focused on specific modeling frameworks or on models for particular viral species. Here, we instead apply a scoping review approach to the literature of spatially structured viral dynamics models as a whole to provide an exhaustive update of the state of the field. Our analysis is structured along two axes, methodology and viral species, in order to examine the breadth of techniques used and the requirements of different biological applications. We then discuss the contributions of mathematical and computational modeling to our understanding of key spatially structured aspects of viral dynamics and suggest key themes for future model development to improve robustness and biological utility.
Neurotransmitter signaling in molecular and behavioral immune responses to pathogens in .
Otarigho B, Aballay A
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Dec · PMID 40932387 · Full text
SUMMARYNeurotransmitter signaling pathways play major roles in both molecular and behavioral defenses against pathogen invasion, shaping the ability of to sense and respond to environmental challenges. Given the conserv...
SUMMARYNeurotransmitter signaling pathways play major roles in both molecular and behavioral defenses against pathogen invasion, shaping the ability of to sense and respond to environmental challenges. Given the conservation of neurotransmitter signaling pathways, their understanding may not only provide insights into the neurobiology of but also has broader implications for our understanding of neural-immune interactions and host defense mechanisms in higher organisms. In this review, we discussed the literature on various neurotransmitter signaling pathways, including serotonergic, dopaminergic/octopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic pathways, and how these pathways modulate molecular and behavioral immune defense against pathogens.
Peptidoglycan polymerase function and regulation.
Terrak M, Kerff F
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Sep · PMID 40879381 · Full text
SUMMARYMost bacterial species possess two distinct types of glycosyltransferases (GTases or GTs), each with unique structural folds, which catalyze the addition of lipid II monomers to the anomeric reducing end of a grow...
SUMMARYMost bacterial species possess two distinct types of glycosyltransferases (GTases or GTs), each with unique structural folds, which catalyze the addition of lipid II monomers to the anomeric reducing end of a growing glycan chain, ultimately forming β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These bonds link the GlcNAc-MurNAc-peptide disaccharide subunits of the peptidoglycan (PG) polymer. The first type belongs to the carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZy) GT51 family, which includes a lysozyme-like domain typically associated with a transpeptidase domain in bifunctional class A penicillin-binding proteins (aPBPs) and is occasionally found as a monofunctional GTase in certain bacteria. The second type, a C1-type GTase from the CAZy GT119 family, has a distinctly different structural fold and is composed of polytopic membrane proteins. These proteins also belong to the SEDS (shape, elongation, division, and sporulation) family and are characterized by 10 transmembrane segments and a large extracellular loop. In a single bacterial cell, multiple representatives of each family (aPBPs and SEDS) are typically present, often performing semi-redundant or distinct physiological functions. This review focuses on the structure-activity relationship of these two crucial PG GTases, the coordination between their GTase and the transpeptidase activities, and the regulatory mechanisms controlling these enzymes during cell growth and division within the elongasome and divisome complexes.
Molecular pathogenesis of infection in human volunteers.
Spinola SM, Fortney KR, Ofner S … +3 more , Gebregziabher N, Brothwell JA, Katz BP
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Sep · PMID 40844291 · Full text
SUMMARY is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that forms a distinct lineage with and within the causes chancroid, which is characterized by painful genital ulcers (GU) and inguinal lymphadenitis, and facilitates the transm...
SUMMARY is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that forms a distinct lineage with and within the causes chancroid, which is characterized by painful genital ulcers (GU) and inguinal lymphadenitis, and facilitates the transmission of HIV. Although once thought to be exclusively sexually transmitted, is now recognized as a major cause of non-sexually transmitted cutaneous ulcers (CU) on the lower legs of children who live in yaws-endemic areas. Due to the impact of chancroid on global health, the lack of human specimens, and the need to understand pathogenesis, in 1993, we developed a model in which healthy adult volunteers are infected on the skin overlying the deltoid with the GU strain 35000HP and its isogenic mutants. This review summarizes 31 years of clinical experience with inoculating 429 unique participants and the behavior of strain 35000HP in the model. We examine sex and host effects on the outcome of initial inoculations and the results of second challenges of 53 participants, which together indicate that there is differential host susceptibility to infection, and explore the immunological basis for this phenomenon. We describe the evaluation of candidate bacterial virulence determinants in disease as determined in 38 mutant vs. parent comparison trials and the identification of potential vaccine candidates, which may be needed to control CU. We provide aggregate information on adverse events so that others can replicate this model. This review should also serve as a template for the ethical development of additional human infection models.
Shiga toxin-producing , food contamination, and bacteriophages as a control strategy.
Juarez AE, Krüger A, Lucchesi PMA
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Sep · PMID 40838716 · Full text
SUMMARYShiga toxin-producing (STEC) strains cause diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. HUS is a severe systemic illness that can affect individuals of all ages, especially childr...
SUMMARYShiga toxin-producing (STEC) strains cause diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. HUS is a severe systemic illness that can affect individuals of all ages, especially children. There is no specific treatment for HUS, and interventions consist of supportive therapy. STEC infections occur worldwide, and severe illness may occur in sporadic cases or outbreaks. In 2023, STEC was the third most frequently reported zoonotic agent detected in foodborne outbreaks in the EU. In this manuscript, we have focused on STEC reservoirs, STEC contamination of foods, source attribution of STEC infections, and current discussions about the pathogenic potential of STEC strains present in foods. Considering that food contamination with STEC represents a serious threat to public health, that preventive strategies for STEC infection are critical, and natural antimicrobials have gained increasing interest, we also present thoroughly revised information about bacteriophages as a strategy for STEC control. We also discussed the main aspects of the performance of commercial and non-commercial bacteriophages on foods artificially contaminated with STEC.
Cellular protein quality control in viral myocarditis: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implication.
Mohamud Y, Lin JC, Hwang SW … +2 more , Bahreyni A, Luo H
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Sep · PMID 40833122 · Full text
SUMMARYViral myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the myocardium caused by viral infections, poses a significant global health concern, particularly in young adults and children. This condition often progresses to dil...
SUMMARYViral myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the myocardium caused by viral infections, poses a significant global health concern, particularly in young adults and children. This condition often progresses to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure, underscoring the urgent need for a deeper understanding of its underlying mechanisms. Central to its pathogenesis is the disruption of protein quality control (PQC) system, which is essential for maintaining cardiac proteostasis under both physiological and pathological conditions. This system, comprising molecular chaperones, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and autophagy pathways, collectively ensures cellular homeostasis. In viral myocarditis, viral replication and host immune responses impose substantial stress on cardiomyocytes, overwhelming the PQC mechanisms. Consequently, misfolded and aggregated proteins, as well as damaged organelles, accumulate, further aggravating myocardial injury. Notably, while PQC pathways play a critical role in limiting viral replication and protecting cardiomyocytes, viruses can subvert these systems to enhance their own replication and provoke maladaptive responses, thereby worsening cardiac injury. This review summarizes current knowledge on the complex interplay between PQC system and viral myocarditis, highlights key knowledge gaps, and discusses potential therapeutic strategies to preserve cardiac function and improve clinical outcomes.
Computational function prediction of bacteria and phage proteins.
Grigson SR, Bouras G, Dutilh BE … +2 more , Olson RD, Edwards RA
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Sep · PMID 40824055 · Full text
SUMMARYUnderstanding protein functions is crucial for interpreting microbial life; however, reliable function annotation remains a major challenge in computational biology. Despite significant advances in bioinformatics...
SUMMARYUnderstanding protein functions is crucial for interpreting microbial life; however, reliable function annotation remains a major challenge in computational biology. Despite significant advances in bioinformatics methods, ~30% of all bacterial and ~65% of all bacteriophage (phage) protein sequences cannot be confidently annotated. In this review, we examine state-of-the-art bioinformatics tools and methodologies for annotating bacterial and phage proteins, particularly those of unknown or poorly characterized function. We describe the process of identifying protein-coding regions and the systems to classify protein functionalities. Additionally, we explore a range of protein annotation methods, from traditional homology-based methods to cutting-edge machine learning models. In doing so, we provide a toolbox for confidently annotating previously unknown bacterial and phage proteins, advancing the discovery of novel functions and our understanding of microbial systems.
How fungi see the world: fungal photoreceptors and their role in the regulation of fungal biology.
Corrochano LM, Gutiérrez G, Corrochano-Luque M … +2 more , Franco-Cano A, Cánovas D
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev · 2025 Sep · PMID 40788010 · Full text
SUMMARYFungi use light as a signal for the regulation of development, to guide the growth of reproductive structures, and to protect the fungal cell from DNA damage produced by light and UV radiation. Light perception re...
SUMMARYFungi use light as a signal for the regulation of development, to guide the growth of reproductive structures, and to protect the fungal cell from DNA damage produced by light and UV radiation. Light perception requires the activity of photoreceptors that relay the light signal through transduction pathways into the cellular response. Fungi can see and react to a wide range of colors, but most fungi use blue light as their primary signal to regulate its photobiology. Examples of fungal perception of UV, green, and red light, like plants, have been documented and, in most cases, the photoreceptors responsible for these responses have been identified. Blue light is perceived through the activity of light-regulated transcription factors, the WC proteins, first identified in . Red light is perceived by phytochromes, a photoreceptor characterized in detail in . A novel type of rhodopsin, rhodopsin guanylyl cyclase (RGS) has been identified in the zoosporic fungus . These types of photoreceptors, together with the blue-light photoreceptor cryptochrome, are widespread in fungi, suggesting that the ancestor of the fungi could see a wide range of colors. Gene duplication and specialization have allowed specific use of fungal photoreceptors in the regulation of fungal biology.
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