Pub Date : 2026-01-22eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1747006
Kaisar Dauyey, Gulnur Zhunussova, Jamilya Kaibullayeva, Yevgeniya Bondar, Arailym Yerzhan, Aliya Medetbekova, Aliya Kaisina, Alma Khabizhanova, Kanat Seitbekov, Yoshio Yamaoka
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major gastric pathogen and class I carcinogen that causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer if left untreated. However, evidence on H. pylori prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in Kazakhstan, a country with a high gastric cancer burden, remains scarce. This study presents the first culture-based epidemiological investigation of H. pylori at a single center in Almaty.
Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study (2024-2025) of 150 dyspeptic patients in Almaty, Kazakhstan. A subset (n = 148) underwent rapid stool antigen (RAS) testing before gastric biopsy collection. Biopsy samples were cultured, and 86 (57.3%) yielded viable H. pylori isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the agar dilution method was performed on these 86 isolates. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed, and a regional meta-analysis was conducted using data from recent studies across Central Asia and Russia to estimate pooled prevalence and clarithromycin resistance.
Results: Among 148 patients tested by RAS, 137 were positive. Resistance rates among 86 isolates were 87.2% to metronidazole, 33.7% to clarithromycin, and 3.5% to amoxicillin; no resistance was detected to minocycline or sitafloxacin. Multidrug resistance (defined as resistance to two or more antibiotics) was observed in 34.8% of isolates. The pooled H. pylori prevalence across Central Asian studies was 70% (95% CI: 59-80%), and pooled clarithromycin resistance was 29% (95% CI: 10-53%).
Conclusion: This study provides the first culture-based evidence of H. pylori infection and antimicrobial resistance in Kazakhstan. The high resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin suggests a likely lower success of standard triple therapy in Almaty. Absence of resistance to minocycline and sitafloxacin supports their use in rescue regimens. These findings highlight the urgent need for national surveillance, updated treatment guidelines, and integration of molecular resistance monitoring to improve evidence-based management of H. pylori in Central Asia.
{"title":"A single-center culture-based study of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> in Kazakhstan with regional meta-analysis of prevalence and antibiotic resistance.","authors":"Kaisar Dauyey, Gulnur Zhunussova, Jamilya Kaibullayeva, Yevgeniya Bondar, Arailym Yerzhan, Aliya Medetbekova, Aliya Kaisina, Alma Khabizhanova, Kanat Seitbekov, Yoshio Yamaoka","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1747006","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1747006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) is a major gastric pathogen and class I carcinogen that causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer if left untreated. However, evidence on <i>H. pylori</i> prevalence and antimicrobial resistance in Kazakhstan, a country with a high gastric cancer burden, remains scarce. This study presents the first culture-based epidemiological investigation of <i>H. pylori</i> at a single center in Almaty.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional study (2024-2025) of 150 dyspeptic patients in Almaty, Kazakhstan. A subset (<i>n</i> = 148) underwent rapid stool antigen (RAS) testing before gastric biopsy collection. Biopsy samples were cultured, and 86 (57.3%) yielded viable <i>H. pylori</i> isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the agar dilution method was performed on these 86 isolates. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed, and a regional meta-analysis was conducted using data from recent studies across Central Asia and Russia to estimate pooled prevalence and clarithromycin resistance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 148 patients tested by RAS, 137 were positive. Resistance rates among 86 isolates were 87.2% to metronidazole, 33.7% to clarithromycin, and 3.5% to amoxicillin; no resistance was detected to minocycline or sitafloxacin. Multidrug resistance (defined as resistance to two or more antibiotics) was observed in 34.8% of isolates. The pooled <i>H. pylori</i> prevalence across Central Asian studies was 70% (95% CI: 59-80%), and pooled clarithromycin resistance was 29% (95% CI: 10-53%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides the first culture-based evidence of <i>H. pylori</i> infection and antimicrobial resistance in Kazakhstan. The high resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin suggests a likely lower success of standard triple therapy in Almaty. Absence of resistance to minocycline and sitafloxacin supports their use in rescue regimens. These findings highlight the urgent need for national surveillance, updated treatment guidelines, and integration of molecular resistance monitoring to improve evidence-based management of <i>H. pylori</i> in Central Asia.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"17 ","pages":"1747006"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872794/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1729243
Jonah M Moon, M Mozammel Hoque, Dana Ronin, Parisa Noorian, Joyce To, Scott A Rice, Diane McDougald, Gustavo Espinoza-Vergara
In the environment, Vibrio cholerae employs multiple strategies to resist predation by heterotrophic protozoa. For example, V. cholerae biofilms release toxic compounds, such as ammonium and pyomelanin, which can kill protists, such as Tetrahymena pyriformis. V. cholerae has also been shown to survive intracellularly and can escape as viable cells inside protozoan-expelled food vacuoles (EFVs). We previously reported that V. cholerae encased in EFVs are hyperinfectious, establishing an important link between anti-protozoal strategies and bacterial virulence. Although the intracellular resistance and escape of V. cholerae in EFVs have been reported, the molecular mechanisms behind this remain poorly understood. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomics of V. cholerae exposed to T. pyriformis and captured a total of 5,344 bacterial cells with heterogeneous gene expression. Cells with the same pattern of gene expression were grouped, resulting in 11 clusters of cells with a unique gene expression profile. Genes encoding outer membrane proteins, F1F0-Na+/H+ ATPase, metabolites, and toxins showed differential expression among the clusters. Furthermore, the motility-associated killing factor (Mak) toxins were differentially expressed. The V. cholerae mutants ΔmakA, ΔmakB, and ΔmakE were not capable of killing T. pyriformis, and ΔmakA and ΔmakE showed reduced survival inside EFVs compared to the wild type. These findings identify Mak toxins as key mediators of V. cholerae resistance to protozoan grazing and survival within EFVs. More broadly, our results provide mechanistic insight into grazing resistance, reveal factors facilitating persistence in EFVs, and underscore the interplay between environmental survival strategies and virulence in pathogenic bacteria.
{"title":"Single-cell RNA-seq reveals a key role for <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> Mak toxins in <i>Tetrahymena pyriformis</i> killing and bacterial survival.","authors":"Jonah M Moon, M Mozammel Hoque, Dana Ronin, Parisa Noorian, Joyce To, Scott A Rice, Diane McDougald, Gustavo Espinoza-Vergara","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1729243","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1729243","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the environment, <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> employs multiple strategies to resist predation by heterotrophic protozoa. For example, <i>V. cholerae</i> biofilms release toxic compounds, such as ammonium and pyomelanin, which can kill protists, such as <i>Tetrahymena pyriformis. V. cholerae</i> has also been shown to survive intracellularly and can escape as viable cells inside protozoan-expelled food vacuoles (EFVs). We previously reported that <i>V. cholerae</i> encased in EFVs are hyperinfectious, establishing an important link between anti-protozoal strategies and bacterial virulence. Although the intracellular resistance and escape of <i>V. cholerae</i> in EFVs have been reported, the molecular mechanisms behind this remain poorly understood. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomics of <i>V. cholerae</i> exposed to <i>T. pyriformis</i> and captured a total of 5,344 bacterial cells with heterogeneous gene expression. Cells with the same pattern of gene expression were grouped, resulting in 11 clusters of cells with a unique gene expression profile. Genes encoding outer membrane proteins, F<sub>1</sub>F<sub>0</sub>-Na<sup>+</sup>/H<sup>+</sup> ATPase, metabolites, and toxins showed differential expression among the clusters. Furthermore, the motility-associated killing factor (Mak) toxins were differentially expressed. The <i>V. cholerae</i> mutants Δ<i>makA,</i> Δ<i>makB,</i> and Δ<i>makE</i> were not capable of killing <i>T. pyriformis,</i> and Δ<i>makA and</i> Δ<i>makE</i> showed reduced survival inside EFVs compared to the wild type. These findings identify Mak toxins as key mediators of <i>V. cholerae</i> resistance to protozoan grazing and survival within EFVs. More broadly, our results provide mechanistic insight into grazing resistance, reveal factors facilitating persistence in EFVs, and underscore the interplay between environmental survival strategies and virulence in pathogenic bacteria.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1729243"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872930/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1761389
Yuxin Tang, Zhe Wang, Hongzu Feng, Lan Wang
To evaluate the biocontrol potential of the cell-free fermentation filtrate (CFFF) of Bacillus atrophaeus strain YL84 against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV), this study systematically investigated the effects of the CFFF at various dilution ratios on FOV mycelial growth, conidial germination, cellular nucleic acid leakage, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, the environmental stability of its antifungal activity was assessed. In addition, a dual-culture assay was conducted to evaluate the antagonistic activity of strain YL84 against FOV. The results of the dual-culture assay showed that strain YL84 significantly inhibited the growth of FOV, with an inhibition rate of 81.06%. Subsequently, the YL84 CFFF exerted significant inhibitory effects on FOV mycelial growth and conidial germination across different concentrations, achieving maximum inhibition rates of 75.68% and 77.56%, respectively. Notably, the treated mycelia exhibited a significant increase in cellular nucleic acid leakage and elevated levels of MDA, a product of lipid peroxidation, suggesting that the CFFF may disrupt the integrity of the pathogen's cell membrane. Stability assays revealed that the CFFF possessed substantial tolerance to high temperatures, ultraviolet irradiation, and hypersaline environments, although it remained sensitive to strongly alkaline conditions. Greenhouse pot experiments further confirmed the efficacy of YL84 CFFF in controlling cotton Fusarium wilt, with a maximum control efficacy of 69.21%. Moreover, the treatment induced the upregulation of defense-related enzyme activities in the plants, suggesting that the CFFF may function through both direct antifungal action and the elicitation of host-induced resistance. Component identification via Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ion Mobility-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-IMS-Q-TOF-MS) suggested that the filtrate is rich in structurally diverse compounds that were putatively identified as potential antimicrobial substances, predominantly classified as terpenoids and their derivatives. In conclusion, this study provides a systematic evaluation and supporting evidence for the further development of B. atrophaeus YL84 as a biocontrol agent.
{"title":"Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of the cell-free fermentation filtrate of <i>Bacillus atrophaeus</i> YL84 on <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>vasinfectum</i> and analysis of its metabolic products.","authors":"Yuxin Tang, Zhe Wang, Hongzu Feng, Lan Wang","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1761389","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1761389","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To evaluate the biocontrol potential of the cell-free fermentation filtrate (CFFF) of <i>Bacillus atrophaeus</i> strain YL84 against <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>vasinfectum</i> (FOV), this study systematically investigated the effects of the CFFF at various dilution ratios on FOV mycelial growth, conidial germination, cellular nucleic acid leakage, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, the environmental stability of its antifungal activity was assessed. In addition, a dual-culture assay was conducted to evaluate the antagonistic activity of strain YL84 against FOV. The results of the dual-culture assay showed that strain YL84 significantly inhibited the growth of FOV, with an inhibition rate of 81.06%. Subsequently, the YL84 CFFF exerted significant inhibitory effects on FOV mycelial growth and conidial germination across different concentrations, achieving maximum inhibition rates of 75.68% and 77.56%, respectively. Notably, the treated mycelia exhibited a significant increase in cellular nucleic acid leakage and elevated levels of MDA, a product of lipid peroxidation, suggesting that the CFFF may disrupt the integrity of the pathogen's cell membrane. Stability assays revealed that the CFFF possessed substantial tolerance to high temperatures, ultraviolet irradiation, and hypersaline environments, although it remained sensitive to strongly alkaline conditions. Greenhouse pot experiments further confirmed the efficacy of YL84 CFFF in controlling cotton <i>Fusarium</i> wilt, with a maximum control efficacy of 69.21%. Moreover, the treatment induced the upregulation of defense-related enzyme activities in the plants, suggesting that the CFFF may function through both direct antifungal action and the elicitation of host-induced resistance. Component identification <i>via</i> Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Ion Mobility-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-IMS-Q-TOF-MS) suggested that the filtrate is rich in structurally diverse compounds that were putatively identified as potential antimicrobial substances, predominantly classified as terpenoids and their derivatives. In conclusion, this study provides a systematic evaluation and supporting evidence for the further development of <i>B. atrophaeus</i> YL84 as a biocontrol agent.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"17 ","pages":"1761389"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872879/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Mulberry leaf (Morus alba L.) is an edible plant that has been found to have medicinal effects in the treatment of hyperuricemia (HUA). The bioactive compounds of mulberry leaf and their mechanisms of action have not been determined yet.
Methods: In-silico methodologies were used to identify bioactive compounds and to determine the underlying mechanisms of mulberry leaf. In order to verify the biochemical mechanism and intestinal microbiota, in vivo experiments were conducted.
Results: Kaempferol was identified as the principal bioactive compound, while the key targets were AKT1 and TNF. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations revealed that AKT1-kaempferol and TNF-kaempferol complexes showed strong and stable binding pattern after a 100 ns simulation. In vivo studies demonstrated that kaempferol exerted significant anti-HUA effects. Specifically, kaempferol reduces AKT expression and phosphorylation, which may in turn reduces the oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways and signal transmission of the kidneys. Meanwhile, the application of kaempferol attenuated gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by HUA.
Conclusion: Kaempferol may regulate UA metabolism and inflammatory injury by modulating the AKT signaling pathway, and exert its effects on the gut-kidney axis and restoring gut microbiota composition.
背景:桑叶(Morus alba L.)是一种可食用植物,已被发现在治疗高尿酸血症(HUA)方面具有药用作用。桑叶的生物活性成分及其作用机制尚未明确。方法:采用计算机方法鉴定桑叶的生物活性成分,并确定桑叶的作用机制。为了验证生化机制和肠道菌群,进行了体内实验。结果:山奈酚为主要生物活性化合物,关键靶点为AKT1和TNF。分子对接和动力学模拟表明,经过100 ns模拟,akt1 -山奈酚和tnf -山奈酚配合物表现出强而稳定的结合模式。体内研究表明山奈酚具有显著的抗hua作用。具体来说,山奈酚可以降低AKT的表达和磷酸化,从而减少肾脏的氧化应激、炎症途径和信号传递。同时,山奈酚的应用减轻了HUA引起的肠道菌群失调。结论:山奈酚可能通过调节AKT信号通路调节UA代谢和炎症损伤,并对肠肾轴和恢复肠道菌群组成发挥作用。
{"title":"Unraveling the mechanism of mulberry leaf in alleviating hyperuricemia: key role of kaempferol by modulating AKT pathway and gut-kidney axis.","authors":"Jiawei Huang, Qianqian Wang, Xiaowen Guo, Yuanyuan Niu, Junhong Huang, Boyi Zhang, Zixuan Guo, Zilong Wang, Shuying Feng","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1752775","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1752775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mulberry leaf (<i>Morus alba L</i>.) is an edible plant that has been found to have medicinal effects in the treatment of hyperuricemia (HUA). The bioactive compounds of mulberry leaf and their mechanisms of action have not been determined yet.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong><i>In-silico</i> methodologies were used to identify bioactive compounds and to determine the underlying mechanisms of mulberry leaf. In order to verify the biochemical mechanism and intestinal microbiota, <i>in vivo</i> experiments were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Kaempferol was identified as the principal bioactive compound, while the key targets were AKT1 and TNF. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations revealed that AKT1-kaempferol and TNF-kaempferol complexes showed strong and stable binding pattern after a 100 ns simulation. <i>In vivo</i> studies demonstrated that kaempferol exerted significant anti-HUA effects. Specifically, kaempferol reduces AKT expression and phosphorylation, which may in turn reduces the oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways and signal transmission of the kidneys. Meanwhile, the application of kaempferol attenuated gut microbiota dysbiosis caused by HUA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Kaempferol may regulate UA metabolism and inflammatory injury by modulating the AKT signaling pathway, and exert its effects on the gut-kidney axis and restoring gut microbiota composition.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"17 ","pages":"1752775"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872837/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1742578
Lance Matthew F Farinas, Laurice Beatrice Raphaelle O Dela Peña, Windell L Rivera
Laguna Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines, has been reported to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing health risks to the millions who depend on it. However, limited knowledge of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the lake highlights the need for a comprehensive assessment of its resistome. In line with this, we characterized ARGs in the West Bay of Laguna Lake using shotgun metagenomic sequencing based on six metagenomes collected from three stations across two sampling months at a single depth. ARGs were quantified from short reads, and assembled contigs containing these genes-antibiotic-resistant contigs (ARCs)-were analyzed to assess mobility through associations with plasmids and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). β-lactam resistance genes (0.023-0.048 copies per cell) were the most prevalent, corroborating previous reports. Meanwhile, the detection of bacitracin (0.013-0.028 cpc) and polymyxin (0.009-0.011 cpc) resistance genes raises new concerns, as resistance to these antibiotic classes has not been previously reported in the lake. Furthermore, 44.8 and 30.4% of ARCs were associated with plasmids and MGEs, respectively. ARCs carrying genes for resistance to β-lactams, chloramphenicol, and tetracyclines were frequently identified as mobile, indicating a high potential for horizontal gene transfer and suggesting possible antibiotic contamination in the lake. Overall, this study provides the first metagenomic insight into the resistome of Laguna Lake using short-read sequencing and highlights its role as an environmental reservoir of mobile ARGs. The findings underscore the need for expanded ARG surveillance to improve antimicrobial resistance risk prediction.
{"title":"Shotgun metagenomics reveals the prevalence and mobility of antibiotic resistance genes in the West Bay of the human-impacted Laguna Lake.","authors":"Lance Matthew F Farinas, Laurice Beatrice Raphaelle O Dela Peña, Windell L Rivera","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1742578","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1742578","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laguna Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines, has been reported to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing health risks to the millions who depend on it. However, limited knowledge of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the lake highlights the need for a comprehensive assessment of its resistome. In line with this, we characterized ARGs in the West Bay of Laguna Lake using shotgun metagenomic sequencing based on six metagenomes collected from three stations across two sampling months at a single depth. ARGs were quantified from short reads, and assembled contigs containing these genes-antibiotic-resistant contigs (ARCs)-were analyzed to assess mobility through associations with plasmids and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). β-lactam resistance genes (0.023-0.048 copies per cell) were the most prevalent, corroborating previous reports. Meanwhile, the detection of bacitracin (0.013-0.028 cpc) and polymyxin (0.009-0.011 cpc) resistance genes raises new concerns, as resistance to these antibiotic classes has not been previously reported in the lake. Furthermore, 44.8 and 30.4% of ARCs were associated with plasmids and MGEs, respectively. ARCs carrying genes for resistance to β-lactams, chloramphenicol, and tetracyclines were frequently identified as mobile, indicating a high potential for horizontal gene transfer and suggesting possible antibiotic contamination in the lake. Overall, this study provides the first metagenomic insight into the resistome of Laguna Lake using short-read sequencing and highlights its role as an environmental reservoir of mobile ARGs. The findings underscore the need for expanded ARG surveillance to improve antimicrobial resistance risk prediction.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"17 ","pages":"1742578"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872769/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Introduction: To investigate the horizontal transmission of oral-gut microbiota in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) families and its potential implications for ASD pathogenesis.
Methods: The research employed a paired cohort design using family cohorts (23 ASD children/17 parents vs. 18 Non-ASD children/16 parents), conducting integrated microbiome and metabolomic analyses of oral and fecal samples.
Results: The findings revealed that ASD families exhibited significantly increased oral microbial species diversity alongside substantial alterations in gut microbiota composition, particularly demonstrating a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (3.60/2.97) compared to Non-ASD families (5.59/5.35). Specific microbial changes included notable enrichment of Prevotella_9 in ASD gut microbiota. Metabolomic profiling identified significant disruptions in multiple metabolic pathways, including impaired L-rhamnose degradation and glutathione metabolism. The study observed coordinated oral-gut axis alterations through synchronized changes in Caulobacter and Serratia abundances, suggesting a distinct dysbiotic pattern along this microbial continuum. Additional metabolic findings demonstrated reduced levels of fecal glutamine and Ala-Gly in ASD children, with glycylproline exhibiting high predictive value for family typing (AUC = 0.91). Integrative analysis further revealed significant correlations between Holdemanella and various lipid metabolites.
Discussion: It indicates that ASD families display characteristic oral-gut microbiota interactions accompanied by metabolic abnormalities, potentially reflecting familial microbial transmission patterns that may contribute to ASD pathophysiology.
{"title":"Parents-child multiple sites of microbial and metabolic signatures in autism spectrum disorder.","authors":"Lingping Zhu, Haiyan Zhang, Meiling Tang, Xuefeng Yang, Yongjun Chen","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1745874","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1745874","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>To investigate the horizontal transmission of oral-gut microbiota in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) families and its potential implications for ASD pathogenesis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The research employed a paired cohort design using family cohorts (23 ASD children/17 parents vs. 18 Non-ASD children/16 parents), conducting integrated microbiome and metabolomic analyses of oral and fecal samples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings revealed that ASD families exhibited significantly increased oral microbial species diversity alongside substantial alterations in gut microbiota composition, particularly demonstrating a lower <i>Firmicutes</i>/<i>Bacteroidetes</i> ratio (3.60/2.97) compared to Non-ASD families (5.59/5.35). Specific microbial changes included notable enrichment of <i>Prevotella_9</i> in ASD gut microbiota. Metabolomic profiling identified significant disruptions in multiple metabolic pathways, including impaired L-rhamnose degradation and glutathione metabolism. The study observed coordinated oral-gut axis alterations through synchronized changes in <i>Caulobacter</i> and <i>Serratia</i> abundances, suggesting a distinct dysbiotic pattern along this microbial continuum. Additional metabolic findings demonstrated reduced levels of fecal glutamine and Ala-Gly in ASD children, with glycylproline exhibiting high predictive value for family typing (AUC = 0.91). Integrative analysis further revealed significant correlations between <i>Holdemanella</i> and various lipid metabolites.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>It indicates that ASD families display characteristic oral-gut microbiota interactions accompanied by metabolic abnormalities, potentially reflecting familial microbial transmission patterns that may contribute to ASD pathophysiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1745874"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1735254
Ralph A Tripp, Les P Jones, David E Martin
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a vital cellular signaling cascade that viruses exploit. When activated by viruses, this pathway also initiates the host's inflammatory response. This pathway has a crucial role in viral respiratory infections, serving as a key intersection where viral replication and host inflammation are coordinated. Some viruses activate this pathway to enhance their own replication while also triggering inflammatory responses in the host. Understanding this intersection is essential because therapeutic agents could target the same pathway to inhibit both viral replication and inflammation. This perspective considers targeting the MAPK pathway as a potential way to treat viral respiratory infections by suppressing viral replication and reducing inflammation.
{"title":"Intersection of inflammation and viral replication: the central role of MAPK signaling in viral respiratory infections.","authors":"Ralph A Tripp, Les P Jones, David E Martin","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1735254","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1735254","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is a vital cellular signaling cascade that viruses exploit. When activated by viruses, this pathway also initiates the host's inflammatory response. This pathway has a crucial role in viral respiratory infections, serving as a key intersection where viral replication and host inflammation are coordinated. Some viruses activate this pathway to enhance their own replication while also triggering inflammatory responses in the host. Understanding this intersection is essential because therapeutic agents could target the same pathway to inhibit both viral replication and inflammation. This perspective considers targeting the MAPK pathway as a potential way to treat viral respiratory infections by suppressing viral replication and reducing inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1735254"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872474/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1758540
Hakan Çolak, Mustafa Durmuş, Esmeray Küley, Ali Rıza Köşker, Yetkin Sakarya, Tuba Esatbeyoglu, Fatih Özogul
This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of pure juniper essential oil and its nanoemulsion formulations (2, 4, and 6%) against five foodborne and fish spoilage bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Paratyphi A, Vibrio vulnificus, Photobacterium damselae and Proteus mirabilis. The GC-MS profile of pure juniper essential oil (EO) revealed thirty components, including α-pinene, which accounted for 90.05% of the total volatiles. The antimicrobial activity was studied by measuring the inhibition zone diameters by the agar well diffusion method and determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values by micro dilution method. A clear dose-response relationship was observed in nanoemulsion formulations; as EO concentration increased, inhibition zones enhanced and MIC/MBC values decreased. S. aureus showed inhibition even at 2%JNEO (~15 mm), reaching a maximum of 22.1 mm at 6%JNEO. Among Gram-negative pathogens, Vibrio vulnificus showed the highest susceptibility, particularly to pure juniper essential oil, as reflected by low MIC and MBC values. P. damselae and S. paratyphi A exhibited intermediate susceptibility (MIC 1.56-12.5 mg/mL; MBC 12.5-25 mg/mL), while P. mirabilis showed high resistance (MIC 12.5 mg/mL; MBC > 100 mg/mL) and only limited inhibition. Among the tested bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio vulnificus showed the highest susceptibility, with inhibition zones and MIC/MBC values decreasing in a concentration-dependent manner. This antimicrobial activity may be associated with the high α-pinene content of juniper essential oil. These results highlight the potential of juniper essential oil nanoemulsions as effective natural preservatives to control fish spoilage and foodborne bacteria in the seafood industry.
{"title":"Application of juniper (<i>Juniperus communis</i>) essential oil nanoemulsions to control spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in fish.","authors":"Hakan Çolak, Mustafa Durmuş, Esmeray Küley, Ali Rıza Köşker, Yetkin Sakarya, Tuba Esatbeyoglu, Fatih Özogul","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1758540","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2026.1758540","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of pure juniper essential oil and its nanoemulsion formulations (2, 4, and 6%) against five foodborne and fish spoilage bacterial species, including <i>Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Paratyphi</i> A, <i>Vibrio vulnificus</i>, <i>Photobacterium damselae</i> and <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>. The GC-MS profile of pure juniper essential oil (EO) revealed thirty components, including <i>α</i>-pinene, which accounted for 90.05% of the total volatiles. The antimicrobial activity was studied by measuring the inhibition zone diameters by the agar well diffusion method and determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values by micro dilution method. A clear dose-response relationship was observed in nanoemulsion formulations; as EO concentration increased, inhibition zones enhanced and MIC/MBC values decreased. <i>S. aureus</i> showed inhibition even at 2%JNEO (~15 mm), reaching a maximum of 22.1 mm at 6%JNEO. Among Gram-negative pathogens, <i>Vibrio vulnificus</i> showed the highest susceptibility, particularly to pure juniper essential oil, as reflected by low MIC and MBC values. <i>P. damselae</i> and <i>S. paratyphi</i> A exhibited intermediate susceptibility (MIC 1.56-12.5 mg/mL; MBC 12.5-25 mg/mL), while <i>P. mirabilis</i> showed high resistance (MIC 12.5 mg/mL; MBC > 100 mg/mL) and only limited inhibition. Among the tested bacteria, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Vibrio vulnificus</i> showed the highest susceptibility, with inhibition zones and MIC/MBC values decreasing in a concentration-dependent manner. This antimicrobial activity may be associated with the high <i>α</i>-pinene content of juniper essential oil. These results highlight the potential of juniper essential oil nanoemulsions as effective natural preservatives to control fish spoilage and foodborne bacteria in the seafood industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"17 ","pages":"1758540"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872740/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1757806
Ke Lu, Kan Shi, Yuxin Yuan, Yuanyuan Liu, Chuangyi Miao, Tao Pan, Pengfei Duan, Jangyong Wang, Shuwen Liu, Lili Zhao
Introduction: Owing to its remarkable capacity to modify the aroma profile of wine, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) derived from wine has emerged as a potential starter for malolactic fermentation. However, the inadequate acid resistance of this bacterium severely restricts its application. In some bacterial species, GlnR is considered a universal transcriptional regulator in response to acid stress.
Methods: In this study, we determined the function of GlnR in the acid resistance of L. plantarum for the first time. RT-qPCR and yeast one-hybrid assays revealed a direct regulatory correlation between GlnR and genes associated with the glutamate metabolic pathway. Metabolomics analysis via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and fermentation studies confirmed that GlnR affected γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production.
Results: The growth and survival rate of the knockout strain XJ25-ΔglnR were significantly lower than those of the wild-type strain XJ25. GlnR can directly bind to the promotor regions of the genes glnA, gadB, and glms1, thereby upregulating gadB transcription while downregulating glnA and glms1 transcription, directing the increased metabolic flux toward GABA synthesis.
Discussion: We present evidence that GlnR plays a vital role in the glutamate metabolic pathway and is a positive transcriptional regulator that can control the acid resistance of L. plantarum XJ25. Although GlnR interacts with glnA, gadB, and glms1, additional studies are warranted to determine how this interaction affects its acid resistance.
摘要植物乳杆菌(L. plantarum)源于葡萄酒,由于其具有显著的改变葡萄酒香气的能力,已成为苹果酸乳酸发酵的潜在发酵剂。然而,这种细菌的耐酸能力不足严重限制了它的应用。在一些细菌物种中,GlnR被认为是一种普遍的转录调节因子,以应对酸性胁迫。方法:本研究首次测定了GlnR在植物乳杆菌抗酸能力中的作用。RT-qPCR和酵母单杂交分析揭示了GlnR与谷氨酸代谢途径相关基因之间的直接调控关系。代谢组学分析通过液相色谱-质谱和发酵研究证实,GlnR影响γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)的产生。结果:敲除菌株XJ25-ΔglnR的生长和存活率明显低于野生型菌株XJ25。GlnR可以直接结合glnA、gadB和glms1基因的启动子区域,从而上调gadB的转录,下调glnA和glms1的转录,将增加的代谢通量导向GABA的合成。讨论:我们提出证据表明GlnR在谷氨酸代谢途径中起着至关重要的作用,是一种正转录调节剂,可以控制L. plantarum XJ25的耐酸性。虽然GlnR与glnA、gadB和glms1相互作用,但需要进一步的研究来确定这种相互作用如何影响其耐酸性。
{"title":"GlnR positively affects the acid resistance of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> from wine by regulating glutamate metabolism.","authors":"Ke Lu, Kan Shi, Yuxin Yuan, Yuanyuan Liu, Chuangyi Miao, Tao Pan, Pengfei Duan, Jangyong Wang, Shuwen Liu, Lili Zhao","doi":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1757806","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmicb.2025.1757806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Owing to its remarkable capacity to modify the aroma profile of wine, <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> (<i>L. plantarum</i>) derived from wine has emerged as a potential starter for malolactic fermentation. However, the inadequate acid resistance of this bacterium severely restricts its application. In some bacterial species, GlnR is considered a universal transcriptional regulator in response to acid stress.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, we determined the function of GlnR in the acid resistance of <i>L. plantarum</i> for the first time. RT-qPCR and yeast one-hybrid assays revealed a direct regulatory correlation between GlnR and genes associated with the glutamate metabolic pathway. Metabolomics analysis via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and fermentation studies confirmed that GlnR affected γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The growth and survival rate of the knockout strain XJ25-Δ<i>glnR</i> were significantly lower than those of the wild-type strain XJ25. GlnR can directly bind to the promotor regions of the genes <i>glnA</i>, <i>gadB</i>, and <i>glms1</i>, thereby upregulating <i>gadB</i> transcription while downregulating <i>glnA</i> and <i>glms1</i> transcription, directing the increased metabolic flux toward GABA synthesis.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>We present evidence that GlnR plays a vital role in the glutamate metabolic pathway and is a positive transcriptional regulator that can control the acid resistance of <i>L. plantarum</i> XJ25. Although GlnR interacts with <i>glnA</i>, <i>gadB</i>, and <i>glms1</i>, additional studies are warranted to determine how this interaction affects its acid resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12466,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Microbiology","volume":"16 ","pages":"1757806"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12872816/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}