@article {pmid41693708,
year = {2025},
author = {Mudda, NS and Zhang, L and Sampelli, P},
title = {Targeting gut-brain-immune axis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1637976},
pmid = {41693708},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {*Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/immunology/microbiology/therapy/metabolism ; Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology ; Animals ; *Brain/immunology/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/immunology ; *Brain-Gut Axis/immunology ; Cytokines/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron neurodegenerative disorder with a median survival of only 3-5 years. The heterogeneity of the disease and lack of effective therapies highlight the importance of identifying novel pathogenic mechanisms. We hypothesize that dysbiosis of gut microbiota enhances ALS by disrupting intestinal barrier function and altering metabolite profiles to drive systemic inflammation and neuronal stress. Precisely, the decrease in health-promoting bacteria (e.g., Akkermansia muciniphila, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp.) in ALS can reduce neuroprotective metabolite production (short-chain fatty acids, nicotinamide, GABA, precursors of serotonin) and increase gut permeability, enabling lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines into the circulation. Such changes would activate microglia and impair motor neuron homeostasis by glutamate excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. The gut-brain axis operates through immune-mediated mechanisms, where ALS-associated microbiota changes compromise mucosal immunity and trigger peripheral Th1/Th17-biased responses with impaired Treg regulation. Elevated endotoxin levels correlate with TLR4-driven inflammation, promoting pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) that cross into the CNS and prime microglia toward a neurotoxic M1 phenotype, creating a milieu where IL-17A and other mediators directly injure motor neurons. Our hypothesis relies on establishing human and animal evidence of microbiome derangements, barrier dysfunction, and immune deregulation with ALS. We hypothesize that restoration of an "ALS-protective" microbiota consortium or its metabolic by-products can potentially slow disease progression. Testable hypotheses include improvement of ALS model motor deficits by probiotic or fecal-microbiota therapies, and normalization of inflammatory biomarkers. This paradigm recontextualizes ALS as a gut-brain disease and suggests new directions for translational research into this unmet medical indication.},
}

*Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/immunology/microbiology/therapy/metabolism
Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/immunology
Animals
*Brain/immunology/metabolism
Dysbiosis/immunology
*Brain-Gut Axis/immunology
Cytokines/metabolism

@article {pmid41693434,
year = {2026},
author = {Belančić, A and Fajkić, A and Wah Lam, Y and Alić, L and Labriffe, M and Pilipović, K and Džidić-Krivić, A and Yee Sy, H and Jankovic, S},
title = {Microbiome-driven PKs: redefining drug metabolism beyond Host enzymes.},
journal = {Expert opinion on drug metabolism & toxicology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1080/17425255.2026.2631415},
pmid = {41693434},
issn = {1744-7607},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Interindividual variability in drug response remains a significant clinical challenge, leading to therapeutic failure and toxicity. Much of this variability is unexplained by classical host-centric pharmacokinetic (PK) models, highlighting a critical gap in understanding of drug disposition. This review addresses this gap by establishing the gut microbiome as an important determinant of drug fate.

AREAS COVERED: This narrative review with scoping approach examines how microbial enzymes affect therapeutics through comprehensive analysis of mechanistic and clinical studies. Key examples discussed include irinotecan, digoxin, and sulfasalazine. We highlight specific situations where the influence of gut bacteria is particularly significant, such as with low-bioavailability drugs and in patients with an ileocolonic anastomosis, where gut bacteria directly impact drug absorption and metabolism. Additionally, we address the limitations of current PK models and explore the potential of new integrated approaches.

EXPERT OPINION: We propose that the gut microbiome should be recognized as a 'fifth pillar' of PKs. This shift in perspective is crucial for advancing personalized medicine. In this new model, a 'PK profile card' integrating microbial, genomic, and clinical data will help guide dosing. We anticipate microbiome analysis to become a standard clinical tool to optimize drug efficacy and safety.},
}

@article {pmid41693429,
year = {2026},
author = {Shabbir, U and McNulty, H and Hughes, C and Ward, M and Dooley, J and Hoey, L},
title = {B-vitamins, immune function and the ageing brain: A critical review of the evidence, mechanisms and potential role of the gut microbiome.},
journal = {The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-33},
doi = {10.1017/S0029665126102249},
pmid = {41693429},
issn = {1475-2719},
abstract = {This review aims to explore the potential role of folate and related B-vitamins (B12, B6, and riboflavin) in maintaining cognitive health in ageing, focussing particularly on their interactions with the gut microbiota and inflammation. Low B-vitamin status, common in older adults, is associated with poorer cognitive function and dementia. Furthermore, people with dementia are observed to have increased abundance of pro-inflammatory microbes and concomitant higher concentrations of cytokines in their circulation. Therefore, gut dysbiosis and chronic inflammation have been proposed as contributors of cognitive dysfunction. Although many observational studies report that low B-vitamin status, especially vitamin B6, is associated with a worse inflammatory state, the role of the gut microbiota is much less investigated. Pre-clinical evidence suggests higher B-vitamin intakes may beneficially modulate the gut bacterial profile and its metabolic activity, positively influencing inflammation. The evidence however is inconsistent and the few human intervention studies available are confined to clinical populations, or are limited by small sample size or to a single B-vitamin at high supplementation doses. Of note, one study in rats with Alzheimer's type dementia reported an association of folate and vitamin B12 deficiency with disturbed gut bacterial composition, neuroinflammation and impaired memory. In conclusion, optimising B-vitamin status may help promote cognitive health during ageing through modulation of the gut microbiota and immune function. Well-designed human studies are however required to confirm these relationships and inform evidence-based nutritional strategies for healthy ageing.},
}

@article {pmid41693204,
year = {2026},
author = {Hu, X and Xu, X and Li, G and Zheng, S and Yang, W and Wen, J and Wu, S and Li, M and Zhang, F},
title = {Synergistic degradation of lignocellulose by two primary pests of masson pine.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70661},
pmid = {41693204},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Major Science and Technology Project of China/ ; //Forestry science and technology project in Fujian Province/ ; //Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province/ ; //National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //Joint Research Program of State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity/ ; //Science Innovation Foundation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The degradation and utilization of lignocellulose are pivotal for understanding the competitive dynamics and coexistence mechanisms underpinning complex invasions by wood-boring beetles. Despite the broad repertoire of lignocellulolytic enzymes in these insects and their gut microbiota, the collaborative mechanisms of lignocellulose breakdown remain poorly understood.

RESULTS: In the context of a multi-species beetle invasion system, we investigated the lignocellulose degradation processes of two major pests of Pinus massoniana, Monochamus alternatus and Orthotomicus erosus, using a combination of lignocellulase activity assays, multi-omics analyses, and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D-NMR). Our findings revealed that the two major pests of P. massoniana exhibit distinct lignocellulose degradation strategies driven by host enzymatic specialization: M. alternatus excels in cellulose hydrolysis via robust endogenous endoglucanases, whereas O. erosus prioritizes hemicellulose breakdown. Although the gut microbiota of both species assist terminal hydrolysis by compensating for low β-glucosidase activity and partially modifying lignin via selective β-O-4 bond cleavage, host enzyme divergence underpins their primary niche differentiation. The gut microbial composition further refines nutrient partitioning, enabling coexistence.

CONCLUSION: This study unveils a dual lignocellulose degradation strategy in pine-boring beetles, integrating host enzymatic specialization and microbiome-mediated bond cleavage, which provides new insights into forest pest control and sustainable biomass utilization. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41693106,
year = {2026},
author = {Luo, H and Fu, J and Li, L and Yu, W and Peng, Z and Zhang, J and Lai, H and Hu, Y and Wei, S and Zhang, Z and Zhou, W and Wei, F},
title = {Coral-associated microbiome dynamics under thermal and pollution stress.},
journal = {Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70239},
doi = {10.1111/cobi.70239},
pmid = {41693106},
issn = {1523-1739},
support = {2021YFF0502804//Ministry of Science and Technology of China/ ; 32301465//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021QN02H103//Science and Technology Department of Guangdong Province/ ; 2023A1111110001//Science and Technology Department of Guangdong Province/ ; 2025B1212050002//Guangdong Province Observation and Research Station for Marine Biodiversity in the Nanpeng Islands Zone/ ; SLYJ2023B4004//Guangdong Forestry Administration/ ; GML2020GD0804//Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)/ ; GML2022GD0804//Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)/ ; },
abstract = {Globally, coral reefs are undergoing rapid degradation due to climate change. Microbiomes associated with coral are integral to host metabolism and play critical roles in coral resilience. Determining the changes in compositions and functions of these coral commensal microbes is essential for forecasting coral responses to environmental stress and guiding conservation. We investigated the structure and function of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria from 587 coral samples (5 orders, 62 genera, and 166 species) spanning a 15° latitudinal range in the South China Sea by combining environmental factor measurements with ITS2 and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analyses. The abundance of dominant Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria varied with latitude, primarily driven by sea surface temperature. A higher proportion of heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae (Durusdinium, C15, and C3u) and copiotrophic bacteria (e.g., Endozoicomonas and Terasakiellaceae) was observed in low-latitude corals. Increased expression of bacterial genes was associated with triglyceride and glycogen degradation, and there was a decreased expression of genes involved in their biosynthesis. These findings suggest that corals cope with heat stress by reshaping symbiont composition and abundance, thereby enhancing thermal tolerance and optimizing energy metabolism. Based on the results, we propose region-specific conservation strategies, including the introduction of heat-tolerant symbionts to low-latitude corals, reducing nutrient pollution for high-latitude corals, and emphasizing reduction in global emissions as the ultimate solution to thermal stress.},
}

@article {pmid41692941,
year = {2026},
author = {Jin, J and Wen, C and Li, J and Mai, C and Yuan, J and Wang, P and Peng, D and Zhao, Y and Sun, C and Ma, X and Feng, J and Yang, N},
title = {Collaboration of the symbiotic microbiome and host genome during the high altitude adaptation of chickens.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41692941},
issn = {1869-1889},
abstract = {The harsh environments of high-altitude habitats present formidable challenges for animal survival and reproduction. The adaptation of plateau endotherms to hypoxic and cold stresses has been studied for more than a century. However, the responses and contributions of the symbiotic microbiota to host adaptation remain unclear. Here, we conducted an integrated analysis of the gut and respiratory microbiomes of Tibetan chickens native to the high-altitudes of Lhasa and maintained for 20 years (approximately 20 generations) in low-altitude Beijing, as well as other high- and low-altitude breeds, to determine microbiota-host co-evolution in high-altitude adaptation. The results revealed that the respiratory microbial composition differed from that of the gut. The cecal microbiota was enriched in metabolic pathways, whereas the lung microbiota was more enriched in environmental information processing. Higher microbial diversity was observed in the ceca of chickens housed in Lhasa, whereas the lungs presented lower microbial diversity. Notably, consistent with the varying altitudes, the microbial communities in the ceca and lungs could be classified into distinct enterotypes and pulmotypes, respectively. The lung microbiome exhibited a more rapid environmental adaptation response to high-altitude environments, as 88 microbial genera were identified as signatures of high-altitude adaptation compared with only 7 in the ceca. Additionally, cecal Acetobacteroides was jointly regulated by the environmental conditions and host genetics, with higher abundance in the high-altitude chickens. FST analysis and mbQTL mapping identified NAT8L as a key gene under natural selection influencing Acetobacteroides colonization. Moreover, genotype-associated differences in metabolite levels indicate a potential link between NAT8L and Acetobacteroides, possibly through shared involvement in alanine, as-partate, and glutamate metabolism. These findings reveal a host gene-metabolism-microbiota axis that enhances energy efficiency, offering new perspectives for microbiota-host collaboration in high-altitude adaptation.},
}

@article {pmid41692940,
year = {2026},
author = {Le, B and Jia, L and Pang, T and Han, S and Duan, Y and Zhao, XM},
title = {A review of computational approaches for metagenomics by long-read sequencing.},
journal = {Science China. Life sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41692940},
issn = {1869-1889},
abstract = {The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), also known as short-read sequencing (SRS), is widely used to explore microbial composition and function. However, short reads, due to their difficulty in crossing repetitive regions, can lead to fragmented assemblies, hampering the comprehensive characterization of microbial genomes. In contrast, long-read sequencing (LRS) technologies, such as those from Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) and Oxford Nanopore, can span these complex repetitive regions and reconstruct continuous genomes, which enables high-resolution taxonomic classification and the precise recovery of essential genetic elements. This review provides a systematic overview of the computational approaches for long-read metagenomics, highlighting the progress in taxonomic profiling strategies, assembly and binning methods, and the detection of genetic elements. Furthermore, the review discusses the application of LRS in detecting structural variations (SVs), identifying methylation patterns, and characterizing strains. By combining advanced technologies and computational improvements, this review indicates the transformative potential of LRS in enhancing our understanding of microbial diversity, functions, and interactions within microbial communities.},
}

@article {pmid41692848,
year = {2026},
author = {Jayaprakash, J and B Gowda, SG and Gowda, D and , and Jain, S and Yadav, H and Hui, SP},
title = {Lipidomic signatures reveal biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment.},
journal = {Translational psychiatry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41398-026-03893-y},
pmid = {41692848},
issn = {2158-3188},
abstract = {Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an early stage in the progression toward dementia. Lipids are central to neurodegeneration, yet the biomarker potential of lipidomics from saliva, plasma, and feces remains underexplored. As part of the Microbiome in Aging Gut and Brain (MiaGB) consortium, saliva, plasma, and fecal samples were collected from older adults with MCI and healthy controls. Samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/MS), to profile lipidomic alterations and identify candidate biomarkers. Lipidomic profiling annotated over 200 molecular species spanning five major lipid classes. Compared with controls, MCI patients exhibited increased oxidized triacylglycerols (oxTGs) in saliva, reduced cholesteryl linoleate (CE 18:2) in plasma, and decreased fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) in feces. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified α-linolenic acid (FA 18:3), docosapentaenoic acid (FA 22:5), and CE 18:2 as discriminatory metabolites with notable diagnostic performance. Moreover, elevated fecal triacylglycerols containing medium-chain fatty acids (TG-MCFAs) were observed in MCI, suggesting impaired lipid absorption or altered metabolism. This multi-sample lipidomics strategy highlights TG-MCFAs as fecal biomarkers for MCI detection, supporting further mechanistic and longitudinal validation.},
}

@article {pmid41692795,
year = {2026},
author = {Vega, L and Birchenall-Jiménez, CI and Aponte, A and Durán, D and López, C and Moreno-Matson, MC and Perilla, C and Pinilla, D and Rodríguez-Leguizamón, G and Sánchez, E and Santana, A and Herrera, G and Ramírez, JD and Muñoz, M},
title = {Contrasting the gut microbiome in Colombian patients with diarrhea: a comparative metagenomic study in hospitalization and emergency room services.},
journal = {Gut pathogens},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13099-026-00809-5},
pmid = {41692795},
issn = {1757-4749},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diarrhea remains a major cause of morbidity worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Hospital environments impose strong selective pressures on the gut microbiome through antimicrobial exposure, invasive procedures, and pathogen transmission, yet differences between hospital-onset and community-onset diarrhea remain poorly characterized at the microbiome level. This study aimed to compare the taxonomic and functional profiles of the gut microbiome in hospitalized (Hosp) and emergency room (ER) patients with diarrhea using shotgun metagenomics.

RESULTS: Fecal samples from 41 patients (Hosp = 24; ER = 17) attending the Hospital Universitario Mayor-Méderi (Bogotá, Colombia) were analyzed. The gut microbiomes were dominated by Enterobacteriaceae, particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, together with abundant bacteriophages from the families Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, and crAss-like phages. Phages predicted to infect Escherichia and Klebsiella were significantly depleted in Hosp patients (p < 0.05). Read-based functional profiling revealed the presence of virulence factors associated with K. pneumoniae capsule biosynthesis, secretion systems, and toxins from Clostridioides difficile and Clostridium perfringens. In parallel, Hosp patients showed a higher diversity of antimicrobial resistance markers, with a marked increase in glycopeptide resistance determinants. A total of 492 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes were reconstructed, including multiple diarrhea-associated taxa. Hosp patients exclusively harbored genomes of K. pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, and most reconstructed Clostridium species (C. symbiosum, C. saccharolyticum_A, C. innocuum, C. scindens, C. leptum, and Clostridium sp000435835). In contrast, ER patients harbored genomes classified as Escherichia coli, Escherichia flexneri, and Enterococcus faecalis. Genomes associated with hospitalization carried higher loads of antimicrobial resistance markers (e.g., oqxA and aac(6')-Ii) and virulence factors (e.g., iutA and traT), whereas ER genomes, particularly E. coli and E. flexneri, encoded diverse aminoglycoside resistance and adhesion traits.

CONCLUSIONS: Hospital-onset diarrhea was associated with distinct microbiome features, including differences in phage-bacteria dynamics involving key diarrhea-associated taxa, as well as a higher abundance of virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance markers. These findings underscore the potential value of shotgun metagenomics as a complementary approach for infection surveillance and the development of precision diagnostic strategies in hospital settings.},
}

@article {pmid41692762,
year = {2026},
author = {Mastaloudis, A and Holcomb, L and Fahey, JW and Olson, C and Nieman, DC and Kay, C and O'Donnell, R and Pecorelli, A and Kinney, M and Li, Y and Ishaq, SL and Valacchi, G},
title = {Exogenous myrosinase from mustard seed increases bioavailability of sulforaphane from a glucoraphanin-rich broccoli seed extract in a randomized clinical study.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-39389-4},
pmid = {41692762},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {DGE-1922560//NSF Convergence of Social and Biological Sciences NRT/ ; DGE-1922560//NSF Convergence of Social and Biological Sciences NRT/ ; DGE-1922560//NSF Convergence of Social and Biological Sciences NRT/ ; ME022303//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; ME022329//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; },
abstract = {Inactive glucoraphanin (GR) in broccoli is converted to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial sulforaphane (SF) by cruciferous vegetable enzyme myrosinase (Myr), or similar enzymes from specific gut bacteria; both sources have variable efficiency. The effects of exogenous Myr on the conversion efficiency of GR to SF was compared to gut microbial Myr-like activity. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, sixteen subjects (9 F: 7 M) received a single oral dose of GR in broccoli seed extract with Myr-containing mustard seed powder, or broccoli seed extract alone, both with ascorbic acid. GR + Myr, on average, doubled the bioavailability of SF (39.8 ± 3.1%) compared to GR alone (18.6 ± 3.1%), and increased the conversion rate in the first 8 h (25.4% ± 2.7%) compared to GR alone (8.0% ± 2.7) based on measurement of urinary metabolites. There were no differences in fecal bacterial communities after the single dose; however, four bacterial GR-converting genes significantly correlated with GR conversion (p < 0.0155). To our knowledge, this is the first human study to simultaneously investigate (1) a well-defined Myr source, (2) broccoli seeds as source of GR, (3) prediction of gut microbial responsiveness to GR.},
}

@article {pmid41692507,
year = {2026},
author = {Misme-Aucouturier, B and Le Romancer, M and Le Bras, C and De Carvalho, M and Rault, L and Le Huërou-Luron, I and Even, S and Bodinier, M},
title = {A synthetic bacterial community made of human milk isolated strains is an effective strategy to prevent food allergy in a mouse model.},
journal = {Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology},
volume = {37},
number = {2},
pages = {e70307},
doi = {10.1111/pai.70307},
pmid = {41692507},
issn = {1399-3038},
support = {//Région Bretagne and Région Pays de la Loire (France)/ ; //Bretagne Biotechnologie Alimentaire (BBA) Milk Valley Association/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41692364,
year = {2026},
author = {Varón-Saavedra, N and Vivero-Gomez, RJ and Cadavid-Restrepo, G and Moreno-Herrera, CX},
title = {Gut microbiota, blood feeding sources, and Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Rhodnius colombiensis from center-west of Colombia.},
journal = {Acta tropica},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108024},
doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.108024},
pmid = {41692364},
issn = {1873-6254},
abstract = {Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a major public health concern in Latin America. In Tolima, Colombia, the vector R. colombiensis has acquired epidemiological relevance due to its ability to colonize domiciliary environments and its high rates of T. cruzi infection, which increase transmission in areas where primary vectors such as R. prolixus have been controlled. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiome of R. colombiensis using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA gene, specific detection of bacterial endosymbionts, identification of blood meal source, and molecular screening for T. cruzi. DNA Analysis of 151 specimens revealed Didelphis marsupialis and Gallus gallus as primary blood meal sources. DNA of T. cruzi was detected in 92% of samples, along with endosymbionts such as Cardinium spp. and the intracellular parasite Microsporidia (2.2%-4,4%). The phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria represented the dominant microbial community, with Gordonia spp., Lactococcus spp., and Enterobacter spp. as the predominant genera. Culture-based analyses revealed additional prevalent genera, including Staphylococcus sp. and Yokenella sp., which may play a role in microbial competition within the triatomine gut. Our findings provide the first comprehensive characterization of the gut microbiota, endosymbionts, blood meal sources, and T. cruzi infection in R. colombiensis, contributing to a better understanding of the vector-microbiota-parasite interactions relevant to the transmission of Chagas disease.},
}

@article {pmid41692350,
year = {2026},
author = {Blesio, A and Giorgio, C and Ferrari, FR and Sala, S and Flammini, L and Zanotti, I and Passeri, D and Gioiello, A and Sarcone, L and Castelli, R and Karnchanapandh, K and Vacondio, F and Tagliazucchi, L and Scalvini, L and Mor, M and Lodola, A and Tognolini, M},
title = {The rare bile acid isoallolithocholic acid (IALCA) is an EphA2 antagonist sparing FXR and TGR5 receptors.},
journal = {Biochemical pharmacology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {117807},
doi = {10.1016/j.bcp.2026.117807},
pmid = {41692350},
issn = {1873-2968},
abstract = {The role of the Eph/ephrin system is well recognized in various physiological and pathological processes, including acute inflammation and cancer. We previously discovered that the secondary bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA) is a competitive antagonist of Eph receptors. The utility of LCA as a pharmacological tool for investigating Eph/ephrin biology was hampered by its primary activity on the FXR and TGR5 receptors. A recent study of centenarians' gut microbiomes revealed that a rare bile acid closely related to LCA, isoallolithocholic acid (IALCA), exerts marked protective effects on the intestinal epithelium, but its specific molecular target was unidentified. Considering the well-documented involvement of EphA2 in regulating intestinal epithelial/endothelial permeability, we asked whether IALCA could act through this receptor. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations predicted that IALCA binds within the ephrin-A1-binding pocket of EphA2. Our findings were validated through wet experiments, and IALCA emerged as a selective, EphA2 inhibitor, blocking ephrin-A1 binding with low-micromolar potency. In functional studies, IALCA inhibited ephrin-A1-induced EphA2 phosphorylation, cell retraction, and rounding, confirming its antagonistic activity. Moreover, IALCA showed no detectable activity at the classical bile-acid receptors FXR, PXR, LXRα, or TGR5, thereby potentially linking its cellular and phenotypic effects to modulation of the Eph-ephrin system. As a final step, we demonstrated that IALCA also provides an attractive template for synthesizing new Eph antagonists. Overall, this work underscores the potential of the human gut microbiome as a reservoir of privileged chemical scaffolds for both fundamental pharmacology and therapeutic drug development.},
}

@article {pmid41692204,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, HR and Meng, J and Hao, YP and Xi, J and Ding, CH and Song, JQ and Wang, XY and Li, ZC and Meng, Y and Yang, JY},
title = {The dual role of teichoic acids in gram-positive bacteria: Structural diversity dictates pathogenic and probiotic functions.},
journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {150925},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.150925},
pmid = {41692204},
issn = {1879-0003},
abstract = {Teichoic acids (TAs) are fundamental anionic polymers in Gram-positive bacterial cell walls. Beyond structural roles, they act as crucial immunomodulators, with function dictated by structural diversity. This review elucidates how fine chemical structures, including the polyol backbone, D-alanylation, and glycosylation, form a molecular code governing their dualistic host interactions. Also, this work systematically compares wall teichoic acid and lipoteichoic acid from pathogens and probiotics. Pathogenic TAs often promote virulence by engaging TLR-2 and triggering pro-inflammatory responses. Conversely, probiotic TAs enhance epithelial barrier integrity, induce anti-inflammatory cytokines, and promote repair. The review further explores TAs roles in microbiome ecology via competitive exclusion and signaling, highlighting the translational potential of probiotic TAs as postbiotics. Furthermore, synthetic biology approaches for redesigning TAs synthesis, anticipating next-generation probiotics and novel anti-infective strategies are discussed. Deciphering this structural code is crucial for developing innovative functional foods and precision nutrition strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41692177,
year = {2026},
author = {Meng, Q and Cheng, J and Wang, X and Ren, M and Hong, Y and Tang, K and Zhang, Z and Xie, Y and Lin, Q and Gong, W and Qin, P and Bo, Q},
title = {Protective effect of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy against lipopolysaccharide-induced intrauterine growth restriction in fetal mice.},
journal = {The Journal of nutrition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101419},
doi = {10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101419},
pmid = {41692177},
issn = {1541-6100},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a leading cause of perinatal mortality worldwide and is strongly associated with maternal-fetal inflammation. Nutritional interventions that mitigate inflammatory stress during pregnancy may represent a viable strategy to improve fetal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced FGR in mice and explored the underlying mechanisms involving inflammatory signaling and gut-placenta interactions.

METHODS: ICR mice (6-7 weeks old at purchase) were used; pregnant mice were assigned to groups defined by LPS exposure (±) and DHA supplementation (±), resulting in four groups: control, DHA, LPS, and DHA+LPS. DHA was administered by gavage throughout gestation (300 mg/kg/day), and LPS was administered intraperitoneally during late gestation (100 μg/kg/day). Primary outcomes included fetal growth parameters and placental development. Secondary outcomes comprised inflammatory markers in placental and jejunal tissues, gut microbiota composition, and intestinal barrier-related proteins. Continuous outcomes were analyzed using two-way ANOVA, whereas microbiome outcomes were analyzed using nonparametric tests and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA).

RESULTS: LPS exposure induced FGR, whereas DHA supplementation significantly attenuated this effect (p< 0.05). DHA suppressed nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin-1β (Il-1β), interleukin-6 (Il-6), interleukin-17A (Il-17a), tumor necrosis factor-α (Tnf-α), keratinocyte chemoattractant (Kc), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (Mcp-1), while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (Il-10) in placental and jejunal tissues. In addition, DHA enhanced intestinal microbial diversity, increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium, and upregulated tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin), consistent with improved intestinal barrier integrity.

CONCLUSIONS: In pregnant mice, maternal DHA supplementation mitigated LPS-induced FGR by suppressing NF-κB-mediated inflammatory signaling, modulating gut microbiota composition, and supporting intestinal barrier function, highlighting a potential nutritional strategy to alleviate inflammation-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes.},
}

@article {pmid41692128,
year = {2026},
author = {Cares, K and Bryner, A and DiPiazza, B and Chakos, K and Schmidt, ML and Gabel, K},
title = {Diet and Exercise Interventions in Pediatric Cancer Survivors and Effects on Cardiometabolic Disease Risk and Inflammaging Biomarkers: A Systematic Review.},
journal = {Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {100605},
doi = {10.1016/j.advnut.2026.100605},
pmid = {41692128},
issn = {2156-5376},
abstract = {The population of pediatric cancer survivors (PCS) in the United States has been steadily increasing over the last decade. However, due to cancer related treatment and subsequent lifestyle behaviors related to diet and physical activity, PCS are burdened by accelerated biological aging leading to early onset of chronic diseases. The accelerated aging process may be due to "inflammaging," a phenomenon associated with cardiometabolic diseases risk factors including chronic inflammation and changes in gut microbiome structure and function. This systematic review was conducted to explore the literature as it relates to the impact of diet and/or exercise interventions in survivors of a pediatric cancer on markers of inflammaging and cardiometabolic risk markers. PubMed, CINAHL and clinicaltrials.gov were searched for relevant interventional trials. Studies were included if they contained 1) an intervention arm that included survivors of a pediatric cancer, 2) an intervention that contained a dietary and/or exercise intervention 3) had outcomes related to cardiometabolic disease risk or inflammaging. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane "Risk of Bias Tool" or "Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions" and extracted data was qualitatively reported. Of the sixteen studies identified, two studies employed a diet intervention, six studies employed an exercise intervention and the remaining eight implemented a combined diet and exercise intervention. Exercise was associated with an improvement in glucose homeostasis, yet results were inconsistent across studies. Decreases in body mass index and increases in lean body mass were reported in some diet and exercise interventions. Cautionary interpretation of the outcomes is warranted as the studies had a high risk of bias. Future studies in this area should include trials with a rigorous design, larger sample sizes and increased accessibility of the intervention to address the chronic disease burden among this group of cancer survivors. REGISTRY: The study and protocol were registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024511586). STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Early onset chronic disease driven by accelerated biological aging (inflammaging) and cardiometabolic risk factors in survivors of a pediatric cancer may pose a significant burden on the healthcare system as well negatively impacting the quality of life and increasing early mortality rates in this population. Lifestyle behavior recommendations related to diet and exercise may have a beneficial impact on inflammaging and cardiometabolic risk for pediatric cancer survivors, providing a low cost and salient intervention to mitigate chronic disease burden in this population.},
}

@article {pmid41691855,
year = {2026},
author = {Bačnik, K and Kutnjak, D and Gostinčar, C and Kostanjšek, R and Mulec, J and Novak Babič, M and Gutierrez-Aguirre, I and Gunde-Cimerman, N and Turk, M},
title = {Microbiome analysis of groundwaters in the Slovenian Dinaric Karst, a recognized biodiversity hotspot.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {311},
number = {},
pages = {119890},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119890},
pmid = {41691855},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Groundwater is the most important source of drinking water supply, irrigation, and industrial use, as well as a habitat for a diverse range of (micro)organisms. Some of the first studies of underground environments were carried out in the Dinaric Karst region of Slovenia, which harbors one of the highest subterranean biodiversities in the world. Despite their ecological importance, groundwater microbial communities remain underexplored. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive microbiome analysis of karst groundwater, investigating the abundance and diversity of viruses, archaea, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. We detected a high diversity of both prokaryote- and eukaryote-infecting viruses, indicating the connection of subterranean environments with surface waters. In the archaeal community, seven different phyla were identified, dominated by members of "Candidatus Woesearchaeota" and Nitrososphaerota (syn. Thermoproteota). In the bacterial community of majority of the samples, the Pseudomonadota was the most abundant phylum, followed by Bacteroidota, Actinomycetota, and Verrucomicrobiota. Fungal abundance and diversity differed greatly between cave water samples, with the Ascomycota families Cladosporiaceae, Didymellaceae, Aspergillaceae and saprotrophic Basidiomycota detected in all samples. Besides fungi, microscopic eukaryotic diversity consisted of ciliates, copepods and golden-brown algae present in all samples. Differences in microbial communities between the sampling sites highlight the need for tailored site-specific groundwater conservation and monitoring strategies. Moreover, the identification of microbes associated with anthropogenic activities underscores their potential as source-specific indicators of groundwater pollution. As the first holistic overview of microbial diversity of subterranean water, the study establishes a valuable baseline for future research and conservation of these unique karst ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid41691853,
year = {2026},
author = {Wei, Y and Chen, Y and Lv, S and Ou, D and Tao, Y and Zhou, Y and Yang, J and Song, X},
title = {Persistence of the coccidiostat robenidine in soil and its impacts on the soil microbiome and enzyme functions.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {311},
number = {},
pages = {119858},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119858},
pmid = {41691853},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {Robenidine is a synthetic coccidiostat that is excreted from animals in its prototype form, leading to soil contamination. Despite its widespread use, comprehensive environmental risk assessments remain limited. Consequently, we initially constructed a manure-soil microcosm and investigated the degradation pattern of robenidine using a highly efficient HPLC-dSPE method. The degradation half-lives of robenidine in soil were 14.74 days at 0.8 mg/kg and 21.26 days at 8 mg/kg. Exposure to 8 mg/kg of robenidine significantly altered the soil microbial community, leading to a 140.0 % increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria. However, the Shannon index indicated that soil microbial diversity decreased by 32.4 % from 1 d to 60 d. Compared to the control check group, 8 mg/kg of robenidine significantly increased the abundance of harmful bacteria (e.g., unclassified_Intrasporangiaceae increased by 33.5 %) in the soil at 60 d, while simultaneously reducing the populations of beneficial bacteria such as Bacillaceae (decreased by 23.8 %), Pseudograilibacillus (decreased by 39.6 %), and Massilia (decreased by 31.7 %). Network correlation and FAPROTAX analyses indicated that long-term exposure to robenidine inhibited chitinolysis and aromatic compound degradation pathways. Furthermore, low-dose robenidine increased the activities of dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, and β-glucosidase by 34.0 %, 24.7 %, and 21.6 % at 1 d, respectively, while these enzymes returned to control levels over time. These findings provide critical insights into the biological and metabolic impacts of robenidine exposure on soil microbial communities, which is crucial for clarifying the ecological concerns associated with robenidine.},
}

@article {pmid41691847,
year = {2026},
author = {Abuin-Denis, L and Mateos-Hernández, L and Maitre, A and Wu-Chuang, A and Kratou, M and Abdelali, SK and Cano-Argüelles, AL and Skičková, Š and Obregon, D and Rodríguez-Mallon, A and Cabezas-Cruz, A},
title = {Microbial network stability, not diversity, drives colonization resistance against Borrelia afzelii in Ixodes ricinus ticks.},
journal = {Ticks and tick-borne diseases},
volume = {17},
number = {2},
pages = {102613},
doi = {10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102613},
pmid = {41691847},
issn = {1877-9603},
abstract = {Most tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are acquired secondarily, when ticks feed on infected hosts, meaning the pathogen must establish itself within an already assembled microbiota. These scenarios are subject to "priority effects," where the order of microbial arrival influences the success of later colonizers. Microbial interactions within arthropod vectors can therefore shape infection outcomes, producing either infection-refractory states, where resident microbes and their interactions reduce the likelihood of pathogen establishment, or infection-permissive states, where such barriers are absent or weakened and the pathogen establishes infection successfully. Hamilton et al. (2021) assessed larval microbiota before pathogen exposure and sequenced the microbiota of fed nymphs, both exposed or not to Borrelia afzelii, enabling priority-effect hypotheses to be tested. Despite uniform exposure to the highly infectious B. afzelii strain NE4049, only a subset of ticks became Borrelia-positive, suggesting refractory and permissive microbiota states. We reanalyzed the original dataset to test whether differences in microbiome community assembly and co-occurrence network features, beyond diversity metrics, were associated with these states. Refractory nymph networks exhibited higher connectivity and structural resilience, with Staphylococcus emerging as a central taxon already present in unfed larvae. In contrast, permissive networks showed reduced robustness and a marginal role for Staphylococcus. Notably, dysbiosis altered microbial assembly but did not prevent network reconfiguration in refractory ticks. Our findings suggest that colonization resistance is better explained by microbial network integrity than by diversity alone. Methodologically, they show that integrating community assembly theory and network analyses can reveal key features of the tick microbiota associated with vector competence.},
}

@article {pmid41691814,
year = {2026},
author = {Guo, H and Liu, Q and Han, H and Xu, W and Shi, W and Zhao, M and Xiao, X and Liu, J and Li, T},
title = {Unveiling the adaptive evolution of halotolerant aceticlastic methanogenesis: Multi-scale responses and energy partition.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {294},
number = {},
pages = {125552},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2026.125552},
pmid = {41691814},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {The high concentration of salt ions in saline organic wastewater poses significant challenges for wastewater treatment technologies, particularly impacting the stability of anaerobic digesters. Aceticlastic methanogenesis is a crucial pathway for converting acetate into methane through methanoarchaea whose metabolism is adversely impacted by salt stress. To address this, long-term adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) was conducted to cultivate halotolerant aceticlastic methanoarchaea, incorporating metagenomics, metatranscriptomic sequencing, metabolomics, and metabolic modeling to delineate genetic and metabolic responses. The evolved microbiome achieved a substantial increase in methanogenic activity at 5 % sodium chloride, reaching 82.25 % theoretical conversion of acetate to methane, significantly outperforming the original microbiome. This ALE process overcame the natural scarcity of aceticlastic methanogens in hypersaline environments. Key adaptation mechanisms were confirmed at the transcriptional level, primarily involving the upregulation of genes for inorganic ion transport, compatible solute uptake, and de novo biosynthesis. Horizontal gene transfer also contributed significantly through the transfer of osmoregulation genes, particularly those for compatible solute transport, suggesting an energy-efficient adaptation strategy of accumulating rather than synthesizing solutes. Metabolic flux analysis revealed that adjustments in energy distribution under salt stress are driven by the energetic cost of synthesizing compatible solutes, which highlights the importance of solute transporters for energy conservation. This study elucidates the complex interplay between metabolic reprogramming and gene transfer in enhancing microbial resilience under salt stress, thereby deepening our understanding of microbial adaptations in extreme environments and advancing biotechnological approaches for saline wastewater treatment.},
}

@article {pmid41691804,
year = {2026},
author = {Su, Y and Mai, X and Wang, Z and Feng, C and Liu, J and Li, Z and Huang, Z},
title = {Integrated omics analysis reveals the age-dependent dynamic changes of gut microbiota and metabolites in layer chickens.},
journal = {Poultry science},
volume = {105},
number = {5},
pages = {106611},
doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.106611},
pmid = {41691804},
issn = {1525-3171},
abstract = {The egg production of laying hens shows considerable variation throughout the laying period, which accounts for the majority of their lifespan, making it a critical focus in both production practices and scientific research. In recent years, growing evidence has revealed that gut microbiota plays a key role in chicken health and production. Despite extensive research, knowledge of the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolites, particularly in local layer chicken breeds, is still not well understood. In the present study, we comprehensively investigated the developmental trajectory of the gut microbiome and metabolism through integrated omics analysis combing with 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics across egg-laying stages (17, 50, and 72 weeks of age) in Tianfu powder-shell laying hens. Our results showed that alpha diversity of gut microbiota in chickens gradually increased from 17 weeks to 72 weeks, and the composition of the microbial community exhibited dynamic shifts across different laying periods. In particular, we discovered that Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Synergistes were significantly enriched in the cecum of 17-week-old birds, Lactobacillus was more abundant in the cecum of 50-week-old birds, while Enterococcus was significantly enriched in the feces of 50-week-old birds. Additionally, a total of 421 significantly differential metabolites were identified across the three pairwise comparisons and grouped into eight major clusters. Among them, L-Fucose was enriched in the feces of 17-week-old birds, while lupenone, curcumin, schaftoside, and daidzein showed higher abundance in the feces of 50-week-old birds, and peganine displayed higher abundance in the feces of 72-week-old birds. Integrated omics analysis further demonstrated that Bacillus was positively correlated with lupenone, curcumin, daidzein, and schaftoside. Taken together, our study provides valuable insights into age-associated microbial biomarkers linked to fecal metabolites during the laying hen production cycle, shedding light on potential microbiota-targeted interventions for future application in the poultry production.},
}

@article {pmid41691603,
year = {2026},
author = {Kadariswantiningsih, IN and Jayanthi, R and Arima, E},
title = {Metabolic adaptation without microbiome remodelling: Rethinking early host-microbiome dynamics.},
journal = {The Journal of physiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1113/JP290837},
pmid = {41691603},
issn = {1469-7793},
}

@article {pmid41691585,
year = {2026},
author = {Ellis, LB and Kyrgiou, M and Moscicki, AB},
title = {Microbiome, Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Carcinogenesis.},
journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology},
volume = {448},
number = {},
pages = {59-80},
pmid = {41691585},
issn = {0070-217X},
mesh = {Humans ; Female ; *Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/microbiology/virology ; *Papillomavirus Infections/microbiology/virology/complications ; *Microbiota ; Vagina/microbiology/virology ; *Papillomaviridae/physiology ; *Carcinogenesis ; Probiotics ; Vaginosis, Bacterial/microbiology ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses ; },
abstract = {The microbiome describes the collection of genes derived from microorganisms that live in body systems. After the discovery of Lactobacilli as important for vaginal health, the vaginal microbiome was initially binarily classified into healthy or bacterial vaginosis (BV), before being further explored using 16S sequencing and the development of community state types (CST) by Ravel et al. There are a plethora of studies describing the vaginal microbiome composition in relation to cervical disease outcomes, more specifically human papillomavirus infection and persistence, cervical preinvasive and invasive disease. While there is some conflicting evidence, the general consensus is that Lactobacillus spp., in particular Lactobacillus crispatus or CST I, is associated with healthy status, and BV, CST IV and Lactobacillus depletion are associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. What constitutes a 'normal' vaginal microbiome is not clear; in Ravel's study, around a quarter of women had CST I, and a quarter had CST IV. Although directionality is not established, mechanistic studies suggest immunomodulation and support biological plausibility. More recently, prebiotics and probiotics have been studied and there is some emerging evidence that this may be associated with increased clearance of cytological abnormalities. Important future work includes larger longitudinal studies, patient-derived organoids to examine causality and mechanistic insights, and development and trial of novel therapeutic treatments.},
}

Humans
Female
*Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/microbiology/virology
*Papillomavirus Infections/microbiology/virology/complications
*Microbiota
Vagina/microbiology/virology
*Papillomaviridae/physiology
*Carcinogenesis
Probiotics
Vaginosis, Bacterial/microbiology
Human Papillomavirus Viruses

@article {pmid41691584,
year = {2026},
author = {Del Pino, M},
title = {Cofactors in Human Papillomavirus Carcinogenesis.},
journal = {Current topics in microbiology and immunology},
volume = {448},
number = {},
pages = {39-58},
pmid = {41691584},
issn = {0070-217X},
mesh = {Humans ; *Papillomavirus Infections/complications/epidemiology/virology ; Female ; *Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology/epidemiology/etiology ; *Papillomaviridae/physiology ; Risk Factors ; *Carcinogenesis ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses ; },
abstract = {Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the necessary cause of cervical cancer (CC) and other HPV-related malignancies, yet by itself is not sufficient for malignant progression. A myriad of co-factors influences the risk that an HPV infection persists and progress to precancerous lesions and invasive disease. Understanding these cofactors is crucial for risk stratification and informing comprehensive preventive strategies-complementing HPV vaccination and screening-to further reduce the incidence of cervical and other HPV-associated cancers.This chapter reviews the epidemiological and mechanistic evidence for key cofactors in HPV-driven carcinogenesis. The most established cofactors-including tobacco smoking, immunosuppression (particularly HIV infection), long-term use of oral contraceptives, high parity, and coinfection with other sexually transmitted infections-have consistently been associated with increased risk of HPV persistence and disease progression. We discuss their prevalence, magnitude of risk, and biological plausibility. Emerging and less established cofactors, such as the cervical microbiome, nutritional status and diet, and host genetic polymorphisms, which may modulate immune responses to HPV or the propensity for viral persistence are also explored.},
}

Humans
*Papillomavirus Infections/complications/epidemiology/virology
Female
*Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/virology/epidemiology/etiology
*Papillomaviridae/physiology
Risk Factors
*Carcinogenesis
Human Papillomavirus Viruses

@article {pmid41691388,
year = {2026},
author = {Nnane, NS and Gaikwad, A and Rahim, MI and Winkel, A and Hergert, O and Beuerle, T and Stiesch, M and Menzel, H},
title = {Synthesis of an Enzyme-Triggered Chitosan-Based Drug Delivery System for Peri-Implantitis Prevention.},
journal = {Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e01800},
doi = {10.1002/chem.202501800},
pmid = {41691388},
issn = {1521-3765},
support = {426335750//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 511817356//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
abstract = {Dental implants have become a leading solution for tooth loss, yet bacterial infections remain a major complication. Antibacterial implant coatings are an important approach to reduce or prevent bacterial infections at the implant. Given the oral cavity's complex microbiome and the importance of some commensal bacteria, it is crucial to develop antibacterial implant coatings that release the active ingredient only when needed. In this work, an enzyme-triggered drug delivery coating based on chitosan with ciprofloxacin as antibiotic was synthesized. The ciprofloxacin is covalently bound via a self-immolative linker with an enzyme-labile group. The linker-drug conjugate was bound to modified chitosan through a Diels-Alder click reaction. A stable drug-delivering coating was assembled on titanium by alternating cationic chitosan with the drug with anionic alginate using layer-by-layer dip-coating. Ellipsometry was used to characterize the coating and demonstrating its stability. The function of the enzyme-labile self-immolative linker was clearly demonstrated by release experiments and detection of genuine ciprofloxacin using UHPLC/HRAM-MS and MS/MS. Furthermore, its biocompatibility was confirmed. After enzymatic activation, the coating exhibited antibacterial activity against an A. naeslundii biofilm. This provides proof of principle for this enzyme-responsive approach to drug delivery.},
}

@article {pmid41691351,
year = {2026},
author = {Roy, M and Shanmugam, G and Park, S and Bae, H and Choi, K and Jeon, J},
title = {High nitrogen-induced changes in rhizosphere microbial community structure can modulate disease susceptibility to the rice blast.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40793-026-00864-0},
pmid = {41691351},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {PJ01317801//Rural Development and Administration, Republic of Korea/ ; RS-2024-00407104//National Research Foundation of Korea./ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen-induced susceptibility (NIS) in rice, where excess nitrogen (N) enhances vulnerability to Magnaporthe oryzae, has been observed but remains mechanistically unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the rhizosphere microbiome plays a central role in mediating NIS.

RESULTS: Using an experimental system that separates nitrogen effects from plant growth changes, we found that high N levels significantly reshape bacterial and fungal community composition, and suppressed defense-associated genes, including OsPAL06 and OsPR10b. Predicted functional profiling indicated enrichment of salicylate-degradation and secretion-related signatures under highN. Our findings revealed that both nitrogen treatment and pathogen infection significantly influence rhizosphere community composition, with a strong interaction between the two factors. Network analysis further revealed reduced microbial connectivity and loss of keystone taxa under high-N and infection conditions. Rhizosphere microbiome transplantation from high-N, infected donors to standard-N recipients reproduced the NIS phenotype and suppressed defense gene expression, supporting a microbiome legacy effect.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that excess N promotes rhizosphere microbiome configurations with immune-modulatory potential that can persist beyond the immediate nutrient regime. Our results position the rhizosphere microbiome as a determinant of NIS and support microbiome-informed, nutrient-aware disease management strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41691349,
year = {2026},
author = {Fan, S and Liu, H and Yan, Y and Xu, M and Wan, X and Hao, Y and Gong, C and Wang, C and Zhang, Y and Liu, D and Zheng, J and Chen, J},
title = {Metatranscriptomic analyses of gut bacterial and viral communities in the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) under distinct environments.},
journal = {Animal microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s42523-026-00528-x},
pmid = {41691349},
issn = {2524-4671},
}

@article {pmid41691332,
year = {2026},
author = {Zou, X and Wang, Z and Gao, B and Lu, Y and Du, W and Wang, Q and Zheng, Z and Wang, K},
title = {Introducing unprocessed oil-tea waste leads to imbalance of microbiome and disease spread for near-natural cultivation of shorthairy antenoron.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40793-026-00863-1},
pmid = {41691332},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; KFB24072//Special Fund Project for Scientific and Technological Innovation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University Project/ ; },
abstract = {The application of oil-tea waste, a byproduct derived from edible-oil tree (Camellia oleifera Abel) oil production, is frequently regarded as a sustainable approach for under-forest cultivation. Nevertheless, the ecological ramifications of utilizing unprocessed oil-tea waste remain inadequately elucidated. In this study, we aim to assess its impacts on the growth, health status, and fungal community composition of shorthairy antenoron (Anoectochilus roxburghii) under near-natural cultivation conditions. We integrated field experiments with ITS amplicon sequencing of bulk soil, rhizosphere soil and root endophytes to investigate the effects of unprocessed oil-tea waste on the growth and health of shorthairy antenoron, as well as the correlation between the effects and microbiomes. Our study demonstrated that unprocessed oil-tea waste markedly inhibited plant growth and exacerbated disease symptoms, particularly at elevated application rates. These detrimental effects correlated with the proliferation of pathogenic fungi (e.g., Fusarium, Ilyonectria) concomitant with a decline in beneficial taxa (e.g., Trichoderma, Umbelopsis), culminating in a disruption of the rhizosphere microbial equilibrium. Functional annotation further revealed a pronounced shift toward pathogen-dominated fungal communities. Correlation analyses substantiated significant negative relationships between pathogen abundance and plant performance metrics, whereas beneficial fungi exhibited positive correlations. Collectively, this study highlights the ecological risks associated with the application of unprocessed organic waste and provides microbiome-informed perspectives to guide the sustainable management of under-forest medicinal plant cultivation.},
}

@article {pmid41691331,
year = {2026},
author = {Tang, Y and Fu, X and Sun, Y},
title = {Re-evaluating gut microbiome signatures of post-antibiotic dietary fiber intake in a large adult cohort.},
journal = {BMC research notes},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s13104-026-07708-7},
pmid = {41691331},
issn = {1756-0500},
support = {42377106//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {AIM: Dietary fiber is a key modulator of the gut microbiome, yet its specific role following antibiotic exposure remains under-characterized in large populations. Previous studies suggest high-fiber diets promote recovery, but often rely on small cohorts. We aimed to re-evaluate these microbial signatures and their association with current microbiome states in a large, diverse adult population.

METHODS: We analyzed 16 S rRNA gene sequencing data from the American Gut Project (AGP). Participants with recent antibiotic exposure were stratified by high-fiber (HF; N = 971) or low-fiber (LF; N = 955) intake. We assessed alpha and beta diversity and identified differentially abundant genera using LEfSe. Key biomarkers were validated using ANCOM-BC and multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, sex, and BMI.

RESULTS: Contrary to previous models, high-fiber intake was not associated with a uniform enrichment of commensal Clostridia. Instead, Bifidobacterium and Lachnospira were identified as genus-level biomarkers significantly enriched in the HF group, while Bacteroides and Parabacteroides were enriched in the LF group. These associations were confirmed to be robust by multivariable linear regression (P < 0.001). High-fiber intake was not associated with significantly higher alpha diversity within the one-month post-antibiotic timeframe.

CONCLUSION: Post-antibiotic microbiome signatures associated with fiber intake are distinct and specific. We identified Bifidobacterium and Lachnospira as robust targets for dietary interventions, challenging simplistic models of recovery and highlighting the need for precision nutrition strategies to enhance gut resilience.},
}

@article {pmid41691172,
year = {2026},
author = {Motta, H and Perin, APA and Rosin, GF and Reuwsaat, JCV and Mocelin, I and Lopes, FC and Mayer, FQ and de Medeiros, VP and Brum, IS and Baethgen, LF and Gregianini, TS and Staats, CC and Vainstein, MH and Kmetzsch, L},
title = {SARS-CoV-2 Infection disrupts lower respiratory tract microbiome function and interactions.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12866-026-04828-9},
pmid = {41691172},
issn = {1471-2180},
support = {405934/2022-0//Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT FUNVIR)/ ; 408717/2022-0//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)/ ; 22/2551-0000396-6//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS)/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41690962,
year = {2026},
author = {Koshak, JS and Song, B and Jellison, B and Sisti, AR and Rivest, EB and Shields, JD},
title = {The bacterial community composition of American Lobster (Homarus americanus) embryos and recently hatched larvae held under experimental laboratory conditions.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-35387-8},
pmid = {41690962},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {NA24OARX417C0578//NOAA/ ; NA24OARX417C0578//NOAA/ ; NA19OAR4170393//NOAA/ ; NA19OAR4170393//NOAA/ ; NA19OAR4170393//NOAA/ ; NA19OAR4170393//NOAA/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41690650,
year = {2026},
author = {Ma, C and Zou, Z and Zhao, W and Rao, Y and Liu, B and Sun, M and Chen, D},
title = {The Gut Microbiota in Salmonella Typhi Infection and Translocation: Mechanisms of Colonization Resistance, Pathogen Subversion, and Prospects for Microecological Intervention.},
journal = {Microbial pathogenesis},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108381},
doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2026.108381},
pmid = {41690650},
issn = {1096-1208},
abstract = {The systemic establishment of the strictly human-adapted pathogen Salmonella Typhi critically depends on functional interplay between its virulence effectors and the host gut microbiome. Organized within a "colonization-toxicity-immunity- microecological intervention" framework, this review synthesizes recent molecular and multi-omics evidence to delineate key host-pathogen-microbiota dynamics. During colonization, a healthy gut microbiota exerts multi-layered colonization resistance through nutrient and niche competition, as well as via microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids. Current evidence more consistently supports DDR-associated cellular senescence and type I IFN signaling as major outcomes of typhoid toxin activity; pyroptosis, if observed, appears context-dependent and should not be presented as a universal endpoint. Concurrently, the Vi capsule and type III secretion system (T3SS) effector proteins (e.g., SteD) act in concert to disrupt innate and adaptive immunity, reprogram the mucosal immunometabolic landscape, and exacerbate microbial dysbiosis. We also evaluate the strength of evidence and applicability of microbiota-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, synthetic microbial consortia, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and address the limitations of extrapolating from Salmonella Typhimurium mouse models to human Salmonella Typhi,typhoid toxin infection. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for cross-validation using human intestinal organoids, humanized immune mice, and population-level data, integrated with metabolomic and immune profiling, to establish a definitive "metabolism-immunity-toxicity" causal chain. Confronting the persistent evolution of H58 and other drug-resistant lineages, we propose a paradigm shift through the convergence of genomic epidemiology, microbiota-informed risk stratification, and vaccine-microbiota synergism; these elements collectively chart an implementable roadmap for precision medicine in disease control.},
}

@article {pmid41690480,
year = {2026},
author = {Canowitz, A and Kamble, NS and Muck, N and Kaur, K and Garay, N and Bellala, P and Gabani, BB and Kotagiri, N},
title = {Microbial medicines: Unlocking the therapeutic potential of the microbiome in cancer treatment.},
journal = {Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society},
volume = {392},
number = {},
pages = {114720},
doi = {10.1016/j.jconrel.2026.114720},
pmid = {41690480},
issn = {1873-4995},
abstract = {Microorganisms have had an established relationship with the maintenance of human health, and recent advancements in genetic engineering and synthetic biology have allowed the development of engineered microbes as targeted disease treatment. This review evaluates the rising use of microorganisms as therapeutic agents, particularly in the treatment of cancer. These engineered microbes are able to detect disease markers and precisely deliver therapeutic payloads to affected sites. These bacterial-based therapeutics show remarkable promise against cancers like pancreatic, breast, lung, and colorectal cancers by targeting tumor microenvironments and enhancing antitumor immunity. While obstacles still remain, such as interindividual variability, safety concerns, and regulatory barriers, the medicinal potential of microbial therapeutics is promising. Future research should focus on furthering the understanding of microbe-host interaction mechanisms and refining bacterial engineering techniques to continue to develop more precise and effective therapies. Ultimately, harnessing the power of microorganisms has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of complex diseases, such as cancer.},
}

@article {pmid41690381,
year = {2026},
author = {Cheng, KW and Shi, J and Hou, M and Ning, Z and Yang, M and Zhou, Y and Zheng, P and Mok, HL and Lyu, C and Huang, C and Xu, Y and To, WLW and Zhang, J and Zhang, J and Zhang, X and Lin, C and Tan, HY and Ye, M and Zhu, L and Bian, Z},
title = {Gut-liver axis dysregulation in colitis underlies structure-dependent pharmacokinetics of a traditional Chinese medicine.},
journal = {Pharmacological research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {108135},
doi = {10.1016/j.phrs.2026.108135},
pmid = {41690381},
issn = {1096-1186},
abstract = {Pharmacokinetic (PK) variability under pathological conditions poses challenges for drug efficacy and safety. Although clinical data comparing PK in healthy individuals and patients is limited, evidence suggests that disease-induced variability is common and clinically significant. The liver and gut microbiota are key contributors to this variability, yet their individual and combined roles-particularly via the gut-liver axis-remain unclear, especially for complex herbal medicines. Ulcerative colitis (UC), characterized by immune dysregulation, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and hepatic inflammation, provides a relevant model to study these interactions. In this study, we investigated how UC-induced alterations in liver metabolism and gut microbiota affect the PK profiles of a multi-component herbal formula. Comparative analysis between healthy and colitis mice revealed structure-dependent PK shifts: iridoids and flavonoids exhibited reduced systemic exposure (e.g., 0.82-fold change in AUC for loganin), while saponins and polyphenols demonstrated altered colonic availability. Additionally, alkaloids showed delayed systemic elimination (e.g., 5.81-fold change in T1/2 for berberine). Multi-omics profiling identified disruptions along the gut-liver axis, including downregulated hepatic enzymes (CYPs, UGTs) and microbial changes such as 125% increased glycoside hydrolases (GHs). Specific compounds-berberine, liquiritin, and glycyrrhizic acid-were influenced by both hepatic and microbial metabolism, while loganin and curcumin were primarily affected by gut processes. Dysfunction of GHs, particularly β-glucosidase and β-glucuronidase, was confirmed using human microbiome datasets and clinical samples, linking PK variability to disease activity. This study establishes a baseline of colitis-induced PK variability across various natural compounds, identifies key determinants, and proposes hypotheses for biomarker development.},
}

@article {pmid41690350,
year = {2026},
author = {Mandal, S and Armbruster, M and Mann-Nüttel, R and Forsythe, P},
title = {Chronic airway inflammation is associated with sex-dependent changes in behaviour, neuroinflammation and the gut microbiome.},
journal = {Brain, behavior, and immunity},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {106485},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106485},
pmid = {41690350},
issn = {1090-2139},
abstract = {Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease linked to a higher prevalence of comorbid mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, though the underlying pathophysiology and the influence of biological sex remain poorly understood. To investigate this complex relationship, we employed a chronic house dust mite (HDM) exposure model in male and female C57BL/6 mice, examining the sex-dependent effects of allergic airway inflammation across systemic, neuroimmune, behavioural, and gut microbiome axes. Chronic HDM exposure successfully induced hallmark features of allergic airway disease in both sexes. While females exhibited significantly higher levels of most measured airway and systemic inflammatory cytokines compared to males, the neuroinflammatory and behavioural changes were more pronounced in males. HDM-exposed males showed increased hippocampal microglial activation, enhanced mast cell presence, and widespread hypothalamic transcriptional alterations. Females, however, exhibited increased astrocytic activation and enrichment of the estrogen response pathway, suggesting a differential, potentially protective, glial responses. Behaviourally, males displayed reduced grooming and greater despair-like behaviour, consistent with depressive-like phenotypes, whereas females showed reduced grooming only. Parallel analyses revealed that males experienced more extensive gut microbial disruption, particularly in the small intestine, including reductions in taxa previously associated with depressive behaviours (Romboutsia, Turicibacter) and broader shifts in microbial metabolic pathways. The observation that males, despite lower systemic inflammation, exhibit greater neuroinflammatory signatures, more extensive hypothalamic changes, and distinct behavioural deficits underscores the necessity of a sex-informed approach to understanding and mitigating the neuropsychiatric sequelae of chronic allergic asthma.},
}

@article {pmid41690216,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, F and Chang, G and Zhang, S and Chen, X and Wang, X and Lu, H and Zhu, J},
title = {Bioaugmentation with aspergillus flavus and Monascus purpureus modulates microbial community and enhances the quality of Zhejiang rice vinegar.},
journal = {International journal of food microbiology},
volume = {451},
number = {},
pages = {111655},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2026.111655},
pmid = {41690216},
issn = {1879-3460},
abstract = {Bioaugmentation using a co-culture of Aspergillus flavus SU-16 and Monascus purpureus (AfMp) was evaluated as a strategy to accelerate Zhejiang rice vinegar(ZRV) fermentation and improve sensory and functional quality. Vinegar produced with AfMp was characterized for physicochemical indices, microbial succession (high-throughput sequencing), volatile profiles (HS-SPME/GC-MS), antioxidant capacity, untargeted metabolomics (KEGG pathway annotation/enrichment), and cell-based bioactivities. The results showed that the fermentation cycle of AfMp shortened to 60 days, with total acidity of its final product reaching 5.23 g/100 mL. Microbiome analysis revealed stage-dependent succession, with Lactiplantibacillus, Weissella, and Saccharomyces dominating early fermentation, followed by the predominance of Acetobacter and Thermomyces in later stages. HS-SPME/GC-MS identified 66 volatile compounds, in which esters and alcohols were enriched at 15 days, whereas acetic acid and octanoic acid increased markedly during late fermentation, yielding a complex sour, fruity, and caramel-like aroma profile. Meanwhile, the contents of total TPC and TFC continuously elevated and reached 4.44 mg/mL and 0.35 mg/mL in final vinegar, with DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of 72.96% and 69.18%, respectively. Compared to ZRV, AfMp vinegar at low-dose apparently improved cell viability of IEC-6 cells and alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory injury. Metabolomics further revealed that 16 differential metabolites were mainly enriched in three metabolism pathways related to arachidonic acid, tryptophan, and phenylpropanoid/flavonoid, in which Ltb4, Thromboxane B2 as inflammatory lipid mediators were down-regulated, while Chrysin, Daidzein, and Genistein as flavonoid/isoflavone markers were up-regulated. Correlation analysis linked key taxa with flavor and bioactivity: Schleiferilactobacillus was storngly related with major alcohol/ester compounds and antioxidant activities (DPPH/ABTS), while Monascus and Petromyces were associated with characteristic alcohol/ester profiles and ABTS. Overall, AfMp bioaugmentation improves fermentation efficiency, enhances flavor complexity, and strengthens antioxidant potential, supporting the modernization and functional upgrading of traditional fermented foods.},
}

@article {pmid41690198,
year = {2026},
author = {Streb, LM and Kligman, M and Geist, J and Pereira de Souza, GF and Rath, S and Walch, S and Schloter, M},
title = {You shall not pass! (unless you're stress resistant): Selection-driven restructuring and transient invasion in freshwater mussel microbiomes under antimicrobial exposure.},
journal = {Environment international},
volume = {208},
number = {},
pages = {110138},
doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2026.110138},
pmid = {41690198},
issn = {1873-6750},
abstract = {Global declines of freshwater mussel populations and of the ecosystem services they provide have been linked to anthropogenic stressors including pollution, but the impacts of antibiotic spillover, e.g. through aquaculture or pharmaceutical wastewater effluents, on mussel health are unclear. Mussel-associated microbiomes contribute to key benthic processes such as nutrient cycling and organic matter transformation. While adverse effects on fish gut microbiomes are increasingly recognized, ecological impacts of antibiotic discharge on microbiomes of non-target organisms like mussels are poorly understood, with unknown consequences for the functioning of aquatic habitats. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we investigated how exposure to florfenicol and peracetic acid via rearing water effluents affected the microbiome of Anodonta cygnea. Under baseline conditions, the microbiome was distinct from water and dominated by taxa like Ferruginibacter aligning with its suspension-feeding lifestyle. Both compounds significantly altered microbial community structure, with temporal convergence of the host microbiome with external water microbiota. Observed shifts were characterized by the enrichment of detoxifying Dechloromonas and Sphingomonas as well as modulatory taxa like Aureispira and Nannocystis, with core commensals persisting across treatments. Co-application of peracetic acid and florfenicol increased florfenicol concentrations in water, highlighting potential compound interactions that may alter florfenicol degradation dynamics and could increase antibiotic pressure in aquatic habitats. Although the stability of core taxa indicates partial resilience rather than complete dysbiosis after single exposure, this study highlights potential ecological implications of antibiotic spillover in freshwater environments, as exemplified here by aquaculture but relevant for risk assessments of other pollution sources.},
}

@article {pmid41690125,
year = {2026},
author = {Pan, S and Wang, G},
title = {Multimodal brain-gut-sleep phenotypes predict delirium, long-term cognitive decline, and survival after colorectal cancer surgery.},
journal = {Psychoneuroendocrinology},
volume = {187},
number = {},
pages = {107794},
doi = {10.1016/j.psyneuen.2026.107794},
pmid = {41690125},
issn = {1873-3360},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Neuroimmune, circadian, autonomic, and gut-brain processes jointly shape vulnerability to postoperative delirium and long-term cognitive decline, yet their integrated contribution remains unclear.

METHODS: In this prospective cohort (n = 300), preoperative assessments included circadian actigraphy, gut microbial diversity and short-chain fatty acids, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, CRP), nocturnal heart rate variability, sleep-wake characteristics, and psychological symptoms. Unsupervised clustering identified multimodal phenotypes. Outcomes included postoperative delirium, 36-month cognitive, fatigue, and sleep trajectories, and 3-year survival. Analyses used mixed-effects models, Cox regression, and gradient boosting.

RESULTS: Four biobehaviorally coherent phenotypes emerged. Delirium incidence increased from 4.7 % in Phenotype A to 21.6 % in Phenotype D. Cognitive decline over 36 months followed the same gradient, with Phenotypes C-D showing progressive deterioration. Fatigue and sleep recovery displayed parallel phenotype-dependent stratification. Three-year disease-free survival ranged from 86.7 % (A) to 69.3 % (D), and overall survival from 91.2 % to 78.8 %. Relative to the resilient reference phenotype (A), phenotypes characterized by convergent multidomain dysregulation were independently associated with worse survival (HR 2.11 for DFS; HR 1.96 for OS). Machine-learning models ranked circadian amplitude, microbial diversity, SCFA concentrations, IL-6, and nocturnal heart rate variability as dominant contributors.

CONCLUSIONS: Multimodal brain-gut-sleep phenotypes strongly predict delirium, long-term cognition, and survival after colorectal cancer surgery. These findings support a systems-based model in which perioperative resilience reflects coordinated regulation of circadian, microbial, autonomic, inflammatory, and psychological pathways.},
}

@article {pmid41690090,
year = {2026},
author = {Xiang, ST and Deng, M and Mao, Z and Pan, X and Ma, Y and Huang, R and Qiu, J},
title = {Early-life herbicides exposure with gut microbiota and neurobehavioral development of hospitalized infants in China.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {311},
number = {},
pages = {119857},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.119857},
pmid = {41690090},
issn = {1090-2414},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Herbicides exposure has been linked to impaired neurodevelopment and gut microbiome alterations, but their effects on neonates remain insufficiently understood.

METHODS: In a cohort of 216 hospitalized neonates, we measured herbicides concentrations in neonatal peripheral blood plasma, characterized gut microbiota through 16S rRNA sequencing, and conducted neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA). We assessed herbicides exposure and NBNA scores using generalized linear regression and multi-pollutant models (quantile-based g-computation [QGC] and weighted quantile sum regression). The CTD and GeneCards were used to retrieve target genes for herbicides exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders, followed by enrichment pathway analysis. We examined gut microbime differences due to herbicide exposures, predicted functional pathways using PICRUSt2, and analyzed associations between taxa abundance and NBNA scores with MaAsLin2.

RESULTS: Trifluralin, propyzamide, oxadiazon, and fluazifop-butyl were inversely associated with NBNA scores, mainly affecting behavior and passive tone (all PFDR<0.05). QGC model indicated a significant inverse association between mixed herbicides exposure with passive tone (β: -0.105, 95 %CI: -0.207,-0.003). Bioinformatics analysis identified 183 genes as potential targets for neurodevelopmental disorders associated with herbicides exposure. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these genes were primarily involved in processes such as translation, ribosome function, and amino acid and derivative metabolism. Gut microbiota analysis showed that herbicides exposure significantly altered infant gut microbiome, with significant differences in the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla, and Escherichia_Shigella and Acinetobacter genera (P < 0.05). The phenylalanine metabolism pathway was related to herbicides exposure, with upregulation of specific gene expressions in high exposure group. Furthermore, no significant associations were observed between gut microbial genera and neurobehavioral scores.

CONCLUSION: Herbicides exposure were inversely associated with neurobehavioral development of hospitalized infants. The potential mechanisms may involve processes such as translation, ribosome function, and amino acid and derivative metabolism. Herbicides exposure also significantly altered infant gut microbiome.},
}

@article {pmid41689890,
year = {2026},
author = {Rolim, I and Lopez-Beltran, A and Pantarotto, M and de Sousa, E and Sobral, J and Gil, N and Penha-Gonçalves, C and Farver, C},
title = {Altered bacteriome and mycobiome in small cell lung cancer: insights from microbial profiling.},
journal = {Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands)},
volume = {214},
number = {},
pages = {109315},
doi = {10.1016/j.lungcan.2026.109315},
pmid = {41689890},
issn = {1872-8332},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The tumor-associated microbiome influences cancer development and progression, yet the microbial landscape of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains unexplored. Given the absence of SCLC-specific microbiome studies, we conducted an exploratory analysis to describe the bacterial and fungal communities present in SCLC tissue.

RESULTS: Using 16S rRNA sequencing, we profiled the bacteriome of lung specimens from SCLC and control cases and observed increased bacterial signal and reduced bacterial diversity in SCLC, accompanied by relative enrichment of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. Actinobacteria were comparatively underrepresented, resulting in a higher Proteobacteria-to-Actinobacteria ratio, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. At the genus level, SCLC samples were dominated by Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, Haemophilus, and Granulicatella, which together accounted for approximately half of the bacterial community. As a secondary, hypothesis-generating analysis, we examined the mycobiome using ITS sequencing and detected the unexpected presence of the biotrophic plant-pathogenic genus Taphrina in a subset (25%) of SCLC samples. Given the methodological constraints and contamination risks inherent to low-biomass FFPE tissues, this fungal signal is interpreted cautiously and framed strictly as preliminary.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first descriptive characterization of the lung bacteriome and mycobiome in SCLC using FFPE tissue. The observed alterations in microbial composition, including an unexpected fungal signal, offer hypothesis-generating insights that require validation in larger, prospectively collected cohorts incorporating more comprehensive contamination-control strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41689750,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, S and Wang, L and Xing, X and Li, X},
title = {Lactate metabolism-related interaction perturbation network enables robust stratification of hepatocellular carcinoma.},
journal = {Discover oncology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s12672-026-04613-0},
pmid = {41689750},
issn = {2730-6011},
support = {825MS160//Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by high molecular heterogeneity, posing challenges to precise diagnosis and treatment. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of lactate metabolism in tumor progression, yet a robust subtype stratification framework based on lactate metabolism (LM)-related interaction perturbation networks remains lacking. Here, we constructed an interaction network using LM-related genes and performed consensus clustering to identify molecular subtypes of HCC. Four distinct subtypes were identified, with Cluster2 exhibiting the worst prognosis and adverse response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), validated by independent HCC cohort. Further multi-dimensional characterization revealed that four subtypes differed significantly in clinical features, immune microenvironment, mutational landscape, and intratumoral microbiome composition. Notably, Cluster2 showed the lowest beta-diversity of microbial community and significantly increased relative abundance of genus Streptomyces and Pseudoxanthomonas, which was substantially associated with immune context. To improve prognosis prediction, we identified a 5-gene signature from Cluster2 via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and validated its robustness in predicting survival across multiple HCC cohorts. Our study establishes a robust LM network-driven subtype system for HCC, which not only enhances multidimensional understanding of tumor heterogeneity but also provides a clinically actionable tool for personalized therapy.},
}

@article {pmid41689685,
year = {2026},
author = {Vogtmann, E and Sinha, R},
title = {Concise Commentary: Does the Gut Microbiome Cause Colorectal Cancer?.},
journal = {Digestive diseases and sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s10620-026-09754-4},
pmid = {41689685},
issn = {1573-2568},
support = {Intramural Research Program/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; },
}

@article {pmid41689625,
year = {2026},
author = {Hayashi, T and Iida, N and Yasuda, K and Yoshio, T and Terashima, T and Takatori, H and Moriyama, H and Takeshita, Y and Takamura, T and Yamashita, T},
title = {Escherichia coli as a gut microbial marker of obesity and its reduction following bariatric treatment.},
journal = {Journal of gastroenterology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41689625},
issn = {1435-5922},
support = {19K17394//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 23K15036//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Alterations in the gut microbiota have been implicated in obesity-related metabolic disorders; however, the disease-relevant microbial features that link gut dysbiosis to metabolic risk remain incompletely defined. In particular, whether quantitative expansion or strain-level divergence of specific taxa underlie metabolic dysfunction is unclear.

METHODS: We performed cross-sectional and longitudinal metagenomic analyses of fecal samples from 19 patients with severe obesity undergoing bariatric intervention and 30 healthy donors. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing was combined with quantitative PCR to assess both relative and absolute bacterial abundance. Cultured Escherichia coli isolates were further examined by whole-genome sequencing to evaluate strain-level diversity. Associations between microbial features and metabolic parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS: The gut microbiota of patients with severe obesity was taxonomically and functionally distinct from that of healthy donors. Among altered taxa, E. coli was significantly enriched in obesity and showed a consistent and marked reduction at 6 months post-intervention, irrespective of procedure type. Absolute E. coli abundance quantified by qPCR decreased significantly following intervention. In contrast, whole-genome analysis revealed no clear genotypic clustering of E. coli strains by host phenotype. Notably, E. coli abundance correlated positively with HbA1c and systolic blood pressure and negatively with serum albumin levels, whereas global microbial diversity and KEGG-based metabolic pathways showed limited longitudinal change.

CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative expansion of gut E. coli, rather than strain-specific genomic divergence, is associated with metabolic risk in severe obesity and is consistently reduced at 6 months after bariatric intervention. These findings suggest that microbial load-dependent effects of E. coli may be associated with obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and represent a potential biomarker. This exploratory, single-center study is hypothesis-generating and warrants further validation in larger, multi-center cohorts as well as interventional studies using preclinical animal models.},
}

@article {pmid41689561,
year = {2026},
author = {Rojas, MD and Ferro, LE and Rovner, AJ and Katz, S and Trabulsi, JC},
title = {Effects of Timing and Types of Complementary Foods on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Infants up to 12 Months of Age: A Systematic Review.},
journal = {Nutrition reviews},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/nutrit/nuag001},
pmid = {41689561},
issn = {1753-4887},
abstract = {CONTEXT: The transition from a liquid-only diet to a diet that includes complementary foods (CFs) is a sensitive period in infant development and flavor learning. Often recommended are iron- and zinc-rich foods to meet nutrient needs for growth while establishing healthy eating patterns. Recent research has focused on the influence of CFs on the infant gastrointestinal (gut) microbiome.

OBJECTIVE: In this review we sought to assess the scientific evidence on the timing of CF introduction and the effects of singular CFs and groups of CFs on the gut microbiota of healthy infants.

DATA SOURCES: Five databases were searched. Articles published since 2000 were identified for inclusion and subject to data extraction.

DATA EXTRACTION: Data were synthesized with a focus on microbiota outcomes and complementary feeding, including only results that pertained to timing, singular CFs, or a group or pattern of CFs and their effects on the gut microbiota.

DATA ANALYSIS: The search resulted in 18 reports (17 studies) for inclusion. The prior liquid diet composition, types of foods, length of intervention/follow-up, and methods to evaluate the gut microbiota varied across studies. Limited conclusive evidence exists for the effects of timing, type, or groups of CFs of alpha or beta diversity. Some studies found negative associations between dairy and dairy-based CFs and members of the Bifidobacteriaceae family and Bifidobacterium genus.

CONCLUSIONS: Evidence strongly suggests that the background liquid diet has a substantial influence in how timing, singular CFs, and groups of CFs modulate gut microbial composition. Dairy and dairy-based CFs were most consistently associated with reduced abundance of Bifidobacterium and/or Bifidobacteriaecae; however, the heterogeneity of infant characteristics across studies limited the ability to draw more definitive conclusions. Future intervention studies should include intervention arms with distinct liquid milk backgrounds to better elucidate relationships among the timing and types of CFs and the infant gut microbiota.

PROSPERO registration No. [CRD42024505565].},
}

@article {pmid41689511,
year = {2026},
author = {Xu, R and Mayer, MJ and Philo, M and Gall, GL and Mulaw, G and Ponsero, A and Narbad, A},
title = {Combining Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis can improve GABA production in faecal fermentations.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxag047},
pmid = {41689511},
issn = {1365-2672},
abstract = {AIMS: This project aimed to investigate production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from potential probiotic strains. We studied production in co-cultures and faecal fermentations and examined the effect of selected strains on the faecal microbiome composition and metabolome in vitro.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Strains of intestinally-derived Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum from fermented cereals were grown singly, in co-culture and in faecal fermentations designed to simulate colonic conditions.Isolates synthesised varing amounts of GABA in vitro; GABA production could be increased by co-culture, lactic acid or reduced pH but was decreased in the presence of high buffering. In faecal fermentations, selected strains inoculated singly or in combination persisted over 24 hours and increased the GABA concentration without causing major disruptions in the microbiome or metabolome. B. adolescentis supplementation increased short chain fatty acids acetate and propionate and L. plantarum was associated with increased succinate levels, while all treatments exhibited a reduction in Escherichia compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONS: GABA production from these lactic acid bacteria is strain-specific and the combination of these two species shows potential for future next-generation probiotic development.},
}

@article {pmid41689507,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Jia, Z and Zhang, T},
title = {Microbes: the invisible codes of forensic science.},
journal = {Journal of applied microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jambio/lxag043},
pmid = {41689507},
issn = {1365-2672},
abstract = {Microbial communities have recently emerged as promising biomarkers for forensic applications, offering novel perspectives to complement traditional approaches. This review summarizes advances in three key areas: soil evidence tracing, postmortem interval (PMI) estimation, and individual identification in sexual assault cases. Soil microbiome, shaped by geography and environment, provide distinctive signatures that can link evidence to specific locations. Dynamic microbial succession during decomposition provides a temporal indicator for PMI estimation, while human microbiota, with their site-specific and relatively stable features, show potential for identifying individuals and inferring physical contact. Alongside these applications, this review also briefly discusses past and current microbiome analysis techniques, as well as machine learning models. Despite these advances, major obstacles remain, such as instability of microbial communities and risks of contamination. Addressing these challenges will require the establishment of validated protocols and reference databases. By outlining both opportunities and constraints, this review provides a foundation for integrating microbial evidence into forensic practice and guiding future research.},
}

@article {pmid41689085,
year = {2026},
author = {Hao, H and Wang, Z and Meng, Z and Li, X and Chen, H and Meng, P and Miao, L and Gao, L and Wang, X and Kuai, B and Song, Y and Zhu, H and Zhang, D},
title = {Phenolic acid biosynthesis is associated with deleterious microbiome changes during Plasmodiophora brassicae-induced clubroot in pakchoi.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40168-026-02349-1},
pmid = {41689085},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {32270286//the NSFC General Project/ ; RCYX20231211090408015 and ZDSYS20230626091659010//Shenzhen Science and Technology Program/ ; 202502/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diverse diseases are typically associated with perturbed microbiome homeostasis, across ecosystems such as the gut and root habitats. Clubroot, which is caused by the devastating soil-borne pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a broad-spectrum disease that infects almost all cruciferous vegetables. However, the microbial ecological and metabolic cues underlying pathogen-driven deleterious disruptions of the microbiome remain enigmatic.

RESULTS: In this study, changes in the microbiome and metabolome of the rhizosphere and roots in susceptible (diseased and nondiseased) and resistant pakchoi plants infected with P. brassicae were investigated. Diverse potential beneficial and disease-suppressive microbial families, including Rhizobiaceae and Sphingomonadaceae, were enriched in the healthy group compared with the diseased group. Rhizobiaceae was further characterized as a core driver family between the healthy and diseased groups. Reductionist-based strain validation studies further confirmed that Rhizobium sp. 25F3 showed drastic disease-suppressing activity in soil. The integrated metabolome‒microbiome correlation analysis revealed that phenolic acids were negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Rhizobiaceae. We further confirmed that genes related to phenolic acids were upregulated in diseased roots and that two phenolic acids suppressed beneficial Rhizobiaceae growth and accelerated P. brassicae infection in pakchoi.

CONCLUSIONS: Upon P. brassicae infection, significant differences in the microbiome and metabolome were observed between diseased and healthy plants, as well as between resistant and susceptible varieties. Rhizobiaceae is dominant in the root microbiome and acts as a keystone family affected by P. brassicae infection. P. brassicae-induced phenolic acid metabolites selectively inhibit the growth of beneficial Rhizobium sp. 25F3 while promoting P. brassicae bursts in pakchoi. Our work provides ecological and metabolic explanations for how pathogenesis ultimately triggers a decrease in the relative abundance of beneficial microbes, which can guide future genetic and microbiome-based approaches to control clubroot disease. Video Abstract.},
}

@article {pmid41688638,
year = {2026},
author = {Dekkers, KF and Pertiwi, K and Baldanzi, G and Lundmark, P and Hammar, U and Moksnes, MR and Coward, E and Nethander, M and Salih, GA and Miari, M and Nguyen, D and Sayols-Baixeras, S and Eklund, AC and Holm, JB and Nielsen, HB and Volpiano, CG and Méric, G and Thangam, M and Hakaste, L and Tuomi, T and Ahlqvist, E and Smith, CA and Allen, M and Reimann, F and Gribble, FM and Ohlsson, C and Hveem, K and Melander, O and Nilsson, PM and Engström, G and Smith, JG and Michaëlsson, K and Ärnlöv, J and Orho-Melander, M and Fall, T},
title = {Genome-wide association analyses highlight the role of the intestinal molecular environment in human gut microbiota variation.},
journal = {Nature genetics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41688638},
issn = {1546-1718},
support = {2019-01471//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2020-02191//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2020-01392//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 521-2013-2756//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2019-01236//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2021-02273//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2019-01291//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2019-01015, 2020-00243//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2018-02784, 2018-02837, EXODIAB 2009-1039//Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council)/ ; 2023-0687//Hjärt-Lungfonden (Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation)/ ; 20200173//Hjärt-Lungfonden (Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation)/ ; 2022-0344//Hjärt-Lungfonden (Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation)/ ; 2018-0343//Hjärt-Lungfonden (Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation)/ ; 2020-0711//Hjärt-Lungfonden (Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation)/ ; GNT2013468//Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/ ; GNT2013468//Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/ ; MRC_MC_UU_12012/3//RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC)/ ; MRC_MC_UU_12012/3//RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC)/ ; 220271/Z/20/Z//Wellcome Trust (Wellcome)/ ; 220271/Z/20/Z//Wellcome Trust (Wellcome)/ ; 190C0055250 and 22OC0078421//Novo Nordisk Fonden (Novo Nordisk Foundation)/ ; KAW 2015.0317//Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse (Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation)/ ; LU2021-0096//Lars Erik Lundbergs Stiftelse för Forskning och Utbildning (Lundberg Foundation for Research and Education)/ ; CKFUU-1025348, 987986, 976460, 963488, 936407, 695401, and 797891//Centrum fÖr Klinisk Forskning Dalarna (Center for Clinical Research Dalarna)/ ; },
abstract = {Despite the importance of the gut microbiome to health, the role of human genetic variation in shaping its composition remains poorly understood. Here we report genome-wide association analyses of harmonized metagenomic data from 16,017 adults in four Swedish population-based studies, with replication in 12,652 people from the Norwegian HUNT study. We identified variants in the OR51E1-OR51E2 locus, encoding sensors for microbiome-derived fatty acids, associated with microbial richness. We further identified 15 study-wide significant genetic associations (P < 5.4 × 10[-11]) involving eight loci and 14 common bacterial species, of which 11 associations at six loci were replicated. The results confirm previously reported associations at LCT, ABO and FUT2, and provide evidence for new loci MUC12, CORO7-HMOX2, SLC5A11, FOXP1 and FUT3-FUT6, with supporting data from metabolomics and gene expression analyses. Our findings link gut microbial variation genetically to gastrointestinal functions, including enteroendocrine fatty acid sensing, bile composition and mucosal layer composition.},
}

@article {pmid41688471,
year = {2026},
author = {Uddin, MS and Chamonara, K and Nayem, MR and Siddiqua, A and Chowdhury, S and Hossain, I and Ahasan, ASML and Masum, MHU},
title = {Comparative gut microbiome analysis of Rohu fish from Halda River and Kaptai Lake using 16S rRNA sequencing.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-025-33754-5},
pmid = {41688471},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {Freshwater ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and livelihoods in Bangladesh, where interest in fish gut microbiota is growing to aid aquaculture sustainability through microbial interventions. Therefore, this research investigated the bacteriomes of the gut of Rohu from the Halda River and Kaptai Lake, using Oxford Nanopore long-read 16S rRNA sequencing. The evaluation of diversity demonstrated notable variations in both alpha and beta diversity indices (p < 0.05). The fish in the Halda River had a varied bacteriome, mostly composed of Pirellulaceae_uncultured (9.26%), with environmentally tolerant taxa such as Exiguobacterium (5.48%). In contrast, the Kaptai Lake fish have a bacteriome that is abundant in probiotics, including Lactiplantibacillus (48.84%) and Pediococcus (8.82%). Water samples exhibited unique microbiological signatures: Halda River water was mostly characterized by Exiguobacterium (41.93%), while Kaptai Lake water was primarily composed of Acinetobacter (71.24%). Furthermore, functional analysis indicated that fish from the Halda River comprised metabolically diverse communities involved in nitrogen cycling, whereas the Kaptai Lake fish demonstrated a strong capacity for ammonia oxidation and pollutant breakdown. The research offers significant insights into the relationship between the host, microbiome, and environment, with implications for enhancing fish health and promoting sustainable aquaculture practices.},
}

@article {pmid41688445,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, J and Andreu-Sánchez, S and Peng, H and Gacesa, R and Gois, MB and Brushett, S and Weersma, R and Wang, D and Kurilshikov, A and Zhernakova, A and Fu, J and Zhernakova, DV},
title = {The interplay of sleep characteristics with health factors and gut microbiome.},
journal = {Nature communications},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-68791-9},
pmid = {41688445},
issn = {2041-1723},
abstract = {Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between sleep and the gut microbiome. In this study, we explore the associations of sleep characteristics with lifestyle factors and gut microbiome composition in 6941 participants from the Lifelines Dutch Microbiome Project. We show that lower alpha diversity is associated with poorer sleep quality, later chronotype, and greater social jet lag, while beta diversity is linked to both sleep quality and social jet lag. Of the 137 bacterial species associated with sleep, 35.6% are validated in an independent cohort. Mediation analyses indicate that, while changes in species abundance are largely a consequence of sleep behavior, certain species may mediate diet's influence on sleep. For example, we find that Clostridia species UC5_1_1E11 and SGB14844 mediate the effect of coffee intake on social jet lag. These findings highlight the intricate relationship between diet, the gut microbiome, and sleep, suggesting the potential for microbiome-targeted interventions to improve sleep health.},
}

@article {pmid41688119,
year = {2026},
author = {Akpulu, CP and Maikudi Sada, H and Ahmed, H and Idris, HB and Yakubu, R and Aminu, A and Iregbu, K and Oduwo, J and Owinoh, E and Lankapalli, AK and De Nies, L and Achi, CR and Thomson, K and Stracy, M and Walsh, TR and Sands, K},
title = {Cohort profile: Infant Gut Bacterial Study in Nigeria (INBUGS-NG).},
journal = {BMJ open},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {e111007},
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2025-111007},
pmid = {41688119},
issn = {2044-6055},
mesh = {Humans ; Nigeria ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Female ; Infant ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Male ; Infant, Newborn ; Longitudinal Studies ; Feces/microbiology ; Adult ; Breast Feeding/statistics & numerical data ; Milk, Human/microbiology ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Pregnancy ; },
abstract = {PURPOSE: The Infant Gut Bacterial Study in Nigeria (INBUGS-NG) investigates how delivery mode, antibiotic exposure, feeding practices and environmental factors shape gut microbiome development and acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during the first year of life in northern Nigeria.

PARTICIPANTS: Between February and July 2024, 90 mother-infant dyads were enrolled at a tertiary hospital in Kano city, Nigeria. This was a prospective longitudinal cohort with follow-ups at 10 scheduled time points: days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28, 90, 180 and 365. We also intensified stool sampling after infant antibiotic administration, enabling dense early-life sampling. To date, the cohort has contributed 480 infant stool samples, 232 maternal rectal swabs, 254 breast milk samples and 806 environmental samples (total 1772). In parallel, socio-demographic, clinical and cultural data were collected using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) and household visit diaries.

FINDINGS TO DATE: Baseline data show that 84/90 mothers (93.3%) received postpartum antibiotics, and 26/90 infants (28.9%) received antibiotics within the first 3 months of life. Only 8% of infants were exclusively breastfed, with early water supplementation common. Caesarean deliveries accounted for 25% of births, and the mean gestational age was 38.5 weeks. Across the cohort, high retention was achieved, and the study has generated a unique long-read metagenomic resource from an African infant population, with analyses ongoing.

FUTURE PLANS: Shotgun long-read metagenomic sequencing (Oxford Nanopore) will enable strain-level and plasmid-level profiling of microbial communities and ARGs. Planned analyses include associations between early-life exposures and resistome dynamics, as well as cross-cohort comparisons with a parallel study in Pakistan. Follow-up will continue through 12 months.},
}

Humans
Nigeria
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Female
Infant
*Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use
Prospective Studies
Male
Infant, Newborn
Longitudinal Studies
Feces/microbiology
Adult
Breast Feeding/statistics & numerical data
Milk, Human/microbiology
Delivery, Obstetric
Pregnancy

@article {pmid41688007,
year = {2026},
author = {MacIntyre, DA and Norman, RJ},
title = {The microbiome: a determinant of reproductive health and fitness?.},
journal = {Fertility and sterility},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.fertnstert.2026.02.017},
pmid = {41688007},
issn = {1556-5653},
abstract = {There is growing appreciation of the importance played by the reproductive tract microbiome in shaping fertility and reproductive health. Historically viewed as a microbially simple niche, the lower female reproductive tract is now recognised to harbour dynamic microbial communities that interact with host physiology to influence fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive disorders. Increasing evidence also implicates the comparatively low biomass microbiomes of the upper female reproductive tract and the male reproductive tract in reproductive health. This Views and Reviews special edition is made up of four articles that critically examine the ecological drivers of vaginal microbiota composition, the strengths and limitations of current microbiome assessment tools in fertility care, links between dysbiosis and female reproductive disorders, and emerging evidence implicating the male reproductive microbiome in sperm function and fertility. Collectively, these contributions highlight both the promise and the current limitations of microbiome-informed reproductive care, underscoring the need for rigorous, standardised, and outcome-focused research to support clinical implementation.},
}

@article {pmid41687847,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, N and Kang, Z and Wang, X and Zhang, Y and Li, X and Sun, Y and Xi, J and Shen, L},
title = {Sewage-sludge-derived biostimulant enables fertilizer reduction while maintaining rice yield through microbiome-mediated nutrient cycling.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {124020},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2026.124020},
pmid = {41687847},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {Modern agriculture relies heavily on chemical fertilizers to sustain high yields, yet excessive inputs contribute to soil acidification, water eutrophication, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss. Sewage-sludge-derived biostimulants (SS-BS) may help reduce fertilizer dependency while sustaining crop performance through plant-soil-microbiome interactions. Here, we evaluated SS-BS in a paddy rice field trial conducted during a single growing season (2024) under conventional management. Three fertilization regimes were compared: low-fertilizer control (CK), conventional fertilization (FP), and reduced mineral fertilization supplemented with SS-BS (BS). Across the 2024 season, rice yield and key yield components in BS were comparable to, or approached, those in FP with reduced mineral fertilizer input. Shotgun metagenomic profiling indicated that BS was associated with shifts in microbial functional pathways related to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium cycling, and with changes in the relative abundance of taxa linked to nutrient transformation processes. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) further suggested that microbial functional attributes were associated with the relationships among fertilization regime, soil properties, and yield outcomes. Collectively, these results from a single-season field experiment indicate that SS-BS has the potential to support fertilizer-reduction strategies in rice systems and motivate multi-season validation of its agronomic performance and microbiome- associated effects.},
}

@article {pmid41687784,
year = {2026},
author = {Thriene, K and Stanislas, V and Huang, KD and Strowig, T and Michels, KB},
title = {Impact of Yogurt and Rolled Oats Consumption on the Gut Microbiome: A Randomized Crossover Study displaying Individual Responses and General Resilience.},
journal = {The Journal of nutrition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101408},
doi = {10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101408},
pmid = {41687784},
issn = {1541-6100},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Yogurt and rolled oats are commonly linked to gut health through pro- and prebiotic effects, but these benefits remain understudied, especially in healthy individuals eating a regular diet.

OBJECTIVE: This study primarily aimed to investigate the effects of daily yogurt and rolled-oats consumption on gut microbial composition. Secondary outcomes included stool metabolites and blood-based health markers.

METHODS: In this randomized, open-label, two-period crossover trial, 110 healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of two sequences: 250 g of yogurt daily followed by 250 g of yogurt with 50 g of rolled oats, or the reverse with a washout period in between. Stool and blood samples were collected at baseline and post-intervention. Metagenomic sequencing and metabolomic analysis were conducted on stool samples, while health markers related to metabolic control, inflammation, immune response, oxidative stress, and gut permeability were assessed in the participants' blood.

RESULTS: Of the 119 randomized participants, 110 completed the study (53 yogurt first, 57 yogurt and rolled oat first). Yogurt consumption transiently increased yogurt-associated bacteria, with Streptococcus thermophilus rising from absent to 0.97% (95% CI 0.71-1.26) in the yogurt intervention and 0.79% (0.58-1.03) in the yogurt with oats intervention. In a small Prevotella-predominant subgroup (n = 8), adding rolled oats increased microbial evenness (q < 0.001) and reduced inter-individual divergence (q < 0.05), suggesting a temporary slight homogenization. No additional effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations or human health markers were identified. Functional metagenomic changes were mainly driven by yogurt-derived bacterial enrichment.

CONCLUSION: A healthy gut microbiota is largely stable and resilient to short-term diet changes, yet individual differences in small changes highlight the importance of personalized dietary recommendations.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: German register for clinical studies, identifier: DRKS00023146 https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00023146/details.},
}

@article {pmid41687743,
year = {2026},
author = {O'Connor, G and Hazime, H and Burgueño, JF and Fernández, I and Santander, AM and Brito, N and Faust, KM and Ban, Y and Quintero, MA and Deo, SK and Abreu, MT and Daunert, S},
title = {Quorum sensing molecules are elevated in long-standing ulcerative colitis and are linked to the development of colitis-associated cancer.},
journal = {Gastroenterology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1053/j.gastro.2026.01.023},
pmid = {41687743},
issn = {1528-0012},
abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic colonic inflammation can lead to colitis-associated cancer (CAC) in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The host-microbiome interface plays a critical role in CAC development. Quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) are bacterial products that regulate bacterial processes. We investigated whether QSMs are related to risk factors for CAC in UC patients and drive CAC development in mouse models.

METHODS: Blood samples from UC patients and mouse models of CAC (AOM-DSS) were analyzed for three bacterial QSM classes: short-chain (scAHLs) and long-chain n-acyl homoserine lactones (lcAHLs) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2). CAC mouse models (specific pathogen-free and germ-free (GF)) were challenged with C6-scAHL. QSM levels, colitis-associated tumor development, microbiome composition, and metabolome profiles were examined. Murine and human colonic organoid cultures were used to examine C6-scAHL-driven cytokine production.

RESULTS: Serum scAHL levels were higher in UC patients than in healthy controls. UC patients with inflammation and ≥10 years of disease had elevated AI-2 levels. Systemic C6-scAHL administration to a CAC mouse model increased tumor number and size and was associated with microbiome and metabolome changes similar to those in inflammatory settings. C6-scAHL administration also promoted tumor development in GF mice. In colonoids derived from mice and UC patients, C6-scAHL increased tumorigenic and proinflammatory cytokine production.

CONCLUSIONS: The bacterial QSM C6-scAHL is elevated in UC patients with CAC risk factors. C6-scAHL promotes colon tumor development in mice and drives pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic cytokine production in vitro. Our findings highlight a previously unexplored pathogenetic pathway linking the microbiome to CAC development and suggest targets to modify CAC risk.},
}

@article {pmid41687685,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, J and Luo, Y and Chen, L and Xiong, W and An, Y and Ma, Z and Zhang, D},
title = {Urinary microbiome and metabolomic profiling reveal propionic acid as an enhancer of BCG immunotherapy in bladder cancer.},
journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease},
volume = {1872},
number = {4},
pages = {168192},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbadis.2026.168192},
pmid = {41687685},
issn = {1879-260X},
abstract = {Bladder cancer (BC) is the tenth most common malignancy worldwide, with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) accounting for approximately 75% of cases, and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) remaining the standard intravesical therapy. In light of global BCG shortages, this study aimed to identify potential strategies to enhance BCG efficacy by integrating urinary microbiome profiling with targeted short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolomics. Urine samples collected from BC patients before and after BCG instillation were analyzed to determine BCG-associated microbial and metabolic changes, and the functional role of the key metabolite propionic acid (PA) was evaluated through in vitro experiments using MB49 and MBT2 murine BC cell lines and in vivo mouse BC models treated with BCG plus PA. Flow cytometry was used to quantify tumor-infiltrating CD4[+] and CD8[+] T cells to elucidate immune-related mechanisms. BCG treatment significantly reshaped urinary microbial composition, dominant flora, and fatty acid metabolic patterns, and notably increased urinary PA levels. Functional assays demonstrated that PA markedly augmented the antitumor activity of BCG, potentially by promoting CD4[+]/CD8[+] T-cell infiltration into tumor tissues. Collectively, these findings indicate that BCG modulates the urinary microbiome and SCFA metabolic landscape in BC patients, and that PA enhances BCG efficacy by boosting T-cell-mediated immune responses, highlighting PA-BCG combination therapy as a promising therapeutic strategy for BC.},
}

@article {pmid41687578,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhou, Q and Liang, H and Huang, J and Klümper, U and Fang, P and Yu, Z and Wang, Y and Berendonk, TU and Lin, L and Li, X and Li, B},
title = {Impact of sulfonamides on microbial community and antibiotic resistome profiles in anaerobic digestion of swine wastewater.},
journal = {Journal of hazardous materials},
volume = {505},
number = {},
pages = {141426},
doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141426},
pmid = {41687578},
issn = {1873-3336},
abstract = {Residual antibiotics in swine wastewater promote the proliferation of the antibiotic resistome, posing significant threats to environmental and human health. Although anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely applied for treating swine wastewater, the effects of antibiotics on the microbial community and resistome during AD remain unclear. This study employed amplicon and metagenomic sequencing, combined with long- and short-read hybrid assembly, to comprehensively investigate the impact of sulfonamides on the microbiome and resistome during AD. Enterococcus, a genus capable of utilizing exogenous folate, was identified as the dominant genus under sulfonamide stress. A total of 24 antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) types and 440 subtypes were identified. Sulfonamide stress selectively enriched sulfonamide resistance genes, with no notable co-selective effects on ARGs for other antibiotic classes. Short-term exposure significantly enriched sul2 (3.8-fold) and sul3 (4.0-fold), while long-term exposure enriched sul1 (1.6-fold). Sulfonamides especially promoted the proliferation of sulfonamide resistance genes on both mobilizable and non-mobilizable plasmids. The co-occurrence of multiple categories of mobile genetic elements and ARGs on contigs was inferred to play a critical role in driving ARG dissemination. Whereas a strain belonging to Enterococcus_I emerged as the dominant resistant bacterium in the AD system, a particular multidrug-resistance risk was identified for a strain belonging to the Filifactoraceae family. This work provides a new perspective on the impact of antibiotics on microbial community and antibiotic resistome composition and dynamics during the AD treatment process of swine wastewater.},
}

@article {pmid41687551,
year = {2026},
author = {Antequera, D and Carrero, L and Romualdi, D and Buetas, E and Garcia-Consuegra, I and Cantero, JL and Mira, A and Municio, C and Carro, E},
title = {Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer's disease: Association with salivary lactoferrin and inflammatory response.},
journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie},
volume = {196},
number = {},
pages = {119112},
doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2026.119112},
pmid = {41687551},
issn = {1950-6007},
abstract = {Recent evidence has highlighted the role of the oral microbiome in the inflammatory response and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and its gingipain virulence factors may be involved in the development of AD. Concurrently, a decline in the antimicrobial protein lactoferrin has been observed in AD saliva. In this study, we analyzed whether the presence of P. gingivalis and gingipain were associated with salivary lactoferrin and inflammatory markers in patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and age-matched controls. Salivary presence of P. gingivalis was higher in MCI and AD patients and exhibited a negative correlation with global cognitive function. We further showed a marked reduction in salivary lactoferrin with AD progression. Salivary/plasma levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in MCI and AD patients compared to controls. Specifically, salivary levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-23 were higher in MCI and AD patients compared to controls, while the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and IP-10 were reduced in both saliva and plasma in AD patients. Moreover, stromal cell derived factor 1α (SDF1α)/CXCL12, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) salivary and plasma levels were reduced in AD patients. Correlation analyses revealed an inverse relationship between salivary lactoferrin and bacterial load and cytokine concentrations. Our findings suggest that AD is associated with alterations to the oral environment, as revealed by higher P. gingivalis presence, lower lactoferrin levels and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines.},
}

@article {pmid41687496,
year = {2026},
author = {Shyam, S and Sarma, H},
title = {Microbial community shifts and nutrient alteration in rice rhizospheres induced by Fe functionalized magnetic nanocarbon derived from rice husk.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {401},
number = {},
pages = {128840},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128840},
pmid = {41687496},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Soil fertility degradation and low nutrient-use efficiency remain major constraints in sustainable rice cultivation, especially in acidic soils. Biochar-based nanocomposites have emerged as advanced tools to improve nutrient bioavailability and soil health. This study examines the influence of rice husk biochar (HB) and its Fe-functionalized nanoscale variant, magnetic nanocarbon husk biochar (MNHB), on soil physicochemical properties, early growth of Oryza sativa (rice), and rhizosphere microbial dynamics. MNHB exhibited a fixed carbon content of 49.6%, ash content of 17.4%, and strong thermal stability above 400 °C. Dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analyses confirmed nanoscale particle size (<100 nm) with a surface charge of -25 mV, indicating good colloidal stability. FE-SEM imaging verified nanoscale morphology (81.58 ± 17.22 nm). Application of MNHB (5%) significantly enhanced root length (15.7 ± 0.49 cm), shoot length (46.41 ± 1.89 cm), and biomass (48.9% above Control, 25.3% above HB; p < 0.05). Soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, and macronutrients (N, P, K) increased substantially, demonstrating improved nutrient cycling and bioavailability. Metagenomic sequencing revealed reduced microbial alpha diversity but a marked community shift favoring Pseudomonadota (∼20% increase) and enrichment of beneficial genera such as Streptomyces, Micromonospora, and Neurospora tetrasperma. This work lies in establishing that Fe-functionalization in biochar nanosystems not only enhances nutrient transformation and uptake efficiency but also selectively restructures the rhizosphere microbiome, thereby coupling nutrient enrichment with microbial modulation for sustainable soil fertility restoration and crop productivity improvement.},
}

@article {pmid41687433,
year = {2026},
author = {Libriani, S and Facchinetti, G and Marti, F and Tolentino Diaz, MY and Sandri, E},
title = {The association between gut microbiota and cognitive decline: A systematic review of the literature.},
journal = {Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)},
volume = {147},
number = {},
pages = {16-31},
doi = {10.1016/j.nutres.2026.01.003},
pmid = {41687433},
issn = {1879-0739},
abstract = {The gut-brain axis has emerged as a key pathway in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, with age-related shifts in gut microbiota potentially contributing to cognitive decline and dementia progression. This systematic review evaluated the effects of microbiota-targeted interventions on cognitive outcomes in adults aged >45 years with cognitive impairment or at risk of dementia. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies published up to June 2025 were identified through PubMed, COCHRANE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Methodological quality, assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist, ranged from moderate to high.Fifteen studies involving 4,275 participants across Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East met inclusion criteria. Interventions included probiotic supplementation, fecal microbiota transplantation, and dietary strategies such as Mediterranean and ketogenic diets. Cognitive outcomes were measured using validated tools, including the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. Narrative synthesis indicated that microbiota modulation was associated with improvements in memory, executive function, and global cognition, particularly in individuals with prodromal or mild cognitive impairment. Reported benefits correlated with increased microbial diversity, enhanced short-chain fatty acid production, and reduced neuroinflammatory markers. In contrast, effects were limited in advanced Alzheimer's disease.Overall, gut microbiota modulation represents a promising nonpharmacological strategy to support cognitive health, with early intervention appearing crucial for optimal benefit. Nevertheless, heterogeneity in study design and intervention protocols highlights the need for large-scale, longitudinal randomized controlled trials to confirm efficacy and clarify underlying biological mechanisms.},
}

@article {pmid41687170,
year = {2026},
author = {Lund, A and Zhang, R and Xuelan, M and Lingxi, Z and Zhang, M},
title = {Unveiling the emerging role of endometrial microbiota with the coordination of cytokines and growth factors at the maternal-fetal interface.},
journal = {Journal of reproductive immunology},
volume = {174},
number = {},
pages = {104842},
doi = {10.1016/j.jri.2026.104842},
pmid = {41687170},
issn = {1872-7603},
abstract = {Early embryonic loss is a common issue in all mammalian species, particularly due to implantation failure. This is a significant concern not only for farmers but also for couples who experience infertility. Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) can be addressed by better understanding the key factors that influence embryo implantation. This review comprehensively elucidates the roles of essential factors, including cytokines, growth factors, and the endometrial microbiome, in the implantation process. Disruption of any of these factors can lead to implantation failure, which is a crucial determinant for a successful pregnancy. The maternal immune system must adapt to accept semi-allogenic embryos. The uterine environment becomes challenging to accept the embryo while combating foreign antigens. This requires changes in the physiology, immunology, and morphology of the endometrial tissue. The endometrial microbiome is emerging as a key contributor in modulating the maternal immune response, providing antibacterial metabolites, and creating an anaerobic environment that is favorable for the early embryo. Furthermore, cytokines and growth factors are widely recognized for their critical roles in embryo implantation. Supplementing these factors before natural breeding or artificial insemination has been shown to reduce reproductive complications, particularly embryo implantation failure.},
}

@article {pmid41686436,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, T and Petersen, C and Zhao, N and Moraes, TJ and Subbarao, P and Simons, E and Azad, MB and Miliku, K and Bode, L and Moore, B and Turvey, S and Mueller, NT},
title = {Human Milk and Infant Gut Microbiome in Association With Infant Fecal Metabolome and Child Blood Pressure.},
journal = {JAMA network open},
volume = {9},
number = {2},
pages = {e2559385},
pmid = {41686436},
issn = {2574-3805},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Milk, Human/microbiology ; *Feces/microbiology/chemistry ; Female ; Infant ; Male ; *Blood Pressure/physiology ; *Metabolome/physiology ; Prospective Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Canada ; Breast Feeding ; Longitudinal Studies ; },
abstract = {IMPORTANCE: Infant milk feeding type (eg, human milk vs formula) and infant gut microbes have each been associated with differences in microbial metabolites and childhood blood pressure; however, evidence remains limited regarding how specific infant gut microbes, at a species or strain level, in combination with milk feeding type, shape microbial metabolites and blood pressure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether human milk feeding and infant gut microbes, including Bifidobacterium longum subsp infantis (B infantis) and other milk-degrading microbes, are associated with infant fecal metabolites and childhood systolic blood pressure (SBP).

This cohort study was part of the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) cohort study, a prospective multicenter, contemporary, population-based cohort of pregnant mothers and their offspring recruited between 2009 and 2012. Data were collected from 2009 to 2018 and analyzed from January to December 2024. Participants included a subset of children born at 35 weeks of gestation or later without congenital abnormalities or respiratory distress syndrome and with available data on gut microbiome, fecal metabolome, SBP, and covariates.

EXPOSURES: Gut microbiome, fecal metabolome, and human milk feeding status at ages 3 months and 1 year.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Age-, sex-, and height-specific SBP percentile, measured at ages 3 and 5 years.

RESULTS: A total of children (610 [46.1%] girls; 982 children [74.2%] delivered vaginally; mean [SD] maternal age at delivery, 33.3 [4.5] years) were included. At age 3 months, but not at age 1 year, human milk feeding and presence of B infantis showed interactive associations with infant fecal metabolites at ages 3 months and 1 year and SBP at ages 3 and 5 years. Among infants harboring B infantis at age 3 months, mixed feeding (difference, -14.81 [95% CI, -27.05 to -2.56] percentile) and exclusive human milk feeding (difference, -17.16 [95% CI, -29.48 to -4.83] percentile) were associated with a lower childhood SBP, whereas no association was observed among infants without B infantis. Several additional infant gut microbes (eg, Eggerthella lenta, Veillonella dispar) and fecal metabolites (eg, creatinine, succinic acid) also demonstrated feeding- or B infantis-dependent associations with childhood SBP.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study, early-life interactions between human milk feeding and B infantis, among other bacteria, were associated with the infant fecal metabolome and childhood SBP, underscoring the potential importance of early-life nutrition-microbe interplay in cardiometabolic health.},
}

Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology
*Milk, Human/microbiology
*Feces/microbiology/chemistry
Female
Infant
Male
*Blood Pressure/physiology
*Metabolome/physiology
Prospective Studies
Child, Preschool
Canada
Breast Feeding
Longitudinal Studies

@article {pmid41648108,
year = {2026},
author = {Martinez, NAP and Arnaldi, MR and Santiago-Rodriguez, TM and Rodriguez-Fernandez, IA},
title = {Microbiota-Based Interventions Differentially Rescue Gut and Social Behavior Phenotypes in a Drosophila Autism-like Model.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41648108},
issn = {2692-8205},
support = {P20 GM103642/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; P30 GM149367/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurological and developmental disorder that has no cure and is often accompanied by gastrointestinal (GI) issues. The bidirectional communication system known as the gut microbiota-brain axis may help explain how GI dysfunction contributes to neurological symptoms. Loss-of-function mutations in the histone demethylases KDM5A, KDM5B or KDM5C are found in patients with intellectual disability and ASD. Previous studies using a Drosophila Kdm5 loss-of-function (Kdm5 [LOF]) ASD-like model revealed gut microbial dysbiosis, reduced abundance of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and impaired social behavior. While L. plantarum supplementation rescued intestinal abnormalities, it did not restore social behavior.

METHODS: Here, we evaluated multiple microbiota-based interventions, including probiotic supplementation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus helveticus, their combination, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), to determine their capacity to modulate gut microbial composition and behavior in Kdm5 [LOF] flies. Gut bacterial abundance was quantified using colony-forming unit (CFU) assays and full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Social behavior was assessed using the social distance assay, while anxiety-like behavior and locomotion were evaluated using the open field test. Gut-specific Kdm5 knockdown was used to assess tissue-specific contributions to microbiota and behavioral phenotypes.

RESULTS: Kdm5 deficiency resulted in reduced abundance of culturable Lactobacillus, Acetobacter, and Enterobacter species, accompanied by impaired social behavior. L. plantarum supplementation restored gut microbial abundance in both whole-body Kdm5 [LOF] and gut-specific Kdm5 knockdown models but did not significantly rescue social behavior. In contrast, L. helveticus significantly improved social interaction in Kdm5 [LOF] flies despite minimal effects on gut bacterial abundance, revealing a dissociation between microbial restoration and behavioral outcomes. Gut-specific Kdm5 knockdown phenocopied both microbial and social defects observed in Kdm5 [LOF] mutants. Notably, FMT from healthy donors partially restored Lactobacillus abundance, reshaped gut microbial community structure, and partially improved social behavior in Kdm5 [LOF] recipient flies.

CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings identify Kdm5 as a key regulator of gut microbial viability and social behavior and demonstrate that microbiota-based interventions exert strain- and phenotype-specific effects. Our results reveal that restoration of microbial abundance alone is insufficient to rescue social behavior and highlight the importance of functional host-microbe interactions in gut-brain communication. This work establishes Drosophila as a tractable platform for dissecting epigenetic regulation of microbiota-behavior relationships relevant to ASD and for evaluating targeted probiotic and microbiota-transfer strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41686294,
year = {2026},
author = {Ramanathan, C and Goris, L and Mishra, A and Lihavainen-Bag, J and Pawlowski, K and Albrectsen, BR and Tack, AJM},
title = {The Effects of Acorn Origin, Environmental Microbiomes and Local Adaptation on the Leaf Metabolome.},
journal = {Journal of chemical ecology},
volume = {52},
number = {1},
pages = {18},
pmid = {41686294},
issn = {1573-1561},
mesh = {*Plant Leaves/metabolism/chemistry/microbiology ; *Metabolome ; *Microbiota ; *Quercus/microbiology/metabolism/physiology/growth & development ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Seeds/microbiology ; Seedlings/metabolism ; Metabolomics ; Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Plants are associated with microbial communities, which are inherited through the seed and acquired from the environment. These microbiomes influence plant physiology, chemistry, and functioning. Yet, we lack insights into how seed origin and the environmental microbiome jointly influence the leaf metabolome. We used untargeted metabolomics (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) on leaves of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) seedlings to examine metabolic responses to different seed origins and environmental microbiomes, as well as home and away environments. For this, acorns were collected from three mother trees and grown in a multifactorial design with soil and canopy microbiomes originating from the local mother tree (i.e., the home treatment) and neighbouring trees (i.e., the away treatment). We also measured two plant traits-plant height and leaf chlorophyll content-to examine relationships between plant traits and the metabolome. The leaf metabolome did not differ significantly between plants growing with different soil and canopy microbiomes. However, the leaf metabolome differed among acorn origins and between seedlings growing in home vs. away treatments. We found no clear link between plant traits and the leaf metabolome. This study is one of the first to disentangle the combined effects of seed origin and environmental microbiomes on plant leaf chemistry, and the home vs. away framework provides novel insights into local adaptation effects on plant metabolomes within forest ecosystems. These findings have practical implications for the use of local genotypes and the development of microorganism-based management practices in sustainable forestry and agriculture.},
}

*Plant Leaves/metabolism/chemistry/microbiology
*Metabolome
*Microbiota
*Quercus/microbiology/metabolism/physiology/growth & development
Adaptation, Physiological
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Seeds/microbiology
Seedlings/metabolism
Metabolomics
Soil Microbiology

@article {pmid41686264,
year = {2026},
author = {Wu, CY and Cheng, HY and Lin, YC and Wang, YC and Meng, YZ and Hsieh, YE and Liu, AC and Yang, SH},
title = {Role of Core Microbiome Shifts in Octocoral Litophyton Under Diurnal Temperature Fluctuations.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s00248-026-02715-4},
pmid = {41686264},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {NSTC 112-2611-M-002 -020//National Science and Technology Council/ ; NTUCCP- 115L891306//National Taiwan University/ ; },
abstract = {Climate change is projected to raise sea surface temperatures and intensify diurnal temperature fluctuations (DTF), threatening the survival of both scleractinian corals and octocorals. Litophyton, a common octocoral in Taiwan's shallow reefs, is frequently exposed to large DTF and summer heat stress, making it a suitable model to study thermal resilience. Coral-associated bacterial communities are known to shift under thermal stress, and key bacterial taxa may play crucial roles in host acclimation. This study aimed to address two questions: (1) Can higher DTF mitigate cumulative heat stress in octocorals? (2) If so, what physiological and microbial community changes accompany this effect? To answer these questions, we conducted tank experiments under constant warming and two short-term DTF regimes (± 5 °C and ± 7 °C; baseline 25-27.8 °C), along with a no-fluctuation control. We measured physiological stress indicators, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and monitored bacterial community dynamics. Our results show that DTF helped maintain stable photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) compared to constant warming. Notably, significant differences in ROS activity were only observed in the ± 5 °C group, rather than in the larger ± 7 °C group, indicating a measurable alleviation of thermal stress and greater plasticity in Litophyton coping with temperature changes. Moreover, 29.4% more significantly abundant in the ± 7 °C group compared to the control in the core microbiome Endozoicomonas preceded detectable physiological changes in the host, suggesting a potential role in early stress mitigation. These findings deepen our understanding of octocoral holobiont resilience under fluctuating thermal regimes and highlight Endozoicomonas diversity as a potential indicator of Litophyton health.},
}

@article {pmid41686198,
year = {2026},
author = {Balusamy, SR and Lee, S and Anandapadmanaban, G and Samad, A and Shikder, MR and Veeramani, C and Alsaif, MA and Al-Numair, KS and Singh, P and Perumalsamy, H},
title = {Antibacterial activity of bioactive anthraquinones isolated from Cassia tora L. against pathogenic intestinal microorganisms.},
journal = {Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41686198},
issn = {1432-1912},
support = {2023R1A2C2002623//National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)/ ; ORF-2025-1102//King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/ ; },
abstract = {Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major global health challenge, particularly in intestinal infections where the efficacy of conventional antibiotics is rapidly declining. The rising prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens underscores the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial agents with favorable activity profiles. This study evaluated the antibacterial potential of bioactive anthraquinones isolated from Cassia tora L. seeds against clinically relevant intestinal pathogens and probiotic bacteria. Five key anthraquinones, rhein, physcion, anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid, emodin, and aloe-emodin, were identified and tested for their antibacterial activity. The anthraquinone metabolites exhibited strong antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, etc.), while showing moderate to relatively lower inhibitory effects against beneficial probiotic strains such as Clostridium butyricum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Lactobacillus casei. The MIC profiles indicate relative or modest selectivity toward pathogens, rather than a complete sparing of probiotic species. Molecular docking analysis revealed that these metabolites bind favorably to key bacterial resistance proteins, often surpassing ciprofloxacin in binding affinity, supporting their observed antibacterial activity. Together, these results suggest that C. tora anthraquinones preferentially inhibit intestinal pathogens, maintaining a comparative margin of safety for beneficial gut flora. Anthraquinones isolated from C. tora seeds exhibit potent antibacterial activity toward pathogenic intestinal bacteria and relatively reduced activity against probiotic strains, reflecting selective preference in intestinal bacteria. These findings support their potential as natural antimicrobial candidates for managing intestinal infections and contributing to AMR mitigation. Nonetheless, the measurable inhibitory effects on probiotic species emphasize the need for careful dose optimization and microbiome-conscious therapeutic strategies. Further studies focusing on the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and in vivo efficacy are required to evaluate their clinical applicability.},
}

@article {pmid41685961,
year = {2026},
author = {Bosco, K and Fabijan, AP and Iredell, J and Dabrowska, K and Khatami, A},
title = {Immune responses to phage therapy in humans: A review.},
journal = {The Journal of infectious diseases},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/infdis/jiag096},
pmid = {41685961},
issn = {1537-6613},
abstract = {This review explores mammalian immune responses to phages with a particular emphasis on human immune responses to therapeutic phages and their potential implications for the outcomes of phage therapy. Despite the ubiquity of phages in the human microbiome, particularly in the gut (the phageome), research on immunological mechanisms governing immune responses to both endogenous and therapeutic phages are still in their infancy. We highlight key components of the immune system that contribute to clearance of phages in vivo and examine how various factors- including patient-specific variables, treatment regimens and phage characteristics can influence immune responses and, consequently, phage pharmacokinetics during therapy. A clearer understanding of human immune responses to phages is urgently needed to inform the development of more targeted and effective personalised phage therapies - an essential step in combating the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance.},
}

@article {pmid41685611,
year = {2026},
author = {Oh, HN and Hur, H},
title = {Impact of the intratumoral resident microbiome on the immune microenvironment of malignant tumors (Review).},
journal = {Oncology reports},
volume = {55},
number = {4},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3892/or.2026.9071},
pmid = {41685611},
issn = {1791-2431},
mesh = {Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment/immunology ; *Neoplasms/immunology/microbiology/pathology/therapy ; *Microbiota/immunology ; Immunotherapy/methods ; Animals ; Prognosis ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; },
abstract = {Advances in cancer research have highlighted the importance of tumor‑intrinsic factors, including tumor type, immune environment, immunogenicity, metabolic demands and the intratumoral microbiome. Together, these factors have reshaped the current understanding of cancer immunity and systemic therapies, particularly targeted treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors that act on cancer cells, blood vessels and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Among these, the presence of bacteria within tumors has emerged as a critical modulator of the TME, influencing tumor progression and antitumor responses across various cancer types. With the rapid expansion of cancer immunotherapies, advanced detection and sequencing technologies are increasingly applied to elucidate interactions between intratumoral microbiota and immune cells. The present review focuses on the mechanisms by which tumor bacteria modulate immune responses, supported by validations from in vitro and in vivo studies. The potential of intratumoral microbiota as biomarkers for prognosis and immunotherapy response is also discussed, alongside emerging biotechnological tools for microbiota profiling. By examining the dual roles of intratumoral microbiota in cancer biology, the current review provides a comprehensive overview of their implications and practical applications in cancer‑related research.},
}

Humans
*Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
*Neoplasms/immunology/microbiology/pathology/therapy
*Microbiota/immunology
Immunotherapy/methods
Animals
Prognosis
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use

@article {pmid41685368,
year = {2026},
author = {Park, JY and Jeong, HS and Lim, SR and Jung, WK and Je, JY and Choi, CH and Lee, SJ},
title = {Triple-emulsion microfluidic Core-Shell hydrogel microcapsules for oral pentoxifylline Delivery: Ameliorating colitis and rebalancing gut microbiome.},
journal = {Materials today. Bio},
volume = {37},
number = {},
pages = {102881},
pmid = {41685368},
issn = {2590-0064},
abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses chronic or relapsing inflammation within different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative primarily used to improve blood flow in peripheral vascular diseases, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, suggesting its potential in attenuating IBD-associated inflammation. However, its clinical application in IBD remains limited, partly due to its short half-life and poor targeting to inflamed intestinal tissues, necessitating strategies to enhance its bioavailability and tissue-specific delivery. To address this limitation, we developed a targeted drug delivery system utilizing a microfluidic approach to fabricate pH-responsive core-shell hydrogel microcapsules encapsulating PTX, referred to as PTX-loaded hydrogel microcapsules (PHM), for enhanced delivery to inflamed colonic tissue. These microcapsules were generated via photopolymerization of triple emulsion droplets, resulting in a structure composed of a poly (acrylic acid)-poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PAA-PEGDA) shell and a PEGDA core, separated by a thin oil layer. The oil layer serves as a protective barrier against the acidic gastric environment, while the pH-responsive swelling of the PAA-PEGDA shell at basic pH (7.5) compresses and destabilizes the oil layer, thereby enabling controlled PTX release specifically in the colonic environment. In vivo studies using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD in ICR mice demonstrate that PHM significantly mitigates disease severity, as evidenced by an approximately 38.5% reduction in disease activity index scores, restoration of mucosal architecture, and decreased infiltration of colonic macrophages. In parallel, PHM treatment markedly suppresses colonic inflammatory responses, lowering IL-1β by 40%, IL-6 by 66.2%, and TNF-α by 36.2% compared to DSS-treated mice, along with a broader reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators, highlighting its anti-inflammatory potential. Notably, PHM also contributes to the rebalancing of dysbiotic gut microbiota, including the restoration of beneficial genera such as Bacteroides acidifaciens and PAC001120_s, thereby promoting microbial homeostasis. Collectively, these findings underscore PHM as a promising PTX-based therapeutic strategy for effective IBD intervention.},
}

@article {pmid41685328,
year = {2026},
author = {Japelj, N and Horvat, N and Jazbar, J and Kos, M and Kapušin, VP and Knez, L},
title = {Timing and intensity of proton pump inhibitor exposure hampers overall survival in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: a retrospective cohort study.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1682723},
pmid = {41685328},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {Humans ; *Proton Pump Inhibitors/administration & dosage/therapeutic use/adverse effects ; *Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use/administration & dosage/adverse effects ; Male ; Female ; *Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy/mortality/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; *Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy/mortality/pathology ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; Treatment Outcome ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has been associated with reduced immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) with evidence limited to their use during a short time period around ICI initiation. This study evaluated the associations between the timing and intensity of PPI exposure up to one year before ICI initiation and overall survival (OS) in mNSCLC patients treated with ICIs.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive mNSCLC patients treated with ICIs within routine clinical practice. Patients were grouped by the timing of PPI exposure from 365 days before to 30 days after (-365 to +30 days) ICI initiation: (1) no PPIs within -365 to +30 days; (2) PPIs only within -365 to -31 days; and (3) PPIs also within ±30 days of ICI initiation. The intensity of PPI exposure was quantified with the total defined daily doses (DDDs). OS was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and associations between PPI exposure and OS were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS: Of 391 patients included (median age 64.7 years, 58.6% male), 73.4% had access to PPI within -365 to +30 days of ICI initiation. PPI exposure within ±30 days (220 patients) was associated with reduced median OS (mOS) compared with no PPI exposure between -365 and +30 days of ICI initiation (mOS 15.4 vs 21.9 months; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.373, 95% CI 1.007-1.873, p = 0.045). High-intensity PPI exposure within -365 to +30 days of ICI initiation (DDD > 159; 108 patients) was also associated with reduced mOS compared with no PPI exposure in this period (mOS 13.4 vs 21.9 months; aHR 1.454, 95% CI 1.023-2.067, p = 0.037).

DISCUSSION: PPI use around ICI initiation as well as PPI treatment intensity over a wider period was associated with reduced OS. Efforts should be made to streamline PPI use.},
}

Humans
*Proton Pump Inhibitors/administration & dosage/therapeutic use/adverse effects
*Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use/administration & dosage/adverse effects
Male
Female
*Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy/mortality/pathology
Retrospective Studies
*Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy/mortality/pathology
Aged
Middle Aged
Time Factors
Aged, 80 and over
Treatment Outcome
Neoplasm Metastasis

@article {pmid41685303,
year = {2026},
author = {Elias, AE and Pennock, JL and McBain, AJ and Keevill, EJ and O'Neill, CA},
title = {A skin isolate of Micrococcus luteus negates the Staphylococcus aureus-induced release of type 2 cytokines from keratinocytes.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1711723},
pmid = {41685303},
issn = {1664-3224},
mesh = {*Micrococcus luteus/immunology/isolation & purification ; *Staphylococcus aureus/immunology ; *Keratinocytes/immunology/metabolism/microbiology ; *Cytokines/metabolism/immunology ; Humans ; *Skin/microbiology/immunology ; Animals ; Mice ; *Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/microbiology ; Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism ; Interleukin-33/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; },
abstract = {Staphylococcus aureus second immunoglobulin-binding protein (Sbi) is a unique type 2-promoting virulence factor that induces IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) release. This mechanism is essential for the development of S. aureus-induced eczema in the widely used NC/Tnd mouse model of human atopic dermatitis (AD). Microbiome shifts in AD suggest that microbiota could modulate the disease. We therefore sought to identify skin bacteria that attenuate S. aureus-induced IL-33/TSLP release from keratinocytes. Micrococcus luteus was unique among skin isolates in its ability to negate cytokine induction. The bioactive factor responsible was identified using fractionation, LC-MS and recombinant proteins, as the serine protease "PA domain protein" (PADP). Immunoblotting and ELISA confirmed Sbi and IL-33 degradation by PADP. This was not observed with the M. luteus type strain which contains a frame shift mutation within the PADP active site. These data provide new insights into the role of skin microbiota in AD and highlights their potential as topical therapeutics.},
}

*Micrococcus luteus/immunology/isolation & purification
*Staphylococcus aureus/immunology
*Keratinocytes/immunology/metabolism/microbiology
*Cytokines/metabolism/immunology
Humans
*Skin/microbiology/immunology
Animals
Mice
*Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology/microbiology
Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
Bacterial Proteins/metabolism
Interleukin-33/metabolism
Disease Models, Animal

@article {pmid41685296,
year = {2026},
author = {Zheng, W and Chen, Y and Yang, T and Liu, Z and Xu, D and Han, H and Wang, Y and Xi, X and Wang, T and Chen, S},
title = {Correction: Interactions between the intestinal microbiome and host genes in regulating vibriosis resistance in Cynoglossus semilaevis.},
journal = {Frontiers in immunology},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {1791642},
doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2026.1791642},
pmid = {41685296},
issn = {1664-3224},
abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1644885.].},
}

@article {pmid41685204,
year = {2026},
author = {Kim, DH and Choi, SN and An, K and Kwak, JH and Ko, KS and Jeong, KS},
title = {Bioactive ceramic-processed water modulates the gut microbiota and hepatic AMPK activation in SMP30 knockout mice.},
journal = {Gut microbiome (Cambridge, England)},
volume = {7},
number = {},
pages = {e3},
pmid = {41685204},
issn = {2632-2897},
abstract = {Effective strategies are needed to increase the healthy lifespan and prevent age-related diseases in aging populations. Using senescence marker protein 30 knockout (SMP30 KO) mice-models that mimic human vitamin C (vitC) deficiency and exhibit accelerated aging-we investigated the effects of bioactive ceramic processed water (BCP) compared to natural mineral water (MW) and MW supplemented with vitamin C (MW-vitC) on gut microbial communities and hepatic metabolism. Due to pooled fecal sampling (n=1 composite library per group), microbiome results represent descriptive trends in diversity and composition. BCP was associated with discernible shifts in gut microbiota, including increased abundances of beneficial genera, such as Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, and Allobaculum, and the Muribaculaceae family. PICRUSt2 functional analysis suggested an enrichment in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, vitamin (e.g., retinol) metabolism, and xenobiotic biodegradation pathways. Furthermore, BCP was associated with significantly higher levels of activated hepatic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key energy metabolism regulator, compared to control groups. Although microbiome findings are descriptive due to the study design, these results suggest BCP as a potential dietary intervention to help mitigate age-related metabolic decline and promote healthy ageing.},
}

@article {pmid41685144,
year = {2026},
author = {Wei, W},
title = {A new paradigm for treating lung cancer by targeting the intratumoral microbiome.},
journal = {Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {1168-1169},
pmid = {41685144},
issn = {2211-3835},
}

@article {pmid41685138,
year = {2026},
author = {Deng, J and Kuang, W and Chen, W and Zhou, E and Wu, Y and Yang, Z and Chen, J and Cao, X and Yin, Z and Liu, J and Li, M and Wu, F and Fan, J and Guo, M and Jin, Y},
title = {Intratumoral immune-microbial crosstalk shaped by tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles encapsulating berberine boosts lung cancer immunotherapy.},
journal = {Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {1090-1115},
pmid = {41685138},
issn = {2211-3835},
abstract = {The intratumoral microbiome plays a crucial role in cancer progression, prompting the development of therapies targeting it. However, due to the heterogeneous effects of intratumoral microbes, designing treatments tailored to the unique microecological characteristics of individual tumors poses a significant challenge. Here, we found significant variations in the abundance of five bacterial genera-Lysinibacillus, Stenotrophomonas, Weissella, Comamonas, and Aeromonas-between lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and normal tissues by analyzing single-cell transcriptomic datasets. These specific bacterial clusters were significantly associated with immune infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment (TME). After confirming their effects in mouse models, these bacterial taxa were identified as potential therapeutic targets. Through in vitro drug screening assays, berberine was identified as a promising agent that selectively inhibits harmful bacteria while sparing beneficial ones. To address berberine's low solubility and tumor targeting issues, it was encapsulated into tumor cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EV-ber). Feature analysis demonstrated that EV-ber shifted the intratumoral microbiome profile toward an anti-tumor phenotype and enhanced anti-tumor immunity in the TME. Furthermore, EV-ber administration inhibited LUAD growth, impaired LUAD metastatic ability, and boosted the effectiveness of anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in mouse models. In conclusion, this work demonstrates the potential of personalized intratumoral microbial re-education strategies in LUAD therapy.},
}

@article {pmid41684948,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Abudushalamu, R and Peng, X and Nasier, K and Teng, Z and Wang, Y and Chang, Y},
title = {The characteristics of gut microbiome changes in tuberculosis patients and latent tuberculosis infection in Xinjiang.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1705360},
pmid = {41684948},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; China/epidemiology ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; *Latent Tuberculosis/microbiology/epidemiology ; Feces/microbiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; *Tuberculosis/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Young Adult ; Phylogeny ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; Biodiversity ; Aged ; },
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: In our earlier research, the gut microbiota profiles of Uygur populations in Xinjiang infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) characterized. As the Han and Uygur ethnic groups represent the predominant demographics in Xinjiang, this follow-up study focuses on identifying characteristic gut microbial alterations in Han patients with active tuberculosis (TB) and those with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The findings are expected to support tailored strategies for the regional prevention and control of tuberculosis.

METHODS: A total of 51 cases of TB, 35 cases of LTBI and 51 healthy controls (HC) were recruited from the Infectious Disease Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Fecal samples were collected and underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS: The gut microbiota α diversity was significantly lower in the TB group compared to the LTBI and HC groups, with significant β diversity differences observed among all three groups. At the phylum level, Firmicutes was the most abundant in all groups. The most abundant genera in the TB, LTBI, and HC groups were Phocaeicola, Escherichia, and Bifidobacterium, respectively. Lefse analysis revealed that pro-inflammatory and opportunistic pathogenic genera were enriched in the TB group, whereas butyrate-producing and immune-modulating genera dominated the LTBI group. PICRUSt2 analysis identified only five differential metabolic pathways between the TB and HC groups, among which Clostridium showed the strongest positive correlation with PWY-6876 (R = 0.79, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified the diversity, microbial species composition profiles, and metabolic pathways of the gut microbiota in the Han population with different TB states in the Xinjiang region of China. These findings may provide a certain theoretical basis and reference for the precise prevention and control of TB in Xinjiang.},
}

Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
China/epidemiology
Male
Female
Adult
Middle Aged
*Latent Tuberculosis/microbiology/epidemiology
Feces/microbiology
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
*Tuberculosis/microbiology
DNA, Bacterial/genetics/chemistry
*Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Young Adult
Phylogeny
DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry
Biodiversity
Aged

@article {pmid41684946,
year = {2026},
author = {Xiang, Z and Liu, Y},
title = {The pediatric oral mycobiome: a comprehensive review of its role in health and disease.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1711789},
pmid = {41684946},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; *Mycobiome ; *Mouth/microbiology ; Child ; *Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/genetics ; *Mouth Diseases/microbiology ; Oral Health ; Microbiota ; },
abstract = {The oral microbiome functions as an intricate and coordinated microbial network, residing throughout the oral cavity in both health and disease. Although most oral microbiome research has focused on bacteria, there is a growing interest in oral fungal communities, known as the oral mycobiome. The oral cavity hosts a complex and diverse mycobiome comprising of an estimated 100 fungal species; however, the roles of these fungi have been largely overlooked and remain insufficiently characterized, particularly in children. This represents a critical gap, as early life is a key window for establishing oral microbial communities that shape lifelong oral and systemic health and offer opportunities for early intervention. Recent technological advances, especially next-generation sequencing, have enabled the identification of new fungal species and deepened our understanding of the diversity, structure, and interactions among fungal, bacterial, and other components within the oral cavity. Yet, research on the pediatric oral mycobiome remains fragmented and limited in scope. Addressing this gap is important since the early-life oral mycobiome may play an underappreciated role in shaping immune development, influencing susceptibility to oral diseases, and potentially contributing to systemic conditions during childhood and beyond. In this review, we examine the oral mycobiome in children, focusing on its formation and dynamics in health and in disease, including dental caries, periodontal disease, endodontic infection, and cleft lip/palate, and exploring its connections to several systemic consequences. By synthesizing current findings on fungal-related biological risk factors, we aim to inform the development of improved diagnostic tools and to guide the advancement of preventive and therapeutic strategies from fungal perspective.},
}

Humans
*Mycobiome
*Mouth/microbiology
Child
*Fungi/classification/isolation & purification/genetics
*Mouth Diseases/microbiology
Oral Health
Microbiota

@article {pmid41684935,
year = {2026},
author = {Méndez, MJN and Riera, ABQ and Terán-Valdez, A and Naydenova, E and Coloma, LA and Tarvin, RD},
title = {Dorsal skin biopsies: A non-lethal sampling method for studying amphibians, including the highly endangered Harlequin frogs (Bufonidae: Atelopus).},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.64898/2026.02.04.703782},
pmid = {41684935},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Non-lethal sampling methods are increasingly essential for amphibian research as global declines intensify and many species persist in small, vulnerable populations. Skin biopsies offer a promising alternative to whole-animal collection and other minimally invasive approaches; however, systematic evaluations of recovery and impacts on body condition remain limited. Here, we assess the effects of small (2-mm) dorsal skin biopsies in four frog species, including three highly endangered Harlequin frogs (Atelopus bomolochos , A. balios , A. longirostris) and the Gualataco marsupial frog (Gastrotheca riobambae). Under controlled laboratory conditions and in semi-natural enclosures, we monitored wound healing, survival, and body mass trajectories in biopsied and control individuals over a one-month period. Across all species, biopsy sites fully healed within approximately three weeks, following consistent stages of re-epithelialization and subsequent repigmentation. No biopsy-related mortality was observed, and body mass did not differ between biopsied and control individuals, indicating no detectable effects of skin biopsies on body condition during the wound-healing period. Occasional minor post-biopsy reactions resolved without intervention within the observation period. We additionally report anecdotal field recovery observations for three other species (A. coynei , A. laetissimus , and A. sp. aff. longirostris), indicating survival and visible wound closure following release. Together, these results indicate that small dorsal skin biopsies represent a safe, non-lethal sampling method for amphibians, including highly endangered taxa. By providing sufficient tissue for diverse downstream applications-such as chemical analyses, genomics, transcriptomics, microbiome characterization, and disease detection-this approach expands the range of questions that can be addressed while minimizing harm to threatened species.},
}

@article {pmid41684903,
year = {2025},
author = {Li, W and Zhang, L and Wang, X},
title = {Modulating iron metabolism and gut microbiota: the therapeutic potential of Chia Seed Oil in obesity-related diabetes.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1676971},
pmid = {41684903},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Obesity-related diabetes is a significant global health concern, underscored by perturbations in iron metabolism and gut microbiota composition. This study investigates the mechanistic role of Chia Seed Oil (CSO), rich in omega-3 fatty acids, in suppressing iron metabolism pathologies and promoting gut microbiota alterations to mitigate obesity-related diabetes.

METHODS: Using a high-fat diet-induced obesity model in male C57BL/6J mice, we aimed to explore the effects of CSO supplementation on metabolic outcomes, iron status, and gut microbiota diversity.

RESULTS: Our findings suggest that CSO effectively regulates iron metabolism, evidenced by altered serum ferritin levels, hepcidin, and transferrin saturation, while promoting a diverse gut microbiota profile.

DISCUSSION: The study elucidates the potential of CSO as a therapeutic agent in managing obesity-associated metabolic disorders by restoring iron homeostasis and fostering gut health. These results highlight the interconnectedness of dietary fat, iron metabolism, and microbiome dynamics in the pathophysiology of obesity-related diabetes, suggesting a multifaceted approach to treatment strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41684897,
year = {2025},
author = {Tamang, S and Sherpa, MT and Kumar, S and Najar, IN and Sharma, P and Das, S and Jiya, N and Sharma, A and Pandey, P and Thakur, N},
title = {Exploring the bacterial diversity and its antibiotic resistance in Kabru Glacier ice cores, Sikkim Himalaya.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1672943},
pmid = {41684897},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The Kabru Glacier, located in the Sikkim Himalayan region at an altitude of 7,318-7,412 m above sea level (a.s.l), forms part of the Kanchenjunga range in the Eastern Himalaya. Glaciers in this region are predominantly summer-fed and highly sensitive to climatic fluctuations. Despite their ecological significance, glaciers of the Sikkim Himalaya remain largely unexplored from a microbiological perspective due to harsh weather conditions and limited accessibility. In this context, the present study investigates the bacterial diversity across different depths (upper, middle, and bottom) of ice core samples collected from the Kabru Glacier.

METHODS: Bacterial diversity was examined using a combination of culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. In addition, antibiotic resistance profiles and metal tolerance characteristics of the isolated bacteria were evaluated to gain further insight into their adaptive potential.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Culture-dependent analysis revealed a comparatively high bacterial load in the Kabru Glacier, suggesting that the biodiversity-rich Himalayan surroundings may influence the microbial community structure. Phenotypic characterization showed a predominance of Gram-positive bacteria (62.6%) over Gram-negative bacteria (37.3%). Growth profile analyses indicated optimal growth temperatures of 15°C and 20°C, with variable tolerance to salinity and pH, reflecting adaptive responses to environmental stress. Elemental analysis of ice core samples revealed higher concentrations (ppb range) of Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Li, and Zn compared to other elements. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified members of the phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacillota, and Actinomycetota. Consistently, culture-independent 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing also demonstrated the dominance of these phyla. Alpha diversity indices corroborated trends observed in the culture-dependent analysis, supporting the complementary reliability of both methodologies in elucidating bacterial community structure. Furthermore, antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed resistance to cefixime (CFM) and metronidazole (MET), along with elevated tolerance to heavy metals such as CuSO4, ZnCl2, and NiCl2, while showing lower tolerance to HgCl2.

CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings suggest that bacterial diversity in the Kabru Glacier is shaped by multiple environmental parameters. The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant and metal-tolerant bacteria underscores the need for further comprehensive investigations to better understand microbial adaptation and potential ecological implications in high-altitude glacial ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid41684894,
year = {2025},
author = {Liu, S and Rao, B and Liu, W and Wang, X and Wang, H and Liu, L and Zhang, G and Sun, J and Li, L and Wei, D and Yu, Z and Ren, Z},
title = {Camptothecin-PHA nanoparticles attenuate drug-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis and metabolic toxicity.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1617468},
pmid = {41684894},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) has limited clinical applications due to severe toxic reactions.

METHODS: We combined CPT with PHBVHHx (PHA) nanoparticles by a modified emulsion method for the first time construct a novel nanomedical drug (CPT-PHA-NPs, CPNs).

RESULTS: In vitro experiments verified the drug loading level (89%), sustained-release properties (40% release within 48 h; near-complete release over 21 days), and inhibition ability of the compound on HT-29 cell activity (IC50 = 0.44 μM). In vivo, CPN-treated mice showed significantly less body weight reduction (P < 0.05 from day 7) and markedly improved liver and kidney function markers compared to controls. Histological analysis confirmed that CPN effectively prevented hepatocyte necrosis and renal inflammation observed with free CPT, demonstrating higher biosafety and lower toxicity. Crucially, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that CPT severely depleted probiotics (Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Candidatus_Arthromitus, and Bacilli_unclassified) while promoting pathogenic taxa (Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, [Eubacterium]_xylanophilum_group, and Faecalibaculum), whereas CPNs attenuated these microbial disruptions. Metabolomics further showed CPNs' milder effects on phenylalanine and essential amino acid metabolism vs. CPT.

DISCUSSION: In conclusion, this novel type of nanomaterial not only possesses excellent performance but also can reduce the impact of CPT on tissues, intestinal flora and serum metabolism, providing a new strategy for anti-tumor treatment that takes into account both microbial homeostasis and metabolic safety.},
}

@article {pmid41684829,
year = {2026},
author = {Shao, W and Li, Y and Cheng, X and Guo, L and Wei, L},
title = {Hibernation Shifts in Gut Microbiota Composition and Metabolic Function in the Chinese Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus sinicus).},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {e73087},
pmid = {41684829},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {The composition and function of animal gut microbiota are influenced by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Hibernation represents a significant physiological challenge for heterothermic mammals, yet the effects on gut microbiota in bats remain understudied. This study investigated seasonal variations in the gut microbiota of Rhinolophus sinicus between summer activity and winter hibernation using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (n = 12 per group). Sequencing analysis identified 907 ASVs in the hibernation group and 555 ASVs in the summer group, with only 27 ASVs shared between groups, suggesting substantial seasonal turnover in microbial community membership. At the phylum level, Pseudomonadota (formerly Proteobacteria) dominated the gut microbiota, but no significant difference was found between seasons (77.52% during hibernation vs. 57.15% during summer). Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) decreased significantly, while Actinomycetota (formerly Actinobacteriota) increased significantly in the hibernation group compared to the summer group. Genus-level composition exhibited seasonal variation, with distinct microbial communities characterizing each period. Alpha diversity analysis revealed significant differences in Faith's phylogenetic diversity between seasons, suggesting shifts in phylogenetic composition, while Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices remained unchanged. Beta diversity analyses revealed significant structural divergence between seasonal groups. Functional prediction using PICRUSt2 suggested seasonal shifts in metabolism-related pathways, with putative enrichment of lipid metabolism and xenobiotic biodegradation pathways during hibernation, while carbohydrate metabolism appeared more prominent during the active period. These findings suggest that winter fasting may alter intestinal microbial metabolic functions, potentially shifting the microbiota from carbohydrate-oriented to lipid-oriented metabolism. This study enhances our understanding of host-microbiome crosstalk in hibernating mammals and highlights the potential adaptive role of gut microbes in facilitating survival under extreme physiological conditions.},
}

@article {pmid41684780,
year = {2026},
author = {He, Y and Liu, L and Liu, Y and Jia, J and Chen, Y and Zhang, X and Liu, Y},
title = {Exploring the gut microbiome in type 2 diabetes across different insulin resistance levels: a machine learning approach.},
journal = {Frontiers in nutrition},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {1747767},
pmid = {41684780},
issn = {2296-861X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Insulin resistance (IR) is central to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Composite indices including the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and TyG-BMI, are widely used to quantify IR severity. The gut microbiome (GM) has been implicated in metabolic dysregulation, but its associations with IR remain incompletely defined.

METHODS: We collected blood test results and stool samples from participants with T2DM and healthy controls. Stool samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We trained XGBoost models to distinguish individuals with higher IR from healthy controls based on GM profiles and performed correlation analyses between GM features, clinical measures, and IR indices.

RESULTS: Triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) differed significantly between the T2DM and control groups. IR indices (AIP, METS-IR, TyG, and TyG-BMI) were markedly higher in the T2DM group. XGBoost models based on GM profiles showed high discriminatory performance for identifying T2DM individuals with higher IR, with Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium contributing most to model performance. Correlation analyses further indicated that Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Parasutterella, and Escherichia-Shigella were associated with clinical measures and IR indices.

CONCLUSIONS: Specific GM features are associated with IR-related clinical measures and composite indices in T2DM, supporting their potential as intervention targets to improve insulin resistance and restore carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.},
}

@article {pmid41684751,
year = {2026},
author = {Napier, E and Cinco, I and Stuart, E and Davies, M and Leach, C and Damron, E and Gokmen, M and Leestemaker-Palmer, A and Nuss, S and Bumgardner, C and Kohama, S and Bermudez, L and Winthrop, K and Fuss, C and Spindel, E and Messaoudi, I},
title = {Lung microbial dysregulation and TNF inhibition contribute to worsened nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.},
journal = {Research square},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-8703262/v1},
pmid = {41684751},
issn = {2693-5015},
abstract = {Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous bacteria that cause a spectrum of diseases, most notably pulmonary disease (NTMPD). The host factors contributing to the heightened susceptibility and severity of NTMPD in elderly individuals are poorly understood. Prior studies have reported increased incidence of NTMPD in individuals receiving immune modulatory biologics such as anti-TNF and JAK-STAT inhibitors. Moreover, we recently described that age-related changes in the lung microbiome, notably the loss of a main commensal Tropheryma species, may contribute to increased severity. Therefore, in this study we explore the hypothesis that TNF-inhibition and a disrupted lung microbiome are key factors that contribute to worse disease outcomes in older NTMPD patients. Young (4-6 years old) rhesus macaques were pretreated with nebulized amikacin and vancomycin to deplete the lung microbiome, pretreated with the TNF inhibitor Inflectra or left untreated. Animals were subsequently inoculated with M. avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) in the right lung. Bacterial load, radiographic changes, immune responses, and microbiome composition were monitored longitudinally. Antibiotic-treated animals experienced significant dysbiosis including the depletion of Tropheryma from the lung microbiome. One antibiotic-treated animal developed and resolved cavitary disease after the lung microbiome returned to homeostasis. Inflectra-treated animals favored an acute-phase response that persisted up to 114 days after inoculation and one Inflectra-treated animal developed chronic granulomatous disease. No control animals showed granulomas. These data suggest that lung microbiome dysbiosis and TNF inhibition can increase susceptibility to NTM granulomatous disease.},
}

@article {pmid41684743,
year = {2025},
author = {Díaz-Velis, L and Salvador-Sagüez, F and Roach, F and Mancilla, E and Campos, MA and Ruiz-Gil, T and López-Moral, M and Garrido, G and Lázaro-Martínez, JL},
title = {Metagenomic and ribosomal transcript profiles of diabetic foot osteomyelitis in Hispanic patients: underestimated bacteria in biofilm persistence.},
journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology},
volume = {15},
number = {},
pages = {1729196},
pmid = {41684743},
issn = {2235-2988},
mesh = {Humans ; *Diabetic Foot/microbiology/complications ; *Osteomyelitis/microbiology ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Biofilms/growth & development ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Hispanic or Latino ; *Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Aged ; Chile ; Microbiota/genetics ; Metagenomics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Adult ; Bone and Bones/microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics ; White ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) is a serious complication of diabetes and a leading cause of lower-limb amputations. Conventional culture-based diagnostics often underestimate the microbial diversity of infected bone tissue. This study represents the first characterization of both total and ribosomally active bone microbiota in Hispanic patients with DFO using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The work aims to contribute to the inclusion of underrepresented populations in microbiome research and informing molecular-based antimicrobial strategies.

METHODS: Bone specimens (n = 13) were collected from seven Chilean patients with histologically confirmed DFO. Samples were analyzed using conventional aerobic culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing from both genomic DNA (gDNA) and complementary DNA (cDNA) to characterize the total bacterial community and the ribosomally active fraction. In three patients, samples were stratified by bone depth (superficial/top, middle and bottom). Microbial diversity and relative abundance were assessed across patients and bone layers.

RESULTS: Acute osteomyelitis was the predominant histopathological pattern. Culture yielded 19 bacterial isolates, 95% of which were Gram-negative bacilli. Sequencing identified 3,412 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria as dominant phyla. Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae were the most ribosomally active families. Microbial community composition varied substantially among patients and across bone depths. Staphylococcus aureus was infrequent (5% of culture isolates; ~1% of sequence reads), whereas low-abundance but ribosomally active taxa, such as Corynebacteriaceae, were consistently detected across all layers.

DISCUSSION: This combined metagenomic and ribosomal transcript analysis reveals a polymicrobial, patient-specific bone microbiota in Chilean patients with DFO, highlighting potentially active bacteria frequently overlooked by standard diagnostic methods. These findings underscore the value of integrating molecular approaches into clinical workflows to improve pathogen detection and support more personalized antimicrobial strategies, while also helping to address gaps in microbiome research among underrepresented populations.},
}

Humans
*Diabetic Foot/microbiology/complications
*Osteomyelitis/microbiology
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Biofilms/growth & development
Male
Middle Aged
Female
Hispanic or Latino
*Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification
Aged
Chile
Microbiota/genetics
Metagenomics
DNA, Bacterial/genetics
Adult
Bone and Bones/microbiology
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
Sequence Analysis, DNA
DNA, Ribosomal/genetics
White

@article {pmid41684710,
year = {2026},
author = {Rahman, S and Sarker, P and Datta, TR and Maysha, TI and Rahman, S and Saha, W and Sarker, A and Mazumder, MAR},
title = {From farm to fork: Microplastic contamination in the meat and dairy supply chain.},
journal = {Current research in food science},
volume = {12},
number = {},
pages = {101334},
pmid = {41684710},
issn = {2665-9271},
abstract = {Microplastics (MPs) are now widespread contaminants in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, leading to increasing worries about food safety and public health. This review offers an in-depth evaluation of the prevalence, pathways, and risks associated with MPs in meat and dairy products, which are significant global sources of animal-based nutrition. Data from different countries shows a persistent presence of MP contamination in livestock tissues, poultry organs, processed meat products, raw milk, and commercial dairy items, with identified polymer types such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, PET, and regenerated cellulose. MPs are primarily found in the form of fibers, fragments, films, and irregular particles, with sizes varying from less than 10 μm to several millimeters. Their concentrations can range from a few particles per gram in raw meat to over 30,000 MP/kg in processed products, and from several MPs per liter in raw milk to more than 1800 MP/kg in cheese. Contamination occurs at various points along the farm-to-fork continuum, encompassing ingestion via tainted feed and water, interaction with agricultural plastics, transfer from milking and processing apparatus, wear during cutting and grinding, and leaching from packaging materials. Recent toxicological findings indicate that MPs and their related chemical additives could lead to gastrointestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, immunomodulation, and microbiome dysbiosis, although the long-term health effects are still not fully comprehended. Inconsistencies in methodology related to sampling, particle extraction, and spectroscopic identification impede precise comparisons of exposure and assessments of risk. The review points out significant gaps in current studies and emphasizes the necessity for uniform analytical techniques, enhanced waste and plastic management, as well as sustainable processing and packaging approaches to reduce the entry of MPs into animal-derived foods.},
}

@article {pmid41684696,
year = {2025},
author = {Mundanchira, AV and Wong, A and Klos-Maki, K and Strand, J and Marques, CNH},
title = {Activity of Biocidin[®] against microbial biofilms.},
journal = {Frontiers in antibiotics},
volume = {4},
number = {},
pages = {1692653},
pmid = {41684696},
issn = {2813-2467},
abstract = {Biofilms-microbial communities-are present throughout the environment and interact with humans as part of the resident microbiome or when causing infection and disease. Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections, including those due to biofilms. However, antimicrobial tolerance and resistance are common traits of these microbial communities. Resistance to antimicrobials is now widespread, and the search for alternative treatments, such as plant- or herbal-derived extracts, essential oils, and honey, is on the rise. Here, we investigated the effect of Biocidin[®], a botanical supplement, on biofilms of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. A single (bolus) dose of Biocidin[®] resulted in a significant decrease (> 2 Log) of biofilm and planktonic populations, while a 24-h continuous dose of 25% and 50% Biocidin[®] led to a typical biphasic killing curve, with the latter concentration resulting in biofilm eradication of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. coli. Exposure to sub-inhibitory concentrations of Biocidin[®] did not affect biofilm viability. Results from this work have implications for the use of Biocidin[®] as a treatment for biofilm-associated infections and as a supplement in natural medicine.},
}

@article {pmid41684282,
year = {2026},
author = {Shangguan, W and Li, W and Huang, W and Wu, J and Yu, Y and Huang, Y and Yang, L and Xie, M and Yang, Q and Zheng, J and Zhu, Y and Sun, Q and Li, B and Li, L and Wang, Z and Zhao, J and Wu, P and Cheng, B},
title = {FomA-Containing Outer Membrane Vesicles of Fusobacterium Nucleatum Facilitate Bladder Cancer Lymphatic Metastasis via IL-6-Dependent M2b Macrophage Polarization.},
journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e23256},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202523256},
pmid = {41684282},
issn = {2198-3844},
support = {82503289//The National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024A028//President Foundation of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University/ ; 2025M782052//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; 82570912//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 81870522//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82173304//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023B03J1245//Guangzhou Key Research and Development Program/ ; },
abstract = {Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from the microbiota have emerged as key modulators of tumor progression and the immune microenvironment. However, the role of urinary microbiota and their associated OMVs proteins in the metastatic processes of bladder cancer (BCa) remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of urinary microbiota on BCa progression and identified potential biomarkers within the urinary microbiome. We identified Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) as a predominant member of the urinary microbiota. Proteomic analysis of F. nucleatum OMVs revealed the outer membrane protein FomA as the most abundant component. A FomA-deficient F. nucleatum mutant strain was generated to assess the relationship between FomA and lymph node (LN) metastasis. Mechanistically, FomA-containing OMVs directly engage Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), triggering the NF-κB signaling pathway and upregulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression. Elevated IL-6 induces M2b macrophage polarization, which subsequently promotes the release of VEGF-C to facilitate LN metastasis. Furthermore, we identified pinocembrin, a natural flavonoid, as a potent inhibitor of the FomA-TLR2 interaction, effectively suppressing BCa progression. Collectively, our findings uncover a previously unrecognized microbiota-driven mechanism by which F. nucleatum-derived OMVs reprogram the tumor immune microenvironment toward a pro-metastatic state and highlight FomA as a promising therapeutic target.},
}

@article {pmid41684150,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Z and Long, X and Zhang, M and Li, M and Shao, J and Wang, C and Gan, L and Chen, J and Wen, M and Qin, C and Jiang, H},
title = {Amelioration of ammonia-induced oxidative stress, ferroptosis and intestinal damage in Pelteobagrus fulvidraco through dietary tea polyphenols.},
journal = {Journal of fish biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jfb.70362},
pmid = {41684150},
issn = {1095-8649},
support = {32260912//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; QJJ-2024-37//Natural Science Research Project of Guizhou Provincial Department of Education/ ; MS[2025]697//Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program (Natural Science)/ ; QKHJC[2024]youth105//Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Project/ ; [2023]15//Cultivation Project of Guizhou University/ ; ZJZX-02//Project of Financial Funds of Ministry of Agriculture and Ruaral Affairs: Investigation of Fishery Resources and Habitat in the Pearl River Basin/ ; 2023NSFSC0241//Sichuan Science and Technology Program/ ; },
abstract = {To investigate the impact of tea polyphenols on the health of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco under ammonia stress, a total of 480 juvenile P. fulvidraco were divided into four groups receiving tea polyphenols supplemented diets at 0 mg kg[-1] (C group), 200 mg kg[-1] (L group), 400 mg kg[-1] (M group) and 600 mg kg[-1] (H group) for 56 days. Ammonia stress was applied from days 28 to 56. The results showed that intestinal histological damage was alleviated in the L and M groups under ammonia stress. In the M group, the levels of total antioxidant capacity and Nrf2, HO-1 and Occludin were the highest. Regarding ferroptosis-related genes, DMT1, FTM and FPN1 exhibited their highest expression in the L group, while TF, TFR1, FTL, SLC7A11 and GPX4 showed their highest expression in the M group. FTH demonstrated its highest expression in the H group. Furthermore, the expression of ACSL4 in the L and M groups was significantly lower than that in the C group. Intestinal microbiome analysis revealed enhanced microbial diversity in the tea polyphenol-added groups, accompanied by reduced relative abundance of dominant phylum Fusobacteriota and genus Cetobacterium compared to the C group. These results suggested that dietary supplementation of 200-400 mg kg[-1] tea polyphenols could alleviate ammonia-induced intestinal ferroptosis and histological damage, as well as protect intestinal health by regulating the compositional structure and diversity of the intestinal microflora. Specifically, the 400 mg kg[-1] dose exerted the most comprehensive protective effects. This study provides mechanistic insights into the development of tea polyphenol-based anti-ammonia feed additives for P. fulvidraco aquaculture.},
}

@article {pmid41684101,
year = {2026},
author = {Yu, F and Tao, Y and Liu, L and Xie, P and Mace, E and Jordan, D and Xie, Q},
title = {Sorghum2035: A decadal vision for sorghum functional genomics and molecular breeding.},
journal = {Molecular plant},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2026.02.003},
pmid = {41684101},
issn = {1752-9867},
abstract = {Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide, serves as a staple food in arid and semi-arid regions, and a critical resource for livestock forage, bioenergy production, and industrial applications. Given its small genome size and high tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as drought, salt-alkali, and heat, it has become an ideal crop model for abiotic stress research. This review synthesizes recent advances in sorghum genomics, including the development of gapless reference genomes, pan-genome analyses revealing extensive structural variation, and population resequencing studies that have uncovered domestication signatures and stress adaptation loci. Moreover, we summarize progress in sorghum genetic resource collection, selection strategies, and breeding improvement. Genetic functional studies have identified key genes regulating yield-related traits, quality attributes, and tolerance to abiotic/biotic stresses. In molecular breeding, notable achievements include the establishment of efficient transformation systems, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing enhanced by morphogenic regulators, and mutagenized populations for gene function validation. Notably, challenges persist, such as the functional characterization of complex quantitative traits, integration of multi-omics datasets, and genotype-dependent transformation efficiency. Future research directions emphasize the utilization of wild germplasm, in-depth structural variation analysis, population-level transcriptomics, exploration of microbiome-plant interactions, and AI-driven intelligent breeding approaches. These strategies aim to engineer climate-resilient sorghum varieties to ensure global food security and promote sustainable bioenergy production.},
}

@article {pmid41683949,
year = {2026},
author = {Cao, J and Ma, J and Zha, X and Bian, X and Wang, W and Liu, X},
title = {Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Depression: Pathological Correlations, Molecular Pathways, and Therapeutic Interventions.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683949},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {82073126//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology/therapy/complications ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; *Major Depressive Disorder/microbiology/therapy ; Animals ; *Depression/microbiology ; Prebiotics ; },
abstract = {Major depressive disorder (MDD) ranks as a primary contributor to global ill health and disability, with treatments often proving insufficient. Recent study has increasingly found a strong correlation between gut microbiome diversity and mood-related behaviors, including MDD. Depression can alter gut microbiota (GM) composition, while intentional modulation of the GM may conversely influence depressive symptoms. This phenomenon arises from dynamic bidirectional interactions between the gut and brain, although the exact pathways are not yet fully elucidated. Proposed pathways include, but are not limited to, neural circuits, the endocrine system, immune responses, and metabolic regulation. Clinical data have also shown that regulating the GM through probiotics and prebiotics has the potential to alleviate depressive symptoms. This review summarizes contemporary research on the composition and modulatory functions of GM in MDD, and explores the predictive potential of GM for depression as well as the therapeutic prospects of probiotics, aiming to provide insights and directions for future research.},
}

Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
*Dysbiosis/microbiology/therapy/complications
Probiotics/therapeutic use
*Major Depressive Disorder/microbiology/therapy
Animals
*Depression/microbiology
Prebiotics

@article {pmid41683934,
year = {2026},
author = {Soundharrajan, I and Ravindran, B and Choi, KC},
title = {Special Issue "Studies on Lactic Acid Bacteria and Their Products in Health and Diseases: 2nd Edition".},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683934},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {Humans ; *Lactobacillales/physiology/metabolism ; *Probiotics ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; },
abstract = {Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) provide essential benefits for both animal and human health due to their probiotic potential and their role in maintaining gut microbiome homeostasis [...].},
}

Humans
*Lactobacillales/physiology/metabolism
*Probiotics
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Animals

@article {pmid41683908,
year = {2026},
author = {Ben-Laouane, R and Ait-El-Mokhtar, M and Meddich, A and Baslam, M},
title = {Nodule-Microbiome Dynamics: Deciphering the Complexities of Nodule Symbiosis and the Root Microbiome.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683908},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; Endophytes ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {Microbiomes play a pivotal role in sustaining plant function and broader ecosystem processes. Leguminous plants host vast populations of intracellular bacteria within specialized root organs known as nodules. The intricate mutualism between legumes and rhizobia ensures a stable supply of biologically fixed nitrogen (N) essential for plant growth. While rhizobia remain the central actors in this symbiosis, recent discoveries reveal the presence of non-rhizobial endophytes within nodules, suggesting a complex interplay shaped by host selection and compatibility with rhizobial partners. Understanding the structure and dynamics of crop nodule-associated microbial communities is thus critical for optimizing host responses to rhizobia and for leveraging beneficial plant-microbe interactions. This review explores the dualistic nature-both facilitative and inhibitory-of the nodule microbiome in relation to nodulation. We examine the diversity of soil bacteria that stimulate nodulation and those that ultimately colonize nodule tissues, questioning whether these functional groups overlap. Furthermore, we discuss the molecular dialogs and counter-signaling mechanisms that regulate endophyte ingress into nodules, and evaluate how nodule endophytes contribute to plant performance and soil fertility.},
}

*Symbiosis
*Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology
*Microbiota
*Plant Roots/microbiology
Soil Microbiology
Endophytes
Rhizobium/physiology
Plant Root Nodulation
Fabaceae/microbiology
Nitrogen Fixation

@article {pmid41683874,
year = {2026},
author = {Kim, KJ and Zhong, H and Tai, D and Shah, P and Park, D and Goes, V and Li, J and Jung, C and Kim, L and Guzman, S and Brar, G and Castillo, D},
title = {Microbiome Signatures in Advanced Gastric Cancer: Emerging Biomarkers for Risk Stratification, Therapy Guidance, and Prognostic Insight.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683874},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {Humans ; *Stomach Neoplasms/microbiology/therapy/diagnosis/pathology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Prognosis ; *Biomarkers, Tumor ; Immunotherapy/methods ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Risk Assessment ; },
abstract = {Gastric cancer (GC), often diagnosed at advanced or metastatic stages, remains a significant clinical challenge requiring novel biomarkers for early detection, risk stratification, and effective, personalized treatment optimization. Emerging evidence underscores a strong association between gut microbiome dysbiosis and GC initiation, progression, and therapeutic outcomes. This review explores the potential of the advanced/metastatic gastric microbiome as a source of diagnostic and targetable biomarkers and its role in modulating responses to immunotherapy. Although Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most significant risk factor for GC, several other gastrointestinal taxa-including Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum)-have been implicated in advanced GC (AGC). At its inception, microbial dysbiosis contributes to chronic inflammation and immune evasion, thereby influencing tumor behavior and treatment efficacy. Integrating microbiome-based biomarkers into risk stratification, GC staging, and targetable treatment frameworks may enhance early detection, inform immunotherapy strategies, and improve patient-specific treatment responses. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG have the potential to change the immunotherapy framework with their direct influence on dendritic cell (DC) and cytotoxic T cell (CTL) activity. However, clinical translation is impeded by methodological heterogeneity, causality limitations, and a lack of clinical trials. Nonetheless, the integration of microbiome profiling and the development of therapeutic microbiome modulation strategies, such as personalized probiotics regimens and fecal microbiota transplantation, hold substantial potential for improving clinical outcomes and reducing treatment-related toxicity in GC management.},
}

Humans
*Stomach Neoplasms/microbiology/therapy/diagnosis/pathology
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Prognosis
*Biomarkers, Tumor
Immunotherapy/methods
Dysbiosis/microbiology
Risk Assessment

@article {pmid41683824,
year = {2026},
author = {Bas, TG},
title = {Dietary Polyphenols (Flavonoids) Derived from Plants for Use in Therapeutic Health: Antioxidant Performance, ROS, Molecular Mechanisms, and Bioavailability Limitations.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683824},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {Humans ; *Polyphenols/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics/chemistry/therapeutic use ; *Antioxidants/pharmacology/chemistry/therapeutic use/pharmacokinetics ; Biological Availability ; *Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Animals ; *Flavonoids/pharmacology/chemistry ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Dietary Supplements ; },
abstract = {Plant polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, are prominent bioactives in preventive/complementary therapeutic strategies. This article analyzes how some polyphenols can mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation. These processes are involved in cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders. Polyphenols are explored through the integration of direct antioxidant chemistry (radical scavenging via hydrogen atom transfer/single-electron transfer/metal chelation), redox signaling (Keap1-Nrf2/ARE and inflammatory pathways), endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems, and mitochondrial quality control. Unlike previous descriptive reviews, a novel aspect of this manuscript is its evidence-based synthesis, fully supported by structured summary tables that explicitly detail limitations, contradictions, and context dependencies in in vitro, in vivo, and human studies, and identify clinically interpretable endpoints for their application. We describe relevant flavonoids and dietary sources, along with functional outcomes in cardiometabolic-cognitive/neuroprotective-immunometabolic contexts. We integrate representative clinical interventions and nutraceutical applications, highlighting where reported benefits are supported and where the evidence is preliminary. Bioavailability, microbiota-driven biotransformation, and dose realism are considered the primary determinants of in vivo relevance, rather than secondary or descriptive considerations. Future research should prioritize standardized exposure and metabolite profile, dose-appropriate interventions, harmonized clinical endpoints, and stratification strategies that account for microbiome-driven interindividual variability to improve reproducibility and inform nutraceutical and therapeutic use.},
}

Humans
*Polyphenols/pharmacology/pharmacokinetics/chemistry/therapeutic use
*Antioxidants/pharmacology/chemistry/therapeutic use/pharmacokinetics
Biological Availability
*Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism
Animals
*Flavonoids/pharmacology/chemistry
Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Dietary Supplements

@article {pmid41683784,
year = {2026},
author = {Tavartkiladze, A and Reiter, RJ and Lou, R and Kasradze, D and Okrostsvaridze, N and Revazishvili, P and Maisuradze, M and Dundua, G and Andronikashvili, I and Nozadze, P and Jinchveladze, D and Tavartkiladze, L and Khutsishvili, R and Potskhoraia, T},
title = {Melatonin Biosynthesis, Receptors, and the Microbiota-Tryptophan-Melatonin Axis: A Shared Dysbiosis Signature Across Cardiac Arrhythmias, Epilepsy, Malignant Proliferation, and Cognitive Trajectories.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683784},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {*Melatonin/biosynthesis/metabolism/analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; *Tryptophan/metabolism ; *Dysbiosis/metabolism/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Epilepsy/metabolism/microbiology ; Middle Aged ; *Arrhythmias, Cardiac/metabolism/microbiology ; Aged ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; *Receptors, Melatonin/metabolism ; Young Adult ; Cognition ; Neoplasms/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Melatonin, an indolic neuromodulator with putative oncostatic and proposed anti-inflammatory properties, primarily demonstrated in preclinical models, is produced at extrapineal sites-most notably in the gut. Its canonical actions are mediated by high-affinity GPCRs (MT1/MT2) and by NQO2, a cytosolic enzyme with a melatonin-binding site (historically termed "MT3"). A growing body of work highlights a bidirectional interaction between the gut microbiota and host melatonin. We integrated two lines of work: (i) three clinical cohorts-cardiac arrhythmias (n = 111; 46-75 y), epilepsy (n = 77; 20-59 y), and stage III-IV solid cancers (25-79 y)-profiled with stool 16S rRNA sequencing, SCFA measurements, and circulating melatonin/urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and (ii) an age-spanning cognitive cohort with melatonin phenotyping, microbiome analyses, and exploratory immune/metabolite readouts, including a novel observation of melatonin binding on bacterial membranes. Across all three disease cohorts, we observed moderate-to-severe dysbiosis, with reduced alpha-diversity and shifted beta-structure. The core dysbiosis implicated tryptophan-active taxa (Bacteroides/Clostridiales proteolysis and indolic conversions) and depletion of SCFA-forward commensals (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Blautia, Akkermansia, and several Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium spp.). Synthesised literature indicates that typical human gut commensals rarely secrete measurable melatonin in vitro; rather, their metabolites (SCFAs, lactate, and tryptophan derivatives) regulate host enterochromaffin serotonin/melatonin production. In arrhythmia models, dysbiosis, bile-acid remodelling, and autonomic/inflammatory tone align with melatonin-sensitive antiarrhythmic effects. Epilepsy exhibits circadian seizure patterns and tryptophan-metabolite signatures, with modest and heterogeneous responses to add-on melatonin. Cancer cohorts show broader dysbiosis consistent with melatonin's oncostatic actions. In the cognitive cohort, the absence of dysbiosis tracked with preserved learning across ages, and exploratory immunohistochemistry suggested melatonin-binding sites on bacterial membranes in ~15-17% of samples. A unifying microbiota-tryptophan-melatonin axis plausibly integrates circadian, electrophysiologic, and immune-oncologic phenotypes. Practical levers include fiber-rich diets (to drive SCFAs), light hygiene, and time-aware therapy, with indication-specific use of melatonin. Our conclusions regarding microbiota-melatonin crosstalk rely primarily on local paracrine effects within the gut mucosa (where melatonin concentrations are 10-400× plasma levels), whereas systemic chronotherapy conclusions depend on circulating melatonin amplitude and phase. This original research article presents primary data from four prospectively enrolled clinical cohorts (total n = 577).},
}

*Melatonin/biosynthesis/metabolism/analogs & derivatives
Humans
*Tryptophan/metabolism
*Dysbiosis/metabolism/microbiology
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
*Epilepsy/metabolism/microbiology
Middle Aged
*Arrhythmias, Cardiac/metabolism/microbiology
Aged
Female
Male
Adult
*Receptors, Melatonin/metabolism
Young Adult
Cognition
Neoplasms/metabolism

@article {pmid41683732,
year = {2026},
author = {Sobczyński, J and Nowaczyński, F and Smolińska, K and Lachowicz-Radulska, J and Serefko, A and Szopa, A},
title = {Natural Bioactive Compounds Targeting FABP4 in Adipogenesis and Obesity: Evidence from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683732},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {*Adipogenesis/drug effects ; Animals ; *Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Humans ; *Obesity/metabolism/drug therapy/etiology ; Adipocytes/metabolism/drug effects ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Biological Products/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; *Phytochemicals/pharmacology ; },
abstract = {FABP4 (fatty acid-binding protein 4) is a lipid chaperone and secreted adipokine linking dysregulated fatty acid handling with inflammation, cellular stress, and insulin resistance in obesity. By modulating nuclear receptor signaling (notably PPARγ) and enhancing NF-κB/MAPK activation in adipocytes and macrophages, FABP4 contributes to maladaptive adipose remodeling and systemic metabolic decline. This review critically summarizes recent preclinical evidence on natural bioactive compounds that regulate FABP4 expression and associated adipogenic programs in models of adipogenesis and diet-induced obesity. Data from 3T3-L1/OP9 adipocytes, rodent studies, and selected alternative models indicate that many plant-derived extracts and phytochemicals (e.g., polyphenols, saponins, coumarins, terpenoids, and fermented products) down-regulate FABP4 at mRNA and/or protein levels. These effects are frequently accompanied by suppression of PPARγ/C/EBPα/SREBP1c signaling, activation of AMPK-related pathways, reduced lipid accumulation, and improved metabolic outcomes including lower weight gain, reduced adipocyte hypertrophy, improved steatosis, and favorable serum lipid profiles. Natural compounds from non-plant sources (animal- and microbe-derived metabolites) further broaden FABP4-targeting strategies, supporting FABP4 as a cross-class therapeutic node. Key translational barriers include poor extract standardization, incomplete identification of active constituents, limited oral bioavailability, microbiome-dependent variability, and scarce clinical validation. Future work should prioritize well-characterized lead scaffolds, targeted delivery, rational combinations, and standardized, adequately powered clinical trials assessing dose, durability of FABP4 suppression, and cardiometabolic safety.},
}

*Adipogenesis/drug effects
Animals
*Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/metabolism/genetics
Humans
*Obesity/metabolism/drug therapy/etiology
Adipocytes/metabolism/drug effects
Signal Transduction/drug effects
*Biological Products/pharmacology/therapeutic use
*Phytochemicals/pharmacology

@article {pmid41683715,
year = {2026},
author = {Snodgrass, JL and Velayudhan, BT},
title = {Butyrate-Producing Bacteria as a Keystone Species of the Gut Microbiome: A Systemic Review of Dietary Impact on Gut-Brain and Host Health.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683715},
issn = {1422-0067},
mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Butyrates/metabolism ; Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; *Brain/metabolism ; Animals ; *Diet ; Prebiotics ; },
abstract = {The human gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem integral to host health, with butyrate-producing bacteria (BPB) playing a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. This scoping review explores the composition, function, and systemic influence of BPB, focusing on their metabolic product, butyrate, and its implications for gut integrity, immune modulation, and gut-brain axis (GBA) communication. Disruptions to BPB abundance, which is correlated with Western dietary patterns, food additives, and antibiotic exposure, are linked to gut dysbiosis and associated with a wide spectrum of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and psychiatric conditions. Butyrate supports colonocyte energy metabolism, reinforces epithelial barrier function, regulates goblet cell mucus production, and exerts anti-inflammatory effects via histone deacetylase inhibition and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. The depletion of BPB and the resultant butyrate deficiency may represent a unifying pathophysiological mechanism underlying these conditions. Therapeutic strategies that restore BPB populations and butyrate levels, such as prebiotics, dietary fiber, and microbiota-targeted interventions, hold promise for mitigating inflammation and enhancing systemic health through microbiome modulation.},
}

Humans
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology
*Butyrates/metabolism
Dysbiosis/microbiology
*Bacteria/metabolism
*Brain/metabolism
Animals
*Diet
Prebiotics

@article {pmid41683560,
year = {2026},
author = {Lee, SG and Chau, NH and Ham, S and Baek, Y and Nguyen, NH and Kim, SH and Lee, YI},
title = {Microbiome-Derived Indole-3-Lactic Acid Attenuates Cutibacterium Acnes-Induced Inflammation via the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Pathway.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683560},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {20024192//Technology Innovation Program (or Industrial Strategic Technology Development Program-Novel microbiome therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa and severe acne based on integrative microbi-ome-multiomics approach)/ ; },
mesh = {*Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism ; Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; *Indoles/pharmacology ; *Acne Vulgaris/microbiology/drug therapy/metabolism ; Keratinocytes/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology ; *Inflammation/drug therapy/microbiology/metabolism ; *Microbiota ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; *Propionibacterium acnes ; },
abstract = {Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis where conventional therapies often face limitations in efficacy and safety, necessitating the development of microbiome-targeted interventions. This study investigated the immunomodulatory potential of microbiome-derived tryptophan metabolites as a novel therapeutic strategy for Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes)-induced inflammation, focusing on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway. We evaluated indole-3-lactic acid (ILA), indole-3-acrylic acid (IAA), and indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) in comparison to tapinarof, utilizing C. acnes-stimulated human epidermal keratinocytes and a C. acnes-induced acne mouse model. In vitro, ILA and IPA significantly suppressed C. acnes-driven inflammatory mediators, including Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin (IL)-1β, and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), whereas IAA demonstrated limited efficacy. In vivo, ILA treatment exhibited superior therapeutic activity, markedly reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, epidermal hyperplasia, and IL-1β expression. Transcriptomic analysis confirmed that ILA attenuates inflammatory signaling (e.g., IL-17 and TNF pathways) while upregulating AHR-responsive genes such as Cytochrome (CYP) 1A1 and CYP1B1. Collectively, these findings establish ILA as a potent postbiotic that mitigates cutaneous inflammation through selective activation of the AHR. Future studies should prioritize the clinical translation of ILA-based topical formulations, with rigorous evaluation of their efficacy and safety in well-designed human trials, to support their development as a non-antibiotic therapeutic alternative for acne management.},
}

*Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/metabolism
Animals
Humans
Mice
*Indoles/pharmacology
*Acne Vulgaris/microbiology/drug therapy/metabolism
Keratinocytes/drug effects/metabolism/microbiology
*Inflammation/drug therapy/microbiology/metabolism
*Microbiota
Signal Transduction/drug effects
Disease Models, Animal
*Propionibacterium acnes

@article {pmid41683463,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhao, Y and Sharfman, NM and Jaber, VR and Taylor, CM and Lukiw, WJ and Bazan, NG},
title = {Down-Regulation of Acyloxyacyl Hydrolase Expression in Alzheimer's Disease Impairs LPS Detoxification and Contributes to Brain Pro-Inflammatory Signaling.},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {31},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {41683463},
issn = {1420-3049},
support = {EY006311/EY/NEI NIH HHS/United States ; AG18031/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; AG038834/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Alzheimer Disease/metabolism/genetics/pathology ; *Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism ; *Brain/metabolism/pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Signal Transduction ; MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; *Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism ; Inflammation/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) are potent pro-inflammatory neurotoxins abundant in the gut microbiome and originate primarily from Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. LPS levels increase with brain aging and accumulate around neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. Microbiome-generated LPS and other endotoxins cross gut barriers, enter systemic circulation, and translocate across the blood-brain barrier into vascularized brain regions. These processes are exacerbated by aging and neurovascular diseases. Although pro-homeostatic systems mitigate LPS effects, these defenses can fail. This study provides the first evidence that acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH; EC 3.1.1.77), a microglia-enriched LPS detoxifying enzyme, shows reduced expression in AD brain tissue. Analysis of AD patient brains revealed reduced AOAH messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, accompanied by elevated expression of microRNA (hsa-miR-450b-5p), an inflammation regulator. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-450b-5p specifically targets the AOAH 3'-UTR, leading to a dose-dependent suppression of reporter activity. Also, in vitro experiments on human neuronal glial (HNG) cells further confirmed down-regulation of AOAH expression at protein levels by miR-450b-5p. These findings suggest miR-450b-5p-mediated AOAH deficiency drives LPS-associated neurotoxicity and inflammatory neurodegeneration in AD.},
}

Humans
*Alzheimer Disease/metabolism/genetics/pathology
*Lipopolysaccharides/metabolism
*Brain/metabolism/pathology
Down-Regulation
Signal Transduction
MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism
*Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases/genetics/metabolism
Inflammation/metabolism