@article {pmid41843685,
year = {2026},
author = {Trinidad-Barnech, JM and Rey Navalón, ID and Mitsi, K and Monera-Girona, AJ and Najle, SR and Padmanabhan, S and Ruiz-Trillo, I and Elías-Arnanz, M},
title = {Origin of eukaryotic plasmalogen biosynthesis by horizontal gene transfer from myxobacteria.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {123},
number = {12},
pages = {e2529738123},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2529738123},
pmid = {41843685},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {PID2021-123336NB-C21//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN)/ ; PID2024-158644NB-C21//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU)/ ; 21939/PI/22//Fundacion Seneca/ ; PID2021-123336NB-C22//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN)/ ; PID2024-158644NB-C22//Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICIU)/ ; PID2023-153273NB-I00//Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN)/ ; },
mesh = {*Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Plasmalogens/biosynthesis/genetics ; Phylogeny ; *Myxococcales/genetics/metabolism ; Evolution, Molecular ; *Eukaryota/genetics/metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; },
abstract = {Plasmalogens are a unique class of glycerophospholipids defined by a distinctive vinyl ether bond. While these lipids are abundant in animals and important for human health, their evolutionary history remains enigmatic, mostly due to their absence in some major eukaryotic lineages like plants. Here, we resolve the origin and evolution of the aerobic plasmalogen biosynthesis pathway in eukaryotes. Through comprehensive phylogenomic analysis and experimental validation of enzyme activity and plasmalogen presence, we demonstrate that the essential desaturase plasmanylethanolamine desaturase 1 (PEDS1)-and likely the fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) and glycerone phosphate O-acyltransferase (GNPAT) enzymes also critical in the pathway-were acquired by an early eukaryotic ancestor through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from myxobacteria. Our data show that this bacterial pathway was retained in the Amorphea and Discoba supergroups but lost or replaced in others. The findings yield insights into how HGT shaped metabolic pathways in early eukaryotes.},
}

*Gene Transfer, Horizontal
*Plasmalogens/biosynthesis/genetics
Phylogeny
*Myxococcales/genetics/metabolism
Evolution, Molecular
*Eukaryota/genetics/metabolism
Biosynthetic Pathways

@article {pmid41836144,
year = {2026},
author = {Chaudhary, J and Sinha, R and Hasan, I and Chauhan, RS and Sahu, C},
title = {Molecular characterization and transmission pattern of tetracycline resistance determinants in tigecycline and carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates at a tertiary care hospital in India.},
journal = {Access microbiology},
volume = {8},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/acmi.0.001017.v4},
pmid = {41836144},
issn = {2516-8290},
abstract = {Background. The increasing prevalence of tigecycline and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) poses a serious challenge, especially in resource-limited settings. Its ability to exchange resistance genes with other bacteria accelerates the spread of multidrug resistance. While carbapenems and tetracyclines have been used effectively against K. pneumoniae, resistance to these agents is now rising globally, narrowing available treatment options. Objective. The study aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic prevalence of carbapenem and tetracycline resistance in K. pneumoniae isolates along with the transferability pattern of carbapenem and tetracycline resistance genes in these isolates. Methodology. Clinical isolates from pus and respiratory samples were identified using biochemical tests and MALDI-TOF MS. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and MICs were determined by the broth microdilution test method. PCR was performed to detect carbapenemase (bla NDM, bla OXA-48 and bla KPC) and tetracycline resistance genes [tet(A), tet(B), tet(K), tet(M) and tet(S)], followed by Sanger sequencing for validation. Conjugation assays assessed gene transferability. Results. Out of 152 CRKP isolates, 20.4% (31 out of 152) were found to be resistant to tigecycline. All tigecycline-resistant isolates exhibited complete resistance (31 out of 31; 100%) to ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and omadacycline. Additionally, resistance to amikacin and cefoperazone-sulbactam was observed in 87.1% (27 out of 31) and 77.4% (24 out of 31) of the isolates. Resistance to minocycline and colistin was detected in 51.6% (16 out of 31) and 29.0% (9 out of 31) of the isolates, respectively. PCR analysis revealed that 51.6% (16 out of 31) of the isolates carried the bla OXA-48 gene, and 29.0% (9 out of 31) carried the bla NDM gene. None of the isolates harboured the bla KPC gene. With respect to tetracycline resistance determinants, the tet(A) gene was detected in 12.9% (4 out of 31) of the isolates, and the tet(B) gene in 3.2% (1 out of 31), while tet(K), tet(M), tet(S) and bla KPC were not detected in any isolate. Conjugation assays demonstrated that plasmids carrying bla NDM and bla OXA-48 were transferable to a recipient strain, indicating their potential for horizontal gene transfer. In contrast, plasmids harbouring tet(A) and tet(B) genes were not transferable under the experimental conditions. Conclusion. Tigecycline-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates showed high multidrug resistance, with transferable bla NDM and bla OXA-48 genes. In contrast, chromosome and plasmid-borne tetracycline resistance genes tet(A) and tet(B) were non-transferable, indicating limited horizontal spread.},
}

@article {pmid41837349,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, W and Xie, WY and Huang, K and Jiang, G and Liu-Clarke, J and Zhao, FJ},
title = {Organic Fertiliser Additions Promote Transformation of Extracellular Antibiotic Resistance Genes to Soil Bacteria.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {28},
number = {3},
pages = {e70273},
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.70273},
pmid = {41837349},
issn = {1462-2920},
support = {42090062//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42477122//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; RCN 336168//Norges Forskningsråd/ ; },
mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Bacteria/genetics/drug effects/metabolism ; *Fertilizers/analysis ; *Transformation, Bacterial ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Acinetobacter/genetics ; Plasmids/genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) poses a serious risk to public health. Natural transformation of extracellular ARGs (eARGs) to bacterial competent cells is a HGT pathway, but its frequency in soil and the influencing factors remain largely unknown. Here, we show that organic fertiliser amendment significantly increased the transformation frequency of plasmid-borne eARGs to both the model species Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 inoculated into a sterile soil and to diverse native bacteria in an unsterile soil. During incubation in unsterile soil, eARGs were transformed into six bacterial phyla, especially Pseudomonadota and Actinobacteria, including opportunistic pathogens in the genera Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Most (87.5%) of the detected transformants belong to bacterial taxa previously unknown to be capable of acquiring extracellular DNA by natural transformation. Organic fertiliser amendments, likely through enriched metals (e.g., Mn and Zn), promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, triggered oxidative stress responses, increased membrane permeability and ATP synthesis and enhanced bacterial competence for the uptake of eARGs. Our findings indicate that natural transformation of eARGs represents an important HGT pathway in soils and organic fertiliser additions can substantially promote the eARG spreads within the soil bacterial community through natural transformation.},
}

*Soil Microbiology
Gene Transfer, Horizontal
*Bacteria/genetics/drug effects/metabolism
*Fertilizers/analysis
*Transformation, Bacterial
*Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics
Acinetobacter/genetics
Plasmids/genetics
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology

@article {pmid41837428,
year = {2026},
author = {Ding, L and Wu, X and Xie, Q and Liu, L and Liang, B and Shen, S and Guo, Y and Chen, J and Hu, F},
title = {Within-host co-evolution of KPC variants: plasmid-mediated dissemination of blaKpc-194 and blaKpc-33 in ST11-KL64 hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae driving ceftazidime-avibactam resistance.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0325725},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03257-25},
pmid = {41837428},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: KPC variants are the primary cause of treatment failure in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. This study reports the molecular mechanism by which two novel KPC variants (KPC-194 and KPC-33), isolated from a single patient, mediate resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam in ST11-KL64 K. pneumoniae, as well as the evolutionary trajectory of these variants within the host. The broth microdilution method (BMD) was used to determine bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology was employed to identify the drug-resistant genes, virulence genes, and genetic environment carried by the bacterial strains. Molecular cloning experiments and plasmid conjugation experiments were conducted to clarify the susceptibility of KPC-194 to ceftazidime-avibactam and carbapenem. The BMD showed that the KPC-194-producing K. pneumoniae strain was resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam and other antimicrobial agents but susceptible to imipenem (with a minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of 0.5 mg/L). Compared with KPC-2, KPC-194 had two amino acid changes, namely, D179Y and P183L. In comparison with Escherichia coli EC 600, the MIC of ceftazidime-avibactam against E. coli EC 600 carrying the blaKPC-194 plasmid increased by 256-fold. When compared with pHSG398-DH5α, the MIC of ceftazidime-avibactam against the cloned strain blaKPC-194-pHSG398-DH5α was elevated by 64-fold. WGS revealed that blaKPC-194 was located on both the IncFII(pHN7A8)-type plasmid and the IncR-type plasmid and that it was horizontally transferred from the IncR-type plasmid to the IncFII(pHN7A8)-type plasmid via an IS26-mediated replicative transposition mechanism. This study elucidates the key mechanism by which the novel KPC variant, KPC-194 (D179Y/P183L), mediates resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam.

IMPORTANCE: This study elucidates the critical molecular mechanism and evolutionary pathway of a novel KPC variant, KPC-194, that confers resistance to the last-resort antibiotic combination ceftazidime-avibactam in a high-risk Klebsiella pneumoniae strain. We identified that two amino acid substitutions (D179Y/P183L) in KPC-194 are responsible for ceftazidime-avibactam resistance. Crucially, our work reveals a dual-threat dynamic: the resistance phenotype is not only caused by the KPC mutation but also profoundly exacerbated by horizontal gene transfer. blaKPC-194 mobilized from a low-risk IncR plasmid to a highly transmissible IncFII plasmid via IS26-mediated replicative transposition. This event dramatically enhances the potential for widespread dissemination among clinical pathogens.},
}

@article {pmid41837751,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, P and Ru, M and Hao, B and Wang, L and Wang, S and Cheng, H and Cui, D},
title = {Potential dissemination of IncHI2/IncHI2A plasmids carrying mcr-9.4 complex transposon in chicken-derived Enterobacter hormaechei.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0197925},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01979-25},
pmid = {41837751},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {The escalating global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance(AMR) represents a critical public health challenge, particularly concerning the compromised efficacy of polymyxins-essential therapeutic agents against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. This crisis is exacerbated by the plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer mechanism, which facilitates the inter-reservoir dissemination of resistance determinants across anthropogenic, zoogenic, and environmental microbiomes. This study investigated a multidrug-resistant Enterobacter hormaechei strain GS32 isolated from a deceased 180-day-old laying hen. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole-genome sequencing, and comparative genomics were employed to analyze resistance profiles, plasmid architecture, and genetic mobility. Conjugation assays assessed plasmid transferability. Results revealed E. hormaechei GS32 harbored a 255 kb IncHI2/IncHI2A plasmid carrying mcr-9.4(pGS32-1) within a conserved transposon (IS1R-qseB/qseC-wbuC-mcr-9.4-IS903B) alongside 14 additional resistance genes [e.g., tet(D), mph(A), and sul2] and heavy metal resistance determinants. The pGS32-1 demonstrated high similarity to those in Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter freundii, suggesting cross-species transmission. Conjugation to EC600 occurred efficiently (frequency: [7.92 ± 0.75] × 10[-][2]). To our knowledge, the present study provides the first evidence of the presence of an IncHI2 carrying mcr-9.4 in E. hormaechei isolated from poultry. The pGS32-1 was frequently found in Enterobacter sp. (including E. hormaechei and Enterobacter cloacae), Salmonella sp., and other bacteria such as C. freundii and Leclercia adecarboxylata, indicating the cross-species transmission capability of IncHI2 plasmids, highlighting its role in disseminating polymyxin resistance across ecological niches. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced antimicrobial resistance surveillance in livestock and stricter antibiotic stewardship to mitigate the emergence of a multidrug-resistant pathogen under the One Health framework.IMPORTANCEPolymyxin, as the last-line therapeutic agent against carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, is facing increasing clinical challenges due to the emergence of novel resistance mechanisms. In this study, a strain of Enterobacter hormaechei GS32 harboring an IncHI2/IncHI2A-type plasmid (pGS32-1) was isolated from deceased laying hens. This plasmid carries a multidrug resistance gene cluster, including mcr-9.4, and exhibits high-efficiency conjugative transfer capability. The mcr-9.4 gene is located within a conserved transposon structure (IS1R-qseB/qseC-wbuC-mcr-9.4-IS903B), colocalized with other resistance genes on the plasmid, suggesting its potential integration as a more complex transposon substructure into this plasmid type. Previous studies have demonstrated that IncHI2-type plasmids are predominantly distributed among Enterobacteriaceae species such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella spp. Notably, pGS32-1 exhibits high homology with plasmids identified in Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter freundii, indicating the cross-species transmission potential of IncHI2/IncHI2A-type plasmids and their role in expanding the reservoir of resistance genes.},
}

@article {pmid41838180,
year = {2026},
author = {de Souza, HCA and de Oliveira Almeida, AC and ConteJunior, CA and Panzenhagen, P},
title = {Multi-replicon Architecture Drives the Global Accumulation of Resistance to Antimicrobials, Biocides, and Metals in IncF and IncH Plasmids.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {83},
number = {5},
pages = {},
pmid = {41838180},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Plasmids/genetics ; *Disinfectants/pharmacology ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Metals/pharmacology ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics ; *Replicon ; *Bacteria/drug effects/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; },
abstract = {Plasmids are major vectors driving the environmental dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other stress-resistance traits. The convergence between AMR and tolerance to multiple environmental stressors has become increasingly concerning, as these interactions intensify horizontal gene transfer and enhance plasmid conjugation. In this study, we investigated whether the co-occurrence of resistance determinants against different stressors results from random aggregation or statistically meaningful associations. We analyzed 25,116 complete plasmids from PLSDB and applied multivariate correspondence analysis to examine relationships between incompatibility groups and resistance categories. Pairwise co-occurrence patterns among resistance genes were assessed using Fisher's exact test to determine whether their distribution deviated from randomness. IncF and IncH plasmids emerged as the incompatibility groups most strongly enriched in multidrug resistance, showing a marked tendency to co-carry genes conferring tolerance to antimicrobials, biocides, and metals-traits highly relevant under environmental co-selection. While pairwise tests did not reveal significant associations between specific gene pairs, the broader patterns of resistance accumulation highlight the structural evolution of plasmids via multireplicon cointegration as a primary mechanism for multi-stressor resistance. Our findings underscore the ecological importance of multireplicon plasmids, particularly those involving IncF and IncH, as high-risk vectors that sustain multi-stressor resistance in microbial communities.},
}

*Plasmids/genetics
*Disinfectants/pharmacology
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
*Metals/pharmacology
*Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics
*Replicon
*Bacteria/drug effects/genetics
Gene Transfer, Horizontal
*Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology
*Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics

@article {pmid41839407,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, S and Zhao, A and Zhang, W and Liu, Q and Li, D},
title = {Metabolic reprogramming disrupts the resistome-mobilome nexus and enhances bio-sanitization in synthetic microbial community-mediated composting.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {449},
number = {},
pages = {134433},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134433},
pmid = {41839407},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {The persistence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens during manure composting poses critical risks within the One Health framework. However, the ecological and metabolic mechanisms by which microbiome engineering disrupts the dissemination of these biohazards remain poorly understood. This study evaluated a thermophilic lignocellulose-degrading synthetic microbial community (SynCom, comprising Bacillus cereus, Achromobacter sp., Pseudomonas sp., Cladosporium sp., and Trichoderma harzianum) in mitigating these risks. KEGG analysis highlighted a pivotal metabolic reprogramming from a biofilm-dependent defense-survival model to an active motility-metabolism mode, characterized by depleted lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis and enriched flagellar assembly. This metabolic shift implies a fitness cost trade-off that physically restricts horizontal gene transfer (HGT) opportunities. Metagenomic analysis showed SynCom inoculation caused a transient ARG rebound followed by profound attenuation. While thermophilic hosts temporarily enriched specific ARGs, SynCom ultimately achieved a significant reduction in multidrug resistance genes and virulence factors by intensifying thermophilic fermentation. Mantel correlation analysis revealed the SynCom-driven rapid decrease in carbon/nitrogen ratio and enhanced humification were critical environmental drivers, restricting ARGs and alleviating co-selection pressure on metal resistance genes. Network analysis demonstrated SynCom induced a structural collapse of high-risk interactomes (reducing potential host-gene associations by 26.6%), effectively disrupting ARG and mobile genetic element connections by suppressing key recombinases (XerD, IntI1) and eliminating Pseudomonadota hub hosts. Consequently, deep bio-sanitization was achieved by synchronously eliminating high-risk pathogens (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa), phytopathogens, and specific virulence factors. These findings indicate that SynCom provides a robust microbiome engineering strategy to disrupt the genetic dissemination of biohazards and ensure organic fertilizer biosafety.},
}

@article {pmid41839722,
year = {2026},
author = {Skelly, E and Majithia, K and Rebolledo, LP and Rizek, CF and Costa, SF and Dunnavant, AR and Vasquez, C and Lushnikov, AJ and Krasnoslobodtsev, AV and Kim, T and Chandler, MR and Saito, RF and Chammas, R and Johnson, MB and Afonin, KA},
title = {Spatially Organized DNA-Templated Silver Nanoclusters as Potent Antimicrobial Agents for ESKAPE Infections.},
journal = {ACS applied materials & interfaces},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1021/acsami.5c25898},
pmid = {41839722},
issn = {1944-8252},
abstract = {Antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause more than one million deaths annually worldwide. The rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer among pathogens frequently render newly developed antibiotics ineffective shortly after their introduction, underscoring the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Nanoscale silver is well known for its innate antimicrobial activity but typically requires high concentrations for efficacy that causes toxicities and limits broader clinical applications. To overcome these limitations, we introduce programmable, self-assembling DNA scaffolds that template, stabilize, and spatially organize multiple copies of monodisperse silver nanoclusters (DNA-AgNCs). These nanoscale assemblies enhance the antimicrobial potency of formulations while exhibiting intrinsic fluorescence, providing a dual functionality for therapeutic and fluorescence probing applications. Comprehensive characterization revealed DNA-AgNCs with superior stability and potent activity against clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE pathogens. Also, DNA-AgNCs significantly reduced the intracellular bacterial burden in primary murine bone cells infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Mechanistic studies indicate that bacterial killing by DNA-AgNCs is mediated by reactive oxygen species, particularly singlet oxygen, in conjunction with the disruption of the bacterial membrane. Furthermore, DNA-AgNCs retained strong antibacterial activity after 4 weeks of storage at ambient temperatures, with minimal loss of efficacy. Collectively, these findings establish spatially organized DNA-AgNCs as a promising, modular platform for next-generation antibacterials with integrated real-time fluorescence probing capabilities.},
}

@article {pmid41831290,
year = {2026},
author = {Tang, Z and Li, Y and Zhang, L and Xi, B and Tan, W and Yuan, Y},
title = {Space-for-time substitution reveals mechanisms driving heavy metal induced dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes of varying risk levels in landfill leachate.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {507},
number = {},
pages = {141740},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141740},
pmid = {41831290},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Landfills are recognized as persistent reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); however, the temporal dynamics of their risk profiles after closure remain poorly understood. Because long-term monitoring of ARG risks in landfill leachate is challenging, a "space-for-time" substitution was employed to characterize ARGs, metal resistance genes (MRGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and microbial hosts in landfill leachate at three stages: unclosed landfills (UL), landfills closed for 1-5 years (CF), and landfills closed for more than 6 years (CS). Metagenomic analyses identified 518 ARG subtypes across 22 classes. ARG abundance peaked in the CF stage (1.28 copies/cell), significantly higher than in UL (0.292 copies/cell) and CS (0.597 copies/cell) stages (p < 0.05). Elevated concentrations of nickel, copper, and arsenic during the CF stage promoted ARG enrichment via co-selection, primarily driven by efflux pump-mediated cross-resistance and co-resistance within ARG-MRG clusters. IntI1 was strongly linked to high-risk ARGs, indicating horizontal gene transfer as a major dissemination pathway. Key bacterial hosts, including Pseudomonas spp. and Escherichia coli, harbored both ARGs and MRGs. These findings highlight the early post-closure period (1-5 years) as a critical surveillance window and support targeted monitoring of high-risk ARGs, MGEs, indicator taxa, and heavy metals to mitigate environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance.},
}

@article {pmid41831800,
year = {2026},
author = {Xie, J and Zhu, W and Wang, W and Min, B and Xu, J and Xie, L},
title = {Optimizing anaerobic digestion for antibiotic degradation and antimicrobial resistance mitigation.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {134409},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134409},
pmid = {41831800},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely applied to treat antibiotic pharmaceutical wastewater for antimicrobial resistance mitigation and synchronous bio-energy recovery. However, process efficiency and risk control depend critically on operational strategies. Here, we systematically evaluated the roles of feedstock composition and digestive temperature in optimizing lincomycin-containing AD. Glucose-rich mesophilic digestion achieved superior lincomycin degradation and methane recovery compared to thermophilic and protein-rich systems. Transformation product analysis suggested that glucose-rich feedstock might facilitate the furan ring-opening step during lincomycin degradation, possibly owing to structural and metabolic similarities between glucose and lincomycin. The enrichment of lincomycin-degrading Clostridium and Methanobacterium in response to glucose-rich mesophilic condition, together with their potential syntrophic interaction, further supported the accelerated lincomycin degradation and methanation. Metagenome-assembled genome analysis revealed that protein-rich and thermophilic operation intensified the proliferation of host consortia harboring gene clusters with antibiotic resistance gene-mobile genetic element (ARG-MGE) co-occurrence, and induced putative horizontal transfer of ARG, resulting in the increased ARG abundance. ARG proliferation in thermophilic systems was associated with enrichment of lincomycin-resistant consortia (JAAYZQ01 sp034428935 and Tenuifilum sp018056955) after antibiotic exposure, which preferentially enriched under higher-temperature conditions. In contrast, glucose-rich digesters exhibited a reduced potential for horizontal gene transfer mediated by MGEs and natural conjugation. Overall, feedstock composition exerted a greater influence on antimicrobial resistance dissemination compared to temperature. Collectively, our findings provide an operational framework for sustainable treatment and valorization of antibiotic-containing wastewater.},
}

@article {pmid41832122,
year = {2026},
author = {Van Etten, J and Johnson, MD},
title = {The ecology of horizontal gene transfer.},
journal = {Trends in genetics : TIG},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.tig.2026.02.002},
pmid = {41832122},
issn = {0168-9525},
abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) generates genetic variation in populations across all domains of life; however, most studies focus on individual transfers and functional information derived therefrom. This is useful but does not consider DNA transfer more broadly, that is, nongene transfers, donor-recipient dynamics, or trends and background levels that may help infer ecological information. Here, we review the mechanistic underpinnings of DNA transfer, literature from diverse fields that addresses HGT on a community basis and the associated methodological challenges, and propose a framework for conceptualizing the process of DNA transfer, highlighting DNA mobility as a feature of community ecology and DNA itself as a public good. These ideas coalesce to support DNA transfer as a fundamental ecological phenomenon that remains largely unmeasured.},
}

@article {pmid41833249,
year = {2026},
author = {Jiao, H and Al-Tohamy, R and Xiong, M and Schagerl, M and Reinthaler, T and Al-Zahrani, M and Sun, J and Ali, SS},
title = {Microplastic biodegradation and environmental safety: From microbial mechanisms to engineered systems and circular bio-based implementation.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {313},
number = {},
pages = {120016},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120016},
pmid = {41833249},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Microplastics, defined as synthetic polymer particles smaller than 5 mm, have become pervasive environmental contaminants across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems. Their chemical stability, hydrophobicity, and resistance to natural attenuation limit the effectiveness of conventional physical and chemical removal technologies. Microbial and enzymatic approaches have therefore emerged as promising strategies for microplastic transformation and controlled degradation, although complete mineralization is not consistently achieved. Degradation outcomes vary widely depending on polymer structure, environmental conditions, and microbial community dynamics, and incomplete depolymerization may generate intermediate products with distinct ecological implications. This review provides a mechanistically integrated analysis of microplastic biodegradation, explicitly distinguishing surface modification, depolymerization, biotransformation, and complete mineralization. Abiotic preconditioning processes, enzyme-polymer interactions, kinetic constraints in real environmental matrices, and the functional roles of single strains, microbial consortia, and genetically engineered systems are examined. Particular attention is given to environmental safety considerations, including degradation byproducts, additive release, horizontal gene transfer risks, and biosafety containment strategies. The feasibility of integrating microbial degradation into circular bio-based recycling frameworks is critically assessed through translational strategies, pilot-scale considerations, and life cycle perspectives. Although advances in enzyme engineering and synthetic biology have significantly improved depolymerization efficiency under controlled conditions, scalability, regulatory compliance, and ecosystem-level risk assessment remain central challenges. Bridging mechanistic insight with environmental realism and regulatory preparedness is essential to ensure that biodegradation strategies reduce environmental burden without redistributing ecological risk.},
}

@article {pmid41833662,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, MG and Cheng, J and Luo, DM and Li, S and Wang, D and Yang, D and Wang, Q},
title = {The ESX-3 Secretion System in Mycobacteria: Evolution, Structure, and Multifunctional Roles in Pathogenesis.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108438},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108438},
pmid = {41833662},
issn = {1096-1208},
abstract = {The ESX-3 secretion system serves as a core component in maintaining metal ion homeostasis in mycobacteria, playing an indispensable role in the acquisition of essential elements such as iron and zinc. As a critical virulence determinant, its functional scope extends to immune modulation, cell wall integrity, and antibiotic resistance. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the genetic architecture, evolutionary trajectory, and structural composition of ESX-3, revealing its complex evolutionary history involving both vertical inheritance and horizontal gene transfer via plasmids. We explore its multifaceted biological functions in pathogenesis and its emerging link to antibiotic susceptibility. We also detail its sophisticated regulatory network, governed by metal-dependent transcription factors (IdeR, Zur, MntR), toxin-antitoxin systems, and oxidative stress pathways. Furthermore, we explore its multifaceted biological functions in pathogenesis and its emerging, complex link to antibiotic susceptibility. By integrating existing literature with our preliminary findings, this work provides a comprehensive overview of ESX-3, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic target and outlining future research directions to unravel its full functional and mechanistic spectrum.},
}

@article {pmid41828642,
year = {2026},
author = {Sadurski, J and Ostrowska, M and Staniszewski, A and Waśko, A},
title = {Genomic Plasticity and Functional Reweighting Facilitate Microbial Adaptation During the Ripening of Artisanal Goat Cheese.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27052426},
pmid = {41828642},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {*Cheese/microbiology ; Animals ; Goats ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Metagenomics/methods ; Metagenome ; Food Microbiology ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {This study presents a genome-resolved shotgun metagenomic analysis of artisanal raw-milk goat cheese from the Masurian region of Poland, addressing the limited understanding of strain-level diversification and functional restructuring during traditional cheese ripening. While microbial succession in cheese has been widely described, comprehensive genome-resolved analyses integrating strain-level genomic heterogeneity, pathway reweighting, and mobile genetic elements in artisanal goat cheese remain scarce. By combining taxonomic profiling with metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) reconstruction and pathway-level functional analysis, we characterised microbial succession and genome plasticity across ripening stages. Genome reconstruction yielded 37 MAGs during early ripening and 141 MAGs in mature cheese, revealing increased genome recoverability and pronounced strain-level heterogeneity within dominant taxa, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, and Lactococcus lactis. Alpha diversity increased in mature samples, consistent with progressive community restructuring. Functional profiling demonstrated coordinated metabolic reweighting, particularly within carbohydrate metabolism, while amino acid and lipid metabolism remained proportionally stable. Genome-resolved analyses further identified tetracycline- and sulfonamide-associated resistance determinants and diverse bacteriophages targeting lactic acid bacteria, highlighting the role of mobile genetic elements in horizontal gene transfer and microevolutionary adaptation during ripening.},
}

*Cheese/microbiology
Animals
Goats
*Genome, Bacterial
*Adaptation, Physiological/genetics
Metagenomics/methods
Metagenome
Food Microbiology
Phylogeny

@article {pmid41828596,
year = {2026},
author = {Duduveche, AE},
title = {The Citrobacter freundii Complex as an Emerging Pathogen: Genomic Plasticity, Virulence, and Antimicrobial Resistance.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {5},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27052378},
pmid = {41828596},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {*Citrobacter freundii/genetics/pathogenicity/drug effects ; Humans ; Virulence/genetics ; *Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology/drug therapy ; beta-Lactamases/genetics/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; },
abstract = {The Citrobacter freundii (C. freundii) complex represents an increasingly significant group of opportunistic pathogens within healthcare settings. This bacterial complex demonstrates remarkable genomic plasticity, characterized by extensive horizontal gene transfer capabilities that facilitate rapid acquisition of resistance determinants and virulence factors. Although originally considered environmental organisms with limited pathogenic potential, members of the C. freundii complex have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens responsible for urinary tract infections, bacteremia, wound infections, and neonatal meningitis. Importantly, their clinical significance lies less in unique disease manifestations and more in the moderate risk of resistance emergence during therapy with third-generation cephalosporins, driven by inducible chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase production. Beyond this intrinsic mechanism, the genomic adaptability of the C. freundii complex also enables acquisition of additional resistance determinants, including extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases, further limiting therapeutic options and complicating clinical management. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying genomic plasticity, virulence expression, and resistance development in the C. freundii complex is crucial for developing effective diagnostic strategies, infection control measures, and novel therapeutic approaches. This pathogen exemplifies the challenge of emerging multidrug-resistant bacteria in contemporary healthcare and underscores the need for continued surveillance and research. This narrative review provides current insights into the taxonomy, genomic plasticity, virulence, and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.},
}

*Citrobacter freundii/genetics/pathogenicity/drug effects
Humans
Virulence/genetics
*Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology/drug therapy
beta-Lactamases/genetics/metabolism
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use
*Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics
Genome, Bacterial
Virulence Factors/genetics
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics
Animals
Bacterial Proteins/genetics

@article {pmid41826811,
year = {2026},
author = {Bull, EM and Agarwal, V and Dillon, MM},
title = {Pathological convergence of a bacterial plant pathogen is associated with the horizontal transfer of an effector-containing mobile element.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-026-12740-9},
pmid = {41826811},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {Graduate Scholarship (CGS-M)//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; Discovery Award (RGPIN-2021-02701)//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; John R. Evans Leaders Award (41262)//Canada Foundation for Innovation/ ; Matching Award (41262)//Ontario Research Fund/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41826315,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, Y and Jiang, L and Zhang, J and Li, Q and Liu, B},
title = {Complete genome sequence of Sphingomonas sp. gentR, a high-level gentamicin-resistant bacterium.},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41597-026-06723-4},
pmid = {41826315},
issn = {2052-4463},
abstract = {We present the complete genome sequence of Sphingomonas sp. gentR, a strain exhibiting high-level resistance to gentamicin (MIC = 40 mg/mL). The genome was assembled from hybrid Illumina and Nanopore sequencing data into a gap-free sequence of 4.0 Mbp, comprising one chromosome and two plasmids. A total of 3,692 coding sequences were predicted, with comprehensive functional annotation revealing genes associated with antibiotic resistance, stress adaptation, and metabolic diversity. Three confirmed resistance genes-ANT(2″)-Ia, ANT(3″)-IIa, and Sul1-were co-localized within a genomic island on plasmid B. This dataset provides insight into the genetic basis of high-level aminoglycoside resistance in Sphingomonas and serves as a valuable resource for studying horizontal gene transfer, environmental adaptation, and bioremediation potential. The genome sequence is publicly available under GenBank accessions CP144670-CP144672 and China National Genomics Data Center (accession number GWHDOHA00000000).},
}

@article {pmid41825216,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, S and Gao, Z and Da, Y and Zhang, Y and Huang, Z and Yuan, G and Wu, C and Huang, T and Sun, Q and Zhou, G},
title = {ESKAPE pathogens contribute largely to antibiotic resistance spread via horizontal gene transfer in aquatic environments.},
journal = {Journal of contaminant hydrology},
volume = {279},
number = {},
pages = {104922},
doi = {10.1016/j.jconhyd.2026.104922},
pmid = {41825216},
issn = {1873-6009},
abstract = {The overuse of antibiotics in human healthcare, livestock, and aquaculture has led to the accumulation of antibiotic residues in aquatic environments. It promotes the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) that pose a threat to public health. However, the mechanisms that shape antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profiles in different water types remain poorly understood. In this study, three water types, including hospital wastewater, breeding wastewater, and natural waters, were employed. Using a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and metagenomic analysis, we found that ofloxacin in hospital wastewater posed the highest ecological risk, whereas norfloxacin and tetracycline in natural waters posed elevated health risks. Among 101 detected ARG subtypes, hospital effluents carried the highest abundances of high-risk ARGs and their host bacteria compared to breeding wastewater and natural waters. Interestingly, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were the primary direct driver of ARG enrichment (PLS-PM path coefficient = 0.725), in contrast to the negligible contributions from typical antibiotic residues, physicochemical parameters, and microbial community structure. Furthermore, genera associated with ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) dominated the co-hosts of both ARGs and MGEs across all water types. Among these, Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae were found to co-harbor the most diverse MGEs and multidrug-resistant ARGs. Consequently, this study underscores the critical role of ESKAPE pathogens in the environmental dissemination of ARGs and provides a scientific foundation for targeted antibiotic resistance control and sustainable water resource management.},
}

@article {pmid41824784,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, K and Zhang, C and Zhang, Z and Cheng, J and Gao, Q and Gao, L and Zhao, X and Yan, W and Wang, Y and Ye, W},
title = {Telomere-to-Telomere Genomes Reveal that Multiscale Evolution Shapes the Largest Metabolic Arsenal of Diaporthe Fungi.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e13287},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202513287},
pmid = {41824784},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {CARS-04//China Agriculture Research System/ ; 32172374//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; JYB2025XDXM703//Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Disciplines Breakthrough Plan of the Ministry of Education of China/ ; },
abstract = {The fungal genus Diaporthe poses a significant threat to global food security by causing devastating crop diseases, including soybean seed decay and stem blight caused by D. longicolla. However, the molecular basis of its pathogenicity and the evolutionary mechanisms underlying its virulence remain poorly understood. Here, we present complete telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies of four Diaporthe species, revealing extensive chromosomal rearrangements correlating with phylogenetic divergence. Comparative analyses of 34 Diaporthe genomes identified secondary metabolism genes as the most variable fraction. Comprehensive genome exploration across fungi has revealed that Diaporthe harbors the largest repertoire of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (SMBGCs) reported to date. We demonstrate that frequent chromosomal rearrangements and rapid intra-cluster gene variation are key drivers of SMBGC diversification, thereby accelerating the evolution of these gene clusters. Interestingly, we identified horizontal gene transfer events that further expanded the metabolic potential of these clusters. Functional characterization of the five rapidly evolving SMBGCs identified demonstrated their direct role in mediating pathogenicity, underscoring the biological significance of their rapid diversification. Collectively, this study establishes chromosomal plasticity as a crucial mechanism for ecological adaptation and secondary metabolite arsenal expansion in plant pathogens, providing new insights into the evolution of fungal virulence.},
}

@article {pmid41821963,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Dechesne, A and Franck, SL and Klümper, U and Wang, G and Smets, BF},
title = {Effect of biofilm lifestyle caused by water matric potential on invasion of exogenous plasmid.},
journal = {ISME communications},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
pages = {ycag031},
pmid = {41821963},
issn = {2730-6151},
abstract = {Conjugal plasmid transfer is an efficient mechanism for gene exchange among bacteria. Most bacteria exist in biofilms encased in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which provide protection against environmental stressors such as water deprivation. We hypothesized that enhanced EPS production in response to water matric stress would create a physical barrier limiting exogenous plasmid invasion into established biofilms. Employing filter mating assays, we demonstrate that Pseudomonas putida (serving as recipient strain), which produces more EPS with decreasing water matric potential, suppresses plasmid invasion from exogenously added P. putida (pKJK5) donor cells. Similarly, transfer into a biofilm formed by an EPS overproducing P. putida mutant was impaired. This barrier effect was not observed in biofilms co-established by mixtures of donor and recipient strains, probably because EPS does not form a thick enough internal barrier within the biofilm compared to the external barrier on top of a mature biofilm. Hence, sufficiently high cell-to-cell contacts remain possible within these biofilms regardless of water matric stress and EPS production capability. We further tested these mechanisms employing a complex, natural soil bacterial community as recipient; also here conjugal plasmid invasion declined with decreasing matric potential. Our study provides novel insight into the complex dynamics of horizontal transfer of plasmids in microbial biofilms.},
}

@article {pmid41821944,
year = {2026},
author = {Qin, B and Huang, X and Jiang, R and Huang, Y and Sun, K and Li, J and Zhang, G},
title = {The mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of Lagerstroemia suprareticulata revealed a convergent genome morphology in genetic material evolution.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1746941},
pmid = {41821944},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {To investigate the mitochondrial genome characteristics and evolutionary dynamics of Lagerstroemia suprareticulata, we performed complete assembly and annotation of its mitochondrial genome, followed by comparative genomic analyses with related species. This research presents the initial comprehensive mitogenome of L. suprareticulata, a 364,645 bp independent single cyclic structure with a whole average GC content of 46.20%, twice the size of the chloroplast genome and an approximately similar tetrad structure. It comprised 62 functional genes and 386 open reading frames. Besides two long repeats above 800 bp, simple sequence repeat analysis revealed a predominance of mono-nucleotide and tetra-nucleotide repeats, which is consistent with patterns observed in most Lythraceae species. A total of 480 C-to-U RNA editing sites were predicted in 36 protein-coding genes, with the highest number in nad4. AUG and UGG had a relative synonymous codon usage value of 1, while GCU had the highest RSCU (1.62). ccmB and rps4 may have undergone positive selection, whereas atp8 and cox1 experienced strong purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes confirmed a close relationship between L. suprareticulata and L. indica. Collinear segments decreased with increasing evolutionary distance, and gene rearrangement analysis revealed a lineage-specific gene arrangement pattern in Lagerstroemia. Homologous sequence analysis identified 34 mitochondrial-chloroplast homologous sequences (accounting for 4.63% of the mitochondrial genome) and 2182 mitochondrial-nuclear homologous sequences. These results provide a foundation for understanding the mitochondrial genome evolution of Lagerstroemia and Lythraceae, and may offer valuable genetic resources for horticultural and evolutionary studies.},
}

@article {pmid41820667,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, P and Xu, T and Wang, S and Yang, X and Sun, P and Jia, P and Lin, J and Wang, B and Zhang, Y and Meng, D and Bush, SJ and Ning, Z and Ye, K},
title = {Highly accurate ab initio gene annotation with ANNEVO.},
journal = {Nature methods},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41820667},
issn = {1548-7105},
support = {32125009//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32430017//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 323B2015//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32422019 and 62172325//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 32400509//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 62302386//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 2024JC-JCQN-28//Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (Shaanxi Province Natural Science Foundation)/ ; },
abstract = {Accurate gene annotation is essential for deciphering the mapping from genomic sequences to their functional roles. However, current methods struggle to model complex gene transmission patterns, such as vertical inheritance and horizontal gene transfer. Here we introduce ANNEVO, a mixture of experts-based genomic language model that directly models distal sequence dependencies and joint evolutionary relationships from diverse genomes, enabling precise ab initio gene annotation. Through extensive benchmarking on 566 phylogenetically diverse species, we demonstrate that ANNEVO substantially outperforms existing ab initio methods and achieves performance comparable to state-of-the-art annotation pipelines. Furthermore, ANNEVO's independence from external evidence allows it to deliver more complete annotations than reference annotations for a broad range of species while correcting errors within them. These advancements will improve genome sequence interpretation and provide a framework capable of integrating evolutionary insights.},
}

@article {pmid41820076,
year = {2026},
author = {Brindley, PJ},
title = {Tumor-suppressor pathways in Schistosoma mansoni support a novel hypothesis on neodermatan flatworm origins.},
journal = {Trends in parasitology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.pt.2026.02.003},
pmid = {41820076},
issn = {1471-5007},
abstract = {Wendt and Collins identify a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (cki) in Schistosoma mansoni that, along with p53-1 (schistosome homolog of TP-53), suppresses tegument cell proliferation. Knockdown of cki causes hyperproliferation and, together with p53-1 loss, tumorlike growths. Homologs of cki are widespread in parasitic flatworms but absent in free-living relatives, suggesting that the horizontal gene transfer aided the evolution of parasitism.},
}

@article {pmid41816995,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhao, F and Zhang, R and Wei, R and Fan, H and Hu, Y and Shi, W and Wang, J},
title = {Alternating High-Fat and Polysaccharide Diets Modulates Gut Phage-Bacterial Interplay.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e16916},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202516916},
pmid = {41816995},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {2022YFA1304102//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; T2341010//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32370053//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //2115 Talent Development Program of China Agricultural University/ ; },
abstract = {Phages dominate the human gut virome and are known for their ability to prey on bacteria and shape microbiota. However, their response to diet has only been elucidated using small-scale studies. By integrating a massive meta-analysis of 6932 diet-associated metagenomes with a time-resolved mouse model of a high-fat diet and polysaccharide intake, the impact of diet on the gut virome and phage-bacterial interactions was systematically characterized. Diet types, particularly high-fat and polysaccharide-rich diets, exert the strongest shaping force on the gut virome, enhancing the crosstalk between phages and bacteria. High-fat diets promote changes in phage abundance across a broad taxonomic range, from 34.21% to 50.00%, drive phages of diet-associated bacteria toward a lytic lifestyle, and remarkably enrich auxiliary metabolic genes related to amino acid metabolism. Conversely, fucoidan reversed HFD-induced dysbiosis and enhanced phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer by 8.5-fold relative to the baseline. crAssphages and Parabacteroides phages may be important contributors, broadly supporting horizontal gene transfer and auxiliary metabolism or strengthening phage-host interactions in polysaccharide interventions, including fucoidan supplementation. These findings provide a comprehensive landscape of diet-driven cross-kingdom interactions and phage-mediated gene exchange in the gut, offering new insights into potential strategies for precise nutritional interventions targeting the intestinal microbiota.},
}

@article {pmid41814170,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, S and Zhang, J and Wang, B and Zhou, Y and Han, W and Wu, X and Xu, Y and Yu, F and Zhao, H},
title = {Coexistence of blaNDM-1, blaIMP-4and blaOXA-181 in Citrobacter braakii clinical isolate in China.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12866-026-04941-9},
pmid = {41814170},
issn = {1471-2180},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Citrobacter braakii (C. braakii) is a gram-negative bacterium associated with hospital-acquired infections such as respiratory tract infections and bacteremia. There has been a gradual increase in the number of C. braakii infection cases in recent years. The antimicrobial resistance level of C. braakii has been steadily increasing, and the coexistence of multiple resistance genes further complicates the selection of appropriate clinical antibiotic therapies.

RESULTS: we reported a multidrug-resistant C. braakii W221 co-harboring blaNDM-1, blaIMP-4, and blaOXA-181 with four key resistance encoding plasmids (pW221-1, pW221-2, pW221-4 and pW221-5). The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated that W221 exhibited high-level resistance to aminoglycosides, carbapenems and ceftazidime-avibactam. Conjugation assays indicated that plasmid pW221-1, blaNDM-1-carrying plasmid pW221-4 and blaOXA-181-carrying plasmid pW221-5 were transferrable to Escherichia coli (E. coli). In addition, blaNDM-1-carrying plasmid pW221-4 and blaOXA-181-carrying plasmid pW221-5 also could transfer to Klebsiella pneumoniae. Notably, mobilizable plasmid pW221-1 not only carried multiple resistance elements (such as sul1, qnrA1, etc.) but also possessed virulence factors (vipA/tssB). We also found that blaNDM-1, rmtC and sul1 resistance genes and virulence factor htpB co-occurred on the same mobilizable plasmid pW221-4. Detailed genetic analysis showed that multiple transposons (Tns) and insertion sequences (ISs) were found surrounding the vital resistant genes, which could stimulate mobilization of resistant determinants. blaIMP-4 was located on the class 1 integron In823. In addition, the fosA3-blaSHV-12-sul2-aph(3'')-Ib-aph(6)-Id -qnrS1 antibiotic resistance island (ARI) in pW221-2 was surrounded by Tn3, IS26, IS5075, ISKpn19, and Tn5403. Moreover, blaNDM-1-carrying plasmid pW221-4 was typed as IncFII plasmid, which was known to have high-efficiency transmissibility. The blaOXA-181 gene was characterized by the following structure: IS26-ISEc63-IS3000-blaOXA-181-ISKpn19-ISMex22-qnrS1-ISAs17-IS26.

CONCLUSIONS: we isolated a C. braakii W221 co-existing blaNDM-1, blaIMP-4, and blaOXA-181, and this was first reported in the world. The presence of multiple transferrable and mobilizable plasmids carrying key resistance determinants suggested that this strain may have high potential for horizontal gene transfer and rapid dissemination. These findings suggesting that clinical settings should be vigilant against the further emergence, spread and prevalence of such novel multidrug-resistant strains.},
}

@article {pmid41813906,
year = {2026},
author = {Vass, M and Abramova, A and Bengtsson-Palme, J},
title = {Antimicrobial resistance dissemination via horizontal gene transfer is constrained in stratified waters.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s42003-026-09857-8},
pmid = {41813906},
issn = {2399-3642},
support = {KAW 2020.0239//Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse (Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation)/ ; KAW 2020.0239//Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse (Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation)/ ; 2024-05922//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; },
abstract = {Aquatic ecosystems are major reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and hubs for microbial interactions that can facilitate their spread through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). While mobile genetic elements (MGEs), including plasmids and viruses, are recognized as important drivers of ARG mobility, the extent to which water column stratification constrains their vertical dissemination remains unresolved. Here, we analysed depth-resolved metagenomic data from stratified freshwater and marine systems to assess the role of HGT in ARG spread. We found that ARG diversity is consistently lower in marine than freshwater environments and that only a small fraction of ARGs is mobilized by plasmids and viruses. Importantly, we detected no evidence for recent HGT-mediated dissemination of ARGs across depth layers, despite genetic compatibility among co-occurring bacteria. Instead, ARGs appear largely confined to lineage-specific inheritance and within-layer persistence. These findings suggest that stratification acts as a barrier, limiting vertical ARG transfer while promoting within-layer accumulation. Given projections of intensified and prolonged stratification under climate change, our results imply reduced vertical connectivity of ARGs in aquatic environments, with potential consequences of further mitigation in its dynamics by water stratification.},
}

@article {pmid41813722,
year = {2026},
author = {El Halfawy, NM and Gouda, MK and Elgayar, FA and Badran, AA},
title = {Genomic characterization of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli strains identified from patients with urinary tract infection in Egypt.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-40536-0},
pmid = {41813722},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {Extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) pose a serious threat. Moreover, widespread antimicrobial use in Egypt increased the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this study, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 was performed on two isolates (UPE7 and UPE139) recovered from participants with urinary tract infections to characterize their resistomes and virulomes. Antibiotic resistance and virulence genes of the two clinical E. coli strains were predicted using computational analysis tools. Several virulence traits and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were identified. Strain UPE7 harbored blaTEM-1B, blaCTM-X-15, blaCMY-2, and strain UPE139 revealed the presence of blaOXA-244, blaTEM-12, blaTEM-82, and blaCTM-X-15 rending the resistance phenotype. The presence of mobile genetic elements adjacent to ARGs thereby suggests their potential for dissemination through horizontal gene transfer. Furthermore, the serotyping in silico investigation revealed that E. coli UPE7 and UPE139 serotypes were O8:H9 and O9:H30, respectively. Notably, key mutations in the gyrA, parC, and parE genes were predicted, consistent with their confirmed resistance to levofloxacin. These findings emphasize the importance of genomic surveillance to guide antimicrobial therapy and monitor emerging high-risk clones, and they support the need for larger-scale genomic studies to improve epidemiological understanding and clinical relevance.},
}

@article {pmid41765902,
year = {2026},
author = {Kumar, S and Nishanthini, B and Robinson, A and Kumar, TS and Rajendran, V and Katneni, VK and Anand, PSS and Makesh, M and Shekhar, MS},
title = {Revisiting bioluminescence and sucrose utilization in aquatic pathogens Vibrio harveyi and V. campbellii using genome-wide in silico mapping and phenotyping.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41765902},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {AS/2/3/2022-ASR-IV(PI.Xe-233289)//Consortia Research Platform on Vaccines and Diagnostics funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India./ ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Vibrio harveyi is a major bacterial pathogen of shrimp and finfish aquaculture. Traditionally, bioluminescence and sucrose fermentation have served as key phenotypic marker for its identification. However, frequent misidentification with closely related species like V. campbellii necessitates a reassessment of these phenotypic traits. Therefore, these traits were evaluated for genomic distribution, targeted phenotypic validation and its potential role in evolution and speciation. We generated chromosome-level assemblies for seven strains, including V. harveyi SB1 reference genome, and performed genome-wide mapping of 282 strains (204 V. harveyi and 78 V. campbellii), followed by phenotypic validation of 49 isolates. In silico analysis revealed that only 2.9% of V. harveyi strains carry luminescence operon (luxCDABEGH), whereas 100% strains of V. campbellii carried either a functional luxCDABEGH (87.2%) or a defective luxBG operon (12.8%). The functional sucrose operon (scrRAKB) was present in 89.5% strains of V. harveyi (yellow colonies on TCBS agar) but was absent in all V. campbellii (green colony) except strain 170502. Mobilome and synteny analysis revealed horizontal gene transfer of scr operon in 1% strains, while no mobile genetic elements were associated with the luxCDABEGH operon in V. harveyi, despite rare occurrence. Core genome phylogeny indicated that V. harveyi represents an early-evolved lineage, whereas V. campbellii is a recently evolved species within the Harveyi clade. The evolutionary trajectory of V. campbellii further suggests that luminescence-defective strains (e.g., type strain CAIM519[T]) evolved alongside a group of strains carrying luminescence operon flanked by mobile-genetic elements (e.g., BAA-1116). Phenotypic assays and PCR screening of the luciferase gene (luxA) and sucrose uptake gene (scrA) results were consistent with the genomic findings. Collectively, the present study demonstrates that V. harveyi is predominantly non-luminescent and sucrose-fermenting (yellow), while V. campbellii is primarily luminescent and sucrose non-fermenting (green colonies), providing refined phenotypic criteria for their differential diagnosis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-026-37651-3.},
}

@article {pmid37607639,
year = {2023},
author = {Li, J and Yang, Z and Zhu, Q and Zhong, G and Liu, J},
title = {Biodegradation of soil agrochemical contamination mitigates the direct horizontal transfer risk of antibiotic resistance genes to crops.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {901},
number = {},
pages = {166454},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166454},
pmid = {37607639},
issn = {1879-1026},
mesh = {Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism/analysis ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Crops, Agricultural ; *Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics ; *Agrochemicals/metabolism ; Soil/chemistry ; },
abstract = {Microorganisms can drive a substrate-specific biodegradation process to mitigate soil contamination resulting from extensive agrochemical usage. However, microorganisms with high metabolic efficiency are capable of adapting to the co-occurrence of non-substrate contaminants in the soil (particularly antibiotics). Therefore, the utilization of active microorganisms for biodegradation raises concerns regarding the potential risk of antibiotic resistance development. Here, the horizontal transfer risk of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in the soil-plant biota was assessed during biodegradation by the newly isolated Proteus terrae ZQ02 (which shortened the half-life of fungicide chlorothalonil from 9.24 d to 2.35 d when exposed to tetracycline). Based on metagenomic analyses, the distribution of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was profiled. The ARGs shared with ∼118 core genes and mostly accumulated in the rhizosphere and maize roots. After ZQ02 was inoculated, the core genes of ARGs reduced significantly in roots. In addition, the Pseudomonas and Proteus genera were identified as the dominant microbial hosts of ARGs and MGEs after ZQ02 adoption. The richness of major ARG hosts increased in soil but barely changed in the roots, which contributed to the mitigation of hosts-mediated ARGs transfer from soil to maize. Finally, the risk of ARGs has been assessed. Compared with the regular planting system, the number of risky ARGs declined from 220 (occupied 4.77 % of the total ARGs) to 143 (occupied 2.67 %) after biodegradation. Among these, 23 out of 25 high-risk genes were aggregated in the soil whereas only 2 genes were identified in roots, which further verified the low antibiotic resistance risk for crop after biodegradation. In a nutshell, this work highlights the critical advantage of ZQ02-based biodegradation that alleviating the ARGs transfer risks from soil to crop, which offers deeper insights into the versatility and feasibility of bioremediation techniques in sustainable agriculture.},
}

Biodegradation, Environmental
*Soil Pollutants/metabolism/analysis
*Gene Transfer, Horizontal
*Soil Microbiology
*Crops, Agricultural
*Drug Resistance, Microbial/genetics
*Agrochemicals/metabolism
Soil/chemistry

@article {pmid41812157,
year = {2026},
author = {Leria, L and Maldonado, M},
title = {Innovations in Silicon Transport Shaped the Rise of Biosilicification and Skeletal Evolution in Sponges.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {43},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/molbev/msag047},
pmid = {41812157},
issn = {1537-1719},
support = {//Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities/ ; //Biodiversa+/ ; //European Biodiversity Partnership/ ; //European Commission/ ; //CSIC and Fundación Biodiversidad/ ; //Wellcome Sanger Institute for the Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project/ ; //Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; /WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; },
abstract = {Sponges are the only metazoans capable of making silica skeletons through incorporation of silicic acid (dSi) from seawater, which is polymerized using silicifying proteins. Uptake involves functional cooperation between aquaglyceroporin channels (gAQP) and arsenite efflux pumps (ArsB), a dSi transport system that, surprisingly, also functions in plants. Compared to plants, the silicon selectivity filter of sponge gAQPs is shown here to have replaced hydrophilic residues with hydrophobic ones, reducing water permeation during silicon transport. Phylogenetic analyses of 201 gAQP and 161 ArsB sequences reveal that these transporters, having prokaryotic origins, were already present in ancestral sponges, preceding the emergence of silicifying proteins and fossilized silica skeletons. Through Hexactinellida diversification, the functional interdependence of gAQP and ArsB transporters shaped a remarkable coevolution via synchronized gene duplications. This coevolution was disrupted in Demospongiae, because Heteroscleromorpha demosponges acquired, via horizontal gene transfer, a microbial gAQP that partially displaced ancestral gAQPs. This acquisition and that of an autapomorphic silicifying protein (silicatein) coincided with an exceptional diversification in Heteroscleromorpha. In contrast, sponge lineages that never developed silicifying proteins (Keratosa, Verongimorpha, Calcarea) or acquired them post-Cambrian (Homoscleromorpha, Chondrilla) lost gAQP genes while retaining ArsB homologs, implying selection against a passive dSi influx for sponges lacking dSi polymerization machinery. Thus, the ability to precipitate dSi-ie forming skeleton-likely arose as an adaptive response in early askeletal sponges to the damaging, high dSi concentrations of Precambrian oceans. The evolutionary history of dSi transporters and the fossil record support that such adaptation evolved independently four times within Porifera.},
}

@article {pmid41811943,
year = {2026},
author = {Eufemio, RJ and Rojas, M and Shaw, K and de Almeida Ribeiro, I and Guo, HB and Renzer, G and Belay, K and Liu, H and Suseendran, P and Wang, X and Fröhlich-Nowoisky, J and Pöschl, U and Bonn, M and Berry, RJ and Molinero, V and Vinatzer, BA and Meister, K},
title = {A previously unrecognized class of fungal ice-nucleating proteins with bacterial ancestry.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {12},
number = {11},
pages = {eaed9652},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aed9652},
pmid = {41811943},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics ; *Ice ; Phylogeny ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism/genetics ; Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; *Bacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; },
abstract = {Ice-nucleating proteins (INpros) catalyze ice formation at high subzero temperatures, with major biological and environmental implications. While bacterial INpros have been structurally characterized, their counterparts in other organisms have remained largely unknown. Here, we identify membrane-independent proteins in fungi of the Mortierellaceae family that promote ice formation with high efficiency. These proteins are predicted to adopt β-solenoid folds and multimerize to form extended ice-binding surfaces, exhibiting mechanistic parallels with bacterial INpros. Structural modeling, phylogenetic analysis, and heterologous gene expression leading to ice nucleation in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae show that the fungal INpros are encoded by orthologs of the bacterial InaZ gene, which was likely acquired by a fungal ancestor through horizontal gene transfer. The discovery of cell-free fungal INpros provides tools for innovative freezing applications and reveals biophysical constraints on ice nucleation across life.},
}

*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics
*Ice
Phylogeny
Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism/genetics
Escherichia coli/genetics/metabolism
Models, Molecular
*Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry
*Bacteria/metabolism/genetics
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

@article {pmid41809603,
year = {2026},
author = {Plat, S and LaPointe, G and Goodridge, L},
title = {Phages as antimicrobials against multi-drug resistant bacteria.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1747240},
pmid = {41809603},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {Multi-drug resistant bacteria (MDR) pose a major public health challenge. Their ability to exchange resistance genes through Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) promotes the appearance of resistant strains, limiting antibiotic treatments for infections caused by these MDR bacteria. Among alternative approaches, phage therapy stands out as a promising strategy that utilizes bacteriophages to specifically target and effectively eliminate bacteria. This narrative review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the use of whole bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents in human and veterinary medicine, as well as in the food industry whether used alone, in cocktails, or combined with antimicrobials. While whole phages offer high specificity and an efficient elimination of bacteria, their application is associated with several limitations, including their contribution to HGT, the emergence of bacterial resistance, their narrow host range, the immune recognition, and the difficulties posed by their regulation. To address these challenges, this review focuses on phage-derived enzymatically active proteins, such as endolysins and depolymerases, as alternative antimicrobial tools, used alone or in combination. These phage components, being smaller and structurally simpler than whole phages, behave more similarly to conventional antimicrobial compounds. They have so far presented a low risk of bacterial resistance appearance and less chance of immune response. In addition, their classification as antimicrobial enzymes or conventional biologics could facilitate regulatory approval by aligning with existing regulatory frameworks. A total of 40 studies were included in this narrative review, highlighting the outcomes of applications involving whole bacteriophages (n = 11) and phage-derived enzymes, including endolysins and depolymerases (n = 27).},
}

@article {pmid41727074,
year = {2026},
author = {Regan, MR and McDevitt, CJ and Robinson, LR and Issifou, S and Wadsworth, CB},
title = {Put your money where your mouth is: Surveillance of antibiotic resistance within the commensal Neisseria.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41727074},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Commensal Neisseria species are major reservoirs of adaptive genetic variation, including antimicrobial resistance, for their pathogenic relatives, yet they remain poorly characterized. This gap limits our ability to anticipate resistance mechanisms that may ultimately emerge Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis. Here, we analyzed 166 novel commensal Neisseria isolates collected from 31 study participants and measured minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for seven antimicrobials: azithromycin, cefixime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and gentamicin. Resistance, defined using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, was highly prevalent for azithromycin (76%) and doxycycline (52%), while no resistance to gentamicin was observed. High-level doxycycline resistance was always associated with inheritance of tetM. Reduced susceptibility to azithromycin was linked to an MtrD K823E substitution, and reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was associated with GyrA T91I (N. subflava) or S91V (N. mucosa). The PenA 312M mutation was associated with significantly elevated ceftriaxone and cefixime MICs. Across all antimicrobials, MICs varied widely, indicating the presence of additional modulating mutations. Finally, the genetic determinants underlying low-level doxycycline resistance and reduced penicillin susceptibility remain unresolved. Overall, here we continue to build on the foundation of surveillance efforts in the commensal Neisseria, and continue to flesh out what is known and unknown about this early warning system - or canary in the coal mine - for emerging resistance and clinically consequential evolution in pathogenic Neisseria.},
}

@article {pmid37573261,
year = {2023},
author = {Hellmuth, M and Schaller, D and Stadler, PF},
title = {Clustering systems of phylogenetic networks.},
journal = {Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften},
volume = {142},
number = {4},
pages = {301-358},
pmid = {37573261},
issn = {1611-7530},
support = {MI439/14-2//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
mesh = {*Phylogeny ; Cluster Analysis ; *Models, Genetic ; Algorithms ; Biological Evolution ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Humans ; },
abstract = {Rooted acyclic graphs appear naturally when the phylogenetic relationship of a set X of taxa involves not only speciations but also recombination, horizontal transfer, or hybridization that cannot be captured by trees. A variety of classes of such networks have been discussed in the literature, including phylogenetic, level-1, tree-child, tree-based, galled tree, regular, or normal networks as models of different types of evolutionary processes. Clusters arise in models of phylogeny as the sets [Formula: see text] of descendant taxa of a vertex v. The clustering system [Formula: see text] comprising the clusters of a network N conveys key information on N itself. In the special case of rooted phylogenetic trees, T is uniquely determined by its clustering system [Formula: see text]. Although this is no longer true for networks in general, it is of interest to relate properties of N and [Formula: see text]. Here, we systematically investigate the relationships of several well-studied classes of networks and their clustering systems. The main results are correspondences of classes of networks and clustering systems of the following form: If N is a network of type [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] satisfies [Formula: see text], and conversely if [Formula: see text] is a clustering system satisfying [Formula: see text] then there is network N of type [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text].This, in turn, allows us to investigate the mutual dependencies between the distinct types of networks in much detail.},
}

*Phylogeny
Cluster Analysis
*Models, Genetic
Algorithms
Biological Evolution
Gene Transfer, Horizontal
Humans

@article {pmid41807123,
year = {2026},
author = {Huson, DH},
title = {Displacement-Optimized Tanglegrams for Trees and Networks.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/molbev/msag066},
pmid = {41807123},
issn = {1537-1719},
abstract = {Phylogenetic trees and networks play a central role in biology, bioinformatics, and mathematical biology, and producing clear, informative visualizations of them is an important task. Tanglegrams, which display two phylogenies side by side with lines connecting shared taxa, are widely used for comparing evolutionary histories, host-parasite associations, and horizontal gene transfer. Existing layout algorithms have largely focused on trees and on minimizing the number of inter-taxon edge crossings. We introduce displacement-optimized tanglegrams (DO-tanglegrams), a new approach that applies equally to trees and rooted phylogenetic networks. Our method explicitly minimizes taxon displacement - the vertical misalignment of corresponding taxa across the two sides - and reticulate displacement - the vertical distance spanned by reticulation edges within a network. We formalize one-sided and two-sided optimization problems, show that exact minimization is computationally intractable, and propose a heuristic that combines exhaustive local search with simulated annealing. The algorithm naturally accommodates unresolved nodes (multifurcations or multicombinations) and missing taxa. We have implemented the DO-tanglegram algorithm in SplitsTree. We compare our implementation against the phytools::cophylo R-function on a collection of synthetic trees, and against the NN-tanglegram algorithm in Dendroscope on a collection of synthetic networks. The results indicate that DO-tanglegram performs significantly better than cophylo on trees and than NN-tanglegram on networks.},
}

@article {pmid41805688,
year = {2026},
author = {Maachi, A and Elena, SF},
title = {Multiple origins and functions: evolutionary pathways of HSP70 proteins in viruses.},
journal = {The Journal of general virology},
volume = {107},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/jgv.0.002242},
pmid = {41805688},
issn = {1465-2099},
abstract = {Heat shock protein 70s (HSP70s) are highly conserved molecular chaperones found across all domains of life, where they play essential roles in cellular stress responses. Whilst HSP70 homologues have been previously identified in closteroviruses that have ssRNA genomes, their broader presence and evolutionary history in viruses remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive search of viral protein databases and identified HSP70 homologues in viruses beyond those with ssRNA genomes, including examples with dsDNA genomes in the class Megaviricete. These viral HSP70s exhibit diverse gene organizations, copy numbers and structural features. Notably, HSP70s of viruses from Megaviricetes showed up to three gene copies per genome and distinct structural motifs, whilst those from closteroviruses displayed higher sequence and structural diversity, suggesting faster evolutionary rates. Structural and phylogenetic analyses revealed two major clusters of viral HSP70s, with dsDNA virus HSP70s closely resembling those of their protist hosts, supporting the hypothesis of horizontal gene transfer. In contrast, ssRNA virus HSP70s formed a distinct, highly divergent group. Our findings suggest multiple independent acquisitions of HSP70 genes by viruses and provide new insights into their evolutionary trajectories and potential functional adaptations.},
}

@article {pmid41802500,
year = {2026},
author = {Ko, JT and Hoof, JB and Meyer, AS and Santos, A},
title = {Graph data science in fungal biotechnology: Opportunities and applications.},
journal = {Biotechnology advances},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108864},
doi = {10.1016/j.biotechadv.2026.108864},
pmid = {41802500},
issn = {1873-1899},
abstract = {Fungal biotechnology is crucial for generating high-value enzymes and fermentation products. Despite its industrial importance, major knowledge gaps in understanding fungal genomic variation, phenotypic diversity, and protein function prediction constrain biological innovation. While advancements in sequencing technologies have established data science as an integral component in driving developments in industrial fungal biotechnology, the inherent complexity of fungal genomes and incompatible repositories continue to limit comprehensive characterization of biological relationships and their translation into industrial applications. This review examines recent progress in non-graph methodologies applied to fungal biology. Genome annotation tools uncover genetic variation through homology-based approaches and enable functional annotation of sequence variants. Metric-based methods identify horizontal gene transfer events, while multivariate techniques characterize phenotypic variation across conditions. However, the increasing diversity, scale, and multimodal nature of fungal datasets require more integrative frameworks. Graph data science, a multivariate approach to model complex relationships as networks, offers opportunities to overcome these challenges. We discuss how graph-based methods enhance the detection of genomic structural variation and enable the modeling of molecular interactions. Furthermore, we outline how these approaches facilitate the exploration of complex fungal systems through multi-taxon, reference-free analyses, that integrate evolutionary signals, functional associations, and curated knowledgebases. By surveying available fungal resources and their taxonomic and ecological representations, we identify well-characterized genera, highlight underexplored taxa requiring further data generation, and pinpoint the ecological biases inherent in current sequencing efforts. Collectively, these advancements demonstrate how graph data science can accelerate fungal research and bridge fundamental discoveries and biotechnological applications.},
}

@article {pmid41801637,
year = {2026},
author = {Purkayastha, A and Saikia, S and Gogoi, I and Chetia, P},
title = {From environmental reservoirs to clinical threats: the expanding resistome and genetic plasticity of Citrobacter spp.},
journal = {Infection},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41801637},
issn = {1439-0973},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Citrobacter spp., a genus of Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming rods, belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family. They are widely distributed in natural environments, including soil, water, and sewage, and are also part of the intestinal flora of humans and animals. These bacteria often act as opportunistic pathogens, posing a severe threat to immunocompromised and the intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Therefore, the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Citrobacter strains represents a rapidly escalating clinical concern.

OBJECTIVE: This review discusses the emergence of MDRCitrobacter spp. and explores the bacterial strategies and mechanisms that contribute to the development and persistence of antimicrobial resistance.

METHODS: A narrative review of the published literature was conducted, focusing on clinical, experimental and surveillance studies that describe antibiotic resistance patterns and mechanisms in Citrobacter spp.

RESULTS: Citrobacter spp. are associated with a range of infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), gastrointestinal diseases, neonatal meningitis, and sepsis. Recent reports indicate a growing prevalence of MDR Citrobacter, resistant to multiple antibiotic classes, including some last-resort agents. They utilize β-lactamases production, efflux pump overexpression, target-site modifications, and mobile genetic elements to acquire and spread resistance.

CONCLUSIONS: Citrobacter has evolved as a significant opportunistic pathogen. Extensive investigation into its resistance genes, regulatory pathways and horizontal gene transfer mechanisms is essential for drug development, drug repurposing and generation of alternative therapeutic options to mitigate antibiotic overuse.},
}

@article {pmid41799257,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhao, Y and Ren, Z and Xu, Q and Zhu, T and Hu, H and Fu, Y and Jiang, J and Zhai, Q},
title = {Factors influencing gut microbial colonization: A host-microbe-environment interaction perspective.},
journal = {Current research in food science},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {101361},
pmid = {41799257},
issn = {2665-9271},
abstract = {Gut microbial colonization is a dynamic balance shaped by host genetics and immunity, microbial ecology, and environmental exposures. This review synthesizes evidence on host barriers and immunity-mucus architecture, antimicrobial peptides, pattern recognition receptors, and secretory IgA-and on genetic loci such as LCT and ABO/FUT2 that modulate nutrient landscapes and strain selection. Microbial adaptability is summarized, including polysaccharide utilization loci and human milk oligosaccharide metabolism, bile salt hydrolase-mediated tolerance, extracellular polysaccharide-driven immune modulation, oxygen-gradient-linked metabolic partitioning, and adhesion mechanisms that secure niche occupancy. Environmental perturbations are evaluated, spanning dietary patterns, protein sources, polyphenols, food additives, pharmaceuticals, and lifestyle factors such as physical activity, circadian alignment, and smoking, which reshape resource competition, barrier integrity, and community resilience. Interaction frameworks that govern stability and dysbiosis are delineated, including competitive inhibition, cross-feeding, quorum sensing, cross-kingdom crosstalk among bacteria, fungi, and phages, and horizontal gene transfer that accelerates adaptation and resistance. Niche elasticity is proposed as a systems metric to quantify stability and recovery after perturbation. Translational strategies combine engineered probiotics, anti-adhesion approaches, and rationally designed phages and lysins with in situ multi-omics to enable mechanism-guided, personalized interventions for food science and microbial engineering.},
}

@article {pmid41796809,
year = {2026},
author = {He, J and Zhang, A and Wang, L and Ping, Q and Gao, P and Liu, Y},
title = {Aging attenuates threat: how moderate aging of microplastics suppresses antibiotic resistance gene proliferation during sludge anaerobic digestion.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {449},
number = {},
pages = {134342},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134342},
pmid = {41796809},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Microplastics (MPs) are known to promote antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination in waste activated sludge; however, most existing evidence is based on unaged MPs, and the influence of aging degree remains poorly understood. This study systematically investigated how varying aging degrees of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) MPs modulate ARG profiles and transfer mechanisms during anaerobic digestion. The results demonstrated a non-monotonic effect of aging degree on ARG proliferation, with moderate aging of MPs showing the strongest attenuation of ARG promotion. Under moderate carbonyl indices (CI) of 0.104 for PE-MPs and 0.219 for PP-MPs, the average reduction of the most affected ARGs reached 40% and 50%, respectively, compared with the unaged MPs. Metagenomic analysis further revealed that moderate aging of MPs reduced both the abundance and diversity of ARGs stimulated by unaged MPs. Mechanistically, unaged MPs induced multiple biological responses. These included enrichment of dominant ARG-hosting genera within Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi, elevated oxidative stress, increased membrane permeability, and activation of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) pathways, including the type IV secretion system (T4SS), quorum sensing (QS), and two-component systems (TCS). Conversely, aging weakened these microbial signaling and stress responses at moderate aging degrees but led to a rebound at higher aging degrees, thereby modulating HGT potential in a non-monotonic manner. These findings indicate that aging of sludge-relevant MPs (PE and PP) fundamentally alters their ecological impact on the sludge resistome, highlighting the necessity of incorporating aging dynamics into the risk assessment of MPs in engineered ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid41795362,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, Y and Yan, Z and Yuan, Q and Ma, L and Wang, M and Zhang, P and Jiang, R and Lu, G and Yuan, S and Gin, KY},
title = {Deciphering the mechanisms shaping the antibiotic resistance genes in the vertical plastisphere in hyporheic zone under hydrological exchange.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {297},
number = {},
pages = {125659},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2026.125659},
pmid = {41795362},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) prevalence has raised increasing concern due to their potential risks for ecological safety and human health. Although the plastisphere has been recognized as a hotspot for ARG spread, little is known about how the hydrological exchange reshapes ARG dissemination in plastisphere, which frequently occurs in the hyporheic zone (HZ) with its vertical upwelling and downwelling flows. To fill this knowledge gap, this study investigated ARG propagation in vertically distributed plastispheres within HZ under various hydrological exchange scenarios. Results showed that hydrological exchange lowered ARG abundance in the HZ plastisphere. Vertically, upwelling shifted the ARG enrichment pattern toward the surface plastisphere, whereas ARGs were bottom-enriched under no-water exchange. In addition, hydrological exchange reassembled microbial communities in plastisphere, with upwelling leading to higher microbial species richness and diversity. Notably, the upwelling plastisphere substantially enriched nitrifying bacteria and genes, exhibiting negative effects on ARG spread. Compared with surface plastisphere, the ARGs-host interactions were more complex in the bottom plastisphere, and upwelling weakened the complexity. Moreover, the ARG abundance in the plastisphere was significantly and positively correlated with mobile genetic element (MGE) abundance (Pearson's R = 0.687-0.997, P < 0.05), indicating a high potential of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) that is mainly regulated by transposase and integrase. Overall, N-cycling and HGT jointly regulated ARG dissemination in the HZ plastisphere under hydrological exchange, but exerted opposite effects with N-cycling acting as a suppressive factor whereas HGT promoted ARG propagation. These findings provide new insights into the ARGs propagation in the plastisphere in HZ, highlighting the significant roles of hydrological exchange on antimicrobial resistance under increasing global nitrate pollution in groundwater.},
}

@article {pmid41793958,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, X and Sun, Z and Lin, L and Deng, T and Xu, M},
title = {Attenuation of sulfamethoxazole and associated antimicrobial resistome by enriched electroactive microbial consortia.},
journal = {Environment international},
volume = {209},
number = {},
pages = {110182},
doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2026.110182},
pmid = {41793958},
issn = {1873-6750},
abstract = {Electroactive biofilms with the capacity of extracellular electron transfer (EET) have shown great promise for mitigating antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, detailed interactions between antibiotics and electroactive microorganisms, along with ARGs dissemination dynamics within the electroactive consortia, remained poorly understood. In this study, stable electroactive microbial consortia were enriched, and their influences on the fates of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and associated ARGs were systematically investigated. The results showed the enriched consortia could degrade SMX effectively within a wide concentration range through co-metabolism which was stimulated by their electrogenic respiration. Moreover, with accelerated SMX removal, the abundances of associated ARGs including sul1 and sul2 in the consortia decreased significantly due to alleviated SMX-induced selective pressure and probably weakened horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements (e.g., IS91 and tnpA). Degrader isolation and metagenomic analysis identified the core EET-proficient genera (e.g., Geobacter and Alcaligenes) as essential for the accelerated co-metabolism biodegradation of SMX, whereas the proliferation of other bacteria with limited or no EET capacity (e.g., Hydrogenophaga, Burkholderia, Comamonas, Desulfovibrio and Pseudomonas) was closely linked to the ARGs dissemination. This work provides a mechanistic elucidation of how electroactive microbial consortia stimulate antibiotic degradation and attenuate ARGs proliferation, offering strategic insights for risk control of the resistome during wastewater treatment.},
}

@article {pmid41793868,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, M and Yu, G and Zhang, Y and Ren, J and Chen, W and Li, Q and Cong, P},
title = {Seasonal dynamics and environmental regulation of pathogenic bacteria in the Weihe River Basin.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141646},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141646},
pmid = {41793868},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Waterborne pathogen transmission poses a significant global environmental health risk. This study employs metagenomic sequencing combined with co-occurrence network analysis, redundancy analysis (RDA), and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) to investigate the distribution and transmission risk of pathogens in the Weihe River Basin. The study identified 232 pathogenic species in the Weihe River's main and tributary waters, with core pathogens (such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica) consistently present across all hydrological periods. RDA analysis indicated temperature, salinity, nitrate-nitrogen, and chlorophyll-a are key environmental factors driving pathogen community structure. The PLS-PM model reveals significant seasonal variations in the association patterns between mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and pathogens. During the high-water period, MGEs showed the strongest correlation with pathogens, suggesting that pathogens are the primary hosts of MGEs. MGEs-mediated horizontal gene transfer may drive pathogen dissemination during this period. During the normal-water period, MGEs primarily facilitated the transfer of virulence factors (VFs), enhancing the potential pathogenicity of pathogens. During the low-water period, environmental factors promoted the spread of MGEs while inhibiting the expression of virulence genes, leading to a reduction in pathogen virulence. Co-occurrence networks further demonstrate that during the high-water period, MGEs closely linked key VFs, such as Capsule, with enteric pathogens; network connectivity decreased significantly during the normal-water period, maintaining only limited associations; during the low-water period, functional VFs were frequently co-occurring with opportunistic pathogens. This study provides scientific evidence and management references for pathogen risk assessment and control in river basins.},
}

@article {pmid41793867,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, M and Sun, X and Liu, X and Liu, Q and Liu, Y and Liu, L and Wen, L and Luo, X and Li, F and Zheng, H and Xing, B},
title = {Tire wear particles facilitate the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes from soil to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) endophytes via roots.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141596},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141596},
pmid = {41793867},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Pollution of emerging contaminants such as tire wear particles (TWPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil-vegetable ecosystems threatens ecological safety and public health within the One Health framework. However, impacts of TWPs on transmission of ARGs into vegetable endophytes by roots remain unclear. Herein, the effects and mechanisms of environmentally relevant TWPs (0.1 %, 1 %, w%) on ARGs transmission from soil to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) were evaluated using ARGs in situ transmission, soil microcosms, and conjugative transfer experiments. The results showed that TWPs promoted the colonization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) on rhizoplane, thereby facilitating invasion of ARGs into roots and transmission to leaves. In rhizosphere soil, TWPs at 1 % increased the absolute and relative abundance of ARGs by 20.57 % and 23.98 % compared to the control, particularly the high-risk gene tetM (37.08 %-54.21 %), contributing to the elevated ARGs levels in lettuce endophytes. Furthermore, TWPs increased the abundance of mobile genetic elements and frequency of conjugative transfer, demonstrating that TWPs exacerbated ARGs abundance in rhizosphere soil by promoting horizontal gene transfer. Additionally, TWPs not only induced root elongation by reducing nitrogen and phosphorus availability, but also caused root wounds via oxidative damage, which both favored ARB colonization and entry into roots. Overall, these findings elucidated the mechanisms underlying the promoted transmission of ARGs from soil to endophytes via roots, highlighting the key role of TWPs in amplifying ARGs dissemination beyond soil reservoirs, which are essential for accurately assessing environmental health risks of ARGs in TWPs-contaminated soils.},
}

@article {pmid41792903,
year = {2026},
author = {Liang, MQ and Yuan, L and Liu, QH and Wu, J and Liu, DF and Sheng, GP},
title = {Membrane perturbation by the last-resort antibiotic polymyxin B drives biphasic regulation of horizontal gene transfer.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrag046},
pmid = {41792903},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Although it is increasingly recognized that anthropogenic chemicals modulate horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the nature of these interactions is often more complex than a simple promotion or inhibition. The potential for a single chemical to exert opposing, concentration-dependent effects represent a critical and less-explored frontier in microbial ecology. Here, we investigate the last-resort antibiotic polymyxin B, a membrane-targeting peptide, and reveal a concentration-dependent, biphasic regulation of plasmid conjugation. Sub-inhibitory concentrations (0.125-0.5 mg/L) consistently inhibited the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by up to 65.4%, whereas bactericidal concentrations (≥ 1 mg/L) strongly promoted it by up to 15.9-fold. This regulatory switch is driven by distinct physiological states: low-level exposure triggers defensive responses including reduced membrane permeability, whereas high-level exposure causes catastrophic membrane damage, inducing a synergistic stress response involving oxidative damage (>2-fold ROS increase) and a surge in cellular energy (up to 83.0% ATP increase) that facilitates HGT. High-concentration polymyxin B also promotes plasmid transfer in complex microbial communities derived from activated-sludge biofilms. Our findings reveal a new paradigm for the interaction between chemical stressors and microbial evolution, demonstrating that the ecological impact of contaminants on HGT cannot be predicted by monotonic models and highlighting the role of environmental hotspots in shaping the dissemination of antibiotic resistome.},
}

@article {pmid41791604,
year = {2026},
author = {Gahlot, P and Tyagi, VK},
title = {Microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes nexus in sewage sludge: impact of thermal hydrolysis process-anaerobic digestion.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {449},
number = {},
pages = {134349},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134349},
pmid = {41791604},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Sewage sludge is increasingly recognized as a major reservoir of emerging contaminants, notably microplastics (MPs), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and biofilm-embedded microbial communities. Their persistence during wastewater treatment poses environmental and public health risks, particularly when treated biosolids are applied to land. This review synthesizes current understanding on the interactions between MPs, ARGs, and biofilms in sludge treatment, with emphasis on thermal hydrolysis process (THP) integrated with anaerobic digestion (AD). MPs accumulate in sludge and undergo physical and morphological changes during THP and AD, yet they rarely degrade completely, thereby continuing to act as carriers for ARGs and microbial colonization. THP, through high-temperature and pressure processing, effectively lyses microbial cells, degrades DNA, and solubilizes extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). THP can reduce total absolute abundance of ARGs and MGEs up to 11.09 and 2.33 log copies/g sludge, respectively, from raw sludge. However, ARG rebound during subsequent AD remains a persistent challenge (2.27-7.39 log copies/g for ARGs; 0.70-2.21 log copies/g for MGEs rebound in total absolute abundance), but THP coupled AD systems still demonstrate the lowest final absolute abundances of ARGs/MGEs in digested sludge, thereby minimizing HGT potential and achieving superior overall ARG/MGE mitigation despite inevitable rebound. This ARG persistence is often linked to resistant microbial groups such as Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, and driven by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) within biofilms and MP-associated microbial consortia. MPs further influence digestion performance by restructuring microbial communities, suppressing methanogenesis, and intensifying ARG dissemination, with wastewater-derived MPs exerting stronger inhibitory effects than those introduced during AD. Collectively, these insights highlight the dual role of THP-AD systems in mitigating yet simultaneously reshaping risks linked to MPs and ARGs. Future directions should focus on optimizing pretreatment conditions, regulating microbial dynamics, and implementing targeted monitoring of MPs and ARGs to ensure safe sludge valorization and minimize downstream ecological and health impacts.},
}

@article {pmid41791322,
year = {2026},
author = {Ramos, C and da Silva, BD and Conte-Junior, CA},
title = {Antidepressants and anxiolytics in aquatic environments as emerging contaminants and their role in antibiotic resistance.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1023},
number = {},
pages = {181636},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181636},
pmid = {41791322},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {The increasing occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic ecosystems, particularly non-antibiotic drugs such as antidepressants and anxiolytics, has raised global concern. These compounds are continuously released into the environment through human excretion, inefficient wastewater treatment plants, and improper disposal. Although widely detected across regions of the world, their ecological relevance has been neglected because they occur at trace concentrations (ng/L). This review compiles recent data on the occurrence, environmental distribution, and biological effects of antidepressants and anxiolytics, and their metabolites in aquatic systems, with a focus on potential impacts on bacterial communities and the development of antimicrobial resistance. Reported environmental concentrations reached up to 490 ng/L for diazepam and 3040 ng/L for venlafaxine. In addition to the ecotoxicological effects widely described in aquatic organisms, recent evidence suggests that these pharmaceuticals can also alter bacterial physiology and trigger cellular stress responses even at trace concentrations. While impacts on aquatic animals are well characterized, effects on bacterial communities remain a frontier of knowledge. Depending on exposure conditions, these compounds have been associated with phenotypic and genotypic effects, including increased production of reactive oxygen species, modulation of cell membrane permeability, activation of multidrug efflux pumps, downregulation of porins, alterations in gene expression, and increased horizontal gene transfer. These effects suggest a still underestimated role of these non-antibiotic drugs in the selection and dissemination of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments. It is important to highlight that the compiled evidence reveals marked geographical asymmetries in monitoring efforts. In many countries, the scarcity of recent data prevents robust conclusions, making it uncertain whether the apparent absence of these compounds actually reflects low environmental occurrence or instead results from a lack of systematic measurements and reporting in the literature. Filling this gap is essential to avoid underestimating exposure and the associated ecological and public health risks.},
}

@article {pmid41790112,
year = {2026},
author = {Muthuraman, V and Roy, P and Dean, P and Lopes, BS and Shehreen, S},
title = {The balance between defence systems and horizontal gene transfer shapes adaptation in clinical strains of Acinetobacter spp.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxag069},
pmid = {41790112},
issn = {1365-2672},
abstract = {AIM: Bacteria experience various selective pressures from the environment, including exposure to antibiotics and bacteriophages, which shape their defence strategies and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) dynamics. The relationship between defence system repertoires and HGT in clinically relevant Acinetobacter species remains poorly understood, limiting our ability to predict resistance evolution and design targeted phage therapies.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed 132 genomes from 18 Acinetobacter species, focusing on the interplay between defence architectures and HGT markers. Our results reveal that defence repertoires differed across lineages. Most Acinetobacter spp. harbour multiple defence systems, whereas the clinically dominant A. baumannii international clone 2 (IC2) carried fewer but was strongly enriched for the phosphorothioation-based SspBCDE system and had very few restriction-modification systems. Strikingly, many defence systems were rarely found together. Defence genes were frequently associated with the presence of mobile elements, antibiotics, and heavy metal resistance. Plasmid-borne defence systems, especially BREX, were prevalent, highlighting the role of mobile elements in distributing both anti-phage defence and clinically relevant resistance traits.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that clinical success in A. baumannii is associated with a niche-driven defence profile and extensive linkage between defence genes, mobile elements, and resistance loci which are likely to influence both HGT-mediated resistance acquisition and phage susceptibility.},
}

@article {pmid41788386,
year = {2026},
author = {Truong, TP and Tran, TT and Le, PM and Nguyen, VT and Ta, TK and Tran, TT and Tran, CT and Le, PMD and Nguyen, QT and Nguyen, TNP},
title = {Genomic epidemiology of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales in southern Vietnam: dominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST16 and horizontal gene transfer.},
journal = {Le infezioni in medicina},
volume = {34},
number = {1},
pages = {57-70},
pmid = {41788386},
issn = {2532-8689},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) pose a critical global threat. However, the genomic epidemiology, transmission dynamics (clonal vs. horizontal gene transfer), and mechanisms driving co-resistance in Southern Vietnam remain poorly understood. This study aimed to use Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) to characterize the molecular epidemiology, transmission mechanisms, and co-resistance patterns of CRE from a major referral center in Southern Vietnam.

METHODOLOGY: We performed a cross-sectional study using whole-genome sequencing on 189 CRE isolates (K. pneumoniae, E. coli, E. cloacae) from a major referral hospital in Southern Vietnam. We analyzed Carbapenemase-Producing Genes (CPGs), MLST, colistin resistance mutations, plasmid clusters, and co-carried AMR genes.

RESULTS: K. pneumoniae ST16 (n=67, 35.4%) was the most frequently identified clone, detected in 10/12 ward strata. We identified two distinct colistin resistance pathways linked to CPG lineage: bla KPC/bla OXA-48 family clones (ST147, ST5815, ST11) showed a universal prevalence of chromosomal pmrB mutations (n=55/55, 100%), whereas the bla NDM clone (ST16) exhibited a low frequency of these mutations (6.0%). Analysis of 10 plasmid clusters carrying CPGs revealed the frequent co-carriage of qnrS1 (quinolone resistance) and rmtB1 (amikacin resistance).

CONCLUSIONS: CRE dissemination in Southern Vietnam is driven by a dual-transmission scenario. We identified distinct CPG-linked colistin resistance pathways and significant co-carriage of qnrS1 with CPGs. This highlights the potential risk of co-selection through antibiotic pressure. These findings underscore the urgent need for surveillance strategies targeting high-risk clones like K. pneumoniae ST16.},
}

@article {pmid41787019,
year = {2026},
author = {Huber, KT and Overman, D},
title = {Arboreal networks and their underlying trees.},
journal = {Journal of mathematical biology},
volume = {92},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41787019},
issn = {1432-1416},
mesh = {*Phylogeny ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Mathematical Concepts ; *Models, Genetic ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Trees ; Evolution, Molecular ; },
abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important process in bacterial evolution. Current phylogeny-based approaches to capture it cannot however appropriately account for the fact that HGT can occur between bacteria living in different ecological niches. Due to the fact that arboreal networks are a type of multiple-rooted phylogenetic network that can be thought of as a forest of rooted phylogenetic trees along with a set of additional arcs each joining two different trees in the forest, understanding the combinatorial structure of such networks might therefore pave the way to extending current phylogeny-based HGT-inference methods in this direction. A central question in this context is, how can we construct an arboreal network? Answering this question is strongly informed by finding ways to encode an arboreal network, that is, breaking up the network into simpler combinatorial structures that, in a well defined sense uniquely determine the network. In the form of triplets, trinets and quarnets such encodings are known for certain types of single-rooted phylogenetic networks. By studying the underlying tree of an arboreal network, we complement them here with an answer for arboreal networks.},
}

*Phylogeny
*Gene Transfer, Horizontal
Mathematical Concepts
*Models, Genetic
*Bacteria/genetics/classification
Trees
Evolution, Molecular

@article {pmid41786168,
year = {2026},
author = {Sánchez-Arroyo, A and Plaza-Vinuesa, L and Rivas, BL and Mancheño, JM and Muñoz, R},
title = {The OTA-degrading phenotype in the Lysobacter and Stenotrophomonas genera is conferred by the hydrolytic activity of subtype I amidohydrolases.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {151221},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.151221},
pmid = {41786168},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {The ochratoxin A (OTA)-degrading phenotype was examined in Stenotrophomonas and Lysobacter genera. Seven Stenotrophomonas type strains and 20 Lysobacter species were studied for OTA detoxification potential. OTA hydrolysis was found in Stenotrophomonas species S. acidaminiphila and S. nitritireducens, while 18 of 20 Lysobacter strains showed OTA-degrading activity. Genomic analysis indicated that the OTA-degrading phenotype is associated with subtype I amidohydrolase-encoding genes, such as ADH3- or ADH2-like amidohydrolases in Stenotrophomonas and Lysobacter, respectively, but it was not linked to other known OTA-degrading enzymes. The limited distribution of these enzymes in Stenotrophomonas suggests horizontal gene transfer events from Lysobacter strains. Biochemical and structural analyses confirmed that subtype I amidohydrolases, particularly SaOTA, LcOTA, and LaOTA from S. acidaminiphila, L. concretionis, and L. antibioticus respectively, play a key role in OTA degradation, affirming the correlation between this phenotype and amidohydrolase enzyme activity in OTA detoxification.},
}

@article {pmid41786115,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, Y and Gong, Y and Cheng, Y and Zhang, H and Qiao, M and Liang, J and Sun, R and Wang, S and Liu, J and Wang, F},
title = {Intensified anthropogenic activities dominate the spatiotemporal dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes in lake ecosystems.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {124158},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2026.124158},
pmid = {41786115},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {The escalating dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in lake ecosystems has drawn substantial attention regarding their potential risks to public health. However, the spatiotemporal patterns and the driving mechanisms of ARGs within lake ecosystems under anthropogenic activities remain incompletely understood. Here, 132 sediment and 132 water samples were collected from the production and living, tourism, and natural areas of Baiyangdian Lake during the dry and wet seasons. The findings showed that the total ARGs abundance in sediments during the dry season was 4.37 to 19.05 times higher than that in the wet season. Conversely, the total ARGs abundance in water was 1.97 to 12.51 times greater in the wet season as compared to the dry season. Notably, the production and living area and the tourism area exhibited significantly higher ARGs abundances in both sediments and water than the natural area. Specifically, 23 and 11 types of potential pathogenic bacteria were identified in sediments and water, respectively, with the abundance of animal-origin pathogenic bacteria reaching up to 4.55%. Network analysis revealed that dominant phyla, including Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Chloroflexi, were potential major hosts of ARGs. Additionally, the intI1 gene significantly correlated with ARGs, indicating its crucial role in the dissemination of ARGs. PLS-PM further demonstrated that biotic factors (intI1 gene, bacterial abundance) and abiotic factors (TN, TP) were crucial for ARG spatiotemporal distribution. Overall, our work provided insights into the impacts of anthropogenic activities on ARGs and pinpointed potential high-risk areas, providing crucial implications for the management of ARGs contamination.},
}

@article {pmid41786097,
year = {2026},
author = {Yong-Un, P and Chukamnerd, A and Surachat, K and Sukhumungoon, P},
title = {Pan-genome analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus PSU20 from a hospital in Thailand reveals insights into virulence, antibiotic resistance, and genetic diversity.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108429},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108429},
pmid = {41786097},
issn = {1096-1208},
abstract = {Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a major public health challenge due to its multidrug resistance and diverse virulence factors, which make it difficult to manage and represent a significant cause of hospital-associated infections. In this study, MRSA strain PSU20 was isolated from a patient at Songklanagarind Hospital. The genome analysis revealed multiple resistance genes, including those conferring resistance to aminoglycosides (ant(9)-Ia, ant(6)-Ia, aph(3')-III, aac(6')-aph(2'')), β-lactams (blaZ, mecA), and macrolide-lincosamide antibiotics (erm(A)). The virulence-associated genes identified were related to immune evasion (sak, scn, coa, femB), cytotoxicity (hlgA, hlgB, hlgC, lukD, lukE), enterotoxin production (sea, seg, sei, sem, sen, seo), and tissue invasion (aur, splA, splB), indicating the strain's capacity for immune evasion, systemic infection, and gastrointestinal pathogenicity. Moreover, several insertion sequences, transposons, and replicons were detected, particularly in contigs containing rep20 and rep21, along with qacA and cadA, which confer tolerance to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and heavy metals commonly found in hospital disinfectants. The presence of oriC and oriT on the same contig (NODE_28) suggests the potential for horizontal gene transfer of plasmid-borne resistance determinants. Phylogenomic analysis identified PSU20 as sequence type ST228-SCCmec I-spa t001, a lineage predominantly reported in Germany and associated with early hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) outbreaks in Europe, showing close relatedness to HA-MRSA CC5 lineages such as N315 and USA100. These findings report the genomic characterization of PSU20, a multidrug-resistant strain isolated in Southern Thailand that is genotypically consistent with the classical HA-MRSA ST228 lineage, and support the role of ongoing genomic surveillance in tracking the evolutionary dynamics and dissemination of phylogenetically defined MRSA lineages in healthcare settings.},
}

@article {pmid41785789,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, Z and Hou, Y and Liu, F and Liang, J and Tong, M},
title = {Ultrafast antibiotic resistance removal from water via activation of low-dose percarbonate by bismuth oxyiodide with optimal Bi3-oxygen vacancy sites.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {297},
number = {},
pages = {125661},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2026.125661},
pmid = {41785789},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) pose global threats to human health and ecological safety. Activation of percarbonate (PC) by eco-friendly bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) is a promising ARB/ARGs removal technique, yet its efficiency is hindered by the insufficient exposure of reactive Bi sites. Herein, we provide a facile protocol to fabricate BiOI with remarkable PC activation efficiency (BOI-C) for the ultrafast ARB/ARGs removal via modulating reactive Bi sites through introducing optimal Bi3-oxygen vacancy (OV) sites on the unsaturated facets. We show that BOI-C with optimal amount of Bi3-OV site can efficiently activate 50 µM PC to rapidly disinfect 7-log ARB to the limit of detection within only 4 min. Moreover, this reaction system can effectively degrade the released ARG and suppress the horizontal gene transfer process, greatly decreasing the risks of ARG dissemination. Negligible toxic halogen-containing disinfection byproducts is generated during the disinfection process, indicating the outstanding ecological safety of BOI-C/PC system. The reaction system can also effectively disinfect ARB under complex water chemistries including a broad pH range (3-9), high ionic strengths (up to 150 mM), copresence of natural organic matter (up to 10 mg L[-1]), and diverse actual water samples including tap water, lake water, groundwater and aquaculture tailwater. Furthermore, it can also be assembled into a filtration system for successive ARB disinfection, demonstrating the feasibility for practical application. The catalytic system also exhibits excellent ARB disinfection performance across various bacterial strains and effective degradation performance towards different types of emerging organic pollutants, suggesting its universal decontamination capability. Combining in-situ characterizations and theoretical calculations, we reveal that Bi3-OV sites on the unsaturated facets of BOI-C facilitate the p-p interaction with peroxy O atoms of PC molecules and trigger the electron transfer as well as the subsequent cleavage of peroxy bonds, generating abundant CO3[•-] for the ultrafast ARB disinfection. The results of this study show that BOI-C/PC system can be employed to effectively remove antibiotic resistance in real water.},
}

@article {pmid41774204,
year = {2026},
author = {Gulumbe, BH and Alum, EU and Abdulrahim, A and Abubakar, TM and Bagwai, MA and Ali, M},
title = {The Role of the Environmental Microbiome in Modulating the Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance.},
journal = {Current microbiology},
volume = {83},
number = {4},
pages = {},
pmid = {41774204},
issn = {1432-0991},
mesh = {*Microbiota ; Humans ; *Bacteria/drug effects/genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; *Environmental Microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; *Drug Resistance, Microbial ; },
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an escalating global health challenge with important environmental dimensions. While the environment is well known as a reservoir and conduit for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), the regulatory role of environmental microbiomes in modulating ARG dissemination remains inadequately studied. This review synthesizes current knowledge on how environmental microbiomes influence the spread of AMR by acting as buffers, amplifiers, or gatekeepers of ARG flow in natural and human-impacted ecosystems. We synthesize findings from metagenomic analyses, ecological experiments, and theoretical frameworks to evaluate how microbial diversity, community composition, and ecological interactions shape the persistence and horizontal transfer of ARGs in the environment. Evidence suggests that diverse and resilient microbial communities can inhibit ARG persistence and limit gene transfer, whereas environmental disturbances and biodiversity loss may facilitate ARG propagation. These dynamics highlight the importance of microbial ecosystem structure in shaping AMR trajectories. Understanding the ecological role of environmental microbiomes in AMR dissemination offers new perspectives for antimicrobial stewardship within the One Health framework. Integrating this knowledge into practical interventions, such as engineered microbial consortia and bioremediation can help manage environmental sources of resistance and strengthen global efforts against AMR.},
}

*Microbiota
Humans
*Bacteria/drug effects/genetics
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
*Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics
*Environmental Microbiology
Gene Transfer, Horizontal
*Drug Resistance, Microbial

@article {pmid41750402,
year = {2026},
author = {Au, S and Cruz, WD and Lala, M and Karthikeyan, S and Venketaraman, V},
title = {The Evolution of Symbiosis in Staphylococcus epidermidis: From a Protective Mutualist to a Parasitic Pathogen.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41750402},
issn = {2218-273X},
mesh = {*Staphylococcus epidermidis/genetics/physiology/pathogenicity/drug effects ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Humans ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Quorum Sensing ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genomic Islands ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; },
abstract = {Staphylococcus epidermidis is more often known as a human skin commensal, serving as a primary protective bacterium on the skin's surface. However, more recent literature highlights the role of S. epidermidis as a nosocomial pathogen and a multidrug-resistant organism that poses a global threat. The evolution of S. epidermidis can be owed to its accumulation of resistance mechanisms, including adhesion, biofilm formation, genomic islands, phage elements, integrated plasmids, and quorum sensing. It is suspected that through gene transfer, S. epidermidis is partially responsible for the feared multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus through the mecA gene and many other genomic island transfers. Overall, prolonged nosocomial exposure and misuse of antibiotics have driven dramatic genomic remodeling in S. epidermidis, characterized by many methods of genetic recombination, SCCmec and insertion sequence acquisition, and accumulation of multiple resistance genes. Our review reviews the role of S. epidermidis as both a commensal and a pathogenic bacterium, summarizes the genes responsible for its multidrug resistance, and describes methods of combatting its invasion.},
}

*Staphylococcus epidermidis/genetics/physiology/pathogenicity/drug effects
*Symbiosis/genetics
Humans
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics
Biofilms/growth & development
Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology
Gene Transfer, Horizontal
Quorum Sensing
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Evolution, Molecular
Genomic Islands
Bacterial Proteins/genetics

@article {pmid41712626,
year = {2026},
author = {Sünderhauf, D and Ringger, JR and Payne, LJ and Pinilla-Redondo, R and Gaze, WH and Brown, SP and van Houte, S},
title = {CRISPR-Cas is beneficial in plasmid competition, but limited by competitor toxin-antitoxin activity when horizontally transferred.},
journal = {PLoS biology},
volume = {24},
number = {2},
pages = {e3003658},
pmid = {41712626},
issn = {1545-7885},
mesh = {*Plasmids/genetics/metabolism ; *CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; *Toxin-Antitoxin Systems/genetics ; },
abstract = {Bacteria can encode dozens of different immune systems that protect them from infection by mobile genetic elements (MGEs). MGEs themselves may also carry immune systems, such as CRISPR-Cas, to target competitor MGEs. It is unclear when this is favored by natural selection, and whether toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems-common competitive mechanisms carried by plasmids-can alter their efficacy. Here, we develop and test novel theory to analyze the outcome of competition between plasmids when one carries a CRISPR-Cas system that targets the other plasmid. Our mathematical model and experiments using Escherichia coli and competing IncP plasmids reveal that plasmid-borne CRISPR-Cas is beneficial to the plasmid carrying it when the plasmid has not recently transferred to a new host. However, CRISPR-Cas is selected against when the plasmid carrying it transfers horizontally, if a resident competitor plasmid encodes a TA system that elicits post-segregational killing. Consistent with a TA barrier to plasmid-borne CRISPR-Cas, a bioinformatic analysis reveals that naturally occurring CRISPR-Cas-bearing plasmids avoid targeting other plasmids with TA systems across bacterial genera. Our work shows how the benefit of plasmid-borne CRISPR-Cas is severely reduced against TA-encoding competitor plasmids, but only when plasmid-borne CRISPR-Cas is horizontally transferred. These findings have key implications for the distribution of prokaryotic defenses and our understanding of their role in competition between MGEs, and the utility of CRISPR-Cas as a tool to remove plasmids from pathogenic bacteria.},
}

*Plasmids/genetics/metabolism
*CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
*Gene Transfer, Horizontal
Escherichia coli/genetics
*Toxin-Antitoxin Systems/genetics

@article {pmid41677312,
year = {2026},
author = {Lee, J and Moon, JS and Song, H and Cho, S},
title = {Distinct ESBL dissemination mechanism associated with the hybrid transposon Tn1721/Tn21 in blaCTX-M-15-carrying Salmonella Enteritidis from poultry in South Korea.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {14},
number = {3},
pages = {e0375525},
pmid = {41677312},
issn = {2165-0497},
mesh = {*Salmonella enteritidis/genetics/isolation & purification/enzymology/drug effects ; *beta-Lactamases/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; *DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Poultry/microbiology ; *Salmonella Infections, Animal/microbiology/epidemiology ; *Poultry Diseases/microbiology/epidemiology ; Plasmids/genetics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Whole Genome Sequencing ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is emerging as a significant threat to food safety via its limitation of therapeutic options and potential transmission through poultry products. However, the structural and genetic characteristics of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) associated with horizontal transfer of the ESBL gene in S. Enteritidis isolates from poultry remain insufficiently characterized. The present study aimed to identify and characterize the ESBL gene and its associated MGEs and to assess their distribution. Whole-genome sequencing was applied to ESBL-producing and non-ESBL-producing isolates in combination with pan-genome analysis, conjugation assays, and comparative genomics using publicly available genomes. Among 17 isolates, 9 were ESBL-producing and all carried blaCTX-M-15. We observed co-transfer of blaCTX-M-15, tetA, and the IncF plasmid at relatively high frequencies (2.0-5.3 × 10[-2]) in ESBL-producing isolates. Moreover, we identified a hybrid transposon (Tn1721/Tn21) inserted into IncF plasmids that comprised elements of Tn21 (merRTPCADE, tniA, and urf2) and Tn1721 (tetA, tetR, a DMT-family efflux gene, and a partial tnpA), with ISEcp1 and blaCTX-M-15 adjacent to the hybrid transposon. Tn1721/Tn21 was prevalent among blaCTX-M-15-carrying S. Enteritidis isolates from South Korea (19/20) but absent in those from other countries (n = 9), suggesting geographical variation. This study identified a unique hybrid Tn1721/Tn21 transposon as the dominant MGE in blaCTX-M-15-carrying S. Enteritidis from South Korean poultry, highlighting its potential role in the regional dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. Continued surveillance and targeted intervention in poultry production are warranted to mitigate the spread of ESBL-producing S. Enteritidis.

IMPORTANCE: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis from poultry represents a growing public health threat due to limited treatment options and the potential for transmission through the food chain. Despite this concern, the mobile genetic elements underlying ESBL gene dissemination remain insufficiently characterized in South Korean poultry-associated S. Enteritidis isolates. In this study, we identified a hybrid transposon, Tn1721/Tn21, embedded within IncF plasmids and linked to blaCTX-M-15 in S. Enteritidis isolates. This association between Tn1721/Tn21 and blaCTX-M-15 suggests a region-specific mechanism of resistance dissemination that may reflect antimicrobial selective pressure within poultry production systems. These findings highlight the importance of integrated One Health surveillance to mitigate the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance across animal and human populations.},
}

*Salmonella enteritidis/genetics/isolation & purification/enzymology/drug effects
*beta-Lactamases/genetics/metabolism
Animals
*DNA Transposable Elements/genetics
Republic of Korea
Poultry/microbiology
*Salmonella Infections, Animal/microbiology/epidemiology
*Poultry Diseases/microbiology/epidemiology
Plasmids/genetics
Gene Transfer, Horizontal
Whole Genome Sequencing
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology

@article {pmid41619990,
year = {2026},
author = {Ni, H and Hou, QY and Xu, C and Leng, X and Li, XM and Qin, Y and Liu, S and Yang, MT and Tang, LY and Sun, YZ and Zhao, Q and Ni, HB and Zhang, XX and Jiang, J and Yang, LH and Ma, H},
title = {Antimicrobial resistance and genomic characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from mink in northern China.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {213},
number = {},
pages = {108328},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108328},
pmid = {41619990},
issn = {1096-1208},
mesh = {Animals ; *Mink/microbiology ; China ; *Escherichia coli/genetics/drug effects/isolation & purification ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Feces/microbiology ; Virulence Factors/genetics ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics ; *Escherichia coli Infections/veterinary/microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Genomics ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; },
abstract = {Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most common commensal bacteria in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. It serves as a major reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes and may facilitate their horizontal transfer among different hosts. In this study, 212 fecal samples were collected from mink across four northern provinces of China, a total of 110 E. coli isolates were recovered (isolation rate, 51.89 %). Preliminary antimicrobial screening was conducted using four clinically critical antibiotics, including ceftazidime (CAZ), polymyxin B (PMB), meropenem (MEM), and tigecycline (TGC), with CAZ resistance being the most prevalent, followed by PMB, MEM, and TGC. Further antimicrobial susceptibility testing against ten commonly used antibiotics in 49 representative isolates revealed universal multidrug resistance (MDR), including 100 % resistance to imipenem, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, florfenicol, and sulfamethoxazole. Genetic screening identified multiple resistance genes such as aac(3')-IIa, blaCTX-M, tet(A), and mcr-1. Conjugation assays demonstrated that CAZ resistance was the most transferable. Virulence profiling revealed a low prevalence of classical pathogenic virulence factors, with only six virulence gene types detected, consistent with the results of Galleria mellonella infection assays. Whole-genome sequencing of 41 representative isolates revealed 87 unique antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) types spanning 14 antibiotic classes including alinically important determinants such as blaCTX-M, tet, and mcr, and 71 unique virulence genes assigned to 65 functions. Metagenomic analysis further identified diverse ARGs within the mink gut microbiota, with 21 shared between whole-genome and metagenomic sequencing. Correlation analysis suggested co-occurrence patterns among ARGs, virulence factor genes (VFGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), particularly between ARGs and MGEs. Overall, mink-derived E. coli exhibited extensive MDR but limited classical pathogenic virulence, and the mink gut microbiota may represent an important reservoir and transmission hub for resistance genes in intensive farming ecosystems.},
}

Animals
*Mink/microbiology
China
*Escherichia coli/genetics/drug effects/isolation & purification
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Feces/microbiology
Virulence Factors/genetics
*Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/genetics
*Escherichia coli Infections/veterinary/microbiology
Genome, Bacterial
Genomics
Gene Transfer, Horizontal

@article {pmid41780798,
year = {2026},
author = {Anraku, M and Nakano, S and Yamaguchi, T and Nishijima, S and Umeda, K and Wakabayashi, Y and Nakamura, H and Yamamoto, Y and Kawahara, R},
title = {Molecular characterization of O25:H4 ST131 extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) harboring a blaOXA-48-carrying IncFII plasmid.},
journal = {Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {102941},
doi = {10.1016/j.jiac.2026.102941},
pmid = {41780798},
issn = {1437-7780},
abstract = {BACKGOROUND: To characterize the antimicrobial resistance and genomic features of an OXA-48-producing Escherichia coli ST131 strain isolated in Japan from a patient without overseas travel history.

METHODS: An O25:H4-ST131 E. coli strain (KIPH_2110030) was isolated from an 88-year-old woman with a urinary tract infection in Osaka. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using broth microdilution and disk diffusion methods. Carbapenemase activity was assessed via the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) and inhibitor-based synergy tests. Whole-genome sequencing, PCR, and plasmid analysis were conducted to identify resistance genes, plasmid types, and clade assignment.

RESULTS: The isolate exhibited resistance to multiple β-lactams and intermediate susceptibility to meropenem and imipenem, despite a positive mCIM result. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of blaOXA-48 on an IncFII-type plasmid and blaCTX-M-27 on an IncFIA-type plasmid. The OXA-48 plasmid (pKIPH-2110030) showed high sequence similarity to a plasmid from a Netherland E. coli strain of a different sequence type, suggesting horizontal gene transfer. Clade analysis assigned the isolate to the C1-M27 lineage, a major ST131 subclade in Japan, but not previously associated with blaOXA-48.

CONCLUSION: This study is the first report of an OXA-48-producing ST131 E. coli C1-M27 strain isolated from a Japanese patient without a history of overseas travel. While the dissemination of blaOXA-48 is primarily associated with IncL-type plasmids, reports involving IncFII-type plasmids are rare. The high sequence similarity to a European-derived plasmid suggests international transmission of carbapenem resistance plasmids and highlights the potential risk of their further spread.},
}

@article {pmid41780768,
year = {2026},
author = {Mangroliya, D and Adhyaru, H and Kabariya, J and Ramani, V},
title = {The Link between Antimicrobial Resistance and Seasonal Change: Prevalence of ARGs, Stress Resilience, Virulence and Plasmids in Raw Milk Escherichia coli of Gujarat, India.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108413},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108413},
pmid = {41780768},
issn = {1096-1208},
abstract = {Seasonal change and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pose rising threats to food safety and public health, in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigates seasonal patterns of AMR, stress tolerance, virulence, and phylogeny in Escherichia coli from raw milk of Gujarat, India. From 150 pooled samples (50 per season), 95 E. coli isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on all 95 E. coli using ten antibiotics and whole-genome sequencing was conducted on 30 resistant strains to assess genomic dynamics. High resistance was observed against Amoxyclav (72-78%) and Imipenem (62-67%), particularly in summer and monsoon isolates. Multi locus sequence typing revealed abundance of season-specific sequence types i.e. ST-540 and ST-1434 in summer, ST-16084 and ST-906 in winter. Heat (psi-GI, kefB-GI, clpK, hsp20) and heavy metal (SilA, pcoA) resistance genes were observed in summer isolates, while winter isolate (WECO3) have unique presence of mercury resistance genes (merC/P/T/R). Multidrug and acid resistance genes (emrE, ariR, ArsC,) were consistently present in summer, monsoon, and winter isolates. Seasonal analysis of antibiotic resistance genes revealed blaCTX-M-15, dfrA14, sul2, and qnrS1 were present across all seasons. Notably, blaCTX-M-15 (WEC07), qnrS1 (MEC03, SEC03, WEC07), and blaTEM-1B (WEC07) were plasmid mediated genes, highlighting the risk for horizontal gene transfer. Virulence profiles also varied by season, with adhesion genes more prevalent in warmer months and toxin & iron acquisition genes dominating humid periods. Winter isolates exhibited higher prevalence of conjugative plasmids. These findings highlight the need for season-specific AMR surveillance and seasonal -aware One Health strategies linking animals, humans, and environment.},
}

@article {pmid41780408,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, H and Qi, F and Huo, Y and Li, R and Ye, M and Topp, E and Qiao, M and Zhu, Y},
title = {Feed additives increase soil risk from antibiotic resistance genes via distinct horizontal gene transfer pathways.},
journal = {Environment international},
volume = {209},
number = {},
pages = {110174},
doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2026.110174},
pmid = {41780408},
issn = {1873-6750},
abstract = {Non-antibiotic components of feed additives can enter farmland soils via livestock manure and accumulate persistently in agroecosystems, presenting potential environmental risks. We established soil microcosms, integrated metagenomes with viromes, and applied a contig-based horizontal gene transfer (HGT)-resolution pipeline to partition vector-level contributions, to assess how saccharin, copper, and their co-contamination affect soil gene flow and health risk. Results indicate divergent vector responses under additive stress: phage-host associations increased under saccharin (82 pairs vs. control 29 pairs), whereas copper strengthened plasmid-host associations. With saccharin, phage nucleotide diversity rose while synonymous nucleotide diversity declined, consistent with stronger purifying selection atop enhanced mutation supply, whereas copper increased lysogeny. Saccharin significantly elevated HGT frequency (∼50% increase), expanded donor-recipient phylogenetic span (class-level P < 0.05), and raised the phage-mediated share (∼100% increase). Copper primarily modestly increased the plasmid-mediated contribution (Cu 2.7%, HS 1.9%). Two-factor analyses revealed a significant antagonistic interaction between saccharin and copper, reducing overall HGT across taxonomic ranks under co-exposure. Although total ARG abundance did not change significantly, the health-risk index increased under saccharin, driven by enhanced ARG-MGE co-occurrence. Under co-contamination, auxiliary metabolic genes were enriched, suggesting phage-conferred metabolic empowerment that mitigates stress, partly explaining the antagonism. Altogether, our findings reveal that feed additives reshape vector-specific gene mobility and ARG risk, and they underpin a three-tiered risk-assessment framework that progresses from mere abundance to network-structured mobility and finally to mobility drivers incorporating phylogenetic transfer distance, offering a more mechanistic basis for soil-health management.},
}

@article {pmid41780396,
year = {2026},
author = {Xia, R and Shi, T and Liu, W and Li, G and Zhi, S and Luo, W and Xu, Z},
title = {Genome-resolved metagenomic insights into cornstalks-mediated reduction of pathogens and antibiotic resistomes during passively aerated static composting of swine manure.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {402},
number = {},
pages = {129185},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.129185},
pmid = {41780396},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Passively aerated static composting is widely adopted for livestock manure treatment; however, its efficacy in eliminating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens is often inadequate due to ineffective oxygen diffusion to restrict organic biodegradation and thus the formation of thermophilic condition. Despite extensive research on aerobic composting, the optimal amendment strategy and mechanistic role of crop stalks in shaping ARG dynamics during passively aerated static composting of swine manure remain unclear. Here, cornstalks and swine manure were representatively selected to elucidate how their passively aerated static composting was successfully initiated to improve ARG elimination using genome-resolved metagenomics and multivariate statistical analysis. Results show that adding 10% cornstalks significantly enhanced antibiotic resistome removal by improving composting properties (e.g. moisture content and oxygen permeability) and increasing temperature (above 65 °C). This improvement effectively inactivated bacterial hosts of ARGs and restrict horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Under these conditions, cornstalk addition promoted thermal inactivation of ARG hosts (e.g. Actinomycetota), particularly pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (e.g. Corynebacterium), thereby suppressing HGT. More importantly, chromosomally encoded mobile genetic elements (rather than plasmids and viruses) dominated HGT during composting. The transfer of multidrug, bacitracin, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin resistance genes was primarily facilitated by intra-phylum HGT events, particularly within Bacillota. Cornstalk addition significantly accelerated inactivation of pathogens and ARG hosts (e.g. macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin resistant bacteria), resulting in an increased removal of over 49.0% for both. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the optimization of passively aerated static composting for safe agricultural reuse of livestock manure.},
}

@article {pmid41780243,
year = {2026},
author = {Sun, Y and Chen, R and van den Broek, S and Wen, J and Li, Y and Zeng, X and Su, S and Garland, G},
title = {Transmission and migration of antibiotic resistance genes following agricultural fertilization in sloping croplands.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141666},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141666},
pmid = {41780243},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Livestock manure, a major anthropogenic source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in agricultural soils due to residual veterinary antibiotics, is commonly used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer on sloping cropland. However, the role of landscape features, particularly topographic heterogeneity in shaping ARG transmission and migration remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed 76 metagenomes from five environmental habitats collected along three sloping cropland routes in the Dongting Lake region of China. Soil shared 276 ARG subtypes with other habitats, indicating manure fertilization on slopes facilitates ARGs diffusion across ecosystem. ARG abundance exhibited strong spatial patterns in soil samples, associated with distance from fertilized zones and buffer strips. In fertilized highland soils, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as transposases and Insertion Sequence Common Region (ISCRs), were significantly correlated with ARG abundance, indicating active horizontal gene transfer. In unfertilized-lowland soils, ARG composition was primarily influenced by heavy metals, particularly arsenic and cadmium. Source-tracking analysis showed that up to 70.3% of microbes migrated downslope via gravitational runoff, facilitating long-distance ARG dispersal. Risk assessment revealed higher ecological than human health risks, with high-risk ARGs linked to crop pathogens. Our findings highlight the need for landscape-based ARG management strategies within the One Health framework.},
}

@article {pmid41780232,
year = {2026},
author = {Tang, Z and Liu, W and Wang, C and Wang, F and Shi, J and Wang, W},
title = {Comparative study of WO3 and WS2 nanoparticles in regulating antibiotic resistance gene transfer: Implications for differential roles of metal oxides and sulfides.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141653},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141653},
pmid = {41780232},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Non-antibiotic environmental stressors, such as nanoparticles, are emerging as potential drivers for regulating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transmission via horizontal gene transfer. However, the differences between metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) and metal sulfide nanoparticles (MSNPs) in facilitating ARGs spread have not been explored. This study presented the first investigation into the divergent effects of WO3 and WS2 on plasmid-mediated conjugative transfer of ARGs. Results demonstrated that WO3 and WS2 significantly enhanced ARGs conjugative transfer at environmental-relevant concentrations (0.01-0.1 mg/L), with WO3 showing a stronger promotion (up to 2.75-fold) than WS2 (1.83-fold). WO3 induced higher intracellular ROS and ATP levels than WS2, and molecular dynamics simulations indicated a stronger binding affinity of WO3 to lipid membranes, leading to increased membrane permeability. Zeta potential and cell surface hydrophobicity results indicated that WO3 stress exerted stronger intercellular adhesion compared with WS2. Transcriptomic analysis consistently identified differential expression of genes associated with oxidative stress, energy metabolism, membrane integrity, and cell adhesion. Moreover, six additional MONPs and MSNPs were tested, consistently demonstrating that MONPs promote conjugative transfer of ARGs more efficiently than their MSNP counterparts. These results not only suggest that WO3 exhibited higher risks than WS2 in promoting ARGs dissemination, but also provide valuable insights into distinct roles of broad MONPs and MSNPs, potentially guiding the management of ARGs propagation while applying nanotechnology.},
}

@article {pmid41780235,
year = {2026},
author = {Xin, Y and Liu, LH and Liu, L and Chen, SH and Zheng, YM and Zhao, QB},
title = {Seasonal variation regulates the efficacy of phytoremediation strategies on the rhizosphere resistome in urban river ecosystems.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141647},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141647},
pmid = {41780235},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Phytoremediation, as a representative nature-based solution, holds significant potential for mitigating the dissemination of antibiotic resistome in urban rivers, which is vital for safeguarding public health and aquatic ecosystems. However, the performance and mechanisms of different phytoremediation strategies (hydroponic or substrate-based strategies) in influencing the rhizosphere resistome across seasonal variation remain poorly understood. This study combined in-situ plant cultivation with metagenomic sequencing and statistical modelling to elucidate rhizosphere resistome dynamics in different phytoremediation strategies. The results showed that the phytoremediation strategies exerted limited influence on the composition and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factor genes (VFGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). Instead, the above parameters were predominantly regulated by seasonal variation and generally exhibited higher abundances during winter (4.07 ×10[-4]-2.92 ×10[-2]) than summer (3.35 ×10[-4]-2.26 ×10[-2], ANOSIM: R>0.12, P < 0.05). Nonetheless, phytoremediation strategies still led to distinct patterns for the specific resistome (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of specific VFGs was also significantly higher in the substrate-based strategy (7.21 ×10[-4]-8.82 ×10[-4]) than the hydroponic strategy (5.87 ×10[-4]-7.98 ×10[-4]), particularly during summer. The key ARB, such as those belonging to Bacteroidota, showed higher relative abundance in the hydroponic strategy (2.28 ×10[-2]-6.23 ×10[-2]) than substrate-based strategy (1.12 ×10[-2]-3.65 ×10[-2]) across seasonal variation. Mechanistically, rhizosphere exudate-derived dissolved organic matter mediated ARG dynamics by regulating bacterial communities, MGEs, and VFGs (P < 0.05). This study delineates strategy-specific controls of hydroponic and substrate-based phytoremediation on ARG dissemination across seasonal variations, delivering actionable protocols for nature-based solutions optimization in urban rivers.},
}

@article {pmid41779040,
year = {2026},
author = {Vattanaviboon, P and Dulyayangkul, P and Tipanyo, P and Mongkolsuk, S and Charoenlap, N},
title = {Acquired resistance in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: Mechanisms underlying the shift from multidrug to pandrug resistance.},
journal = {European journal of microbiology & immunology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1556/1886.2026.00004},
pmid = {41779040},
issn = {2062-509X},
abstract = {Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen that primarily causes healthcare-associated infections. This bacterium employs two key resistance mechanisms-intrinsic and acquired-to withstand antimicrobial toxicity, facilitating its spread and persistence within healthcare settings. This review focuses on acquired resistance mechanisms in S. maltophilia, highlighting genetic mutations and gene acquisition through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Mutations that confer antimicrobial resistance commonly occur in drug targets (e.g., gyrA and parC, which encode DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, respectively), drug uptake systems, ribosomal proteins, metabolic enzymes, and more importantly, transcriptional regulators of multidrug efflux systems. These mutations can lead to resistance against the first-line treatments for S. maltophilia infections, including trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, levofloxacin, cefiderocol, and minocycline. The acquisition of resistomes via HGT also occur in S. maltophilia. Resistance genes, such as those encoding sulfonamide resistance (sul), trimethoprim resistance (dfr), quinolone resistance (qnr), aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes, and multidrug/biocide efflux pumps can be transferred from neighboring microbial communities through various genetic vectors, including insertion sequences, transposons, gene cassettes/integrons, and conjugative plasmids. Intrinsic resistance, combined with acquired resistance, can transform S. maltophilia from an MDR pathogen into an extensively drug-resistant or even pandrug-resistant strain, thus further complicating its treatment and management.},
}

@article {pmid41778016,
year = {2026},
author = {Sharma, A and Katoch, P and Shrivastava, R},
title = {Bacterial biofilm conundrum: insight into the frontiers of antibiotic resistance and state-of-the-art anti-biofilm interventions.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1589866},
pmid = {41778016},
issn = {2235-2988},
abstract = {Bacterial biofilms are organized multicellular structures enmeshed in a self-secreted extracellular matrix (ECM). The communities present an alarming challenge in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). They act as a protective niche for microbes, provide chemical and physical protection to the resident cells, allow bacteria to endure host immune responses, and undermine the standard antimicrobial treatments. Despite advancements in microbiological research, biofilms remain an invisible frontier that complicates diagnostics and treatment. This perspective article provides insights into the enigmatic nature of biofilms and examines their role in human infections and diseases. It scrutinizes biofilm AMR mechanisms, including altered metabolic states, ECM-linked decreased antibiotic penetration, and augmented horizontal gene transfer. Further, it delves into the innovative anti-biofilm interventions for mitigating impact of bacterial biofilm on human health. The article also highlights the challenges in engineering ECM for eradicating the recalcitrant biofilms. The article emphasizes critical urgency to integrate biofilm-related research with the comprehensive AMR response, and advocates for interdisciplinary collaborations to transform laboratory discoveries into healthcare advancements. Research uncovering the complexity of biofilms and intriguing therapeutic approaches can address the requirement of revolutionary solutions to combat biofilm-associated infections and ensuing AMR. Overall, this perspective serves as a call to action, underscoring the compelling need to prioritize collective efforts in biofilm research to promote public health.},
}

@article {pmid41775676,
year = {2026},
author = {Maehana, S and Suzuki, M and Ishimura, N and Izawa, H and Eda, R and Nakamura, M and Amarasiri, M and Furukawa, T and Kojima, F and Sei, K and Kubo, M},
title = {Emergence of Tigecycline-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Harbouring tmexC6D6-toprJ1b From Hospital Sewage in Japan.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {18},
number = {2},
pages = {e70275},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70275},
pmid = {41775676},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {JP24fk0108665//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP24fk0108683//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP24fk0108712//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP24fk0108642//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP24gm1610003//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP24wm0225029//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP24wm0225022//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; JP22K17354//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; JP23K26235//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; JP23H00536//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; JP23K06556//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; JP22KK0058//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; JP25K13531//Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/ ; JPMEERF25S21220//Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency/ ; JPMEERF25S21212//Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency/ ; },
abstract = {The mobile tmexCD-toprJ gene clusters encode resistance-nodulation-division (RND)-type multidrug efflux pumps which confer resistance to multiple antimicrobials, including tigecycline. Here we report the first identification of tmexCD-toprJ-harbouring Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain KAM950, isolated from hospital sewage in Japan in 2022. The isolate exhibited reduced susceptibility to tigecycline and carbapenems. Complete genome sequence analysis showed that KAM950 belongs to sequence type 244 (ST244) according to multilocus sequence typing, an internationally recognised epidemic clone, and harbours multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, including the tmexCD-toprJ variant, tmexC6D6-toprJ1b. Notably, the tmexC6D6-toprJ1b gene cluster was located on the chromosome, adjacent to the transcriptional regulator gene tnfxB6 and an IS5/IS1182 family transposase gene. Furthermore, an IS4-mediated disruption of the porin gene oprD was observed, potentially contributing to carbapenem resistance. BLASTn analysis revealed that the IS5/IS1182-tnfxB6-tmexC6D6-toprJ1b gene cluster present in both chromosomal and plasmid sequences among the order Pseudomonadaceae, indicating potential horizontal gene transfer of tnfxB6-tmexC6D6-toprJ1b mediated by IS5/IS1182. Our findings highlight the ongoing expansion of variant diversity and geographic spread of tmexCD-toprJ-like gene clusters, and underscore the importance of genomic surveillance for emerging antimicrobial resistance determinants in both clinical and environmental settings.},
}

@article {pmid41775302,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, J and Li, P and Gao, N and Ma, J and Xing, D},
title = {Effects of nanozyme on environmental fate and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in Anaerobically digested sludge.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {134325},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134325},
pmid = {41775302},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {While hydrolytic nanozymes have been shown to promote organic hydrolysis and methane yield in sludge anaerobic digestion (AD), their impact on the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remains a critical knowledge gap. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into how nanozymes influence the environmental behavior of ARGs in AD systems. Nanozyme exposure increased total ARG abundance in a concentration-dependent manner, while simultaneously decreasing the abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Specific ARGs, such as adeF, sul1, blaCTX-M-123, tetW/N/W, sul2, and rmtA, showed increased relative abundances, while rpsL and aadA3 levels decreased. Furthermore, nanozyme exposure led to the enrichment of putative antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) such as Nitrospira, Dechloromonas, Longilinea, Methylibium, and Candidatus Contendobacter, but decreased the abundance of Acidothermus, Mycobacterium, and Candidatus Microthrix. The conjugation transfer frequency was increased by nanozyme, suggesting enhanced horizontal gene transfer (HGT) potential. Despite a distinct reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level (65.3-87.8% lower than the control), the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production rate increased markedly, particularly at the highest nanozyme concentration. A noticeable increase in the protein-to-polysaccharide ratio and the upregulation of the key functional pathway of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secretion further supported the potential role of this nanozyme in promoting ARG dissemination. These findings underscore the need for careful consideration of the long-term environmental impacts of nanozyme exposure, particularly regarding the potential for ARG dissemination when nanozyme-treated sludge is applied to natural environments.},
}

@article {pmid41775040,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, T and Sun, X and Huang, D and Kong, T and Huang, W and Lin, Z and Wang, Z and Li, B and Sun, W},
title = {Differential patterns of antibiotic resistance, virulence, and dissemination risks in floating and sedimented plastispheres.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {296},
number = {},
pages = {125644},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2026.125644},
pmid = {41775040},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {The plastisphere, a unique ecological niche on plastic surfaces, enriches microbial antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors (VFs), posing environmental and health risks. Although aquatic sediment is a major sink for plastic contaminants, the resistance, virulence and dissemination potentials of sedimented plastispheres remain poorly characterized compared to floating plastics. Through investigation of metagenomes from two sites in the Pearl River in China, one of the world's plastic pollution hotspots, we report that water plastisphere showed 2.4 and 3.6 times more ARG and VF genes than those in sediment plastisphere and surrounding environments, together with higher mobile genetic element (MGE) abundances and a denser ARG-VF co-occurrence network (5,879 vs. 2,874 edges; density 0.043 vs. 0.025), indicating enhanced horizontal gene transfer potential. These differences coincide with contrasting ARG/VF assembly mechanisms, with deterministic and stochastic assembly processes dominating ARG/VF profiles in water and sediment plastispheres, respectively. Genome-resolved analyses further revealed that dominant plastisphere populations harbored multiple ARGs and VFs, with 41 MAGs predicted with pathogenicity capacities, most of which belonged to the families Mycobacteriaceae, Aeromonadaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae. Notably, these taxa have been repeatedly reported as common plastisphere members across diverse ecosystems, suggesting that elevated resistance and virulence in floating plastispheres may be a widespread phenomenon across aquatic ecosystems. Together, our findings demonstrate that floating plastics act as dynamic vectors of antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity, as well as their dissemination potentials, highlighting water-sediment transition may reduce these ecological risks within the plastisphere.},
}

@article {pmid41773866,
year = {2026},
author = {Borralho, J and Lança, J and Bryton, J and Antunes, W and Sá-Leão, R},
title = {Streptococcus mitis bacteriocins drive contact-dependent lysis of S. pneumoniae facilitating transformation in multispecies environments.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0271625},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.02716-25},
pmid = {41773866},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Natural competence allows bacterial species like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus mitis to acquire environmental DNA, driving horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and adaptation. In S. pneumoniae, a human pathogen, competence-induced predation is well characterized and involves the release of bacteriocins and a murein hydrolase to lyse noncompetent siblings and liberate DNA. In contrast, in the human commensal S. mitis, mechanisms mediating DNA acquisition remain poorly understood. Here, we identify a diverse set of competence-associated bacteriocins (cab) that are produced by S. mitis during the late phase of competence. We focus on one bacteriocin pair, CabAB, that triggers contact-dependent growth inhibition and lysis of S. pneumoniae through activation of the major pneumococcal autolysin LytA. We demonstrate that CabAB compromises S. pneumoniae membrane integrity, leading to the formation of intracellular membrane aggregates and the release of cytoplasmic content, thereby increasing available DNA, which enhances HGT from S. pneumoniae to S. mitis in biofilms. These findings uncover a mechanism of interspecies predation and gene acquisition, revealing a critical role for competence-associated bacteriocins in shaping evolutionary dynamics of streptococci.

IMPORTANCE: Many streptococci are naturally competent, acquiring environmental DNA through transformation. This includes pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae and commensals like Streptococcus mitis, which can exchange genetic material through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). For example, S. mitis can acquire pneumococcal capsules, leading to its misidentification in polymicrobial samples such as those obtained from the upper respiratory tract. Understanding the drivers of HGT between these species is therefore critical. Here, we characterize a competence-induced bacteriocin cluster in S. mitis. These bacteriocins lyse pneumococci, promoting DNA release and enhancing gene transfer in dual-species biofilms. Our findings uncover a mechanism by which competence-associated predation promotes interspecies HGT, shaping the evolution and epidemiology of streptococcal populations.},
}

@article {pmid41772967,
year = {2026},
author = {Cho, SM and Kang, MS and Hong, SG},
title = {First Report of KPC-2-Producing Hafnia paralvei: Evidence of Horizontal Gene Transfer from Klebsiella pneumoniae.},
journal = {Annals of laboratory medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3343/alm.2025.0519},
pmid = {41772967},
issn = {2234-3814},
}

@article {pmid41768604,
year = {2026},
author = {Revilla-Guarinos, A and Camelo Castillo, A and Cebrián, R and Ferrer, MD and López-López, A and Adrados-Planell, A and Lahoz Oliva, S and Ledesma, L and Hols, P and Mira, Á},
title = {Streptococcus dentisani 7746 encodes a cocktail of 14 bacteriocins associated with Com and Blp-like quorum sensing regulatory systems.},
journal = {Journal of oral microbiology},
volume = {18},
number = {1},
pages = {2633915},
pmid = {41768604},
issn = {2000-2297},
abstract = {AIM: We explored in silico and in vitro the complete bacteriocin profile of the oral probiotic Streptococcus oralis subsp. dentisani strain 7746 with the primary objective of providing a descriptive analysis of bacteriocin genomic organization, regulatory context, and transcriptional expression.

METHODS: The recently closed genome of 7746 was subjected to genome mining searches for bacteriocin biosynthetic gene clusters with BAGEL4 and antiSMASH. Orthology conservation analyses were performed to distinguish between bacteriocin-like peptides (Blp) and competence (Com) related peptides. We assessed bacteriocins' transcription by non-quantitative cross-gene RT-PCR.

RESULTS: Three new bacteriocin-coding genes were identified, which increased to 14 the number of bacteriocins encoded by S. dentisani 7746. We proved that all 14 identified bacteriocins are transcriptionally expressed. We have assigned names to bacteriocins with unnamed orthologs in other species, proposing the name Denticins (from Denticin A to Denticin H). Our analysis led us to propose a model for competence and bacteriocin regulation in this strain, ruled by complete sets of Com and Blp-like quorum sensing systems.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that S. dentisani 7746 is the bacterial isolate with the largest repertoire of bacteriocin genes known to date and that part of its blp-like region might have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from pneumococci.},
}

@article {pmid41765576,
year = {2026},
author = {Diniz, MN and Canellas, ALB and Brunelli, RC and Laport, MS},
title = {Hotspots of antimicrobial resistance and horizontal gene transfer among gram-negative bacteria in water and plastic samples from recreational waters.},
journal = {Journal of environmental sciences (China)},
volume = {162},
number = {},
pages = {754-762},
doi = {10.1016/j.jes.2025.08.007},
pmid = {41765576},
issn = {1001-0742},
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern for global health and anthropogenic activities have accelerated the spread of resistant bacteria to alarming levels. This study aimed to isolate and identify bacteria from water and floating plastic collected in a polluted recreational estuary, the Bom Jesus Cove in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Overall, 36 water samples and 10 plastic samples were collected over one year, among which potential pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were found. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes, particularly those conferring resistance to beta-lactams and colistin, as well as integron-integrase genes was evaluated. The blaKPC gene, which encodes the K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), was detected in 7.6 % of the investigated strains, among which 70.6 % were also positive for the expression of carbapenemases and were submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Mobile colistin resistance genes, including mcr-9 and mcr-3, were detected in 9.0 % of the tested strains. Of great concern was the detection of mcr variants in extended-spectrum-β-lactamase- and carbapenemase-producing strains, thereby highlighting that resistance to last-resort antimicrobials circulates in the marine environment, notably within common pollutants like plastics. A strain of carbapenemase-producing Kluyvera ascorbata successfully transferred the blaKPC-2 gene to E. coli DH5α. This strain was selected for whole genome sequencing based on its extensive beta-lactam resistance profile, revealing further insights into the mobilization of this clinically relevant resistance gene. These results underscore the importance of unveiling the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments, pointing to the emergence of high-risk phenotypes that pose a threat to human health.},
}

@article {pmid41765445,
year = {2026},
author = {Dao, DT and Suzuki, M and Kobayashi, Y and Hirabayashi, A and Kasuga, I and Tran, HH and Takemura, T and Abe, H and Hasebe, F and Shibayama, K},
title = {Characterization of Integrative and Conjugative Elements Carrying blaNDM-1 and blaKPC-2 in an Environmental Pseudomonas guariconensis Isolate.},
journal = {Japanese journal of infectious diseases},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.7883/yoken.JJID.2025.255},
pmid = {41765445},
issn = {1884-2836},
abstract = {Urban wastewater is increasingly recognized as a major reservoir of antimicrobial resistance and horizontal gene transfer. From urban wastewater in Hanoi, Vietnam, we isolated a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas guariconensis strain, KNHN1, resistant to most antimicrobials, including carbapenems and cephalosporins, but susceptible to cefiderocol; and intermediate to colistin. Whole-genome sequencing revealed two chromosomally integrated integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs): ICEPgKNHN1_KPC (131 kb) carrying blaKPC-2 and ICEPgKNHN1_NDM (108 kb), carrying blaNDM-1, both flanked by conserved 18-bp att sites in the tRNA[Gly] loci and encoding MOBH-type relaxases. Polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequencing confirmed ICE excision from the chromosome and formation of circular intermediates. Conjugation to Pseudomonas putida KT2440 occurred at ~10[-2] frequency, producing transconjugants with ICEPgKNHN1_NDM (~85%), ICEPgKNHN1_KPC (~10%), or both, all showing broad range β-lactam resistance. Comparative analysis indicated that ICEPgKNHN1_NDM has a highly conserved backbone across multiple species and often co-carries blaPME-1 and other resistance genes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of chromosomally integrated blaNDM‑1 and blaKPC‑2 in P. guariconensis mediated by functional ICEs. These findings underscore the pivotal role of environmental bacteria as reservoirs of clinically significant resistance genes, and highlight ICEs as key drivers in the dissemination of carbapenem resistance.},
}

@article {pmid41764388,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhu, K and Amirali, A and Auch, B and Babler, KM and Biswas, P and Bowie, K and Choudhary, S and Currall, BB and Grills, GS and Healy, HG and Liachko, I and Lucaci, AG and Mason, CE and Sharkey, M and Shigeno Risse-Adams, O and Shukla, BS and Sisson, Z and Stevenson, M and Williams, SL and Zulli, A and Peccia, J and Solo-Gabriele, HM},
title = {Proof-of-concept of host attribution of antimicrobial resistance genes using wastewater Hi-C metagenome sequencing.},
journal = {Journal of water and health},
volume = {24},
number = {2},
pages = {148-159},
pmid = {41764388},
issn = {1477-8920},
support = {//4Catalyzer/ ; U01DA053941/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States ; P30AI073961/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {The proliferation of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) poses public health risks globally, with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serving as dissemination hubs for horizontal gene transfer. In this study, we evaluated the potential of applying Hi-C sequencing coupled with metagenomic bioinformatics for surveillance of ARGs and other microbial fitness traits using samples from WWTPs. Hi-C sequencing has the advantage over other molecular approaches by directly associating genes conveying fitness to their host microbe, plus to their element type (in plasmids, phages, or within the core genome of its host microbe). Results from Hi-C analyses confirm results from more laborious approaches by showing that aminoglycoside resistance is disseminated by plasmids. Mercury resistance was found in Zoogloea bacteria. Resistance genes to quaternary ammonium compounds were found within bacteriophages. Results from this study provide proof-of-concept for the potential value of Hi-C metagenome sequencing in wastewater attribution studies by illustrating the breadth of information that can be obtained about the microbial community, the exchange of genes, and their interconnections. We believe that with further development, Hi-C sequencing can be integrated into routine monitoring of wastewater for the purpose of providing near-real-time information about the dissemination of fitness traits, including ARGs.},
}

@article {pmid41764382,
year = {2026},
author = {Vu, K},
title = {Plastics as vectors for pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic systems.},
journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research},
volume = {93},
number = {4},
pages = {552-568},
pmid = {41764382},
issn = {0273-1223},
abstract = {The increasing amount of plastics in aquatic systems poses risks to water quality and biodiversity by transporting pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. This article reviews how plastics spread and persist as vectors for these contaminants. In addition, their attachment, transport, and release mechanisms on plastic surfaces are discussed, underscoring the need for advanced detection and monitoring methods. Future research should focus on developing practical mitigation strategies and policy interventions to address plastic-mediated microbial pollution. Ultimately, this article emphasizes the value of interdisciplinary work to protect aquatic ecosystems and public health from the adverse effects of plastic pollution and proposes potential solutions to address this global challenge.},
}

@article {pmid41762839,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, C and Wang, P and Zhang, W and Peng, K and Wang, Y and Wang, Z and Li, R},
title = {Comprehensive evaluation of disinfectants on the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes mediated by SXT integrative conjugative elements.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141504},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141504},
pmid = {41762839},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is primarily driven by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) via mobile genetic elements. Disinfectants have been reported to accelerate this process, yet most studies focus on plasmid-mediated ARG dissemination, overlooking the role of integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs). Unlike plasmids, ICEs integrate into chromosomes while retaining transfer ability, making them critical for ARG persistence. Here, we established intraspecific and interspecific conjugation models to systematically evaluate the effects of various disinfectants on SXT ICE conjugative transfer. Phenolic and quaternary ammonium disinfectants showed variable effects across different models, whereas oxidants, guanidines, organic acids, and most halogen‑based disinfectants consistently promoted SXT ICE transfer. We further focused on potassium monopersulfate (PMS) and potassium ferrate (PF), which increased SXT ICE conjugation frequency by at least 1.28‑fold and 1.45‑fold, respectively, across all models. Moreover, PMS and PF enhanced the transfer of SXT ICE into environmentally relevant microbiota (derived from feces, soil, and water) by at least 1.75‑fold and 1.37‑fold, respectively, and altered the community structure of the resulting transconjugants. Mechanistic analysis revealed that PMS and PF triggered the SOS response, leading to the de-repression of SXT ICEs, while also enhancing energy metabolism and disrupting membrane homeostasis. These effects collectively promoted SXT ICE transfer. Our findings suggest that disinfectants could unintentionally accelerate AMR dissemination, underscoring the need for more cautious application strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41762158,
year = {2026},
author = {Wj, WJL and Cheang, R and Taracena, M and Ayub, MJ},
title = {Ancestral Wolbachia lineages are likely donors of ribotoxin genes in Aedes aegypti.},
journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jeb/voag014},
pmid = {41762158},
issn = {1420-9101},
abstract = {Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are enzymes that irreversibly inhibit protein synthesis by depurinating a specific adenine residue in the ribosomal RNA. Although members of this gene family are widespread in plants and bacteria, their occurrence in metazoans is rare and restricted to a few insect lineages, including Culicinae mosquitoes. Previous studies suggested that these genes were acquired by mosquitoes via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from bacteria lineage, but the source lineage remained unidentified. Here, we report the discovery of RIP-encoding genes in two Wolbachia strains. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyletic relationship between Wolbachia and mosquito RIPs, implying Wolbachia as the donor of these genes. These results shed light on the evolutionary dynamics of RIPs and the dual role of Wolbachia as both a functional contributor and genetic donor. By bridging the gap between endosymbiont and host genomes, this work provides new evidence for HGT as a source of adaptive innovation in insects. The implications of these findings for the ongoing debate on HGT in metazoans are also discussed.},
}

@article {pmid41761781,
year = {2026},
author = {Collins, CF and Alston, BT and Hibdige, SGS and Raimondeau, P and Baker, ER and Sotelo, G and Papadopulos, AST and Christin, PA and Pereira, L and Dunning, LT},
title = {Regulatory features determine the evolutionary fate of laterally acquired genes in plants.},
journal = {Molecular biology and evolution},
volume = {43},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/molbev/msag042},
pmid = {41761781},
issn = {1537-1719},
support = {NE/V000012/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; NE/T011025/1//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; //University of Sheffield/ ; 947921//MAPAS/ ; URF\R\180022//Royal Society University Research/ ; },
abstract = {Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is widespread in eukaryotes, including in animals and plants where it can fuel adaptive evolution and innovation. However, the factors that influence the integration and long-term retention of transferred genes remain poorly understood. The pangenome of the grass Alloteropsis has a high turnover of laterally acquired genes, and here we combine expression, methylation, and genomic data to identify factors promoting their long-term persistence. Most transferred genes appear to be degenerating, showing lower expression levels and/or greater sequence truncation compared to their vertically inherited homologs. These degenerating genes also show significantly higher levels of DNA methylation, potentially indicating transcriptional silencing. The likelihood of a transferred gene being retained will be influenced by how easily it can be expressed in the recipient genome. In Alloteropsis, putatively functional laterally acquired genes had expression levels significantly more similar to their donor ortholog than to their vertically inherited homolog. Transferred genes carry cis-regulatory elements encoded on the fragment of DNA that moves between species, likely facilitating their expression in the new genomic context. Evolutionary novelty may also increase the likelihood that selection retains a transferred gene. However, only a significant difference in expression level, not sequence divergence, between donor orthologs and vertically inherited homologs is associated with successful lateral gene transfer. Overall, our results show that most transferred genes degrade over time. However, those capable of regulating their own expression are more likely to persist and contribute to long-term evolutionary innovation.},
}

@article {pmid41760775,
year = {2026},
author = {Jie, J and Gu, S and Li, D and Zhang, M and Luo, ZQ and Song, L},
title = {The type VI secretion system of Acinetobacter: mechanisms, biology and therapeutic potential.},
journal = {Communications biology},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {41760775},
issn = {2399-3642},
abstract = {The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is widely recognized as a contractile nanomachine that mediates interbacterial antagonism, yet its biological roles and evolutionary logic vary substantially across bacterial lineages. In this Review, we synthesize recent advances in the Acinetobacter T6SS field and propose a unifying perspective in which the system functions as a context-dependent fitness module rather than a constitutive virulence weapon. We highlight how Acinetobacter has rewired a single T6SS platform through non-canonical structural solutions, multilayered regulatory integration, and an unusually expansive effector repertoire. Beyond microbial competition, emerging clinical and experimental evidence links T6SS activity to host immune amplification, disease severity, and the dynamics of horizontal gene transfer and antibiotic resistance. By integrating structural biology, regulatory logic, effector function, and clinical observations, this Review reframes the Acinetobacter T6SS as an adaptable system that balances aggression, persistence, and metabolic cost in polymicrobial and host-associated environments. This perspective not only advances conceptual understanding of T6SS diversity but also highlights translational opportunities for diagnostics, vaccines, and anti-virulence strategies targeting multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections.},
}

@article {pmid41759977,
year = {2026},
author = {Jing, K and Li, Y and Li, Y and Meng, Q and Zhang, J and Guan, Q},
title = {Migration of antibiotic resistance genes in process of biodegradation of sulfonamide antibiotics in biofilm-sediment: Mechanisms, microbial communities, and driving factors.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {448},
number = {},
pages = {134286},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134286},
pmid = {41759977},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {The main removal pathway of sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs) in biofilm-sediment system is biodegradation, which not only promotes the enrichment of drug-resistant bacteria, but its metabolic intermediates also promote the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Since the biofilm-sediment multiphase system is closer to characteristics of the natural aquatic environment, the study of the dynamic migration process of ARGs in this system can reveal the propagation patterns of ARGs more realistically. Therefore, this study investigated the migration characteristics of ARGs and their driving mechanisms during the biodegradation of SAs in the biofilm-sediment system. The results showed that the migration of ARGs exhibited obvious stratification characteristics: the abundance of ARGs in the surface biofilm fluctuated in synchrony with the degradation of SAs, the HGT mediated by mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in middle sediments enabled the cross-layer migration and accumulation of ARGs, while deep sediments were limited in migration due to hypoxia and pore barriers. Changes in the bacterial community also facilitated the migration of ARGs, with the proliferation of host bacteria dominating the surface layer and the formation of a composite transfer system of "host bacteria-ARGs-MGEs" in the middle layer. The multivariate statistical analysis model confirmed that the synergistic effects of bacterial abundance, MGEs and environmental factors contributed 95-99% to the migration of ARGs in the surface and middle layers, with pH being the strongest positive regulator. These results demonstrated that the migration of ARGs is closely related to the degradation process of pollutants.},
}

@article {pmid41759554,
year = {2026},
author = {Dai, X and Liu, H and Bai, X and Li, D and Wang, T and Zhong, H and Xu, H and Sun, J},
title = {Insights into antibiotic resistomes from gut metagenome-assembled genomes of the free-range pigs.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0240725},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02407-25},
pmid = {41759554},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {The pig gut microbiome serves as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which pose a threat to public health and environmental safety. To investigate the presence of ARGs carried by free-range pigs, which have frequent contact with humans and their environment, we characterized the resistome of the pig gut microbiome through metagenomic sequencing of fecal samples from 120 pigs across four provinces in China (Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Jiangsu). By constructing metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and gene catalogs, we explored the microbial community structure and ARG distribution. Our analysis revealed a highly diverse array of ARGs, particularly those conferring resistance to multidrug, glycopeptide, peptide, and tetracycline antibiotics. Bacillota A and Actinomycetota were the dominant phyla across samples. However, notable regional differences in microbiota composition and resistance profiles were observed. These differences were likely influenced by local farming practices and environmental conditions. Guizhou harbored 11 unique ARG types, followed by Sichuan (seven), which showed region-specific resistome signatures. Escherichia coli and other microbial taxa were closely linked with ARG abundance, suggesting potential vectors for horizontal gene transfer. Analysis of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) further supported this, revealing a strong linear correlation between MGE and ARG abundance, with transposase elements particularly associated with multidrug ARGs. These findings highlight the central role of MGEs in ARG dissemination and underscore the need for targeted strategies to curb antibiotic resistance in livestock systems. Regional variation in resistome profiles further emphasizes the influence of local agricultural practices on resistance dynamics.IMPORTANCEThe growing prevalence of antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health threat, making it imperative to trace the origins and transmission routes of ARGs. This study delivers a comprehensive genomic reference for the porcine gut microbiota and clarifies how regional farming practices shape distinct resistome profiles. Integrating these data with analyses of mobile genetic elements and microbial hosts reveals the complex interplay among host, microbiota, and environment, thereby extending current knowledge of the pig gut ecosystem. These findings provide an evidence-based foundation for targeted surveillance and intervention strategies to curb antibiotic resistance in livestock and safeguard public health.},
}

@article {pmid41759320,
year = {2026},
author = {Yin, Y and Wu, H and French, CE and Lu, Z},
title = {Triclosan induced restructuring of microbial communities and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics in activated sludge: insights and mitigation strategies.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {296},
number = {},
pages = {125614},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2026.125614},
pmid = {41759320},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {The widespread presence of emerging contaminants, such as triclosan (TCS), in environmental systems raises significant concerns regarding their ecological risks, particularly the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were exposed to a TCS concentration gradient to simulate the accumulation of TCS in activated sludge and to elucidate its effects on microbial community structure, ARG dissemination, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). Using a multi-omics approach that integrated 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, short- and long-read metagenomics, and genome-scale metabolic modeling, we demonstrated that increasing TCS concentrations progressively reduced microbial diversity and stability. At lower TCS concentrations (0-1.0 mg/L), ARG-carrying bacteria were enriched, whereas at higher concentrations (10 mg/L), TCS eliminated ARG-carrying bacteria and selected for strains rich in mobile genetic element (MGE). Notably, HGT led to genome expansion of Acidomonas methanolica (from 3.75 Mb to 7.13 Mb), disrupting the microbial interaction networks within the community. Additionally, the introduction of a triclosan-degrading hydrogel-magnetic biochar-engineered strain composite mitigated the destabilizing effects of TCS stress on the microbial community, enhanced its resilience, and facilitated TCS degradation, thus reducing associated environmental risks. Our findings highlight how gradient TCS exposure reshapes microbial communities, promotes the dominance of MGE-enriched taxa, and has profound implications for the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems. This study provides novel insights into the role of emerging contaminants in the propagation of resistance and microbial adaptation.},
}

@article {pmid41758123,
year = {2026},
author = {Gharbi, M and Abbassi, MS},
title = {Ecology and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter in wildlife: insights into specialist and generalist lineages and zoonotic potential.},
journal = {Letters in applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/lambio/ovag031},
pmid = {41758123},
issn = {1472-765X},
abstract = {Wildlife is a critical reservoir of Campylobacter species, particularly C. jejuni and C. coli, carrying diverse genetic lineages, virulence factors, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Birds, especially migratory and synanthropic species, are the primary carriers, though mammals, reptiles, and other vertebrates also contribute to maintenance and dissemination. Wildlife-associated strains include both host-specific lineages and generalist clonal complexes (e.g. ST21, ST45, ST828) capable of crossing wildlife, livestock, humans, and environmental interfaces, reflecting high zoonotic potential. Virulence factors, including motility, adhesion and invasion proteins (CadF, CiaB), and cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), facilitate colonization and survival, while efflux pumps and stress-response genes enhance persistence under antibiotic pressure. AMR is widespread, with resistance to fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, and multidrug phenotypes, driven by anthropogenic contamination, environmental reservoirs, and horizontal gene transfer. Key resistance determinants include gyrA mutations, tet(O), erm(B), cmeABC efflux pumps, and β-lactamases. Despite advances, knowledge gaps remain, particularly for non-avian hosts, environmental reservoirs, and resistance mechanisms. A One Health approach integrating microbiology, genomics, ecology, and epidemiology is essential to map transmission pathways, monitor emerging resistance, and guide interventions to reduce the public health impact of zoonotic and antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter.},
}

@article {pmid41757979,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, X and Luo, Q and Gong, Z and Yang, H and Chen, X and Wang, B and Yuan, M and Chen, Y and Jia, Y and Guo, S},
title = {Nano-selenium mitigates antibiotic resistance in paddy ecosystems via microbiome remodeling and environmental filtering shifts.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0223125},
doi = {10.1128/aem.02231-25},
pmid = {41757979},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in paddy ecosystems poses a serious threat to environmental health. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of alkyl glycoside-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (AG-SeNPs) in mitigating ARG abundance within the soil, phyllosphere, and rice grains. Functional prediction, null model analysis, variance partitioning, and structural equation modeling were employed to identify ARG hosts, key metabolic pathways, and environmental drivers of ARG dynamics. Results showed that foliar application of AG-SeNPs (30 g ha[-1]) reduced ARGs by 5.13 × 10[6] copies g[-1], 2.28 × 10[7] copies g[-1], and 1.25 × 10[6] copies g[-1] in the rhizosphere soil, phyllosphere, and grains, respectively. TetPA and tetGF were dominant ARGs, predominantly associated with Mariniphaga anaerophila, Sediminibacter magnilacihabitans, and Limnospira fusiformis. ARG attenuation was linked to enhanced ABC transporter activity and suppressed purine metabolism and ribosome function, thereby reducing intracellular antibiotic pressure and limiting ARG expression in soil microbes. In the phyllosphere, activation of two-component systems modulated stress responses and antimicrobial resistance pathways, constraining horizontal gene transfer. Nano-selenium increased heterogeneous selection in the phyllosphere, enhancing deterministic filtering of ARG hosts and restructuring microbial communities. Environmental factors explained 42.81% of ARG variation, wherein selenium accumulation in leaves directly reduced ARG abundance, and soil pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter indirectly influenced ARG dynamics through microbial community restructuring. These findings highlight that AG-SeNPs mitigate ARGs through an environmentally mediated, microbially driven cascade, offering a promising strategy for antibiotic resistance control in agricultural systems.

IMPORTANCE: The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes within agricultural soil-plant systems poses a severe threat to food safety and public health. This study demonstrates that foliar application of nano-selenium fertilizer effectively reduces ARG abundance in the soil, phyllosphere, and rice grains. We found that nano-selenium functions not by direct bactericidal action but by beneficially reshaping the microbial communities in both the leaves and soil, thereby suppressing the pathways for ARG transmission. Our findings provide a novel and sustainable strategy to mitigate antibiotic resistance in agricultural ecosystems, potentially reducing the risk of these genes entering the human food chain via rice.},
}

@article {pmid41754427,
year = {2026},
author = {Shah, K and Guo, Y and Adnan, M and Wu, H},
title = {Xanthomonas spp.: Devastating Plant Pathogens and Sustainable Management Strategies.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41754427},
issn = {2076-0817},
support = {31960610//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32160723//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202304BI090030//Special Science and Technology Mission of Yunnan Province/ ; },
abstract = {The genus Xanthomonas comprises devastating plant pathogens responsible for significant yield losses in globally critical crops such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), citrus (Citrus L. spp.), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms driving Xanthomonas pathogenicity, including the type III secretion system (T3SS) that translocates effector proteins, transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) that reprogram host transcription, and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) that promote biofilm formation and immune evasion, which collectively enable host colonization, immune suppression, and disease progression. Rapid adaptation through genomic plasticity and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) exacerbates challenges in disease management by facilitating evasion of host defenses and environmental stressors. Economically, Xanthomonas spp. inflict billions in annual losses through crop damage, trade restrictions, and eradication efforts, disproportionately affecting resource-limited regions. Emerging antibiotic resistance and climate-driven shifts in pathogen distribution further threaten food security. Sustainable strategies, such as CRISPR-based genome editing to disrupt susceptibility genes, biocontrol agents (e.g., Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp.), and nanotechnology-driven antimicrobials offer promising alternatives to conventional copper-based and chemical controls. This review underscores the urgent need for integrated, climate-resilient management approaches to mitigate the ecological and socioeconomic impacts of Xanthomonas diseases, bridging genomic insights with innovative control measures, to address escalating threats posed by these pathogens in a changing global climate.},
}

@article {pmid41753753,
year = {2026},
author = {Lerner, A and Lieber, AD and Nelson-Dooley, C and Leu, A and Perro, M and Koch, G and Benzvi, C and Smith, J},
title = {Genetically Modified Microorganisms: Risks and Regulatory Considerations for Human and Environmental Health.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41753753},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Advances in affordable genetic engineering have accelerated the creation and large-scale environmental release of genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs). While beneficial applications exist, GMMs may present unique, long-term risks to human and environmental health. Unlike static chemicals, GMMs are biologically active, self-replicating entities capable of rapid mutation and global dispersal. Current regulatory frameworks place responsibility on each country to regulate GMMs, without a clear, coordinated international policy. This review details critical risk scenarios, including horizontal gene transfer to native species and the possible disruption of vital human microbiomes (gut, oral, and infant), which could increase resistance to degradation, promote traits that expand a microbe's range of hosts or ecological niches, and enhance the production of novel metabolites with unexpected biological activity. In soil, GMMs may support the emergence of "super bugs" or destabilize carbon sequestration cycles, potentially impacting climate resilience. Engineered microbial enzymes in the food supply may also act as environmental drivers of autoimmunity. Given the limited understanding of microbial ecology, we propose a decision-based biosafety workflow emphasizing pre-release risk assessment and continuous post-release monitoring. We urge national and international regulators to adopt the precautionary principle to better protect human health and the environment from the potential negative outcomes of GMMs.},
}

@article {pmid41753661,
year = {2026},
author = {Yi, S and Xu, X and Yin, L and He, Z and Wang, X},
title = {Site-Specific Nested Integration of Tn1806 into ICESa2603-Family Integrative and Conjugative Elements in Streptococcus agalactiae.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41753661},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2025Y0054//the Clinical Research Special Program of Shanghai Municipal Health Commission/ ; },
abstract = {Composite integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) frequently mediate the co-transfer of multiple antibiotic resistance genes during horizontal gene transfer, but their formation mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the site-specific integration of Tn1806 into ICESa2603-family ICEs in Streptococcus agalactiae by conjugation experiments. PCR screening of 161 S. agalactiae clinical isolates identified potential Tn1806-like ICE carriers; whole-genome sequencing was performed to further characterize the macrolide-resistance isolates from this group. PCR detection resulted in 24 carrying Tn1806-like ICEs being found, five of which were macrolide-resistant. Genomic analysis for these five revealed distinct Tn1806-like ICEs (ICESag16, ICESag57, ICESag139, ICESag167, and ICESag220), three of which were found nested within another ICE (ICESpy009, an ICESa2603-family ICE). Conjugation experiments confirmed ICESag167 could integrate into the snf2 (methyltransferase containing a SNF2 helicase domain) of ICESpy009 in recipient cells, generating a composite ICE. Re-conjugation verified the transferability of composite ICE at low frequencies (8.63 × 10[-8]), during which some nested ICESag167 were excised and transferred independently. This work provides first experimental evidence supporting Tn1806 nesting within another ICE as a mechanism for resistance accumulation and mobile element evolution in S. agalactiae. The spread of such composite ICEs may confer multiple forms of resistance to new hosts, challenging infection treatment and raising public health concerns.},
}

@article {pmid41750474,
year = {2026},
author = {Scrascia, M and Tempesta, AA and Cafiso, V and Pazzani, C and Mezzatesta, ML},
title = {Bloodstream Infections Due to Carbapenemase-Producing Escherichia coli: A Comprehensive Review.},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41750474},
issn = {2079-6382},
support = {project number P2022RHYTM//This work was supported by the EU funding with the MUR PRIN 2022 PNRR, project number P2022RHYTM, title: "A snapshot of transferable plasmids based on omics and clonal epidemiology in hospital acquired carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales: a pilot study"/ ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives: Carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli (CP-Ec) has emerged as an important contributor to the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance. Although less prevalent than carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, CP-Ec exhibits marked genomic plasticity, efficient plasmid-mediated dissemination, and increasing involvement in bloodstream infections. This comprehensive review summarizes the global epidemiology, molecular features, treatment options, clonal structure and transmission dynamics of CP-Ec. Particular attention is given to the expanding repertoire of NDM, OXA-48-like, and KPC carbapenemases and their associated plasmid backbones. Key high-risk clones, including ST410, ST167 and ST131, are highlighted as drivers of international spread. Conclusions and Future Directions: CP-Ec bloodstream infections represent a growing clinical challenge, often associated with severe outcomes and limited therapeutic options, particularly for NDM producers. The emergence of treatment failures with last-resort agents further underscores the need for improved management strategies. Strengthened global surveillance, integration of genomic epidemiology, optimized antimicrobial stewardship, and targeted infection control measures are essential to limit the dissemination of CP-Ec and mitigate its impact on human health.},
}

@article {pmid41750413,
year = {2026},
author = {Martins, LB and Carneiro, MT and Vieira-Alcântara, K and Chagas, TPG and Zahner, V},
title = {Silent Waterborne Carriers of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Rio de Janeiro's Aquatic Ecosystems.},
journal = {Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {15},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {41750413},
issn = {2079-6382},
support = {E-26/210.982/2021//Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) - Postgraduate Support - Course and Postgraduate Studies/ ; E-26/210.228/2018//FAPERJ/ ; },
abstract = {Background/Objectives: Water pollution caused by human activities disrupts ecosystems and promotes the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), posing a public health threat. This study investigated the presence of resistant Gram-negative bacteria and resistance genes in water from two sites occasionally exposed to domestic and hospital effluents, the Carioca River (CR) and Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon (RFL), both used for recreation. Methods: Physicochemical parameters and coliform levels were measured. Bacterial isolates were identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using disk diffusion. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined using the E-test[®] and broth microdilution methods. PCR was used to detect carbapenem resistance and other ARGs from the DNA of bacterial isolates obtained from water samples. Results: CR presented signs of environmental degradation, with low dissolved oxygen and high coliform counts. One Citrobacter braakii isolate showed resistance to all tested antimicrobials, raising concern for untreatable infections. Carbapenem-resistant isolates accounted for 49.4% of the total, harboring blaKPC (20%), blaTEM (5%), blaVIM (5%), and blaSPM (5%). The intl1 gene was found in 10% of isolates, indicating potential horizontal gene transfer. Conclusions: The findings from a one-day sampling reveal the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria that carry antimicrobial resistance genes in polluted aquatic systems. These highlight the connection between water contamination and antimicrobial resistance. The evidence underscores the urgent need for environmental monitoring and effective management strategies to reduce public health risks.},
}

@article {pmid41749291,
year = {2026},
author = {Haro-Moreno, JM and Díaz-Arinero, E and Aldeguer-Riquelme, B and Rubio-Portillo, E},
title = {Effects of marine heatwaves on the dynamics of marine coastal microbial communities.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40793-026-00861-3},
pmid = {41749291},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {CIGE/2022/21//Generalitat Valenciana/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Climate change is projected to intensify and prolong marine heatwaves, characterized by abnormally high sea surface temperatures. These events can profoundly alter ecosystem composition and functioning, sometimes triggering mass mortality events. The Mediterranean Sea, due to its semi-enclosed nature, is particularly susceptible to warming, with future climate scenarios predicting a temperature increase of up to 3.8 °C and at least one persistent heatwave annually by 2100. Despite this vulnerability, the effects of marine heatwaves on seawater microbial and viral communities remain poorly understood.

RESULTS: Using microcosm experiments, we examined microbial and viral dynamics under control conditions (20 °C) and two simulated marine heatwaves (MHWs) (23 °C and 25 °C). By the end of the experiment, microbial assemblages in all three conditions were dominated by metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) that were not detected in the initial natural sample, indicating the competitive success of rare biosphere taxa over initially abundant species. Virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes increased in relative abundance throughout the incubation, but such increase was amplified under warming conditions. Temperature also shaped viral strategies, with heatwaves showing a higher percentage of integrated lysogenic viruses compared to control samples. This trend was consistent with observations from natural samples, where lysogenic viruses peaked during warmer months.

CONCLUSIONS: The shift toward lysogeny observed under elevated temperatures may enhance horizontal gene transfer, accelerating the spread of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. In fact, we observed an increased abundance of these genes in samples under heat stress. These processes could weaken ecosystem resilience, disrupt microbial-driven biogeochemical cycles, and amplify risks to marine and human health. Our study underscores the need to integrate microbial and viral responses into predictions of ocean functioning in a rapidly warming world.},
}

@article {pmid41747947,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, G and Yan, P and Zheng, B and Zeng, Q and Xing, Q and Hu, J and Wang, M},
title = {Screening and identification of bacterium-derived horizontally transferred genes in the genomes of three Penaeus species.},
journal = {Developmental and comparative immunology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {105575},
doi = {10.1016/j.dci.2026.105575},
pmid = {41747947},
issn = {1879-0089},
abstract = {Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major force shaping genome evolution in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In the past decade, numerous horizontally transferred genes from bacteria have been identified in eukaryotic lineages, with a substantial proportion found in arthropods. Shrimp, which are economically important cultured arthropods, maintain intimate associations with bacteria, providing an ideal platform for HGT research. In this study, we analyzed bacterium-derived HGT based on high-quality genomes of Penaeus monodon, Penaeus chinensis, and Penaeus japonicus via homology searches and phylogenetic analysis. Our analysis revealed 19 HGT genes, with 11 identified in P. monodon, 5 in P. chinensis, and 3 in P. japonicus. These candidates show features consistent with post-transfer assimilation in the host genome. Specifically, 84% of the candidates contain annotated introns, consistent with intron acquisition after genomic integration. In addition, most candidates exhibit GC content similar to their host genomes, consistent with post-transfer sequence amelioration. Functional annotation indicates their involvement in metabolism and catalytic activity. Notably, horizontally transferred candidates, such as chondroitinase-AC-like and lantibiotic transporter ATP-binding protein SrtF-like, can be used to test hypotheses regarding horizontally transferred genes' roles in host-microbe interfaces and shrimp immunity. The presence of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) lyase-encoding HGT genes in all three species is consistent with an early acquisition in the penaeid lineage. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that bacterium-derived horizontally transferred genes not only structurally integrate into penaeid shrimp genomes but also provide a curated resource for future comparative analyses and experimental validation relevant to shrimp-microbe interactions and aquaculture.},
}

@article {pmid41747697,
year = {2026},
author = {Jin, L and Li, C and Addou, AM and Zhang, S and Li, H},
title = {Global heavy metal-antibiotic co-pollution: Distribution, ARG co-selection, toxic synergism, and AOPs-mediated remediation with focus on non-radical pathways.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141601},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141601},
pmid = {41747697},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Heavy metal and antibiotic co-pollution has become a global environmental concern due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and synergistic toxic effects. This review synthesizes key advances in its sources, distribution, toxicity, and remediation. Globally, six typical heavy metals and eight major classes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) exhibit significant spatial heterogeneity: high pollution levels occur in industrialized regions (Asia, Europe, North America) and mineral-rich areas (South America, Africa), with heavy metals driving ARG dissemination via co-selection (reactive oxygen species-induced SOS response and horizontal gene transfer). Toxic interactions between antibiotics and heavy metals (e.g., complexation, sorption competition) further exacerbate ecological risks. Among remediation technologies, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) stand out, particularly non-radical pathways mediated by Fe(IV)/Fe(V) species, which offer superior selectivity against inorganic interference and synchronous degradation/transformation of co-pollutants. Conventional techniques (adsorption, phytoremediation) are limited by poor adaptability to complex matrices, while AOPs (e.g., persulfate-, ferrate-based systems) show great potential for practical application. This review clarifies the environmental behavior of co-pollution and the core role of non-radical AOPs, providing a scientific basis for efficient pollution control.},
}

@article {pmid41747693,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, T and Yuan, R and Wang, X and Zhai, L and Dong, X and Chen, H and Guo, Z and Jiao, H and Huang, LZ and Yang, Y and Jia, QQ},
title = {π-conjugated microplastics act as hazard amplifiers of antibiotic resistance through cross-kingdom network engineering.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {506},
number = {},
pages = {141592},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141592},
pmid = {41747693},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Microplastics are recognized as environmental vectors for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), a role traditionally ascribed to physical mechanisms such as biofilm-enhanced horizontal gene transfer. Here, we uncover a chemistry-driven pathway that fundamentally surpasses the traditional passive vector model. We show that π‑conjugated polystyrene (PS) microplastics serve as powerful chemical hazard amplifyers by specifically concentrating the signaling molecule indole on their surfaces through π-π stacking and electrostatic interactions (binding energy = -128.56 kcal/mol), creating localized interfacial risk hotspots. These hotspots drive the reprogramming of soil microbiomes, as evidenced by distinct transformations in dissolved organic matter (DOM), and promote a cross-kingdom microbial alliance centered on the keystone fungus Pseudeurotium. This fungal hub transmits the amplified indole signal to bacterial degraders, markedly elevating the dissemination risk of clinically relevant ARGs (e.g., sul2). Through an integration of molecular simulations, multi-omics analyses, and causal modeling, our structural equation modeling (SEM) identifies the amplified indole signal as the primary direct driver of ARG abundance (path coefficient β = 0.47)-an effect 23.5 times greater than that of the PS polymer itself. Our findings establish "Chemical Interfacial-Driven Network Engineering (CIDNE)" as a pivotal mechanism, redefining how synthetic materials actively reshape microbial networks and escalate environmental resistome risk through molecular-scale interfacial interactions.},
}

@article {pmid41747516,
year = {2026},
author = {Hu, X and Yu, K and Chai, B and Tang, Q and Gao, X and Wang, J and Yan, Z and Li, Y and Zhang, L and Wang, C and Lei, X and Chen, B and He, L},
title = {Polyethylene microplastics specifically drive the dissemination of ARGs: Mechanisms involving microbial community restructuring and horizontal gene transfer.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1021},
number = {},
pages = {181587},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181587},
pmid = {41747516},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {As emerging contaminants, the impact of microplastics (MPs) on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors (VFs), and host microbial communities in lakes remains unclear. To address this, we conducted a 28-day incubation experiment using water from Yiquan Lake, employing metagenomic sequencing to investigate the effects of different types of microplastics-polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and a mixture (Mix), each at a concentration of 1 item/L-compared to a raw water control (RAW). Results showed significant enrichment of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in PE and Mix groups. Genera such as Agrobacterium and Microbacterium increased in PE and PS groups, serving as major hosts of ARGs and VFs. Network analysis revealed positive correlations between Agrobacterium, Escherichia, and ARGs, suggesting horizontal gene transfer may facilitate the spread of resistance and virulence. Two-factor PS formed highly connected yet competitive networks, whereas Mix constructed modular and stable networks. Single-factor PE enhanced microbial connectivity but reduced ARGs connectivity, while Mix increased the modularity of both microbes and ARGs. PE elevated the abundance of ARGs, VFs, and mobile genetic elements, with multidrug resistance and efflux pumps as dominant mechanisms. Additionally, PE downregulated quorum sensing transporter genes while upregulating regulatory factors, significantly promoting RND efflux systems (AcrAB-TolC) to maintain resistome homeostasis. This study highlights the distinct environmental effects of different MPs, underscoring the need to prioritize PE-related risks in aquatic ecosystems. Improved management of plastic waste in and around lakes is recommended to mitigate MP-mediated ARG dissemination and preserve freshwater ecosystem services.},
}

@article {pmid41743627,
year = {2026},
author = {Bollini, R and Cento, V},
title = {PCNE: A Tool for Plasmid Copy Number Estimation.},
journal = {Bioinformatics and biology insights},
volume = {20},
number = {},
pages = {11779322251410037},
pmid = {41743627},
issn = {1177-9322},
abstract = {The identification of plasmids from assembled genomes is well supported by numerous different tools, yet very few incorporate a plasmid copy number estimation step. This limits a comprehensive plasmid analysis, often leaving researchers to perform copy number estimation independently, leading to a lack of standardization. Plasmid Copy Number Estimator (PCNE) addresses this by providing an accessible and versatile command-line tool for estimating plasmid copy numbers directly from short-read sequencing data. Starting from standard input data like raw reads and a genome assembly, PCNE allows to apply a flexible normalization strategy, including an optional GC-bias correction, and is designed to complement existing plasmid detection pipelines. By simplifying and standardizing copy number estimation, PCNE, through the integration of state-of-art methodologies, aims to empower researchers to gain deeper insights into plasmid biology, particularly in studies of antimicrobial resistance and horizontal gene transfer.},
}

@article {pmid41743511,
year = {2025},
author = {Cherbuin, JDR and Llodrá, J and Borcard, L and Kaessmeyer, S and Ramette, A and Fernandez, JE and Wagner, TM and Torres-Puig, S and Kuhnert, P and Turner, D and Labroussaa, F and Jores, J},
title = {Characterization of Phylogenetically Distinct Temperate Phages from Kenyan Mammaliicoccus sciuri.},
journal = {PHAGE (New Rochelle, N.Y.)},
volume = {6},
number = {4},
pages = {259-271},
pmid = {41743511},
issn = {2641-6549},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Temperate bacteriophages are widespread in bacterial genomes and can play significant roles in bacterial evolution and pathogenicity. Despite their importance, they remain poorly characterized in nonclinical Staphylococcaceae, particularly Mammaliicoccus sciuri.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 26 M. sciuri strains isolated from the nasal cavities of East African dogs and camels. Prophages were induced using mitomycin C, and isolated phages were characterized by whole-genome sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, electron microscopy imaging, and host-range determination.

RESULTS: Eight novel siphoviruses were isolated. Phylogenomic analysis revealed two new families, each comprising two genera. Notably, phages from one of these families (with genomes >130 kbp) exhibit a broad host range, while the other family is related to previously described phages implicated in horizontal gene transfer.

CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal unexpected diversity of temperate phages in M. sciuri, expanding current knowledge of phage distribution in animal-associated opportunistic pathogens.},
}

@article {pmid41743354,
year = {2026},
author = {Lin, H and Huang, Z and Guo, Y},
title = {Co-evolution of resistance and virulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess: PLA-specific mechanisms and therapeutic dilemmas.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1767477},
pmid = {41743354},
issn = {2235-2988},
abstract = {The co-evolution of resistance and virulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a significant challenge in the management of pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA), particularly with the advent of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (CR-hvKP). This review specifically addresses PLA to consolidate current knowledge on how key virulence factors-such as the K1/K2 capsule, hypermucoviscosity, and aerobactin-contribute to hepatic infection. It also examines the molecular mechanisms, including plasmid fusion and horizontal gene transfer, that are believed to facilitate the convergence of hypervirulence and carbapenem resistance. Additionally, the review discusses the unique clinical challenges presented by CR-hvKP in the context of PLA, including diagnostic delays, antimicrobial treatment failures, and complications in drainage. Emerging countermeasures, such as rapid molecular diagnostics and novel anti-virulence strategies, are also explored. By integrating contemporary molecular insights with the specific clinical challenges of PLA management, this review provides an updated translational perspective aimed at bridging the gap between pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for CR-hvKP-associated infections.},
}