Microbial Biotechnology最新文献

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a significant threat to public health and is associated with the gut microbiota. Gut microbiota modulators, including probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, together with faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), can restore the gut microbiota in patients and are recognised as powerful modulators of this ecosystem. Consequently, gut microbiota modulators are promising in the prevention and treatment of T2DM. The roles and mechanisms by which these therapeutic approaches target the gut microbiota in patients with T2DM warrant further investigation and elucidation. Key potential mechanisms associated with gut microbiota regulation include the modulation of gut microbiota composition alteration of gut microbiota metabolites, enhancement of intestinal barrier function, and suppression of inflammation. This study provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between the gut microbiota and T2DM, presents promising research findings and controversial issues, emphasises the potential roles and mechanisms of the gut microbiota in T2DM, and investigates the factors influencing the therapeutic efficacy of FMT. This review serves as a valuable reference for future studies on FMT.

The application of microbial consortia in biotechnological areas has proven to be much more efficient than that of single microorganisms; however, the main difficulty lies in the large number of communities to be tested. The use of models to predict functional efficiency on a high-throughput scale is key to incorporating greater diversity. The BSocial tool (http://m4m.ugr.es/BSocial.html) assigns a social behaviour to each strain based on its contribution to the overall growth of the consortium through a statistical analysis, defining a ‘social consortium’. To determine the effectiveness of the BSocial tool for designing a biofertilizer, the social behaviour of 8 plant growth-promoting microorganisms belonging to Azospirillum, Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer and Pseudomonas, as well as 3 plant growth-promoting traits (siderophore production, phosphate solubilisation and indole acetic acid production) of the complete combinatorial (255 communities) were analysed. We selected 3 social consortia (X22, X93 and X149) with a diversity of 2–4 species, two of which presented high performance for more than one plant growth-promoting trait evaluated. Functional stability, following the increase in diversity, was observed in all functions except for siderophore production. Overall, the results show the effectiveness of the BSocial tool in selecting plant growth-promoting consortia to formulate efficient biofertilizers.

Microbes are essential for the functioning of life on earth, yet a lack of awareness of their positive activities persists in society. In the UK, microbiology is scarcely taught before secondary education. Therefore, we organised ‘Science Fun Days’ for primary school pupils (aged 9–11 years) in 2024 and 2025, with the aims of increasing their microbiological awareness and, more generally, promoting positive attitudes towards science and nature. Over 450 pupils attended a Science Fun Day hosted at the University of Essex, which involved hands-on activities in the laboratory and outdoors. Pre-event and post-event surveys were completed by 307 and 305 of these pupils, respectively, from across seven schools. The surveys revealed that, after participating in a Science Fun Day, the proportion of pupils who would like a job in science increased from 29.6% to 41.9% in 2024 and 21.8% to 32.9% in 2025. Pupils from schools located in areas of high deprivation rated their desire for a science career significantly higher overall than pupils from schools located in low deprivation areas. Surveys also captured a post-event increase in the percentage of pupils that know what microbes are from 68.7% to 88.0% in 2024 and 49.3% to 79.1% in 2025. Gender differences were minimal and included higher overall perceived confidence in science lessons by male-identifying students; however, female-identifying students reported similar levels of confidence as their male-identifying peers in the post-event survey. Our results support the value of extra-curricular excursions to boost children's understanding of microbiology, enable positive attitudes towards science, and encourage science-related career aspirations.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) identified as a key contributor to its progression. This study explores a novel therapy that targets this pathogen by using a bioengineered probiotic that expresses guided antimicrobial peptides (gAMPs) to selectively inhibit F. nucleatum. Lactococcus lactis MG1363 was engineered to express gAMPs derived from Ovispirin and Cathelin-related peptide SCF, linked to a Statherin-derived guide peptide that binds specifically to the F. nucleatum membrane porin FomA. The bacteria expressed the AMP/gAMP under the induction of the PNisA promoter by nisin and secreted it via the extracellular secretion signal usp45. The resultant synthetic peptides and probiotics were assayed for antimicrobial activity against the targeted F. nucleatum and other non-target bacteria. Biofilm inhibition and growth kinetic assays were performed with synthetic peptides in vitro or the probiotic in co-culture with a polymicrobial community. Statherin-derived guide peptide enhanced the binding affinity to F. nucleatum, significantly increasing attachment compared to control peptides. In vitro assays revealed that both unguided and guided AMPs effectively inhibited biofilm formation in F. nucleatum, with gAMPs showing reduced toxicity against non-target bacteria. The gAMPs were more effective in modulating growth kinetics, exhibiting selective toxicity towards F. nucleatum at lower concentrations. Co-culture experiments in a simulated human gut microbiome showed the gAMP probiotic maintained microbial diversity while effectively reducing F. nucleatum abundance. Quantitative PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed that gAMP treatment preserved the richness of the microbiota, contrasting with significant dysbiosis observed in control samples. These findings support the potential of engineered probiotics as a therapeutic approach that targets CRC-associated F. nucleatum.

Olanzapine is associated with a high risk of hepatic steatosis as a commonly used atypical antipsychotic. In this study, we observed differential susceptibility to olanzapine-induced fatty liver disease in both rats and patients. Notably, patients with olanzapine-induced liver damage exhibited an altered gut microbiota composition, with Akkermansia muciniphila showing the most pronounced alteration. To explore its therapeutic potential, we administered A. muciniphila to olanzapine-treated rats, which significantly reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and liver injury. Gut microbiome analysis revealed significant alterations in microbial diversity and composition following A. muciniphila treatment. Transcriptomic analysis further identified differentially expressed genes in the liver, highlighting the involvement of IGFBP2 and APOA1 in the protective effects of A. muciniphila . Functional validation demonstrated that overexpression of IGFBP2 and APOA1 alleviated olanzapine-induced hepatic steatosis in both cellular and animal models. These findings suggest that A. muciniphila exerts hepatoprotective effects via the gut microbiota-IGFBP2/APOA1-liver axis, offering a potential microbiota-targeted strategy to mitigate olanzapine-induced metabolic dysfunction.

Education is often reduced to the transmission of knowledge, yet in an era of climate disruption, biodiversity decline, and social injustice and unrest, learners require more than facts and skills. They must develop adaptive capacities that enable them to question, critically analyse, imagine, act, and empathise. One such fundamental capacity is imagination, which, despite its centrality to scientific discovery, is frequently undervalued in science education, particularly in fields considered ‘hard’ sciences. Microbiology offers a compelling context for better cultivating imagination because its study requires learners to visualise invisible worlds, connect them to ecological and human health, and explore how such knowledge might be applied to societal challenges. Here, we discuss the concept of imagination infrastructures—the environments, tools, practices, inner capacities, and symbolic resources that enable collective imagination—as a framework for better embedding imagination into microbiology education and beyond. We illustrate how imagination infrastructures can help democratise learning, expand worldviews, and promote a sense of responsibility, citizenship, and stewardship. Overcoming curricular, cultural, and resource barriers is required. By nurturing imagination as essential infrastructure, education can equip future microbiologists—and citizens more broadly—to navigate uncertainty and co-create regenerative futures.

The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris (also known as Komagataella phaffii) is a prominent platform for recombinant protein production, offering benefits such as thermo- and osmotolerance, high-density growth, and efficient protein secretion. Its ability to metabolise methanol, an increasingly available carbon source, enhances its cost-effectiveness and sustainability for industrial use. As a eukaryotic host, P. pastoris ensures proper protein folding and post-translational modifications (PTMs), including glycosylation, which is essential for correct folding and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) quality control. While ER-transferred glycans are critical for maturation, additional modification in the Golgi apparatus can yield larger glycans whose impact on stability, solubility, and bioactivity may be either beneficial or undesirable, depending on the application of the heterologous protein. The impact of induction conditions on glycosylation of proteins secreted by P. pastoris SuperMan5 was examined, using the DS-1 (G2P[4]) and WA (G1P[8]) VP8* rotavirus capsid proteins as a model. An ELISA-based screening system was employed for clone selection and media optimization, with results showing easy integration into automated workflows. Methanol concentration was found to impact both N- and O-linked glycosylation complexity, shaping the glycosylation profile of the target protein as well as the P. pastoris secretome. This study underscores the importance of optimising cultivation conditions to enhance protein yield, refine glycosylation, and minimise impurities, all of which are crucial for large-scale production and efficient downstream processing. It also suggests a method for easy modulation of glycosylation depending on the target application and the desired level of glycosylation.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus requires the development of novel agents that can target both planktonic cells and persistent biofilms. In this study, a library of multi-halogenated indoles was evaluated for antibacterial, antibiofilm and antivirulence activities against S. aureus including methicillin-resistant strains. Two lead compounds, 6-bromo-4-iodoindole and 4-bromo-6-chloroindole, exhibited potent bactericidal activity (MIC = 20–30 μg/mL) comparable to the antibiotic gentamicin, effectively inhibited biofilm formation and persister formation and suppressed key virulence haemolysis. These effects were associated with intracellular ROS generation and transcriptional downregulation of quorum-sensing genes of agrA and RNAIII and virulence genes of hla and nuc1. Also, 6-bromo-4-iodoindole synergised with aminoglycoside tobramycin and gentamicin, significantly reducing their effective MICs. Notably, these two multi-halogenated indoles did not induce drug resistance for 20 days while gentamicin rapidly increased drug resistance. Cytotoxicity assays in HepG2 cells and phytotoxicity tests confirmed a favourable safety profile. Structure–activity relationship identified multi-halogenation at the C4, C5, C6 and C7 positions of indole as favourable for enhanced activities and also suggested that more halogens could improve the activities. This study highlights multi-halogenated indoles as promising multi-target antimicrobial agents with potential therapeutic and environmental applications against S. aureus, including drug-resistant and biofilm-forming strains.

This study aimed to assess the potential of Lentilactobacillus hilgardii as a novel candidate for malolactic fermentation (MLF) in winemaking, through comparative genomics and experimental validation, in direct comparison with Oenococcus oeni. We performed a pangenome analysis on 16 L. hilgardii and 7 O. oeni strains to explore their genetic diversity, focusing on wine-related traits. Functional predictions were generated using genome-scale metabolic models (ModelSEED/KBase), including in silico co-inoculation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC1118 and post-alcoholic fermentation simulations. The reference strains L. hilgardii DSM 20176 and O. oeni DSM 20252 were experimentally tested for MLF performance in a synthetic wine-like medium at 25°C and 10°C. Core-genome comparison revealed that 67.9% of the malolactic enzyme sequence is conserved between the two species, with comparable docking affinity to L-malic acid. L. hilgardii harboured unique enzymes with potential oenological interest (phenolic acid decarboxylase, mannitol dehydrogenase, glucosidase) and distinctive stress-related proteins (YaaA, HrcA, ASP23), suggesting improved tolerance to oxidative, temperature, and alkaline stresses. Notably, L. hilgardii showed genomic potential to degrade putrescine, arginine, and ornithine, precursors of ethyl carbamate. Experimentally, L. hilgardii reduced L-malic acid from 2.5 g/L to < 0.1 g/L within 12 days at 10°C, while O. oeni showed no MLF activity at this temperature. At 25°C, both strains completed MLF within 6–7 days. L. hilgardii also consumed > 80% of residual fructose at 10°C, whereas O. oeni showed minimal utilisation. Our results demonstrate that L. hilgardii combines a favourable genomic repertoire for wine adaptation with superior MLF performance at low temperature, suggesting its potential as an alternative to O. oeni in cool-climate winemaking. This work provides the first genome-scale comparative and functional evaluation of L. hilgardii in the winemaking context, highlighting its technological promise to improve fermentation reliability, reduce spoilage risk, and expand the biodiversity of malolactic starters.