AIMS Microbiology最新文献

The scarcity of animal feeding resources has been driving the use of sustainable alternatives such as Azolla. This study evaluated the effect of replacing concentrate feed mixture (CFM) with dried Azolla (DAZ) on the in vitro digestibility of rations, rumen fermentations, gas production, and rumen microbiota. The basal diet consisted of Berseem hay and CFM (50:50), and six rations were used, in which DAZ replaced the CFM at 0% (control), 10% (T1), 20% (T2), 30% (T3), 40% (T4), and 50% (T5). Group T1 showed higher degradability of dry matter (53.13%), organic matter (62.47%), neutral detergent fiber (30.79%), and acid detergent fiber (24.72%). The same group (T1) revealed the highest propionate and lowest methane production (p < 0.05). Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed that rumen microbial communities were affected by DAZ level. Microbial communities were dominated by the phylum Bacteroidota, which was higher in group T1, and the phylum Firmicutes, which was higher in group T2. The dominant bacterial genera were Prevotella, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, Streptococcus, and Christensenellaceae R-7 group, which were affected by DAZ level. Dried Azolla can be used up to 20% of CFM in ruminant rations without negative consequences on rumen fermentation.

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a complex complication characterized by tissue damage and neurological problems in the lower extremities. Poor wound healing intensifies the severity of DFU, which currently has a 15%-20% prevalence and thus poses a significant healthcare challenge. DFU treatment is often considered complicated due to multifaceted problems, including high cost, low stability, and prolonged healing time. Thus, there is a need to find multidisciplinary, cost-effective, and potential treatment options. In parallel, the role of skin and gut microbiota has been highlighted, influencing the progression of DFU. Probiotics, when used in sufficient amounts, confer a health benefit to the host and are found to have a promising treatment potential for DFU. Probiotics exert beneficial effects that help to improve the management and healing of DFU, following various mechanisms like controlling hyperglycemia, enhancing immune function, modulating the microbiota, and maintaining glucose homeostasis, all of which contribute to improved management and healing of DFU. Despite the potential of probiotics in DFU treatment, their precise mechanisms, optimal strains, dosages, and experimental validation remain underexplored. To fully explore the probiotic potential for DFU, extensive animal studies and clinical trials are needed. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of DFU, existing treatment options, current limitations, and the growing importance of probiotic therapy. It also emphasizes the application of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), in advancing DFU treatment strategies.

Probiotics are living microbes that impart overall health benefits when introduced appropriately. They play important roles in activating the immune system, inhibiting pathogens, balancing gut microbiota, providing relief from inflammatory diseases, and helping prevent chronic conditions such as cancer. In this manuscript, we address the multifaceted uses of probiotics in medicinal, food, and cosmetic industries, emphasizing new encapsulation techniques that improve their stability and effectiveness. Demonstrating their uses in food enrichment, disease prevention, and delivery systems, the manuscript offers valuable recommendations for the use of probiotics in different fields. It also anticipates future directions, such as the invention of new encapsulation techniques, the use of probiotics as personalized nutrition, and the application of their therapeutic benefits to new areas such as metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. The paper demonstrates the potential of probiotics as promising candidates for the promotion of animal and human health in the modern era.

Hospital acquired infections (HAI) are the most common cause of mortality among critically ill patients because of various predisposing factors such as co-morbidities (medical or surgical), invasive devices, a long-term stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and the use of broad-spectrum empirical antibiotics. HAI in ICUs include mainly four types of infections: Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter-related urinary tract infection (CAUTI), and surgical site infections (SSI). In this study, we aimed to characterise the bacteriological andantibiotic resistance profiles of all types of HAI along with their outcomes in the ICU of a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Patients included in this study were all critically ill patients aged above 12 years who had one or more devices inserted and were admitted in the ICU due to some medical or surgical complication for more than 48 hours. This was a prospective study for a period of three months. Appropriate specimens were collected from admitted patients suspected of having infections for identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. The outcomes were determined based on either the discharge of the patient, a transfer to a separate ward, or death within the hospital. A total of 169 patients were included in the study, of which 65 patients (38%) acquired an HAI in the ICU. Thirteen patients were diagnosed with multiple types of infections. There were 72 device related infections, of which CRBSI made up 36%, VAP made up 23%, CAUTI made up 20%, and SSI made up 21% of the total patients. The most isolated organism in the ICU setup was Klebsiella spp. (35%), followed by Enterococcus spp. (22%). We found that 92% of the Klebsiella spp. was resistant to Carbapenem and 30% were Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE). The highest mortality was found associated with VAP (73%), followed by CRBSI (52%), SSI (40%), and CAUTI (31%) in the ICU setting. The findings of this study are of great clinical importance and will help in preventing and controlling the spread of HAIs in the ICU.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are instrumental in enhancing crop productivity and resilience to stress. In this study, we characterized Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis NRCB002, a PGPR strain isolated from the rice rhizosphere, using genomic and functional analyses. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a circular chromosome of 4,211,270 base pairs with a GC content of 43.51%, encoding genes associated with environmental adaptation, such as antimicrobial resistance, and PGPR-related traits, including the biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid. The annotation of key metabolic pathways for acetoin production aligns with its observed role in promoting plant growth. Pot experiments demonstrated that optimal acetoin concentrations significantly enhanced the development of soybean seedlings. These findings elucidate the genetic basis of NRCB002's beneficial traits and underscore its potential for agricultural application.

The unique characteristics of the marine ecosystem support the existence of microorganisms with exceptional metabolic potential, enabling them to produce high-value bioactives. Among these, biosurfactants (BSs) and bioemulsifiers (BEs) are notable multifaceted molecules, distinguished by their unique structural, molecular, and functional properties. Marine yeasts and fungi produce BSs/BEs with distinctive properties in terms of stability under extreme conditions. It is important to mention here that in comparison to marine bacteria, yeast and fungi of the same habitat have been explored only intermittently. Some of the BSs/BEs producing bacteria may prove to have some pathogenic or cytotoxic traits or components, while most yeasts are mainly classified as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) (by the Food and Drug Administration-FDA, USA), making their BSs/BEs products more amenable for a wide range of applications. The diverse and unique potential of surface-active agents is further enhanced by the endosymbiotic associations often found in marine yeasts and fungi. These microorganisms are acknowledged to produce glycolipidic (rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, and mannosylerythritol lipids) or glycolipoproteins. The SL have been reported well for their strong antimicrobial activity, including effectiveness against drug-resistant pathogens, making them promising candidates for controlling foodborne pathogens in the food industry. Furthermore, these microorganisms can utilize a broad range of carbon sources from simple substrates, like glucose and glycerol, to complex feedstocks such as food, oil, agricultural waste, and wastewater, which not only support their growth but also promote the production of substantial yields of these BSs/BEs. In this review, we endeavor to explore BSs/BEs from marine yeasts and fungi, including the screening, characterization, identification, production, and importance.

The gut microbiome plays a significant role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) function and modulating the gut-brain axis, which describes the bidirectional communication between the GI tract and the central nervous system (CNS). Its involvement in digestion, immunity, and neurophysiology is well recognized. This study offers novel insights by focusing on psychobiotics, a class of probiotics with targeted neuroactive properties. These microorganisms influence brain function through defined mechanisms, including modulation of neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter production (GABA, serotonin), regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and vagus nerve signaling. Our work critically examines recent advances in applications of psychobiotics for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and autism spectrum disorder. By integrating evidence from microbiome research, neuroimmunology, and clinical studies, we identify promising microbial strains and mechanistic pathways with therapeutic potential. This study contributes original perspectives by highlighting underexplored microbe-host interactions and proposing targeted microbial interventions as adjuncts to conventional neurotherapies. Further research is needed to validate strain-specific effects, long-term efficacy, and safety profiles in clinical settings.

The magnitude of the global fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) generated and its contribution to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are alarming and necessitate appropriate remediation measures. In addition to typical FVW applications such as landfilling and manure production, our previous article critically explored the added value of FVWs for producing enzymes and organic acids by deploying various microbial processes. However, with the advancement of novel solid-state fermentation (SSF) technology, several products (other than enzymes and organic acids) have been developed from FVWs. This review article addresses the valorization of FVWs into the production of various bioproducts (i.e., microbial inoculants, single-cell proteins, aquafeeds, bioinsecticides, antimicrobial agents, or prebiotics), platform chemicals (i.e., polyphenols, biocolorants, exopolysaccharides, biosurfactants, biocomposites, or carbon dots), and biofuels. Upscaling and downstream aspects, techno-economic feasibility reports, and lifecycle assessments are also covered in the article. Rather than an overburden, FVWs can be regarded as a potential substrate for SSF, and successful transformation to novel bioproducts further contributes to a circular economy.

An increasing rate of antibiotic resistance (AR) has been observed in the Gram-negative bacteria A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli in the human, environmental, and food animal domains worldwide, thus posing a serious global health challenge. Acquired AR genes of these species were overviewed from selected Western Balkans countries together with those from the European Union member states Croatia and Hungary. The AR determinants published from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia included diverse acquired β-lactamase genes, with several of them possessing carbapenemase activity, such as bla _VIM, bla _NDM, bla _KPC, bla _OXA-23, bla _OXA-66, and bla _OXA-72. Furthermore, acquired aminoglycoside, chloramphenicol, fosfomycin, tetracycline, sulfonamide, quinolone, and/or colistin resistance determinants were detected in the three domains of the One Health approach. The in vitro AR profile of representative isolates have also been overviewed. Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates of the ST235 high-risk clone were mainly reported within clinical settings. The distribution of the E. coli ST131 and A. baumannii ST2 high-risk clones in both clinical and environmental settings highlight their adaptability and effective dissemination. Systematic infection control practices are advised to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance, and further research from a One Health perspective is encouraged into its emergence and dissemination.

Alcohol consumption represents a major global health issue, accounting for approximately 4.7% of annual deaths and 5.1% of the disease burden worldwide. The liver is particularly vulnerable to alcohol-related damage, with chronic alcohol use leading to a spectrum of alcohol-associated liver diseases, including fatty liver, alcohol-associated hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite public awareness of the risks associated with excessive alcohol intake, a substantial proportion of the global population continues to consume alcohol, contributing to the increased incidence of liver-related conditions. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has emerged as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver diseases, as alcohol consumption alters microbial composition and increases intestinal permeability, which contributes to systemic inflammation and liver injury through the translocation of endotoxins. Recent research into the therapeutic potential of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics highlights their ability to restore microbial balance and enhance intestinal barrier function. Studies demonstrate that these interventions can significantly improve liver enzymes and reduce inflammation, suggesting their complementary role in the management of alcohol-associated liver diseases. However, further research is necessary to elucidate optimal dosing strategies and long-term efficacy. This review underscores the importance of a multifaceted approach toward understanding alcohol-associated liver diseases and the therapeutic potential of modulating the gut-liver axis through microbiota-targeted strategies.