Archives of Microbiology最新文献

Aflatoxins and ochratoxins are highly potent mycotoxins primarily produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium species, contaminating various agricultural commodities, especially cereals, nuts, and animal feeds. Chronic exposure to these mycotoxins is associated with liver cancer, immunosuppression, and developmental disorders, posing significant risks to public health and socioeconomic stability in numerous developing countries. Detoxification of mycotoxins has traditionally depended on physical and chemical methods, which exhibit limitations such as partial efficacy, nutrient loss, changes in food quality, high energy requirements, and environmental issues. Biological detoxification has recently garnered significant attention as a sustainable, safe, and eco-friendly alternative. This method utilises microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, and fungi, along with their enzymes and metabolites, to transform mycotoxins into less toxic or non-toxic compounds, while maintaining the nutritional and sensory quality of food and feed. This review systematically analyses the recent advancements in the understanding of the microbiological and enzymatic mechanisms of aflatoxin (AFB) and ochratoxin (OTA) degradation. It emphasises the function of essential enzymes such as aldehyde dehydrogenase, amidohydrolase, carboxypeptidases, laccases, manganese peroxidases and oxidases, transforming AFB₁ and OTA into less toxic compounds like AFD₁, AFQ_1, L-β-phenylalanine and OTα. Industrial applications of these enzymes in feed and food processing are discussed. Contemporary challenges, including incomplete degradation, the formation of unknown by-products, and the variability of enzyme performance across different food matrices, are reviewed. The review proposes strategic approaches to enhance biological detoxification efficiency. These insights provide a framework for developing scalable, safe, and effective biotechnology solutions to mitigate mycotoxin contamination in the global food chain.

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It involves the combination of microbiology and civil engineering offering a revolutionary way of sustainable construction. The review shows that potential of microbial processes to increase material durability and decrease environmental impact is highly promising. One of the most notable inventions is microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), that can enhance the strength of the soil and concrete up to 50 percent and self-heal qualities, increasing the service life of infrastructures significantly. Microbial technologies are also providing effective means to remediate contaminated construction sites and waste management to provide cleaner ecosystems. Besides, the use of microorganisms in the treatment of wastewater in infrastructure projects reduces environmental footprints. Such synergy is interdisciplinary, hence covering key issues of material degradation and wastes, but also leading to greener built environments. The development of biocementation, self-healing concrete and microbial corrosion inhibition highlights the importance of microbiology in improving sustainable civil engineering activities.

Microorganisms and their derivative by-products are among the renewable energy sources in ecologically sustainable systems. In this study, four pectin-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from oil-contaminated agricultural soil. Strain SA2 produced the maximum enzyme index, measuring of 20 mm, and exhibited extracellular pectinase enzyme activity of 119.67 U/mL. The strain was identified as Bacillus infantis through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Using a one-factor-at-a-time approach, B. infantis (SA2) demonstrated the highest enzyme activity (U/mL) at 180 at 40 °C, 172 at pH 8.0, 187 with 1.5% glucose, and 174 with 1% ammonium sulfate. RSM optimized with five variables, viz., temperature 37.5 °C, pH 8.5, glucose 0.5%, ammonium sulfate 1.5%, and incubation time 24 h, predicted a pectinase yield of 268 U/mL. Under such optimized conditions, the partially optimized protein was characterized through SDS-PAGE, which revealed a characterization by molecular weight of 40 kDa. Nine major peptide peaks from pectinase protein were identified through mass fingerprinting. Of these, the peptide IAIDPIQGVDEAKAR, with a mass-to-charge ratio of 595 and a peak area of 6321, exhibited a maximum error (ppm) of 6321 of − 68.46. We made a homology modeling structure of the pectinase-producing enzyme, and molecular studies demonstrated its ability to degrade agricultural pesticides with a binding affinity of − 6.3 kcal/mol. Overall, B. infantis (SA2) is a good source of pectinase-producing strain and represents a valuable resource for industrial purposes, promising biotechnological biofertilizer applications, including in the agricultural sector.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a globally wide spread chronic disease with remittent attacks. It causes many stressful symptoms which decrease the quality of life of the patients remarkably. IBD requires long term treatment due to its chronic nature. Probiotics are promising treatment approach for IBD due to its improve of the composition of the gut microbiota which have a great role in the development of colitis, in addition to its safety on the long term use in comparison to traditional treatment options. A novel promising Lactiplantibacillus strain, with superior probiotic potential, is tested for the management of colitis. Colitis was induced in different mice groups using dextran sodium sulphate. One group is treated by a commercial probiotic preparation, another group was treated with sulfasalazine and the last group was treated by the novel Lactiplantibacillus strain. Inflammation was assessed by measuring pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6, IL1-β and TNF-α. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring, Catalase and SOD activities in addition to malondialdehyde level. The effect of Lactiplantibacillus strain on the intestinal barrier function was examined by measuring the expression levels of tight junction proteins of claudin1, occludin and zonula occludens1 in mice colon and CaCo2 cell line. The novel Lactiplantibacillus strain significantly decreased the inflammatory markers level and oxidative stress. It also strengthens the intestinal barrier by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins in colon tissue and CaCo2 cell line. The effect of the novel Lactiplantibacillus strain was comparable to sulfasalazine and over performed commercial probiotic preparation.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a central regulator of redox balance and innate antiviral defense. Because many viruses induce oxidative stress to support replication or evade immunity, understanding how NRF2 responds to infection is essential for identifying new therapeutic strategies. Current evidence shows that viral pathogens, ranging from respiratory viruses to hepatic, neurotropic, and retroviral infections, differentially manipulate the NRF2-Keap1 pathway. NRF2 activation can suppress viral replication, reduce oxidative damage, and limit inflammation, while certain viruses inhibit NRF2 to promote immune evasion or chronic disease. We also highlight situations in which persistent NRF2 activation supports cell survival and contributes to virus-associated carcinogenesis. We also demonstrate that NRF2-activating compounds such as sulforaphane, dimethyl fumarate, and 4-octyl-itaconate can modulate antiviral and anti-inflammatory responses. These insights identify NRF2 as a promising target for host-directed antiviral therapy. Disease-specific NRF2 activation or inhibition may enhance treatment efficacy, reduce tissue injury, and mitigate long-term complications. Therefore, understanding how viruses exploit or suppress NRF2 provides a basis for developing selective NRF2 modulators with translational potential for managing acute and chronic viral infections.

This critical review evaluates the synergistic potential of biochar, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and biological control agents (BCAs) for sustainable management of basal stem rot (BSR). Ganoderma boninense causes basal stem rot (BSR), a significant issue affecting oil palm (Elaeis guineensis L.) productivity, resulting in a 50–80% yield loss on approximately 400,000 hectares of oil palm in Southeast Asia. Chemical fungicides have drawbacks, including environmental degradation and pathogen resistance, which necessitate the development of sustainable alternatives. This review combines the information on the current literature on the use of biochar, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), and biological control agents (BCAs) as a synergistic and environmentally friendly approach to the suppression of BSR. Biochar increases the soil structure, soil nutrient retention, and microbial habitats, whereas the PGPR increases the nutrient availability and systemic resistance. Biological control agents such as Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus spp., and Pseudomonas fluorescens suppress Ganoderma boninense through mycoparasitism, antibiotic production, siderophore secretion, and induced systemic resistance. Integrated use of the triad has been reported to reduce BSR incidence by 40–70% and increase fresh fruit bunch yield by 15–35% in nursery and field trials. Nonetheless, there are still problems with dosage, compatibility, and scalability. Further improvements in efficacy are expected through optimization of biochar feedstock, selection and genetic enhancement of microbial strains, and precise timing and method of application, and site-specific formulations tailored to local soil and climate conditions.

The escalating drug-resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), a leading cause of both community-acquired and nosocomial infections, poses a severe threat to global public health. While non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (NS-SNPs) serve as crucial molecular markers in microbial resistance studies, their role in inducing protein conformational changes to confer resistance in K. pneumoniae remains unexplored. This study integrates machine learning with protein structural analysis to elucidate the link between NS-SNP-mediated conformational alterations in homologous proteins and multidrug resistance in K. pneumoniae. This work aligned whole-genome sequences against the K. pneumoniae HS11286 reference genome using MUMmer 3 to generate SNP datasets. Two custom machine learning algorithms, Fast Feature Selection (FFS) and Codon Mutation Detection (CMD), were employed for SNP feature extraction and NS-SNP identification, respectively. Subsequently, ab initio method and homology modeling were conducted on NS-SNP-modified amino acid sequences, followed by protein quality assessment. Then, a statistical association analysis of genotype-phenotype was performed. Structural comparisons were performed using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software, and cross-validation of protein modeling was performed using AlphaFold2. Finally, the electrostatic surface potential alterations were analyzed via PyMOL. The results identify four NS-SNP mutations (IDs 1208814, 3086795, 3509283, and 3662328) whose mediated protein conformational changes are strongly associated with resistance. Notably, this study found that the porin variation (porin loss, porin channel narrows, and low expression of porin) were closely related to the NS-SNP (ID 3662328) mutation. Electrostatic potential analysis suggests that resistance may stem from mutation-induced changes in electrostatic energy, implying that an altered electrostatic environment could hinder antibiotic binding affinity. This elucidates a bacterial resistance mechanism related to NS-SNP mutations, and provides a valuable foundation for clinical research and therapeutic strategies against K. pneumoniae infections.

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), is an oncogenic virus responsible for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and lymphoproliferative disorders like primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). This review explores KSHV’s oncogenic mechanisms, focusing on its ability to manipulate host cell signaling, evade immune detection, and promote tumorigenesis through latent and lytic viral proteins. Key oncoproteins, such as LANA, vCyc, vFLIP, and vGPCR, activate cancer hallmarks, as sustained proliferation, immune evasion, angiogenesis, and resistance to cell death, by modulating pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NF-κB. While histopathology and LANA staining remain diagnostic standards, emerging technologies, including advanced imaging and new molecular biomarkers, assay improved early detection. Of KSHV current therapies face challenges, especially in immunocompromised patients, highlighting the need for targeted treatments addressing viral infection. Next-generation approaches, such as CRISPR-Cas9 and therapeutic aptamers, aim to inhibit viral replication, modulate oncogenic pathways, and enhance immune responses. Current diagnosis of KS still relies primarily on histopathology and LANA immunostaining, which remain the gold standard but present important limitations, particularly in early or atypical lesions and in distinguishing latent from lytic infection. Despite advances in conventional chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapy, KSHV-associated malignancies lack virus-specific targeted treatments, and clinical outcomes remain suboptimal, especially in immunocompromised patients. By integrating emerging diagnostic biomarkers, such as viral microRNAs, with next-generation therapeutic strategies—including gene editing and synthetic biology-based approaches—this review highlights opportunities for precision medicine to improve disease detection, therapeutic specificity, and patient outcomes. Collectively, we provide a comprehensive framework for understanding KSHV-driven oncogenesis while outlining critical directions for future diagnostic and therapeutic innovation.

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlights the urgent need to develop new antimicrobial drugs to combat the increasing threat of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Therefore, discovering new sources of antimicrobial compounds is essential. In this context, a biologically active microbial strain designated as “S26-11” was isolated from a soil sample collected from Kargil, Ladakh, in the North-West (NW) Himalayas. Based on its morphology and 16 S rDNA phylogenetic analysis, the strain belongs to the genus Streptomyces. The 16 S rDNA showed the highest sequence similarity with Streptomyces pratensis (99.4%). Chemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract resulted in the purification and identification of an antimicrobial compound known as echinomycin. Notably, Streptomyces pratensis has not been previously reported to produce echinomycin. This strain could serve as a new source for the commercial production of echinomycin. Additionally, this study is the first to report echinomycin-mediated modulation of key genes associated with Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and pathogenicity. Furthermore, our findings indicate that piperine, when used as an adjuvant, modulates echinomycin activity by lowering its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and potentially limiting the emergence of resistant MRSA mutants, thereby suggesting a reduced risk of AMR development. Overall, these in vitro findings provide a strong rationale for further validation using clinical strains of S. aureus, detailed dose-response analysis, and in vivo studies to enhance quantitative resolution and assess the therapeutic relevance in clinical settings.

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Monkeypox (mpox) is an emerging orthopoxviral disease that has re-emerged globally since 2022, with over 163,000 confirmed cases reported across multiple World Health Organization regions. Mpox has two large clades; Clade I which is mostly related to Central Africa and more severe disease and Clade II which has caused recent multinational outbreaks and is represented by the B.1 lineage. This review is an overview of the existing findings on the pathogenesis of mpox, viral evolution, immune evasion strategies, and the protective efficacy of smallpox and third-generation mpox vaccines based on epidemiological, clinical, immunological, and vaccine-related literature published in leading biomedical databases. Recent evidence suggests that mpox has several immune evasion mechanisms that interrupt innate and cellular immune responses, allowing prolonged human-to-human infection. High risks populations are disproportionately affected by the disease especially men who have sex with men and people living with HIV who become more susceptible, and severity of the disease worsens. Previous smallpox vaccination offers a significant level of cross-protective immunity, with aggregate evidence indicating that it offers protection of about 80 percent and a considerably lower risk of becoming infected. Third-generation vaccines such as MVA-BN/JYNNEOS, are showing good safety profiles, moderate to high efficacy in comparison to older vaccines like the ACAM2000, with other platforms being under clinical development. Knowledge of clade-specific viral evolution, immune resistance and vaccine efficacy is crucial to the optimization of vaccination response, the prioritization of susceptible population, and preparedness to future outbreaks of ortho poxvirus.

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