@article {pmid39947842, year = {2025}, author = {Lodeiro, AR}, title = {Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia as a potential source of nitrous oxide emissions.}, journal = {Revista Argentina de microbiologia}, volume = {57}, number = {1}, pages = {1-2}, doi = {10.1016/j.ram.2025.01.003}, pmid = {39947842}, issn = {0325-7541}, } @article {pmid39947132, year = {2025}, author = {Wittmers, F and Poirier, C and Bachy, C and Eckmann, C and Matantseva, O and Carlson, CA and Giovannoni, SJ and Goodenough, U and Worden, AZ}, title = {Symbionts of predatory protists are widespread in the oceans and related to animal pathogens.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {182-199.e7}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.01.009}, pmid = {39947132}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Choanoflagellata/physiology ; *Oceans and Seas ; *Phylogeny ; Humans ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Genome, Bacterial ; Fishes/microbiology ; Eukaryota/physiology/genetics ; Microbiota ; }, abstract = {Protists are major predators of ocean microbial life, with an ancient history of entanglements with prokaryotes, but their delicate cell structures and recalcitrance to culturing hinder exploration of marine symbioses. We report that tiny oceanic protistan predators, specifically choanoflagellates-the closest living unicellular relatives of animals-and uncultivated MAST-3 form symbioses with four bacterial lineages related to animal symbionts. By targeting living phagotrophs on ship expeditions, we recovered genomes from physically associated uncultivated Legionellales and Rickettsiales. The evolutionary trajectories of Marinicoxiellaceae, Cosmosymbacterales, Simplirickettsiaceae, and previously named Gamibacteraceae vary, including host-engagement mechanisms unknown in marine bacteria, horizontally transferred genes that mediate pathogen-microbiome interactions, and nutritional pathways. These symbionts and hosts occur throughout subtropical and tropical oceans. Related bacteria were detected in public data from freshwater, fish, and human samples. Symbiont associations with animal-related protists, alongside relationships to animal pathogens, suggest an unexpectedly long history of shifting associations and possibilities for host expansion as environments change.}, } @article {pmid39947128, year = {2025}, author = {Rahimi-Midani, A and Iatsenko, I}, title = {Colonization island directs L. plantarum to its niche.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {33}, number = {2}, pages = {168-170}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2025.01.005}, pmid = {39947128}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology ; *Lactobacillus plantarum/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; Adhesins, Bacterial/metabolism/genetics ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Genomic Islands ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic gut bacteria have evolved mechanisms to selectively recognize and colonize an appropriate host. In a recent issue of Science, Gutiérrez-García et al. reported a colonization island that encodes sugar-binding adhesins used by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum to colonize its symbiotic niche in the foregut of its host, Drosophila melanogaster.}, } @article {pmid39946910, year = {2025}, author = {Shirdel, M and Eshghi, S and Shahsavandi, F and Fallahi, E}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza inoculation mitigates the adverse effects of heat stress on yield and physiological responses in strawberry plants.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {221}, number = {}, pages = {109629}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109629}, pmid = {39946910}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form a beneficial symbiotic relationship with plant roots, providing them with ample water and nutrients, especially under stressful conditions. It is inevitable to experience heat stress (HS) due to climate changes. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible role of AMF (with AMF = +AMF and without AMF = -AMF) on the strawberry cvs. ('Paros' and 'Queen Eliza')-resilience to HS at temperatures (control (23), 30, 35, 40, and 45 °C). The experiment was completely randomised and designed as a factorial arrangement with four replicates. The findings indicated that as the temperature increased, there was an increase in electrolyte leakage, proline, soluble carbohydrate contents and the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX). The presence of AMF at high temperatures improved the relative water content (RWC), maximum quantum efficiency yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll compared to the -AMF. AMF promoted root colonization and the content of phosphorus and potassium, which was more in the cv. 'Paros' than the cv. 'Queen Eliza'. Primary and secondary fruit weights and plant yield were reduced by HS; however, the AMF effectively increased average fruit weight and yield in comparison to plants without AMF. Yield was positively correlated with RWC and Fv/Fm, and root colonization was positively associated with phosphorus concentration. Adding AMF to rhizosphere improved plant growth and nutrient uptake and increased strawberry-resilience to HS. They have achieved this by increasing antioxidative activity, proline, soluble carbohydrates, and RWC. The symbiotic relationship with AMF greatly enhanced the strawberry's ability to tolerate HS.}, } @article {pmid39946893, year = {2025}, author = {Poitrimol, C and Thiébaut, É and Boulart, C and Cathalot, C and Rouxel, O and Jollivet, D and Hourdez, S and Matabos, M}, title = {Alpha and beta diversities of hydrothermal vent macrofaunal communities along the southwestern Pacific back-arc basins.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {967}, number = {}, pages = {178694}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178694}, pmid = {39946893}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Ecosystems face various pressures, often leading to loss of biodiversity. Understanding how biodiversity is spatially structured, what are the driving factors, and the ecological and evolutionary processes involved is essential to assess communities' resilience to disturbances and guide efficient conservation measures. Hydrothermal vents from national waters of the West Pacific are targeted by mining industries for their mineral resources that include metals used in high-tech equipment. Although exploitation has not yet started, such activity could significantly affect ecosystem biodiversity and functioning. Here, we describe the distribution of hydrothermal biodiversity in the Southwest Pacific back-arc basins and the Futuna Volcanic Arc at different spatial scales in relation to environmental conditions and geography. We focused on three assemblages dominated by symbiotic megafauna: snails (Alviniconcha spp. and Ifremeria nautilei) and mussels (Bathymodiolus spp.). Faunal assemblages exhibit strong spatial structuring: between habitats along the dilution gradient of the hydrothermal fluid, and between geographic basins, with a faunal split between the Western and the Eastern basins of this region, and to a lesser extent, between fields in a basin. Species replacement along the chemical gradient drives faunal changes between Ifremeria and Bathymodiolus assemblages, while a drop in the number of species is noted when making this comparison with the Alviniconcha assemblage. While these local changes may result from environmental filtering along the diffuse flow gradient, geological settings and current geographic barriers, which drive colonization and speciation at larger scales, are likely shaping the vent community changes between the Eastern and Western basins. This result has significant implications for biodiversity conservation, especially in this mineral-rich setting. The Manus Basin is isolated and displays the highest proportion of endemism while the Woodlark Basin represents an important stepping-stone between the Eastern basins and Manus Basin, making them potentially highly vulnerable to mining with a risk of biodiversity loss.}, } @article {pmid39946845, year = {2025}, author = {Cheng, D and Yang, Z and Chen, G and Xu, H and Luwei, L and Chen, W}, title = {Design and implementation of an independent-drive bionic dragonfly robot.}, journal = {Bioinspiration & biomimetics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1088/1748-3190/adb5e4}, pmid = {39946845}, issn = {1748-3190}, abstract = {Bionic flapping wing robots achieve flight by imitating animal flapping wings, which are safe, flexible, and efficient. Their practicality and human-machine symbiosis in narrow and complex environments are better than those of traditional fixed-wing or multirotor drones, which shows a broader application prospect. By systematic and biomimetic methods, a bionic dragonfly robot with four independent drive flapping wings, called DFly-I, was designed. First of all, the mechanical structure of the robot was introduced, especially the fluttering structure and the wing structure. Then, a new motion controller based on multi-channel field-oriented control (FOC) is proposed for its motion mechanism, which relies on four sets of brushless DC motors (BLDCs) based on FOC control and four sets of servos to achieve independent control of the flapping speed, rhythm, and angle of four flapping wings. In addition, the system model is analyzed, and on this basis, the robot motion and posture control are realized by an proportional-integral-derivative and active disturbance rejection (PID-ADRC) based controller. Lastly, a physical prototype was made, and the system was feasible through flight experiments in indoor venues.}, } @article {pmid39945306, year = {2025}, author = {Tian, C and Tang, J and Zhu, Q and Guo, X and Shu, Q and Gu, Z and Li, F and Li, B}, title = {A novel detoxification strategy of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) to dimethoate based on gut microbiota research.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toaf028}, pmid = {39945306}, issn = {1938-291X}, support = {32172795//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2022GXCSSC26//Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Modern Sericulture and Silk/ ; SNG2023016//Science and Technology Support Program of Suzhou/ ; //Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions/ ; }, abstract = {Bombyx mori (L.) (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) is an important economic insect, and Exorista sorbillans (W.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) is an endoparasitic pest of larval B. mori. Dimethoate is less toxic to B. mori than E. sorbillans and is used in sericulture to controlling E. sorbillans. To investigate the effects of dimethoate treatment on the gut microorganisms and physiological functions of B. mori, 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyzed the composition and structure of the gut microbiota. This study investigated their role in enhancing silkworm resistance by screening dominant populations after dimethoate treatment. The results indicated that dimethoate did not alter the composition of the dominant gut bacterial groups in silkworm; however, it significantly increased the abundance of the gut bacteria Methylobacterium and Aureimonas, and decreased the abundance of Enterobacterales, Bifidobacterium, Blautia, Collinsella, Faecalibacterium, and Prevotella. Eleven strains of dimethoate-resistant bacteria were selected through in vitro culture, all of which were unable to grow when dimethoate was used as a carbon source. Additionally, a germ-free silkworm model was established to assess detoxifying enzyme activity in the midgut. The results revealed that the gut symbiotic microbiota can enhance dimethoate resistance by increasing detoxification enzyme activity. This study identifies a novel pathway for silkworm resistance to dimethoate based on gut microbiota, providing new insights into the role of symbiotic gut bacteria in insecticide metabolism.}, } @article {pmid39943019, year = {2025}, author = {Liu, S and Zhang, Y and Yu, X and Cui, M and Jiang, L and Zhang, T and Gao, Y}, title = {Labile Carbon Input Mitigates the Negative Legacy Effects of Nitrogen Addition on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in a Temperate Grassland.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {39943019}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {2023E01008//Regional Collaborative Innovation Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; 32271579//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32160312//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Nitrogen (N) deposition and carbon (C) addition significantly influence the dynamics of plant-microbe interactions, particularly altering the symbiotic relationship between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of labile C input on the relationship between AMF and various plant species in a nitrogen-enriched environment remain a knowledge gap. A seven-year field experiment was conducted to examine how six levels of N and three levels of labile C addition impact AMF colonization in four key plant species: Leymus chinensis (Trin. ex Bunge) Tzvelev, Stipa baicalensis Roshev., Thermopsis lanceolata R. Br. and Potentilla bifurca Linn. Our results showed that N and C additions exert significantly different effects on the relationship between AMF and various plant species. Labile C addition mitigated historical N negative effects, particularly for S. baicalensis, enhancing AMF infection and promoting nutrient exchange under high-N and low-C conditions. The relationship between AMF and both L. chinensis and T. lanceolata changed to weak mutualism under low-N and high-C conditions, with significant decreases in vesicular and arbuscular abundance. Plant root stoichiometry plays a critical role in modulating AMF symbiosis, particularly under high-N and -C conditions, as reflected in the increased AMF infection observed in T. lanceolata and P. bifurca. Our findings emphasize the species-specific and nutrient-dependent AMF symbiosis, revealing that targeted C input can mitigate the legacy effects of N enrichment. Effective nutrient management is of crucial importance for ecological restoration efforts in temperate grasslands affected by long-term N enrichment.}, } @article {pmid39942989, year = {2025}, author = {Sulima, AS and Zhuravlev, IY and Alexeeva, EA and Kliukova, MS and Zorin, EA and Rakova, VA and Gordon, ML and Kulaeva, OA and Romanyuk, DA and Akhtemova, GA and Zhernakov, AI and Semenova, EV and Vishnyakova, MA and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA}, title = {The Genomic and Phenotypic Characterization of the Sym2[A] Introgression Line A33.18 of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) with the Increased Specificity of Root Nodule Symbiosis.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {39942989}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {agreement № 075-15-2022-320, dated 20 April 2022//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {In pea (Pisum sativum L.), alleles of the Sym2 gene determine the specificity of the interaction with nodule bacteria (rhizobia). The Sym2[A] allele present in landraces from Afghanistan provides higher selectiveness toward rhizobia than the Sym2[E] allele present in European cultivars. Rhizobial strains possessing the nodX gene can interact with both Sym2[A] and Sym2[E] peas, while strains lacking nodX can interact only with Sym2[E] peas. Here, we studied the previously obtained introgression line A33.18 bearing Sym2[A] in a homozygous state in the genome of the European pea cultivar 'Rondo'. A33.18 has proved its high selectiveness in pot experiments. Genome sequencing has shown that A33.18 possesses an 18.2 Mb region inherited from Afghanistan pea with 63 genes, including 5 receptor kinase genes, among which was the Sym2 candidate gene LykX. In a field experiment, under inoculation with the nodX[+] strain TOM, over 95% of nodules of A33.18 contained TOM, as opposed to less than 8% of nodules containing TOM in the parental European cultivar 'Rondo'. Thus, introgression of Sym2[A] enabled peas to interact specifically with the nodX[+] strain, favoring the formation of nodules by the strain from the inoculum and protecting peas from the indigenous soil microbiota.}, } @article {pmid39942979, year = {2025}, author = {Chertov, O and Frolov, P and Shanin, V and Priputina, I and Bykhovets, S and Geraskina, A}, title = {A Model of the Ectomycorrhizal Contribution to Forest Soil C and N Dynamics and Tree N Supply Within the EFIMOD3 Model System.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {39942979}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {123030300031-6//Russian Academy of Sciences/ ; }, abstract = {Mycorrhizal symbiosis has been the focus of research for more than a century due to the positive effect of fungi on the growth of the majority of woody plants. The extramatrical mycelium (EMM) of ectomycorrhiza (EMR) accounts for up to one-third of the total soil microbial biomass, whereas litter from this short-living pool accounts for 60% of the total litterfall mass in forest ecosystems. The functioning of EMR improves the nitrogen (N) nutrition of trees and thus contributes to the carbon (C) balance of forest soils. The model presented here is an attempt to describe these EMR functions quantitatively. It calculates the growth of EMM and the subsequent "mining" of additional nitrogen from recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) for EMR growth, with the associated formation of "dissolved soil carbon". The decomposition of EMM litter is carried out by all organisms in the soil food webs, forming available NH4+ in the first phase and then solid-phase by-products (excretes) as a new labile SOM pool. These substances are the feedback that determines the positive role of EMR symbiosis for forest vegetation. A sensitivity analysis revealed a leading role of the C:N ratio of biotic components in the dynamics of EMM. The model validation showed a satisfactory agreement between simulated and observed data in relation to EMM respiration in larch forest plantations of different ages. Model testing within the EFIMOD3 model system allowed a quantitative assessment of the contribution of different components to forest soil and ecosystem respiration. The validation and testing of this model demonstrated the adequacy of the theoretical background used in this model, with a fast EMM decomposition cycle by all soil biota of the food webs and without direct resource exchange between plants and fungi.}, } @article {pmid39942939, year = {2025}, author = {Mamaeva, A and Makeeva, A and Ganaeva, D}, title = {The Small Key to the Treasure Chest: Endogenous Plant Peptides Involved in Symbiotic Interactions.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {39942939}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {23-66-10013//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {Plant growth and development are inextricably connected with rhizosphere organisms. Plants have to balance between strong defenses against pathogens while modulating their immune responses to recruit beneficial organisms such as bacteria and fungi. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that regulatory peptides are essential in establishing these symbiotic relationships, orchestrating processes that include nutrient acquisition, root architecture modification, and immune modulation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the peptide families that facilitate beneficial relationships between plants and rhizosphere organisms.}, } @article {pmid39942538, year = {2025}, author = {Michailidu, J and Maťátková, O and Čejková, A and Masák, J}, title = {Chemical Conversations.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {30}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {39942538}, issn = {1420-3049}, mesh = {Animals ; *Plants/chemistry/metabolism ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Among living organisms, higher animals primarily use a combination of vocal and non-verbal cues for communication. In other species, however, chemical signaling holds a central role. The chemical and biological activity of the molecules produced by the organisms themselves and the existence of receptors/targeting sites that allow recognition of such molecules leads to various forms of responses by the producer and recipient organisms and is a fundamental principle of such communication. Chemical language can be used to coordinate processes within one species or between species. Chemical signals are thus information for other organisms, potentially inducing modification of their behavior. Additionally, this conversation is influenced by the external environment in which organisms are found. This review presents examples of chemical communication among microorganisms, between microorganisms and plants, and between microorganisms and animals. The mechanisms and physiological importance of this communication are described. Chemical interactions can be both cooperative and antagonistic. Microbial chemical signals usually ensure the formation of the most advantageous population phenotype or the disadvantage of a competitive species in the environment. Between microorganisms and plants, we find symbiotic (e.g., in the root system) and parasitic relationships. Similarly, mutually beneficial relationships are established between microorganisms and animals (e.g., gastrointestinal tract), but microorganisms also invade and disrupt the immune and nervous systems of animals.}, } @article {pmid39941954, year = {2025}, author = {Yi, W and Zhou, J and Xiao, Q and Zhong, W and Xu, X}, title = {Arginine-Enhanced Termitomyces Mycelia: Improvement in Growth and Lignocellulose Degradation Capabilities.}, journal = {Foods (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/foods14030361}, pmid = {39941954}, issn = {2304-8158}, support = {grant no 2018A030313011; grant no 2018B020206001//the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province;Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province/ ; 2024E04J1234//Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou/ ; }, abstract = {Termitomyces mushrooms, known for their symbiotic relationship with termites and their high nutritional and medicinal value, are challenging to cultivate artificially due to their specific growth requirements. This study investigates the impact of arginine on the mycelial growth, development, and lignocellulolytic capabilities of Termitomyces. We found that arginine significantly promoted conidia formation, altered mycelial morphology, and enhanced biomass and polysaccharide content. The addition of arginine also upregulated the expression of the enzymes related to lignocellulose decomposition, leading to increased activities of cellulase, hemicellulase, and laccase, which accelerated the decomposition and utilization of corn straw. A transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression patterns of carbohydrate-active enzyme genes in arginine-supplemented Termitomyces mycelia, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying these enhancements. The GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis highlighted the role of arginine in transmembrane transport, fatty acid oxidation, and carbohydrate metabolism. This study offers a molecular basis for the observed phenotypic changes and valuable insights for developing optimal culture strategies for Termitomyces, potentially enhancing its artificial cultivation and application in the bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste.}, } @article {pmid39940887, year = {2025}, author = {Ventura, G and Bianco, M and Losito, I and Cataldi, TRI and Calvano, CD}, title = {Complete Polar Lipid Profile of Kefir Beverage by Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography with HRMS and Tandem Mass Spectrometry.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms26031120}, pmid = {39940887}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {LSH-Puglia, T4-AN-01 H93C22000560003//Regione Puglia/ ; 2023-UNBACLE-0241870-Lipid7//University of Bari Aldo Moro/ ; }, mesh = {*Kefir/microbiology/analysis ; *Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; *Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Lipids/chemistry/analysis ; Phospholipids/analysis/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Kefir, a fermented milk product produced using kefir grains, is a symbiotic consortium of bacteria and yeasts responsible for driving the fermentation process. In this study, an in-depth analysis of kefir's lipid profile was conducted, with a focus on its phospholipid (PL) content, employing liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Nearly 300 distinct polar lipids were identified through hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) and Fourier-transform orbital-trap MS and linear ion-trap tandem MS/MS. The identified lipids included phosphatidylcholines (PCs), lyso-phosphatidylcholines (LPCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs) and lyso-phosphatidylethanolamines (LPEs), phosphatidylserines (PSs), phosphatidylglycerols (PGs), and phosphatidylinositols (PIs). The presence of lysyl-phosphatidylglycerols (LyPGs) was identified as a key finding, marking a lipid class characteristic of Gram-positive bacterial membranes. This discovery highlights the role of viable bacteria in kefir and underscores its probiotic potential. The structural details of minor glycolipids (GLs) and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) were further elucidated, enriching the understanding of kefir's lipid complexity. Fatty acyl (FA) composition was characterized using reversed-phase LC coupled with tandem MS. A mild epoxidation reaction with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) was performed to pinpoint double-bond positions in FAs. The dominant fatty acids were identified as C18:3, C18:2, C18:1, C18:0 (stearic acid), C16:0 (palmitic acid), and significant levels of C14:0 (myristic acid). Additionally, two isomers of FA 18:1 were distinguished: ∆9-cis (oleic acid) and ∆11-trans (vaccenic acid). These isomers were identified using diagnostic ion pairs, retention times, and accurate m/z values. This study provides an unprecedented level of detail on the lipid profile of kefir, shedding light on its complex composition and potential nutritional benefits.}, } @article {pmid39940650, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, H and He, L and Li, H and Tao, N and Chang, T and Wang, D and Lu, Y and Li, Z and Mai, C and Zhao, X and Niu, B and Ma, J and Wang, L}, title = {Role of GmFRI-1 in Regulating Soybean Nodule Formation Under Cold Stress.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {26}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms26030879}, pmid = {39940650}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {2023ZD040350103//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China/ ; 32241046, 32241045//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/microbiology/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Cold-Shock Response ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation, recognized as the most efficient nitrogen assimilation system in ecosystems, is essential for soybean growth, as nodulation provides critical nitrogen to host cells. Soybeans thrive in warm and moist environments. However, they are highly susceptible to low temperatures, which impede the formation and development of root nodules. The genetic basis and molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of nodulation induced by low temperatures remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis of soybean roots inoculated with rhizobium at 1 DPI (Day Post Inoculation) under normal or cold treatments. We identified 39 up-regulated and 35 down-regulated genes associated with nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Notably, cold-responsive genes including three FRI (Frigida) family genes were identified among differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further expression pattern analysis of GmFRI-1 demonstrated it being significantly responsive to rhizobium inoculation and its highest expression in nodules. Further investigation revealed that overexpression of GmFRI-1 led to an increase in the nodule number, while RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene editing of GmFRI-1 suppressed nodule formation. Additionally, GmFRI-1 overexpression may regulate soybean nodulation by modulating the expression of GmNIN (NODULE INCEPTION), GmNSP1 (nodulation signaling pathway 1), and GmHAP2-2 (histone- or haem-associated protein domain) in the nod factor signaling pathway. This study offers new insights into the genetic basis of nodulation regulation under cold stress in legumes and indicates that GmFRI-1 may serve as a key regulator of nodule formation under cold stress.}, } @article {pmid39939598, year = {2025}, author = {Layton, E and Goldsworthy, S and Yang, E and Ong, WY and Sutherland, TE and Bancroft, AJ and Thompson, S and Au, VB and Griffiths-Jones, S and Grencis, RK and Fairhurst, AM and Roberts, IS}, title = {An optimised faecal microRNA sequencing pipeline reveals fibrosis in Trichuris muris infection.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {1589}, pmid = {39939598}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {Animals ; *MicroRNAs/genetics/metabolism ; *Trichuris ; *Trichuriasis/parasitology/immunology ; *Feces/parasitology/microbiology ; *Fibrosis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Female ; Intestines/parasitology/pathology ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods ; }, abstract = {The intestine is a site of diverse functions including digestion, nutrient absorption, immune surveillance, and microbial symbiosis. Intestinal microRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in faeces and regulate barrier integrity, host-microbe interactions and the immune response, potentially offering valuable non-invasive tools to study intestinal health. However, current experimental methods are suboptimal and heterogeneity in study design limits the utility of faecal miRNA data. Here, we develop an optimised protocol for faecal miRNA detection and report a reproducible murine faecal miRNA profile in healthy mice. We use this pipeline to study faecal miRNAs during infection with the gastrointestinal helminth, Trichuris muris, revealing roles for miRNAs in fibrosis and wound healing. Intestinal fibrosis was confirmed in vivo using Hyperion® imaging mass cytometry, demonstrating the efficacy of this approach. Further applications of this optimised pipeline to study host-microbe interactions and intestinal disease will enable the generation of hypotheses and therapeutic strategies in diverse contexts.}, } @article {pmid39938947, year = {2025}, author = {Rogowska-van der Molen, MA and Manzano-Marín, A and Postma, JL and Coolen, S and van Alen, T and Jansen, RS and Welte, CU}, title = {From Eggs to Guts: Symbiotic Association of Sodalis nezarae sp. nov. with the Southern Green Shield Bug Nezara viridula.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaf017}, pmid = {39938947}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Phytophagous insects engage in symbiotic relationships with bacteria that contribute to digestion, nutrient supplementation, and development of the host. The analysis of shield bug microbiomes has been mainly focused on the gut intestinal tract predominantly colonized by Pantoea symbionts, and other microbial community members in the gut or other organs have hardly been investigated. In this study, we reveal that the Southern green shield bug Nezara viridula harbours a Sodalis symbiont in several organs, with a notable prevalence in salivary glands, and anterior regions of the midgut. Removing external egg microbiota via sterilization profoundly impacted insect viability but did not disrupt the vertical transmission of Sodalis and Pantoea symbionts. Based on the dominance of Sodalis in testes, we deduce that N. viridula males could be involved in symbiont vertical transmission. Genomic analyses comparing Sodalis species revealed that Sodalis sp. Nvir shares characteristics with both free-living and obligate insect-associated Sodalis spp. Sodalis sp. Nvir also displays genome instability typical of endosymbiont lineages, which suggests ongoing speciation to an obligate endosymbiont. Together, our study reveals that shield bugs harbour unrecognized symbionts that might be paternally transmitted.}, } @article {pmid39938596, year = {2025}, author = {Zhou, J and Li, S and Luo, X and Sun, L and Chen, J and Cheng, B and Li, X}, title = {SYMRK significantly affected AMF symbiosis and plant growth in maize.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {112427}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112427}, pmid = {39938596}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important symbiotic microorganisms in the soil that form reciprocal relationships with most plants to enhance their ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. The establishment of symbiosis between plants and AMF involves complex molecular mechanisms, and the SYMRK (Symbiosis receptor-like kinase) plays a pivotal role in the establishment of symbiosis. Maize (Zea mays) is a globally significant crop and one of the hosts for AMF, but research on AMF symbiosis-related genes in maize is limited. In this study, we identified a symbiosis receptor kinase in maize, named ZmSYMRK, which corresponds to the ortholog gene OsSYMRK in rice. ZmSYMRK encodes a cell membrane-localized protein kinase that is crucial for AMF colonization. We demonstrated that ZmSYMRK deletion resulted in severe defects in maize symbiosis with AMF. The colonization rates of zmsymrk mutants were significantly reduced at three different time points, and the colonization defects did not recover with prolonged colonization time. Furthermore, the deletion of the ZmSYMRK gene severely affected plant growth under low phosphorus conditions, and the growth defects of the mutants were even more pronounced after symbiosis. We conclude that ZmSYMRK plays a crucial role in both plant growth and the establishment of symbiotic relationships with AMF.}, } @article {pmid39938376, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, Y and Li, S and Jiao, Y and Ji, X and Li, Y and Chen, Q and Zhang, X and Zhang, G}, title = {Efficient removal of enrofloxacin in swine wastewater using eukaryotic-bacterial symbiotic membraneless bioelectrochemical system.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {489}, number = {}, pages = {137513}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137513}, pmid = {39938376}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {A eukaryotic-bacterial symbiotic membraneless bioelectrochemical system (EBES) reactor with eukaryotic-bacteria symbiotic cathode was developed to treat swine wastewater containing enrofloxacin (ENR), which had high performance at ENR tolerance and operational stability. With ENR concentrations shifting from 2 to 50 mg/L, the removal efficiencies of ENR, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4[+]-N always were higher than 95 %, and the maximum power output (≥343 mW/m[3]) could be achieved. At 20 mg/L ENR, the removal efficiencies of ENR, COD and NH4[+]-N respectively reached to 99.4 ± 0.1 %, 98.5 % ± 0.1 %, and 96.3 % ± 0.5 %, corresponding to the open circuit voltage and maximum power density (Pmax) of EBES were 851 mV and 455 mW/m[3]. The community analyses showed that bacteria (Comamonas, Rhodobacter, Rhodococcus, and Vermiphilaceae et al.), algae (Chlorella) and fungi (Rozellomycota, Trebouxiophyceae, Exophiala, and Aspergillus et al.) at genus level were the dominate populations in the EBES, and their abundance increased with ENR concentration, suggesting they played key roles to remove ENR and another nutrient element. The low relative abundances (1.9 ×10[-7] to 1.1 ×10[-5] copies/g) of aac (6')-ib-cr, qnrA, qnrD, qnrS, and gyrA in effluent revealed that the present EBES reactor had superior capabilities in controlling antibiotic-resistance genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Our trial experiments provided a novel way for antibiotic livestock wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid39938136, year = {2025}, author = {Segura, J and Gómez, M}, title = {Replication-transcription symbiosis in the mammalian nucleus: The art of living together.}, journal = {Current opinion in cell biology}, volume = {93}, number = {}, pages = {102479}, doi = {10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102479}, pmid = {39938136}, issn = {1879-0410}, abstract = {Similarly to life in our planet, where thousands of species inhabit the same ecosystem, the cell nucleus hosts different essential processes that share the same territory, making the interaction between them unavoidable. DNA replication and transcription are essential processes that copy and decode the information contained in our genomes, sharing -and competing for- the same chromatin template. Both activities are executed by large macromolecular machines with similar requirements to access the DNA, remodel the nucleosomes ahead of them and reassemble the chromatin make-up behind. Mechanistically, both processes cannot simultaneously act on the same DNA sequence, but emerging evidence shows that they frequently interact. Here we revise recent data on how transcription and replication occur in chromatin highlighting the symbiotic relationship between both processes, which might help explain how their activities contribute to shape the structure and function of the mammalian genome.}, } @article {pmid39937913, year = {2025}, author = {Chen, CC and Xie, QY and Chuang, PS and Darnajoux, R and Chien, YY and Wang, WH and Tian, X and Tu, CH and Chen, BC and Tang, SL and Chen, KH}, title = {A thallus-forming N-fixing fungus-cyanobacterium symbiosis from subtropical forests.}, journal = {Science advances}, volume = {11}, number = {7}, pages = {eadt4093}, pmid = {39937913}, issn = {2375-2548}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Cyanobacteria/genetics/physiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Forests ; *Lichens/microbiology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Fungi/physiology ; }, abstract = {Fungi engage in diverse symbiotic relationships with phototrophs. Lichens, symbiotic complexes involving fungi and either cyanobacteria, green algae, or both, have fungi forming the external layer and much of the interior. We found an erect thallus resembling a lichen yet with an unexpected thallus structure composed of interwoven cyanobacterial filaments with numerous fungal hyphae inserted within individual cyanobacterial sheaths, contrasting with typical lichen structure. Phylogenetics identified the fungus as a previously undescribed species, Serendipita cyanobacteriicola, closely related to endophytes, and the cyanobacterium belongs to the family Coleofasciculaceae, representing a genus and species not yet classified, Symbiothallus taiwanensis. These thalli exhibit nitrogen-fixing activity similar to mosses but lower than cyanolichens. Both symbiotic partners are distinct from known lichen-forming symbionts, uncovering a phylogenetically and morphologically unprecedented thallus-forming fungus-cyanobacterium symbiosis. We propose the name "phyllosymbia" for these thalli to underscore their unique symbiotic nature and leaf-like appearance. This finding marks a previously unknown instance of fungi solely residing within structures generated by cyanobacteria.}, } @article {pmid39937867, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, E and Wang, Y and Crowther, TW and Sun, W and Chen, S and Zhou, D and Shangguan, Z and Huang, J and He, JS and Wang, Y and Sheng, J and Tang, L and Li, X and Dong, M and Wu, Y and Hu, S and Bai, Y and Yu, G}, title = {Mycorrhiza increases plant diversity and soil carbon storage in grasslands.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {122}, number = {7}, pages = {e2412556122}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2412556122}, pmid = {39937867}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {332192464//MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)/ ; 2023YFF1304105//MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Grassland ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Carbon/metabolism/analysis ; *Biodiversity ; China ; Symbiosis ; Soil Microbiology ; Plants/microbiology ; Biomass ; }, abstract = {Experimental studies have shown that symbiotic relationships between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and host plants can regulate soil organic carbon (SOC) storage. Although the impacts of mycorrhiza are highly context-dependent, it remains unclear how these effects vary across broad spatial scales. Based on data from 2296 field sites across grassland ecosystems of China, here we show that mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis enhances SOC storage in the topsoil and subsoil through increasing plant diversity and elevating biomass allocation to belowground. SOC storage is significantly higher in both the topsoil and subsoil in systems dominated by obligate mycorrhizal (OM) and facultative mycorrhizal (FM) plants than those dominated by nonmycorrhizal (NM) plants. Also, the relative abundance of OM plants increases at the expense of FM plants as temperature and precipitation increase. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms by which mycorrhizal fungi may influence grassland plant diversity and SOC storage in the context of global change.}, } @article {pmid39937681, year = {2025}, author = {Andrews, M and Zhang, J}, title = {Definition of the rhizobial symbiovars caraganae, robiniae and sophorae within Mesorhizobium and albiziae within Neomesorhizobium.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006678}, pmid = {39937681}, issn = {1466-5034}, } @article {pmid39937680, year = {2025}, author = {Boudreau, V and Larson, BT and Gerbich, TM and Fadero, T and Yan, V and Lucas-DeMott, A and Yung, J and Moulin, SLY and Descovich, CP and Slabodnick, MM and Burlacot, A and Wang, JR and Niyogi, KK and Marshall, WF}, title = {The cell biology and genome of Stentor pyriformis, a giant cell that embeds symbiotic algae in a microtubule meshwork.}, journal = {Molecular biology of the cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {mbcE24120571}, doi = {10.1091/mbc.E24-12-0571}, pmid = {39937680}, issn = {1939-4586}, abstract = {Endosymbiotic events in which an endosymbiont is retained within a cell that remains capable of phagocytosis, a situation known as mixotrophy, provide potentially important clues about the eukaryotic evolution. Here we describe the cell biology and genome of the giant mixotrophic ciliate Stentor pyriformis. We show that S. pyriformis contains Chlorella variabilis as an endosymbiont that retains the ability to live outside the host. Within the host, the Chlorella cells surrounded by microtubule "baskets" near the cell surface. Photosynthetic efficiency of the Chlorella is reduced inside the Stentor cell compared to outside the host, due to increased non-photochemical quenching. S. pyriformis displays positive phototaxis via directed swimming that requires the presence of the Chlorella, implying a potential flow of information from the symbiont to direct the orientation and swimming of the host cell. We sequenced the S. pyriformis genome and found that it employs a standard genetic code, similar to other Stentor species but different from most other ciliates. We propose that S. pyriformis will serve as a useful model system for studying endosymbiosis, with unique advantages in terms of size and regenerative ability as well as distinct cellular and genomic features compared with other mixotrophic ciliate models. [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text] [Media: see text].}, } @article {pmid39936470, year = {2025}, author = {Oboli, VN}, title = {Mentorship: A gifted symbiosis.}, journal = {Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine}, volume = {32}, number = {2}, pages = {190-191}, doi = {10.1111/acem.15085}, pmid = {39936470}, issn = {1553-2712}, } @article {pmid39934578, year = {2025}, author = {Ma, W and Song, M and Ji, Z and Liu, Y and Na, P and Li, Y and Nie, Z}, title = {Rapid metabolic profiling and authentication of Cordyceps using ambient ionization mass spectrometry and machine learning.}, journal = {Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39934578}, issn = {1618-2650}, support = {2023AAC03013//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; 2020BDE03016//Key Research and Development Plan Project of Ningxia Province/ ; 22334007//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Cordyceps sinensis, a symbiotic organism formed between a fungus and an insect, is celebrated for its substantial medicinal benefits and economic significance in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the market for Cordyceps sinensis is rife with counterfeits, where numerous types of Cordyceps frequently pose as the genuine species, leading to financial losses for consumers. Here, we developed an ambient ionization mass spectrometry for the metabolic analysis of four kinds of Cordyceps. We tentatively identified a total of 81 metabolites, revealing significant differences between wild-type Cordyceps sinensis and its counterfeit counterparts. The heterogeneous distribution of metabolites was also examined. Notably, ergothioneine, an antioxidant, and its precursor hercynine were found to be more abundant in the stroma compared to other sections. Then, a neural network was employed to distinguish between different Cordyceps, achieving an average classification accuracy of 90.3% in blind tests. We demonstrate the potential for on-site detection of Cordyceps using a handheld nano-electrospray ionization source in conjunction with a miniature mass spectrometer, yielding mass spectral profiles comparable to those obtained with a benchtop system.}, } @article {pmid39934476, year = {2025}, author = {Muema, EK and van Lill, M and Venter, SN and Chan, WY and Claassens, R and Steenkamp, ET}, title = {Mesorhizobium salmacidum sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium argentiipisi sp. nov. are symbionts of the dry-land forage legumes Lessertia diffusa and Calobota sericea.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {118}, number = {3}, pages = {54}, pmid = {39934476}, issn = {1572-9699}, mesh = {*Phylogeny ; *Mesorhizobium/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; South Africa ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil Microbiology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; }, abstract = {Legumes Lessertia diffusa and Calobota sericea, indigenous to South Africa, are commonly used as fodder crops with potential for sustainable livestock pasture production. Rhizobia were isolated from their root nodules grown in their respective soils from the Succulent Karoo biome (SKB) in South Africa, identified and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed all isolates as Mesorhizobium members, which were categorized into two distinct lineages using five housekeeping protein-coding genes. Lineage I included 14 strains from both legumes, while Lineage II comprised a single isolate from C. sericea. Differences in phenotypic traits were observed between the lineages and corroborated by average nucleotide identity analyses. While all strains nodulated their original hosts, strains from C. sericea failed to effectively nodulate L. diffusa and vice versa. Phylogenetic analyses of nitrogen fixation (nifH) and nodulation (nodA, nodC) loci grouped all strains in a single clade, suggesting that unique symbiotic loci determine nodulation of these legumes. We designated Lineage I and II as Mesorhizobium salmacidum sp. nov. (Ld1326[Ts]; GCA_037179605.1[Ts]) and Mesorhizobium argentiipisi sp. nov. (Cs1330R2N1[Ts]; GCA_037179585.1[Ts]), using genome sequences as nomenclatural types according to the Nomenclatural Code for Prokaryotes using Sequence Data, thus avoiding complications with South Africa's biodiversity regulations. Identifying effective microsymbionts of L. diffusa and C. sericea is essential for conservation of Succulent Karoo Biome, where indigenous invasive species like Vachellia karroo and non-native Australian acacia species are present. Furthermore, targeted management practices using effective symbionts of the studied legumes can sustain the biome's socio-economic contribution through fodder provision.}, } @article {pmid39933580, year = {2025}, author = {Kaur, R and Bordenstein, SR}, title = {Cytoplasmic incompatibility factor proteins from Wolbachia prophage are costly to sperm development in Drosophila melanogaster.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {292}, number = {2040}, pages = {20243016}, pmid = {39933580}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; //Penn State/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Wolbachia/physiology ; *Drosophila melanogaster/physiology/microbiology ; Male ; *Spermatozoa/physiology ; *Prophages/physiology/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Female ; Cytoplasm/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The symbiosis between arthropods and Wolbachia bacteria is globally widespread, largely due to selfish-drive systems that favour the fitness of symbiont-transmitting females. The most common drive, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), is central to arboviral control efforts. In Drosophila melanogaster carrying wMel Wolbachia deployed in mosquito control, two prophage genes in Wolbachia, cifA and cifB, cause CI that results in a paternal-effect lethality of embryos in crosses between Wolbachia-bearing males and aposymbiotic females. While the CI mechanism by which Cif proteins alter sperm development has recently been elucidated in D. melanogaster and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the Cifs' extended impact on male reproductive fitness such as sperm morphology and quantity remains unclear. Here, using cytochemical, microscopic and transgenic assays in D. melanogaster, we demonstrate that both CifA and CifB cause a significant portion of defects in elongating spermatids, culminating in malformed mature sperm nuclei. Males expressing Cifs have reduced spermatid bundles and sperm counts, and transgenic expression of Cifs can occasionally result in no mature sperm formation. We reflect on Cifs' varied functional impacts on the Host Modification model of CI as well as host evolution, behaviour and vector control strategies.}, } @article {pmid39933515, year = {2025}, author = {Schär, S and Talavera, G and Dapporto, L and Bruschini, C and Dincă, V and Beza-Beza, C and Wiegmann, BM and Taheri, A and Pape, T and Vila, R}, title = {Blow fly larvae socially integrate termite nests through morphological and chemical mimicry.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.007}, pmid = {39933515}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Nests of ecosystem-dominant eusocial insects like ants and termites offer stable, nutrient-rich, and protected habitats that may be exploited by other organisms. Several arthropod lineages managed to breach nest defenses and become inquilines, mutualists, predators, parasitoids, or social parasites.[1][,][2][,][3][,][4] However, achieving social integration requires extreme morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations.[5] Among flies, only scuttle flies (Phoridae) are well-known social parasites,[2] although interactions with termites (predation, scavenging, and putative parasitism) have also been mentioned in anecdotal reports for blow flies (Rhiniinae[6][,][7][,][8][,][9][,][10] and Bengaliinae[11][,][12][,][13]) and flesh flies (Miltogramminae[14][,][15][,][16]). Here, we report a fly larva found to be socially integrated within nests of the termite Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burmeister) in Morocco. Behavioral, chemical, and morphological analyses show that colony integration, including communication and grooming, is achieved through unique adaptations. The chemical profiles of the fly larvae perfectly match those of the termites at the colony level. Notably, the posterior part of the larvae mimics a termite's head, and the long papillae that imitate the termites' antennae surround the entire body. Based on phylogenomics, we show that the larvae belong to the blow fly genus Rhyncomya (Calliphoridae: Rhiniinae). Our results support the hypothesis that the enigmatic blow fly subfamily Prosthetosomatinae (only known from larvae observed in termite nests[17][,][18][,][19][,][20]) is Rhiniinae. Thus, we demonstrate that the diverse schizophoran flies evolved social integration independently from the 150-million-year-diverged Phoridae radiation. This discovery sheds light on the repeated evolution of termitophily within the order Diptera.}, } @article {pmid39931814, year = {2025}, author = {Lintnerova, E and Shaw, C and Keys, M and Brownlee, C and Modepalli, V}, title = {Plant-like heliotropism in a photosymbiotic animal.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {228}, number = {3}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.247651}, pmid = {39931814}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {//Marine Biological Association/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; *Photosynthesis ; Phototropism/physiology ; Sunlight ; }, abstract = {As in plants, photosynthesis also represents a key energy source in photosymbiotic cnidarians bearing microalgae. We observed that the cnidarian sea anemone Anemonia viridis, commonly known as the snakelocks anemone, displayed heliotropism or solar tracking in their natural habitats. When exposed to sunlight, A. viridis point their tentacles towards the sun while remaining sessile, facing east at dawn and west at dusk as they track the sun's relative position through the day. This phenomenon was previously only observed in plants. Solar tracking movements in A. viridis are driven by peak wavelengths that prompt photosynthesis in their endosymbionts. The heliotropic response was absent in both bleached (aposymbiotic) A. viridis and in symbiotic A. viridis with chemically inhibited photosynthesis. We revealed a direct correlation between heliotropism and symbiont oxygen production in A. viridis and showed how photosymbiotic A. viridis utilises this mechanism to modulate exposure to solar irradiation. Our study exemplifies how photosynthetic organisms such as plants and symbiotic sea anemones, display similar behaviour in response to similar environmental pressures.}, } @article {pmid39931676, year = {2025}, author = {Dutkiewicz, Z and Singleton, CM and Sereika, M and Villada, JC and Mussig, AJ and Chuvochina, M and Albertsen, M and Schulz, F and Woyke, T and Nielsen, PH and Hugenholtz, P and Rinke, C}, title = {Proposal of Patescibacterium danicum gen. nov., sp. nov. in the ubiquitous bacterial phylum Patescibacteriota phyl. nov.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {ycae147}, pmid = {39931676}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Candidatus Patescibacteria is a diverse bacterial phylum that is notable for members with ultrasmall cell size, reduced genomes, limited metabolic capabilities, and dependence on other prokaryotic hosts. Despite the prevalence of the name Ca. Patescibacteria in the scientific literature, it is not officially recognized under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes and lacks a nomenclatural type. Here, we rectify this situation by describing two closely related circular metagenome-assembled genomes and by proposing one of them (ABY1[TS]) to serve as the nomenclatural type for the species Patescibacterium danicum [TS] gen. nov., sp. nov. according to the rules of the SeqCode. Rank-normalized phylogenomic inference confirmed the stable placement of P. danicum [TS] in the Ca. Patescibacteria class ABY1. Based on these results, we propose Patescibacterium gen. nov. to serve as the type genus for associated higher taxa, including the phylum Patescibacteriota phyl. nov. We complement our proposal with a genomic characterization, metabolic reconstruction, and biogeographical analysis of Patescibacterium. Our results confirm small genome sizes (<1 Mbp), low GC content (>36%), and the occurrence of long gene coding insertions in the 23S rRNA sequences, along with reduced metabolic potential, inferred symbiotic lifestyle, and a global distribution. In summary, our proposal will provide nomenclatural stability to the fourth-largest phylum in the bacterial domain.}, } @article {pmid39931481, year = {2025}, author = {Gupta, A and Chandra Pandey, B and Yaseen, M and Kushwaha, R and Shukla, M and Chaudhary, P and Manna, PP and Singh, A and Tiwari, I and Nath, G and Kumari, N}, title = {Exploring anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potential of Aspergillus flavus, a fungal endophyte isolated from Dillenia indica leaf callus.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {11}, number = {3}, pages = {e42142}, pmid = {39931481}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Endophytic fungi represent a compelling assemblage of microorganisms that inhabit plant tissues without inflicting any discernible detriment to the host organism. They foster a symbiotic association with their host plants, frequently conferring advantages such as augmented growth, enhanced resilience to stressors, and safeguarding against pathogens.

STUDY DESIGN: Dillenia indica is a medicinal tree of Dilleniaceae. This study aims to isolate and identify the fungi growing as a contaminant in leaf callus. For the identification, both morphological observation and molecular methods were used. The presence of secondary metabolites in different fungal extracts were observed by FTIR and High-resolution accurate mass spectroscopy (HRAMS) methods. Different biological activities (antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor) of fungal extracts were assessed.

METHODS: For callus initiation, leaf tissues of Dillenia indica were inoculated on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with BAP (1mgl-1) and NAA (1mgl-1) plant growth regulators. To raise pure cultures of endophyte, fungal hyphae were isolated from the contaminated cultures and were grown on Potato Dextrose Agar medium. For molecular identification, genomic DNA (gDNA) was isolated from fungal mycelia. Internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS4) were used to amplify the conserved ITS region of the fungal gDNA. Previously deposited sequences in the Gene bank were used for the identification and making of phylogenetic tree. Antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer potential of fungal extracts were studied.

RESULTS: The endophyte was identified as Aspergillus flavus. FTIR study showed the presence of diverse types of secondary metabolites in fungal extract. A significant presence of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenes, steroids, etc. was observed by High-resolution accurate mass spectroscopy analysis (HRAMS) of fungal extract. Endophyte extract prepared in chloroform showed both antioxidant (IC50 430.23) and antibacterial (maximum inhibition of E. coli:15 ± 0.62 mm) potential compared to other solvents. Cell viability decreased at high concentrations of endophyte extract prepared in chloroform and ethyl acetate solvents. Fungal extract prepared in ethyl acetate showed considerable cytotoxicity and growth inhibition of DL tumor cells.

CONCLUSION: In the present study, isolated endophyte of Dillenia indica showed high occurrence of secondary metabolites. Fungal extracts showed antioxidant, antibacterial and antitumor activities. As, endophytes are remarkable source of active constituents, there is a great need to explore such endophytes. Their extensive studies are required to develop an alternative of plant less production of valuable compounds.}, } @article {pmid39930789, year = {2025}, author = {Jiang, H and Lv, M and He, T and Xie, M and Zhao, Z and He, J and Luo, S and Guo, Y and Chen, J}, title = {Effects of ex situ conservation on commensal bacteria of crocodile lizard and conservation implications.}, journal = {The veterinary quarterly}, volume = {45}, number = {1}, pages = {1-14}, doi = {10.1080/01652176.2025.2463704}, pmid = {39930789}, issn = {1875-5941}, mesh = {Animals ; *Lizards/microbiology ; *Conservation of Natural Resources ; *Skin/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/genetics ; Endangered Species ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Ex situ conservation is an important wildlife conservation strategy, but endangered wildlife in captivity often exhibit high disease rates. Commensal microorganisms are vital for homeostasis, immunity, and linked to diseases. This study analyzed the structure, assembly, variations of the symbiotic microbiota of the endangered crocodile lizard, and their relationship with environment, as well as the effects of captivity on them, to explore why captive reptiles face high dermatosis rates. Results showed that the reptile's microbiota significantly differ from that of its habitat, demonstrating niche specificity. While species richness among organs showed no significant differences, microbial diversity varied considerably. Skin microbiota showed no site-specific clustering. The assembly of skin, oral, and intestinal bacterial communities was dominated by homogeneous selection. The gut and oral bacterial networks were resilient to disturbances, while the skin bacterial network was sensitive. Captivity primarily affected the skin microbiota, reducing its diversity and stability, thereby increasing disease risk, and these effects were not solely attributable to environmental changes. These findings suggested that skin microbial changes in captive reptiles may be responsible for their increased susceptibility to dermatosis in ex situ conservation. This study underscored the importance of understanding reptile-associated microbes for effective conservation strategies and offers potential solutions.}, } @article {pmid39930233, year = {2025}, author = {Etchegaray, JI and Ravichandran, K}, title = {Role of RPE Phagocytosis in the Retina Metabolic Ecosystem.}, journal = {Advances in experimental medicine and biology}, volume = {1468}, number = {}, pages = {429-433}, pmid = {39930233}, issn = {0065-2598}, mesh = {*Phagocytosis/physiology ; *Retinal Pigment Epithelium/metabolism/physiology ; Humans ; Animals ; Glycolysis/physiology ; Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment/metabolism/physiology ; Glucose/metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; Retina/metabolism/physiology ; }, abstract = {Photoreceptors are the most glycolytically active cells in the body. Vital to glucose homeostasis is the metabolic relationship between the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The photoreceptors and RPE are in metabolic symbiosis, wherein the RPE takes up glucose from circulation and passes it on to the photoreceptors to fuel glycolysis. In turn, the photoreceptors produce energy substrates that are taken up by the RPE to support their metabolism. One of the main roles of the RPE is to phagocytose "used" photoreceptor outer segments (POS), a process that occurs to mitigate damage accrued by light. This mini-review explores the role that POS phagocytosis has in supporting the metabolic ecosystem linking photoreceptors and the RPE.}, } @article {pmid39929927, year = {2025}, author = {Chen, L and He, Z and Zhang, D and Zhao, F and Zhang, Y and Ding, R}, title = {The role of gut microbiota at different developmental stages in the adaptation of the Etiella zinckenella to a plant host.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {4971}, pmid = {39929927}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {31860619,31560611//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31860619,31560611//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31860619,31560611//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31860619,31560611//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31860619,31560611//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31860619,31560611//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2021AAC02009//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; 2021AAC02009//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; 2021AAC02009//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; 2021AAC02009//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; 2021AAC02009//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; 2021AAC02009//Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province/ ; }, mesh = {*Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; *Larva/microbiology/growth & development ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological ; Symbiosis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Pupa/microbiology/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Insect gut symbiotic microbiota play a crucial role in the nutritional, physiological, and behavioral aspects of their hosts, providing valuable insights for investigating the co-evolution of insects and plants. Sophora alopecuroides L. serves as an important windbreak plant, while Etiella zinckenella is a major pest that infests its seeds. However, the structure of the gut microbiota community in E. zinckenella remains poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the gut microbiota of E. zinckenella across different developmental stages-larvae (1st-5th instars), pupae, and adults-infesting S. alopecuroides using 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The results revealed that the dominant phyla throughout the development of E. zinckenella were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota, although the dominant genera varied significantly across stages. Diversity analysis of gut microbiota at different developmental stages indicated that microbial diversity was significantly higher in the larval stage compared to the pupal and adult stages. Functional predictions further highlighted the richness of metabolic pathways within the gut microbiota of E. zinckenella. Notably, carbohydrate metabolism functions were significantly more abundant during the larval stage, while lipid metabolism functions were substantially lower. Our findings demonstrate dynamic changes in the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota across the developmental stages of E. zinckenella, underscoring the critical roles of these bacteria during specific stages of the insect's life cycle. This study lays the groundwork for future strategies aimed at controlling E. zinckenella through modulation of its gut microbiota, offering significant theoretical implications.}, } @article {pmid39929034, year = {2025}, author = {Coots, NL and Jasso-Selles, DE and Swichtenberg, KL and Aguilar, SG and Nguyen, L and Sidles, PG and Woo, C and Smith, HM and Bresee, BJ and Abboud, AA and Abd Al Rahman, T and Anand, R and Avalle, SR and Batra, A and Brown, MA and Camacho Ruelas, H and Fajardo Chavez, A and Gallegos, CN and Grambs, A and Hernández, DA and Singh Johal, A and Jones, SA and McAnally, KB and McNamara, M and Munigala, L and Nguyen, HL and Salas Perez, K and Shah, R and Sharma, NK and Thomas, MK and Vega Beltran, E and Verne, NM and De Martini, F and Gile, GH}, title = {The protist symbionts of Reticulitermes tibialis: Unexpected diversity enables a new taxonomic framework.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {126087}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2025.126087}, pmid = {39929034}, issn = {1618-0941}, abstract = {Wood-feeding termites harbor specialized protists in their hindguts in a classic nutritional mutualism. The protists are vertically inherited, which has generated a broad-scale pattern of codiversification over ∼150 million years, but there are many incongruences due to lineage-specific loss and transfer of symbionts. Despite the evolutionary and economic importance of this symbiosis, the symbiont communities of most termite species are incompletely characterized or entirely unstudied. Here, we have investigated the protist symbiont community of Reticulitermes tibialis, using single-cell PCR to link morphology to 18S rRNA gene sequences. The protists belong to at least 41 species in 3 major lineages within Metamonada: Spirotrichonymphida, Pyrsonymphidae, and Trichonympha. The Spirotrichonymphida symbionts belong to 6 genera, including Pseudospironympha, which has not been found in Reticulitermes until now, and Dexiohelix, a new genus. Pyrsonymphidae traditionally include just Pyrsonympha and Dinenympha, but our morphology-linked 18S phylogeny indicates that both genera are polyphyletic. We accordingly restrict the definitions of Pyrsonympha and Dinenympha to the clades that include their type species, and we propose 5 new genera to accommodate the remaining clades. Short-read 18S amplicon sequencing revealed considerable variation in community composition across R. tibialis colonies in Arizona, suggestive of a symbiont metacommunity. Symbiont species varied in their prevalence across colonies, with a core set of about 12 highly prevalent symbiont species, 11 species with intermediate prevalence, and 18 rare species. This pattern contrasts with the traditional paradigm of consistent symbiont community composition across colonies of a termite species.}, } @article {pmid39928903, year = {2025}, author = {Baba, T and Hagiuda, R and Matsumae, H and Hirose, D}, title = {Does the genome of Sarcoleotia globosa encode a rich carbohydrate-active enzyme gene repertoire?.}, journal = {Mycologia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-6}, doi = {10.1080/00275514.2025.2452305}, pmid = {39928903}, issn = {1557-2536}, abstract = {The lifestyles of the order Geoglossales (Geoglossomycetes, Ascomycota) remain largely unknown. Recent observations support ericoid mycorrhizal lifestyles, especially in cultured Sarcoleotia-related species. However, the currently known genomes of geoglossoid fungi encode fewer carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) in Pezizomycotina, in contrast to the abundant CAZyme repertoires found in well-known ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. The absence of assembled genomes for cultured geoglossoid fungi hinders our understanding of the genomic features related to their lifestyles. We hypothesize that the genome of Sarcoleotia globosa, a putative ericoid mycorrhizal fungus, encodes abundant CAZymes, consistent with its culturability. General features, such as smaller genome size and smaller number of genes, are shared between the genome of S. globosa strain NBRC 116039 and other geoglossalean genomes. However, the former had the most extensive CAZyme repertoire, with several enzyme families involved in plant cell wall degradation. Some of these CAZymes are not found in Geoglossales and closely related lineages. Nonetheless, the number of CAZymes from S. globosa was notably smaller than that previously reported in ericoid mycorrhizal fungi. This inconsistency may highlight not only ecophysiological variation among ericoid root mycobionts but also the specific evolution of lifestyles in Geoglossales.}, } @article {pmid39928520, year = {2025}, author = {Lin, YT and Peng, YB and Chen, C and Xu, T and Qiu, JW}, title = {Integrative morphological, mitogenomic and phylogenetic analyses reveal new vent-dwelling scallop species.}, journal = {Invertebrate systematics}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1071/IS24091}, pmid = {39928520}, issn = {1447-2600}, mesh = {*Phylogeny ; Animals ; *Pectinidae/genetics/anatomy & histology/classification ; Hydrothermal Vents ; Species Specificity ; Genome, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Japan ; }, abstract = {Delectopecten is a small genus of the family Pectinidae (Bivalvia: Pectinida) that remains poorly studied in terms of both morphology and phylogeny. Here, we describe the first member of this genus from deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems, D. thermus sp. nov., based on morphological investigations and molecular analyses of a specimen collected from the Higashi-Ensei vent field (962-m depth) in the northern Okinawa Trough. Morphologically, this new species resembles D. vancouverensis and D. gelatinosus in shell size, shape, auricle size and sculpture. However, D. thermus sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeneric species (including 9 extant and 12 fossil species) by its unequal auricles (the anterior one being larger than the posterior), inwardly recurved anterior auricle of the left valve and a large byssal notch angle of ~90°. Comparisons of genetic sequences from three mitochondrial and three nuclear gene fragments supported the placement of the new species in the genus Delectopecten . Further phylogenetic analyses using these gene markers support that Delectopecten is monophyletic and positioned as an early diverging clade of the family Pectinidae. Additionally, the mitogenome of D. thermus sp. nov. was assembled and annotated, a first for its genus - revealing significant divergences in gene order compared to other pectinids. The 16S rRNA amplicon analysis of the gill tissue indicated that this vent-dwelling scallop does not exhibit symbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria. A key to all known species of Delectopecten is provided to aid the identification of species in this understudied genus. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D3D5D4AD-EE39-49F0-9782-12A5D6752A67.}, } @article {pmid39928396, year = {2025}, author = {Nakajima, M and Nakai, R and Hirakata, Y and Kubota, K and Satoh, H and Nobu, MK and Narihiro, T and Kuroda, K}, title = {Minisyncoccus archaeiphilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a mesophilic, obligate parasitic bacterium and proposal of Minisyncoccaceae fam. nov., Minisyncoccales ord. nov., Minisyncoccia class. nov. and Minisyncoccota phyl. nov. formerly referred to as Candidatus Patescibacteria or candidate phyla radiation.}, journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology}, volume = {75}, number = {2}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.006668}, pmid = {39928396}, issn = {1466-5034}, mesh = {*Phylogeny ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Base Composition ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Fatty Acids ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Archaeal/genetics ; }, abstract = {In the domain Bacteria, one of the largest, most diverse and environmentally ubiquitous phylogenetic groups, Candidatus Patescibacteria (also known as candidate phyla radiation/CPR), remains poorly characterized, leaving a major knowledge gap in microbial ecology. We recently discovered a novel cross-domain symbiosis between Ca. Patescibacteria and Archaea in highly purified enrichment cultures and proposed Candidatus taxa for the characterized species, including Ca. Minisyncoccus archaeophilus and the corresponding family Ca. Minisyncoccaceae. In this study, we report the isolation of this bacterium, designated strain PMX.108[T], in a two-strain co-culture with a host archaeon, Methanospirillum hungatei strain DSM 864[T] (JF-1[T]), and hereby describe it as the first representative species of Ca. Patescibacteria. Strain PMX.108[T] was isolated from mesophilic methanogenic sludge in an anaerobic laboratory-scale bioreactor treating synthetic purified terephthalate- and dimethyl terephthalate-manufacturing wastewater. The strain could not grow axenically and is obligately anaerobic and parasitic, strictly depending on M. hungatei as a host. The genome was comparatively large (1.54 Mbp) compared to other members of the clade, lacked some genes involved in the biosynthesis pathway and encoded type IV pili-related genes associated with the parasitic lifestyle of ultrasmall microbes. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.6 mol%. Here, we report the phenotypic and genomic properties of strain PMX.108[T]; we propose Minisyncoccus archaeiphilus gen. nov., sp. nov. to accommodate this strain. The type strain of the species is PMX.108[T] (=JCM 39522[T]). We also propose the associated family, order, class and phylum as Minisyncoccaceae fam. nov. Minisyncoccales nov., Minisyncoccia class. nov. and Minisyncoccota phyl. nov. within the bacterial kingdom Bacillati.}, } @article {pmid39925102, year = {2025}, author = {Li, B and Liu, F and He, X and Liu, Y and Liu, X and Lu, M}, title = {Leaf Beetle Symbiotic Bacteria Degrade Chlorogenic Acid of Poplar Induced by Egg Deposition to Enhance Larval Survival.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.15427}, pmid = {39925102}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {//This research was supported by the Hubei University National talent project (1070017364) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (32301593)./ ; }, abstract = {Insect symbiotic microbiota acting as a third-party force of plant-insect interactions, play a significant role in insect hosts tolerance to phytochemical defences. However, it remains unknown whether insect symbiotic bacteria can assist the host in degrading phytochemical defences induced by egg deposition. Plagiodera versicolora is a worldwide forest pest. Our study showed that P. versicolora egg deposition on Populus davidiana × Populus bolleana induced significant changes in the transcriptome and metabolome of leaves. Combined qRT-PCR and LC-MS quantitative analysis of metabolic pathways showed that the contents of chlorogenic acid and rutin were significantly increased upon egg deposition in poplar. Bioassays indicated that the high concentration of chlorogenic acid induced by egg deposition could significantly reduce the performance of germ-free larvae. Six symbiotic bacterial strains with potential ability to degrade chlorogenic acid were isolated and identified. Their degradation products did not affect larval survival either. In vivo inoculation assays showed that four of those symbiotic bacteria could assist in the degradation of high concentration of chlorogenic acid induced by egg deposition and improve the larval survival. Our study provides clear evidence that the insect symbiotic bacteria can mediate the tolerance of herbivorous insects against plant toxins induced by egg deposition.}, } @article {pmid39922539, year = {2025}, author = {Zhao, W and Su, X and Zhao, W and Yan, P and Zhou, Y}, title = {Experimental study on the mechanism of biological hydrogen sulfide generation from organic sulfur-rich coal.}, journal = {Journal of biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiotec.2025.02.002}, pmid = {39922539}, issn = {1873-4863}, abstract = {Whether of primary or secondary origin, the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in coalbed methane (CBM) is commonly attributed to sulfate reduction facilitated by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). However, the sulfate content in high-sulfur coal is exceptionally low, insufficient to function as a substrate for sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In this study, an anaerobic digestion experiment was conducted with high-organic-sulfur coal collected from the Late Permian Longtan Formation in Guangxi Province as both the carbon and sulfur sources. The formation mechanism of H2S is revealed from the evolution rules of gas components, liquid organic matter, and microbial communities during the anaerobic digestion process. The findings indicate three distinct mechanisms contributing to the biological formation of H2S in coal seams: firstly, the degradation of readily degradable organic sulfur in coal by microorganisms possessing denitrification capabilities, primarily attributed to the activity of the bacteria Wolinella; secondly, The symbiotic system between SRB and Pseudomonas and denitrifying bacteria(Thiobacillus) to metabolize SO4[2-] and produce H2S; thirdly, Methylotrophic methanogens employ the methyl groups of organic sulfides to produce CH4 and H2S simultaneously. Therefore, biological H2S can be generated under the presence of a sulfur source, appropriate temperature, and conducive environmental conditions. This comprehension will contribute valuable insights to the discourse on the generation and enrichment patterns of H2S in natural coalbed methane. Additionally, it can offer practical avenues for the prevention and control of H2S through technological approaches.}, } @article {pmid39921876, year = {2025}, author = {Lidoy, J and Rivero, J and Ramšak, Ž and Petek, M and Križnik, M and Flors, V and Lopez-Raez, JA and Martinez-Medina, A and Gruden, K and Pozo, MJ}, title = {Ethylene signaling is essential for mycorrhiza-induced resistance against chewing herbivores in tomato.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf053}, pmid = {39921876}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can prime plant defenses, leading to mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against different attackers, including insect herbivores. Still, our knowledge of the complex molecular regulation leading to MIR is very limited. Here, we show that the AM fungus Funneliformis mosseae protects tomato plants against two different chewing herbivores, Spodoptera exigua and Manduca sexta. We explore the underlying molecular mechanism through genome-wide transcriptional profiling, bioinformatics network analyses, and functional bioassays. Herbivore-triggered JA-regulated defenses were primed in leaves of mycorrhizal plants, while ET biosynthesis and signaling were also higher both before and after herbivory. We hypothesized that fine-tuned ET signaling is required for the primed defensive response leading to MIR. ET is a complex regulator of plant responses to stress and is generally considered a negative regulator of plant defenses against herbivory. However, ET-deficient or insensitive lines did not show AM-primed JA biosynthesis or defense response, and were unable to develop MIR against any of the herbivores. Thus, we demonstrate that hormone crosstalk is central to the priming of plant immunity by beneficial microbes, with ET fine-tuning being essential for the primed JA biosynthesis and boosted defenses leading to MIR in tomato.}, } @article {pmid39921668, year = {2025}, author = {Duan, S and Jin, Z and Zhang, L and Declerck, S}, title = {Mechanisms of cooperation in the plants-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-bacteria continuum.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wraf023}, pmid = {39921668}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {In nature, cooperation is an essential way for species, whether they belong to the same kingdom or to different kingdoms, to overcome the scarcity of resources and improve their fitness. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are symbiotic microorganisms whose origin date back 400 million years. They form symbiotic associations with the vast majority of terrestrial plants, helping them to obtain nutrients from the soil in exchange for carbon. At the more complex level, soil bacteria participate in the symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plants: they obtain carbon from the exudation of hyphae connected to the roots and compensate for the limited saprophytic capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by mineralizing organic compounds. Therefore, plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil bacteria constitute a continuum that may be accompanied by multiple forms of cooperation. In this review, we first analyzed the functional complementarities and differences between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Secondly, we discussed the resource exchange relationship between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from the perspective of biological market theory and "surplus carbon" hypothesis. Finally, on the basis of mechanisms for maintaining cooperation, direct and indirect reciprocity in the hyphosphere, induced by the availability of external resource and species fitness, were examined. Exploring these reciprocal cooperations will provide a better understanding of the intricate ecological relationships between plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil bacteria as well as their evolutionary implications.}, } @article {pmid39918275, year = {2025}, author = {Rodrigues, CS and Gaifem, J and Pereira, MS and Alves, MF and Silva, M and Padrão, N and Cavadas, B and Moreira-Barbosa, C and Alves, I and Marcos-Pinto, R and Torres, J and Lavelle, A and Colombel, JF and Sokol, H and Pinho, SS}, title = {Alterations in mucosa branched N-glycans lead to dysbiosis and downregulation of ILC3: a key driver of intestinal inflammation.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {2461210}, pmid = {39918275}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Animals ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology/immunology ; *Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Mice ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/microbiology/metabolism ; Humans ; *Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; Down-Regulation ; Lymphocytes/immunology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Inflammation/immunology/metabolism ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification ; Glycosylation ; Immunity, Innate ; Female ; Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein/metabolism/genetics ; Male ; }, abstract = {The perturbation of the symbiotic relationship between microbes and intestinal immune system contributes to gut inflammation and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) development. The host mucosa glycans (glycocalyx) creates a major biological interface between gut microorganisms and host immunity that remains ill-defined. Glycans are essential players in IBD immunopathogenesis, even years before disease onset. However, how changes in mucosa glycosylation shape microbiome and how this impact gut immune response and inflammation remains to be clarified. Here, we revealed that alterations in the expression of complex branched N-glycans at gut mucosa surface, modeled in glycoengineered mice, resulted in dysbiosis, with a deficiency in Firmicutes bacteria. Concomitantly, this mucosa N-glycan switch was associated with a downregulation of type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3)-mediated immune response, leading to the transition of ILC3 toward an ILC1 proinflammatory phenotype and increased TNFα production. In addition, we demonstrated that the mucosa glycosylation remodeling through prophylactic supplementation with glycans at steady state was able to restore microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids and microbial sensing (by NOD2 expression) alongside the rescue of the expression of ILC3 module, suppressing intestinal inflammation and controlling disease onset. In a complementary approach, we further showed that IBD patients, often displaying dysbiosis, exhibited a tendency of decreased MGAT5 expression at epithelial cells that was accompanied by reduced ILC3 expression in gut mucosa. Altogether, these results unlock the effects of alterations in mucosa glycome composition in the regulation of the bidirectional crosstalk between microbiota and gut immune response, revealing host branched N-glycans/microbiota/ILC3 axis as an essential pathway in gut homeostasis and in preventing health to intestinal inflammation transition.}, } @article {pmid39916863, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, H and Kohler, A and Martin, FM}, title = {Biology, genetics, and ecology of the cosmopolitan ectomycorrhizal ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {16}, number = {}, pages = {1502977}, pmid = {39916863}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum is a cosmopolitan and ecologically significant ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungus that forms symbiotic associations with diverse host plants worldwide. As the only known ECM species within the large class Dothideomycetes, C. geophilum exhibits several characteristics that distinguish it from other ECM fungi. This fungus significantly contributes to ecosystem stability and development as an early colonizer of primary forest succession. The capacity of this symbiont to rapidly colonize disturbed or newly formed environments promotes the development of conditions that support the growth of other plant species, thus playing a crucial role in the ecological progression and restoration of ecosystems. Several C. geophilum isolates are known to enhance the drought resistance of host plants, a trait that is becoming increasingly important in the context of climate change and frequent drought events. In this review, we examined genetic studies that have assessed the phylogenetic structure of C. geophilum populations and identified the genes associated with adaptation to environmental stress and symbiosis. The high genetic diversity of C. geophilum is particularly noteworthy, considering its putative asexual reproductive mode. Population genomic analyses have suggested that C. geophilum is not a single species but rather a species complex comprising multiple cryptic lineages. This genetic variability may contribute to its adaptability and extensive distribution across habitats from circumpolar to tropical biomes. These lineages exhibit potential host preferences, suggesting a degree of specialization within the complex. The nuclear genome of C. geophilum has been sequenced, providing valuable insights into the symbiont genetic traits. Notably, this genome encodes a large set of repeated sequences and effector-like small secreted proteins. Transcriptomics has been used to identify candidate genes related to symbiosis and adaptation to environmental stress. Additionally, we briefly discuss how C. geophilum offers potential for sustainable forestry practices by improving resilience to stress.}, } @article {pmid39915884, year = {2025}, author = {He, R and Qi, P and Shu, L and Ding, Y and Zeng, P and Wen, G and Xiong, Y and Deng, H}, title = {Dysbiosis and extraintestinal cancers.}, journal = {Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {44}, pmid = {39915884}, issn = {1756-9966}, support = {82160546//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 82460116//National Science Foundation of China/ ; 20202BBG73027//Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province/ ; 20242BAB26116//Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province/ ; JXSQ2023201020//Foundation of Jiangxi Province for Distinguished Scholars/ ; 20183021//Science and Technology Plan Fund of Jiangxi Health Commission/ ; 20202ACBL206017//Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province/ ; GJJ210185//Education Department of Jiangxi Province/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology ; *Neoplasms/microbiology/pathology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Animals ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in safeguarding host health and driving the progression of intestinal diseases. Despite recent advances in the remarkable correlation between dysbiosis and extraintestinal cancers, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Pathogenic microbiota, along with their metabolites, can undermine the integrity of the gut barrier through inflammatory or metabolic pathways, leading to increased permeability and the translocation of pathogens. The dissemination of pathogens through the circulation may contribute to the establishment of an immune-suppressive environment that promotes carcinogenesis in extraintestinal organs either directly or indirectly. The oncogenic cascade always engages in the disruption of hormonal regulation and inflammatory responses, the induction of genomic instability and mutations, and the dysregulation of adult stem cell proliferation. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the existing evidence that points to the potential role of dysbiosis in the malignant transformation of extraintestinal organs such as the liver, breast, lung, and pancreas. Additionally, we delve into the limitations inherent in current methodologies, particularly the challenges associated with differentiating low loads gut-derived microbiome within tumors from potential sample contamination or symbiotic microorganisms. Although still controversial, an understanding of the contribution of translocated intestinal microbiota and their metabolites to the pathological continuum from chronic inflammation to tumors could offer a novel foundation for the development of targeted therapeutics.}, } @article {pmid39925835, year = {2024}, author = {Tavakolinasab, F and Taherpour, K and Rostamzad, A}, title = {Comparative effects of herbal additive, symbiotic and antibiotic on growth performance, blood constituents, gut microbiota, and immune response in broiler chickens.}, journal = {Iranian journal of veterinary research}, volume = {25}, number = {3}, pages = {242-249}, pmid = {39925835}, issn = {1728-1997}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Using medicinal plants in broiler diets has been gaining attention as an alternative to synthetic additives due to their potential health benefits and lower risk of residue accumulation.

AIMS: The present study primarily aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of herbal additives, specifically barberry (Berberis vulgaris), sumac (Rhus coriaria, L), symbiotic, and antibiotic on broiler chickens.

METHODS: A total of 384 one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were assigned to eight different dietary treatments, with six replicates per treatment. Experimental diets included control diet (CON), and other experimental groups were supplemented with 0.2 g/kg virginiamycin (VM), symbiotic (SS), 1 g/kg (B1) and 2 g/kg (B2) barberry seed powder, 1 g/kg (S1) and 2 g/kg (S2) sumac seed powder and 1 g/kg sumac seed powder + 1 g/kg barberry seed powder (B1 + S1).

RESULTS: The study results indicated that body weight increased in birds fed with VM and SS-supplemented diets (P<0.05) during 1 to 42 days of age. All dietary treatments except CON increased the count of Lactobacillus spp. and decreased the number of coliforms versus at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). Antibody titers against Gambaro disease were higher in birds fed diets B2 and B1 + S1 (P<0.05). The results also indicated that the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly lower in the SS and B1 + S1 groups as compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION: A mix of sumac and barberry (1%) powdered seeds has the potential to improve performance, and disease responsiveness and intestinal microbiota in broiler.}, } @article {pmid39914205, year = {2025}, author = {Chandel, SS and Lavakumar, A and Randhawa, NS and Singh, PK}, title = {Unique hot stage modification technique to enhance cementitious properties of electric arc furnace steel slag.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {376}, number = {}, pages = {124398}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124398}, pmid = {39914205}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Decarburization is a major concern for global industries, particularly the steel and cement sectors, which together contribute nearly 15% of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. One approach to reducing CO2 emissions is re-utilizing industrial waste, such as slag, to produce cementitious materials. While ironmaking slag from blast furnaces is conventionally recycled as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) cement, this technology is not directly applicable to electric arc furnace (EAF) slag, a byproduct of the steelmaking process. This study investigated the potential of direct reduced iron-electric arc furnace (DRI-EAF) steel slag as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) using a hot-stage modification technique. The experimental sequence follows remelting, modifying, and cooling DRI-EAF slag from a molten state at 1600 °C. Key aspects such as mineralogy, phase transformations, chemical compositions, and cooling conditions were analyzed using experimental data and thermodynamic simulations. The results indicate that adding lime and coke as modifying agents, smelting the slag for 40 min at 1600 °C, and water quenching can produce slag with up to 86% amorphous content. The primary phases precipitated at room temperature were calcium silicates (C2S and C3S). Additionally, the total iron content in the modified slag was reduced to 2 wt%, meeting the requirements for SCM use according to Indian standards. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions associated with recycling DRI-EAF slag as an SCM were compared with data from conventional cement production. This study highlights the potential of upcycling DRI-EAF slag into SCMs while recovering iron nuggets as secondary resources for steelmaking, contributing to decarburization in both industries.}, } @article {pmid39910670, year = {2025}, author = {Vidkjær, NH and Schmidt, S and Davie-Martin, CL and Silué, KS and Koné, NA and Rinnan, R and Poulsen, M}, title = {Volatile Organic Compounds of Diverse Origins and Their Changes Associated With Cultivar Decay in a Fungus-Farming Termite.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {2}, pages = {e70049}, pmid = {39910670}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {ERC-CoG 771349/ERC_/European Research Council/International ; DNRF168//The Danish National Research Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; Termitomyces/metabolism ; Terpenes/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungus-farming termites cultivate a Termitomyces fungus monoculture in enclosed gardens (combs) free of other fungi, except during colony declines, where Pseudoxylaria spp. stowaway fungi appear and take over combs. Here, we determined Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) of healthy Macrotermes bellicosus nests in nature and VOC changes associated with comb decay during Pseudoxylaria takeover. We identified 443 VOCs and unique volatilomes across samples and nest volatilomes that were mainly composed of fungus comb VOCs with termite contributions. Few comb VOCs were linked to chemical changes during decay, but longipinocarvone and longiverbenone were only emitted during comb decay. These terpenes may be involved in Termitomyces defence against antagonistic fungi or in fungus-termite signalling of comb state. Both comb and Pseudoxylaria biomass volatilomes contained many VOCs with antimicrobial activity that may serve in maintaining healthy Termitomyces monocultures or aid in the antagonistic takeover by Pseudoxylaria during colony decline. We further observed a series of oxylipins with known functions in the regulation of fungus germination, growth, and secondary metabolite production. Our volatilome map of the fungus-farming termite symbiosis provides new insights into the chemistry regulating complex interactions and serves as a valuable guide for future work on the roles of VOCs in symbioses.}, } @article {pmid39909191, year = {2025}, author = {Weitzman, CL and Brown, GP and Day, K and Shilton, CM and Gibb, K and Christian, K}, title = {Protection against anuran lungworm infection may be mediated by innate defenses rather than their microbiome.}, journal = {International journal for parasitology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpara.2025.01.010}, pmid = {39909191}, issn = {1879-0135}, abstract = {Host-associated microbiomes provide protection against disease in diverse systems, through both direct and indirect interactions with invaders, although these interactions are less understood in the context of non-gut helminth infections in wildlife. Here, we used a widespread, invasive host-parasite system to better understand helminth-amphibian-microbiome dynamics. We focus on cane toads and their lungworm parasites, which invade the host through the skin, to study the interactions between lungworm infection abundance and skin and gut (colon) bacterial microbiomes. Through two experiments, first reducing skin bacterial loads, and second reducing bacterial diversity, we found no evidence of protection by skin bacteria against infection. We also did not find divergent gut communities dependent on lungworm infection, signifying little to no immune modulation from infection causing changes to gut communities, at least in the first month after initial parasite exposure. In light of previous work in the system, these results underscore the contribution of toads' innate susceptibility (including possible protection provided by skin secretions) rather than skin microbes in determining the chance of infection by these macroparasites.}, } @article {pmid39908254, year = {2025}, author = {Hung, TC and Minh, BV and Nguyen, TN and Voznak, M}, title = {Power beacon-assisted energy harvesting symbiotic radio networks: Outage performance.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {20}, number = {2}, pages = {e0313981}, pmid = {39908254}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Wireless Technology/instrumentation ; Models, Theoretical ; Radio Waves ; Computer Communication Networks ; Internet of Things ; }, abstract = {The evolution of next-generation Internet-of-Things (IoT) in recent years exhibits a unique segment that wireless communication paradigms are oriented towards not only improved spectral efficiency transmission but also energy efficiency. This paper addresses these critical issues by proposing a novel communication model, namely power beacon-assisted energy-harvesting symbiotic radio. In particular, the limited energy primary IoT source communicates with its destination by first harvesting energy from a dedicated power beacon and then performing information exchange, while the backscatter device communicates by exploiting the available radio frequency emitted by the primary IoT source. The destination uses successive interference cancellation mechanisms to decode both its received signals. To assess the performance quality of the proposed communication model, we theoretically derive the coexistence outage probability (COP) in terms of highly accurate expressions and upper-bound and lower-bound approximations. Subsequently, we carry out a series of numerical results to verify the developed theory frameworks on the one hand, and on the other hand, analyze the COP performance against the variations of system key parameters (transmit signal-to-noise ratio, the time-splitting coefficient, the energy conversion efficiency factor, the reflection coefficient, and the coexistent decoding threshold). Our numerical results demonstrate that the proposed communication model can potentially work well in practices with reliable communication over 90% (COP is less than 0.1). Additionally, it also demonstrates that optimizing the reflection coefficient at the backscatter device can facilitate achieving minimal COP performance.}, } @article {pmid39907951, year = {2025}, author = {Anwar, MA and Sayed, GA and Hal, DM and Hafeez, MSAE and Shatat, AS and Salman, A and Eisa, NM and Ramadan, A and El-Shiekh, RA and Hatem, S and Aly, SH}, title = {Herbal remedies for oral and dental health: a comprehensive review of their multifaceted mechanisms including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant pathways.}, journal = {Inflammopharmacology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39907951}, issn = {1568-5608}, abstract = {Across diverse cultures, herbal remedies have been used to alleviate oral discomfort and maintain dental hygiene. This review presents studies on herbal remedies with remarkable antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anticaries, analgesic, and healing properties. The manuscripts demonstrate the depth of scientific inquiry into herbal remedies used for the management of various oral and dental health conditions. These include gingivitis, oral ulcers, mucositis, periodontitis, oral pathogens, carcinoma, xerostomia, and dental caries. Researchers have investigated the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of plant-derived compounds and their extracts evaluated their interactions with oral pathogens and inflammatory processes. The convergence of traditional knowledge and rigorous scientific investigation offers a compelling narrative, fostering a deeper understanding of herbal remedies as viable alternatives to conventional dental interventions. This work has the potential to provide patients with access to gentle, yet effective solutions, and simultaneously offer dental health professionals the opportunity to enrich their knowledge, and ability to provide personalized, holistic care. This review highlights the symbiotic relationship between herbal medicine and scientific understanding, emphasizing the importance of disseminating this knowledge to benefit both practitioners and patients, enabling evidence-based decision-making in dental care. The exploration of herbal remedies offers a promising alternative, potentially mitigating some of these side effects while promoting oral health in a more natural and holistic manner.}, } @article {pmid39907460, year = {2025}, author = {Rous, C and Cadiou, J and Yazbek, H and Monzel, E and Desai, MS and Doré, J and van de Guchte, M and Mondot, S}, title = {Temporary dietary fiber depletion prompts rapid and lasting gut microbiota restructuring in mice.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0151724}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01517-24}, pmid = {39907460}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Long-term alterations of the gut microbiota and host symbiosis after a dietary perturbation remain insufficiently understood and characterized. In this study, we investigate the impact of temporary dietary fiber depletion in mice that received a diet with reduced fiber content (RFD) for 3 weeks followed by a return to a standard chow diet for 6 weeks, compared to mice that only received a chow diet. Fiber deprivation was accompanied by a reduction of microbiota diversity and an increase in mucolytic and sulfate-reducing bacteria. The activities of enzymes targeting glycans from the host mucus were increased accordingly, while those targeting plant fibers were decreased. On the host side, we report transiently higher quantities of host DNA in feces during the RFD suggesting an impaired gut barrier function. Six weeks after the return to the chow diet, lasting changes in microbiota composition were observed, as exemplified by the replacement of durably depleted amplicon sequence variants close to Duncaniella dubosii by other members of the Muribaculaceae family. The observation of two distinct gut microbial communities in mice under identical environmental and alimentary conditions at the end of the experiment suggests the existence of alternative stable microbiota states.

IMPORTANCE: In this article, the authors explore the impact of a diet with reduced fiber content on the gut microbiota-host symbiosis in a mouse model. More importantly, they examine the resilience of the intestinal symbiosis after the return to a standard (chow) diet. Some of the measured parameters (intestinal barrier impairment and bacterial glycan-degrading enzymatic activities) returned to control values. However, this was not the case for bacterial richness-the number of different bacteria observed-which remained durably reduced. Among related bacteria, some groups receded and remained undetected until 6 weeks after the return to the chow diet while others saw their abundance increase in replacement. The authors find that a temporary fiber deprivation lasting as little as 3 weeks can cause a transition to an alternative stable microbiota state, i.e., a lasting change in intestinal microbiota composition.}, } @article {pmid39906587, year = {2025}, author = {Singh, P and Bruijning, M and Carver, GD and Donia, MS and Metcalf, CJE}, title = {Characterizing the evolution of defense in a tripartite marine symbiosis using adaptive dynamics.}, journal = {Evolution letters}, volume = {9}, number = {1}, pages = {105-114}, pmid = {39906587}, issn = {2056-3744}, abstract = {The evolution and maintenance of symbiotic systems remains a fascinating puzzle. While the coevolutionary dynamics of bipartite (host-symbiont) systems are well-studied, the dynamics of more complex systems have only recently garnered attention with increasing technological advances. We model a tripartite system inspired by the marine symbiotic relationship between the alga Bryopsis sp., its intracellular defensive bacterial symbiont "Candidatus Endobryopsis kahalalidifaciens," which produces a toxin that protects the alga against fish herbivores, and the sea-slug Elysia rufescens (Zan et al., 2019), which is not deterred by the toxin. We disentangle the role of selection on different actors within this system by investigating evolutionary scenarios where defense evolves as (i) a host-controlled trait that reduces algal reproductive ability; (ii) a symbiont-controlled trait that impacts symbiont transmission; and (iii) a trait jointly controlled by both host and symbiont. Optimal investment in defensive toxins varies based on the characteristics of the host, symbiont, and sea slug; and evolutionary trajectories are modulated by trade-off shape, i.e., a strongly decelerating trade-off between defense and symbiont transmission can drive symbiont diversification via evolutionary branching. Increasing slug herbivory reduces host investment in defense to favor reproduction, while symbiont investment in defense first declines and then increases as host density declines to the degree that horizontal symbiont transmission is no longer beneficial. Increasing vertical transmission selects for reduced defense by the host when it evolves as a jointly controlled trait, as a result of investment by the symbiont. Our theoretical exploration of the evolution of defensive symbiosis in scenarios involving interactions with multiple herbivores provides a first window into the origin and maintenance of the Bryopsis sp. system, and adds another piece to the puzzle of the evolution of symbiotic systems.}, } @article {pmid39905670, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, J and Fu, M and Luo, Z and Liu, J and Xie, F}, title = {Distinct domain regions of NIN and NLP1 mediate symbiotic and nitrate signaling in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/eraf037}, pmid = {39905670}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Nodule Inception (NIN) and NIN-like protein 1 (NLP1), both belonging to the RWP-RK type transcription factors, play critical roles in plant development. Specifically, NIN is pivotal in facilitating root nodule symbiosis in nitrogen-starved conditions, while NLP1 coordinates nodulation in response to nitrate level. In this study, we conducted domain swapping experiments between NIN and NLP1 in Medicago truncatula to elucidate the functional significance of their respective domains. The findings reveal that the C-terminal regions, including the RWP-RK and PB1 domains of NIN, can substitute for those of NLP1, whereas reciprocal substitution do not yield equivalent outcomes. Moreover, our data emphasize the critical role of PB1-mediated interactions for NLP1's activity, a feature not essential for NIN. Additionally, the N-terminal segment, conserved in NLPs but containing deletions or mutations in NIN, is essential for the proper functioning of both NIN and NLP1. Collectively, our research suggests the evolutionary divergence of NIN from ancestral NLPs, indicating specific adaptations that have enabled NIN as a central regulator in root nodulation processes.}, } @article {pmid39904552, year = {2025}, author = {Saad, EB and Friedrich, A and Fischer, F and Courot, O and Schacherer, J and Bleykasten, C}, title = {Comprehensive survey of kombucha microbial communities of diverse origins and fermentation practices.}, journal = {FEMS yeast research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsyr/foaf005}, pmid = {39904552}, issn = {1567-1364}, abstract = {Kombucha is a unique, naturally fermented sweetened tea produced for thousands of years, relying on a symbiotic microbiota in a floating biofilm, used for successive fermentations. The microbial communities consist of yeast and bacteria species, distributed across two phases: the liquid and the biofilm fractions. In the fermentation of kombucha, various starters of different shapes and origins are used and there are multiple brewing practices. By metabarcoding, we explored here the consortia and their evolution from a collection of 23 starters coming from various origins summarizing the diversity of kombucha fermentation processes. A core microbiota of yeast and bacteria has been identified in these diverse kombucha symbiotic consortia, revealing consistent core taxa across SCOBYs from different starters. The common core consists of five taxa: two yeast species from the Brettanomyces genus (B. bruxellensis and B. anomalus), and bacterial taxa Komagataeibacter, Lactobacillus, Acetobacteraceae, including the Acetobacter genus. The distribution of yeast and bacteria core taxa differs between the liquid and biofilm fractions, as well as between the 'mother' and 'daughter' biofilms used in successive fermentations. In terms of microbial composition, the diversity is relatively low, with only a few accessory taxa identified. Overall, our study provides a deeper understanding of the core and accessory taxa involved in kombucha fermentation.}, } @article {pmid39903999, year = {2025}, author = {Mondal, A and Parvez, SS and Majumder, A and Sharma, K and Das, B and Bakshi, U and Alam, M and Banik, A}, title = {Co-inoculation of Trichoderma and tea root-associated bacteria enhance flavonoid production and abundance of mycorrhizal colonization in tea (Camellia sinensis).}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {293}, number = {}, pages = {128084}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128084}, pmid = {39903999}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {Tea is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beverages, that contains several medicinally important flavonoids. Due to seasonal variation and various environmental stresses, the overall consistency of tea flavonoids affects the tea quality. To combat stress, plants stimulate symbiotic relationships with root-associated beneficial microbiomes that sustain nutrient allocation. Therefore, a study has been designed to understand the role of the tea root microbiome in sustaining tea leaf flavonoid production. To enumerate the microbiome, tea root and rhizoplane soil were collected from 3 years of healthy plants from Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. A culture-independent approach was adopted to identify root and rhizosphere microbial diversity (BioSample: SAMN31404869; SRA: SRS15503027 [rhizosphere soil metagenome] BioSample: SAMN31404868;SRA:SRS15503030 [root metagenome]. In addition to diverse microbes, four mycorrhiza fungi, i.e., Glomus intraradices, Glomus irregulare, Paraglomus occultum and Scutellospora heterogama were predominant in collected root samples. A culture-dependent approach was also adopted to isolate several plant growth-promoting bacteria [Bacillus sp. D56, Bacillus sp. D42, Bacillus sp. DR15, Rhizobium sp. DR23 (NCBI Accession: OR821747-OR821750)] and one fungal [Trichoderma sp. AM6 (NCBI Accession:OM915414)] strain. A pot experiment was designed to assess the impact of that isolated microbiome on tea seedlings. After six months of microbiome inoculation, tea plants' physicochemical and transcriptional parameters were evaluated. The results confer that the microbiome-treated treatments [(T1-without any microbial inoculation; NCBI Accession: SAMN33591153), Trichoderma sp. AM6 (T2; NCBI Accession: SAMN33591155) and Trichoderma sp. AM6 +VAM containing tea root+synthetic microbial consortia (T5; NCBI Accession: SAMN33591154)] could enhance the total flavonoid content in tea seedlings by upregulating certain transcripts associated with the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway of tea.}, } @article {pmid39902926, year = {2025}, author = {Rahman, R and Fouhse, JM and Ju, T and Fan, Y and Bhardwaj, T and Brook, RK and Nosach, R and Harding, J and Willing, BP}, title = {The impact of wild-boar-derived microbiota transplantation on piglet microbiota, metabolite profile, and gut proinflammatory cytokine production differs from sow-derived microbiota.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0226524}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02265-24}, pmid = {39902926}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Colonization of co-evolved, species-specific microbes in early life plays a crucial role in gastrointestinal development and immune function. This study hypothesized that modern pig production practices have resulted in the loss of co-evolved species and critical symbiotic host-microbe interactions. To test this, we reintroduced microbes from wild boars (WB) into conventional piglets to explore their colonization dynamics and effects on gut microbial communities, metabolite profiles, and immune responses. At postnatal day (PND) 21, 48 piglets were assigned to four treatment groups: (i) WB-derived mixed microbial community (MMC), (ii) sow-derived MMC, (iii) a combination of WB and sow MMC (Mix), or (iv) Control (PBS). Post-transplantation analyses at PND 48 revealed distinct microbial communities in WB-inoculated piglets compared with Controls, with trends toward differentiation from Sow but not Mix groups. WB-derived microbes were more successful in colonizing piglets, particularly in the Mix group, where they competed with Sow-derived microbes. WB group cecal digesta enriched with Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus mucosae, and Lactobacillus pontis. Cecal metabolite analysis showed that WB piglets were enriched in histamine, acetyl-ornithine, ornithine, citrulline, and other metabolites, with higher histamine levels linked to Lactobacillus abundance. WB piglets exhibited lower cecal IL-1β and IL-6 levels compared with Control and Sow groups, whereas the Mix group showed reduced IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6 compared with the Sow group. No differences in weight gain, fecal scores, or plasma cytokines were observed, indicating no adverse effects. These findings support that missing WB microbes effectively colonize domestic piglets and may positively impact metabolite production and immune responses.IMPORTANCEThis study addresses the growing concern over losing co-evolved, species-specific microbes in modern agricultural practices, particularly in pig production. The implementation of strict biosecurity measures and widespread antibiotic use in conventional farming systems may disrupt crucial host-microbe interactions that are essential for gastrointestinal development and immune function. Our research demonstrates that by reintroducing wild boar-derived microbes into domestic piglets, these microbes can successfully colonize the gut, influence microbial community composition, and alter metabolite profiles and immune responses without causing adverse effects. These findings also suggest that these native microbes can fill an intestinal niche, positively impacting immune activation. This research lays the groundwork for future strategies to enhance livestock health and performance by restoring natural microbial populations that produce immune-modulating metabolites.}, } @article {pmid39902384, year = {2024}, author = {Murphy, R and Strube, ML and Schmidt, S and Silué, KS and Koné, NA and Rosendahl, S and Poulsen, M}, title = {Non-ribosomal peptide synthase profiles remain structurally similar despite minimally shared features across fungus-farming termite microbiomes.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {ycae094}, pmid = {39902384}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Fungus-farming termites (Macrotermitinae) engage in an obligate mutualism with members of the fungal genus Termitomyces, which they maintain as a monoculture on specialized comb structures. Both these comb structures and the guts of the termites host diverse bacterial communities that are believed to assist in sustaining monoculture farming through antagonist suppression. Among candidate bacteria-derived compounds serving this function are non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs), which are a highly bioactive class of specialized metabolites, frequently produced by symbionts within eukaryotic hosts. However, our understanding of specialized metabolites in termite-associated microbiomes is limited. Here we use amplicon sequencing to characterize both bacterial composition and NRP potential. We show that bacterial and NRP diversity are correlated and that the former varies more than the latter across termite host and gut and comb samples. Compositions of the two are governed by host species and sample type, with topological similarity indicating a diverse set of biosynthetic potential that is consistent with the long evolutionary history of the Macrotermitinae. The structure of both bacterial and NRP compositional networks varied similarly between guts and combs across the Macrotermitinae albeit with auxiliary termite genus-specific patterns. We observed minimal termite species-specific cores, with essentially no Macrotermitinae-wide core and an abundance of putatively novel biosynthetic gene clusters, suggesting that there is likely no single solution to antagonist suppression via specialized NRP metabolites. Our findings contribute to an improved understanding of the distribution of NRP potential in the farming termite symbiosis and will help guide targeted exploration of specialized metabolite production.}, } @article {pmid39901714, year = {2025}, author = {He, XL and Liang, ZH and Huang, ZH and Wu, Y and Liu, J and Huang, T and Liu, JB and Pi, JS and Zhang, H}, title = {Effects of stocking densities on growth, organ index, serum biochemistry, gut morphology and microbiota of young ducks in a rice-duck-crayfish coculture system.}, journal = {Animal bioscience}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.5713/ab.24.0488}, pmid = {39901714}, issn = {2765-0189}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: The rice-duck-crayfish (RDC) coculture system, an ecologically efficient breeding method, supports ducks' natural habits and enhances duck welfare. However, the optimal stocking density and its influence on duck health in this system remains undetermined. The study examined the effects of stocking densities on growth, organ index, serum biochemistry, gut morphology and microbiota of ducks in RDC system.

METHODS: A total of five hundred and forty 20-day-old Nonghu No. 2 ducks were randomly divided into low-density (8 birds/666.67 m2, LD), medium-density (12 birds/666.67 m2, MD) and high-density (16 birds/666.67 m2, HD) groups, with three replicates in each group, and the symbiosis period was up to 40 days until rice tasselling.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in final body weight, average daily gain, or feed:gain ratio between groups (p>0.05); the liver and spleen indices of ducks in HD group were significantly greater than in LD group (p<0.05); the serum albumin concentration in HD group decreased, whereas creatine kinase activity increased (p<0.05); the ileal crypt depth significantly increased; and the ileal villus height and villus/crypt ratio significantly decreased in ducks in MD and HD groups than in LD group (p<0.05). Additionally, the abundance of cecal Deferribacterota and Spirochaetota increased significantly (p<0.05), while the abundance of Firmicutes decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing stocking density. Moreover, the increase in stocking density significantly decreased the abundance of some beneficial bacteria (Faecalibacterium and Fournierella) and increased the abundance of some harmful bacteria (Mucispirillum and Brachyspira) (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that moderately high-density breeding doesn't significantly affect duck growth, but increased stocking density led to changes in cecal microbiota and dysbiosis. Reducing stocking density positively affects immune parameters and ileum morphology.However, due to the limited number of total replicates of the study, further research is needed to validate the reliability of the results.}, } @article {pmid39901445, year = {2025}, author = {Yao, Y and Yao, J and Xiong, S and Sun, Y and Lai, L and He, C and Jiang, S and Elsayad, K and Peng, H and Wu, A and Yang, F}, title = {Borrow Strength to Exert: Low-Crystallinity Prussian Blue for Reduction Overload Enhanced Photothermal Therapy.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2406145}, doi = {10.1002/smll.202406145}, pmid = {39901445}, issn = {1613-6829}, support = {32025021//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31971292//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; //Youth Innovation Promotion Association/ ; 2022301//Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; 2018-05-G//Ningbo 3315 Innovative Talent Project/ ; Z25C100007//Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang province/ ; 2024H006//International Cooperation Project of Ningbo City/ ; }, abstract = {The strategy "Borrow strength to exert" in Sun Tzu's Art of War refers to borrowing external forces to withstand the enemy. Inspired by this, applying this thought to cancer treatment can achieve a more efficient therapeutic effect. Therefore, a fulcrum to borrow the force is vital and significant. Compared with normal cells, tumor cells are more sensitive to redox stress owing to their abnormal redox metabolism. Herein, a regulatory protocol based on chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) is proposed to prepare small-size and low-crystallinity Prussian blue nanoparticles (LcPB NPs). Notably, LcPB NPs possess higher superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like enzyme activity to induce reduction overload and destroy metabolic processes and organelle functions, which leverages the redox status defect in tumors as the fulcrum. Due to the down-regulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) mediated by redox imbalance, the inherent photothermal therapy (PTT) mode of LcPB NPs effectively inhibits tumor growth and disrupts calcium homeostasis. Additionally, LcPB NPs can improve the anticancer effect by inhibiting symbiotic bacteria. Meanwhile, their magnetic and optical response performance empowers magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for tumor diagnosis. Therefore, this work executing the strategy "Borrowing strength to exert" by disturbing the redox balance represents a new antineoplastic paradigm.}, } @article {pmid39900829, year = {2025}, author = {Ren, Z and Zhang, L and Li, H and Yang, M and Wu, X and Hu, R and Lu, J and Wang, H and Wu, X and Wang, Z and Li, X}, title = {The BRUTUS iron sensor and E3 ligase facilitates soybean root nodulation by monoubiquitination of NSP1.}, journal = {Nature plants}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39900829}, issn = {2055-0278}, support = {32330078//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; 3247150855//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, abstract = {Legumes form root nodules with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria, which require ample iron to ensure symbiosis establishment and efficient nitrogen fixation. The functions and mechanisms of iron in nitrogen-fixing nodules are well established. However, the role of iron and the mechanisms by which legumes sense iron and incorporate this cue into nodulation signalling pathways remain unclear. Here we show that iron is a key driver of nodulation because symbiotic nodules cannot form without iron, even under conditions of sufficient light and low nitrogen. We further identify an iron optimum for soybean nodulation and the iron sensor BRUTUS A (BTSa) which acts as a hub for integrating iron and nodulation cues. BTSa is induced by rhizobia, binds to and is stabilized by iron. In turn, BTSa stabilizes and enhances the transcriptional activation activity of pro-nodulation transcription factor NSP1a by monoubiquitination from its RING domain and consequently activates nodulation signalling. Monoubiquitination of NSP1 by BTS is conserved in legumes to trigger nodulation under iron sufficiency. Thus, iron status is an essential cue to trigger nodulation and BTSa integrates cues from rhizobial infection and iron status to orchestrate host responses towards establishing symbiotic nitrogen fixation.}, } @article {pmid39899217, year = {2025}, author = {Maehara, S and Kumamoto, M and Nakajima, S and Hieda, Y and Watashi, K and Hata, T}, title = {Potent SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease inhibitor (+)-eupenoxide-3,6-diketone (IC50: 0.048 μM) was synthesized based on (+)-eupenoxide; lead from (+)-eupenoxide analogs study by endophytic fermentation.}, journal = {Journal of natural medicines}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39899217}, issn = {1861-0293}, support = {JPMJSC15H1//Japan Science and Technology Corporation/ ; JPMJSC15H1//Japan Science and Technology Corporation/ ; JPMJMI22G1//JST-Mirai Program/ ; 23K06189//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 24K02290//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; JP23fk0108590//Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development/ ; }, abstract = {Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, research has been conducted on treatment and countermeasures against the causative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the development of new seeds is urgently needed because viruses have the characteristic of becoming resistant through mutation. We hypothesize that endophytes produce antiviral substances to combat foreign viruses in host plants. According to this hypothesis, the seeds of therapeutic agents for infectious diseases could be obtained from endophytes by culture experiments. This report found that Aspergillus sp. endophyte isolated from Catharanthus roseus produced (+)-eupenoxide and its 3-ketone form with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity. In addition, (+)-eupenoxide-3,6-diketon was discovered as a new compound with potent 3C-like protease inhibitory activity (IC50: 0.048 μM) by synthesis based on (+)-eupenoxide. This finding could be an important evidence that endophytic fungi symbiosis with medicinal plants is useful as antiviral producers.}, } @article {pmid39898265, year = {2024}, author = {Boorboori, MR and Lackóová, L}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and salinity stress mitigation in plants.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1504970}, pmid = {39898265}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {In recent decades, climate change has caused a decrease in rainfall, increasing sea levels, temperatures rising, and as a result, an expansion in salt marshes across the globe. An increase in water and soil salinity has led to a decline in the cultivated areas in different areas, and consequently, a substantial decrease in crop production. Therefore, it has forced scientists to find cheap, effective and environmentally friendly methods to minimize salinity's impact on crops. One of the best strategies is to use beneficial soil microbes, including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in order to increase plant tolerance to salt. The findings of this review showed that salinity can severely impact the morphological, physiological, and biochemical structures of plants, lowering their productivity. Although plants have natural capabilities to deal with salinity, these capacities are limited depending on plant type, and variety, as well as salinity levels, and other environmental factors. Furthermore, result of the present review indicates that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have a significant effect on increasing plant resistance in saline soils by improving the soil structure, as well as stimulating various plant factors including photosynthesis, antioxidant defense system, secondary metabolites, absorption of water and nutrients.}, } @article {pmid39897492, year = {2025}, author = {Keleher, JG and Strope, TA and Estrada, NE and Griggs Mathis, AM and Easson, CG and Fiore, C}, title = {Freshwater sponges in the southeastern U.S. harbor unique microbiomes that are influenced by host and environmental factors.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {e18807}, pmid = {39897492}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Porifera/microbiology ; *Microbiota ; Animals ; *Fresh Water/microbiology ; North Carolina ; *Symbiosis ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Marine, and more recently, freshwater sponges are known to harbor unique microbial symbiotic communities relative to the surrounding water; however, our understanding of the microbial ecology and diversity of freshwater sponges is vastly limited compared to those of marine sponges. Here we analyzed the microbiomes of three freshwater sponge species: Radiospongilla crateriformis, Eunapius fragilis, and Trochospongilla horrida, across four sites in western North Carolina, U.S.A. Our results support recent work indicating that freshwater sponges indeed harbor a distinct microbiome composition compared to the surrounding water and that these varied across sampling site indicating both environmental and host factors in shaping this distinct community. We also sampled sponges at one site over 3 months and observed that divergence in the microbial community between sponge and water occurs at least several weeks after sponges emerge for the growing season and that sponges maintain a distinct community from the water as the sponge tissue degrades. Bacterial taxa within the Gammproteobacteria, Alphproteobacteria, Bacteroidota (Flavobacteriia in particular), and Verrucomicrobia, were notable as enriched in the sponge relative to the surrounding water across sponge individuals with diverging microbial communities from the water. These results add novel information on the assembly and maintenance of microbial communities in an ancient metazoan host and is one of few published studies on freshwater sponge microbial symbiont communities.}, } @article {pmid39895926, year = {2025}, author = {Jeon, MJ and Park, S and Jeong, JC and Lim, J and Han, Y and Chi, WJ and Kim, S}, title = {Eight Fungal Species Associated with Ambrosia Beetles in Korea.}, journal = {Mycobiology}, volume = {53}, number = {1}, pages = {1-17}, pmid = {39895926}, issn = {1229-8093}, abstract = {Ambrosia fungi are well-known for their symbiotic interactions with ambrosia beetles, acting as a sole food source of larvae and adult beetles. As a first step to reveal these interactions, extensive survey on the fungal symbionts of ambrosia beetles dwelling in Korea. Eight fungal species isolated from 15 ambrosia beetle species were not known for their presence in Korea. Seven of these belonged to two orders of Ascomycota; Microascales (Ambrosiella beaveri, A. catenulate, and A. roeperi) and Ophiostomatales (Leptographium verrucosum, Raffaelea cyclorhipidii, R. subfusca, and Sporothrix eucastaneae) and one to Polyporales of Basidiomycota (Irpex subulatus). This is the first report of these species in Korea with taxonomic descriptions.}, } @article {pmid39893978, year = {2025}, author = {Hu, B and Hu, S and You, L and Chen, Z}, title = {Understanding arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi's contribution to hexabromocyclododecane metabolism: Pathways and ecological implications in contaminated environments.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {488}, number = {}, pages = {137396}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137396}, pmid = {39893978}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {This study investigates the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the metabolism of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and its ecological effects in contaminated environments. We focused on the symbiotic relationships between Iris pseudacorus L. and AMF (Rhizophagus irregularis) under HBCD exposure. Our results show that HBCD induces oxidative damage, which hinders plant growth. However, AMF significantly enhance the plant's antioxidant defenses, reducing oxidative damage and supporting better growth of I. pseudacorus. HBCD biodegradation patterns showed β- > γ- > α-HBCD, with AMF playing a key role in stabilizing rhizosphere microbial communities, particularly promoting Proteobacteria and potential bacterial degraders like Aeromonas and Trichococcus, which contributed to HBCD removal. Additionally, AMF appear to upregulate genes such as cypD_E, GST, dehH, dehA, dehM, Em3.8.1.2, and ligB, which are involved in debromination and hydroxylation reactions. This research highlights AMF's potential to enhance the phytoremediation of HBCD, providing valuable insights for environmental remediation strategies.}, } @article {pmid39893977, year = {2025}, author = {Zhou, Y and Liu, F and Yuan, M and Liu, X and Li, Q and Zhao, H}, title = {Herbicide prometryn aggravates the detrimental effects of heat stress on the potential for mutualism of Symbiodiniaceae.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {488}, number = {}, pages = {137389}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137389}, pmid = {39893977}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Ocean warming threatens the health of corals globally, and superimposed coastal environmental pollution can result in severe and irreversible coral bleaching. However, the responses of the coral symbiont Symbiodiniaceae to multiple stresses remain largely unknown. This study investigated the response of the coral symbiotic algae Cladocopium sp. to short-term exposure (4 days) to an environmentally relevant concentration (1 μg L[-1]) of the photosystem II (PSII) herbicide prometryn under heat stress (32 ℃) through physiological and omic analyses. These results showed that co-stress affected the photosynthetic efficiency of Cladocopium sp. negatively. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species and subsequent oxidative stress under co-stress activated distinct regulatory pathways in Cladocopium sp. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that prometryn exacerbated heat stress-induced photosystem damage and reduced the regulatory capacity of Cladocopium sp. Moreover, co-stress disrupted energy metabolism, and further impaired nitrogen assimilation and nutrient transfer processes, potentially compromising the symbiotic potential between corals and Symbiodiniaceae. In summary, this study offers a valuable insight into understanding the molecular responses of Symbiodiniaceae to thermal and prometryn co-stress. It helps uncover the potential toxicity mechanisms induced by herbicide on coral symbionts in the context of climate change.}, } @article {pmid39893934, year = {2025}, author = {Zeng, S and Mo, S and Wu, X and Meng, C and Peng, P and Kashif, M and Li, J and He, S and Jiang, C}, title = {Microbial-mediated carbon metabolism in the subtropical marine mangroves affected by shrimp pond discharge.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {205}, number = {}, pages = {106980}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.106980}, pmid = {39893934}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Mangrove ecosystems exhibit high efficiency in carbon (C) sequestering within the global ecosystem. However, the rapid expansion of the shrimp farming industry poses a significant threat to these delicate ecosystems. The microbial mechanisms driving C metabolism in shrimp-affected sediments remain poorly understood. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of C metabolism-related microbial communities in shrimp pond and natural mangrove sediments in a subtropical region. Shrimp pond discharge altered soil properties, microbial diversity, and microbial stability, driven by factors such as salinity, sulfide, and total organic C (TOC). Metagenomic analyses reveals shifts in C degradation and oxidation, with a reduction in genes for cellulose and hemicellulose degradation. Microbial markers like Prolixibacteraceae and Nitrosopumilaceae reflect these changes. Co-occurrence network analysis indicates higher connectivity within shrimp pond groups, suggesting nutrient-driven changes in symbiotic relationships. PLS-PM analysis further confirms the interplay between microbial composition, nutrient levels, and C metabolism, with higher 16S rRNA operon copy numbers linked to increased C fixation. These findings demonstrate how shrimp pond discharge alters microbial networks and C metabolism, with implications for ecosystem resilience.}, } @article {pmid39891802, year = {2025}, author = {Horikawa, A and Okubo, R and Hishikura, N and Watanabe, R and Kurashima-Ito, K and Sayeesh, PM and Inomata, K and Mishima, M and Koteishi, H and Sawai, H and Shiro, Y and Ikeya, T and Ito, Y}, title = {Backbone and side‑chain [1]H, [13]C and [15]N resonance assignments and secondary structure determination of the rhizobial FixJ.}, journal = {Biomolecular NMR assignments}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39891802}, issn = {1874-270X}, abstract = {The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum (B.japonicum) enables high soybean yields with little or no nitrogen fertiliser. A two component regulatory system comprising FixL, a histidine kinase with O2-sensing activity, and FixJ, a response regulator, controls the expression of genes involved in nitrogen fixation, such as fixK and nifA. Only under anaerobic conditions, the monophosphate group is transferred from FixL to the N-terminal receiver domain of FixJ (FixJN), which eventually promote the association of the C-terminal effector domain (FixJC) to the promoter regions of the nitrogen-fixation-related genes. Structural biological analyses carried out so far for rhizobial FixJ molecules have proposed a solution structure for FixJ that differs from the crystal structures, in which the two domains are extended. To understand the FixJ activation caused by phosphorylation of the N-terminal domain, which presumably regulates through the interactions between FixJN and FixJC, here we have performed backbone and sidechain resonance assignments of the unphosphorylated state of B. japonicum FixJ.}, } @article {pmid39891198, year = {2025}, author = {Berdeja, MP and Reynolds, NK and Pawlowska, T and Heuvel, JEV}, title = {Commercial bioinoculants improve colonization but do not alter the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community of greenhouse-grown grapevine roots.}, journal = {Environmental microbiome}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {15}, pmid = {39891198}, issn = {2524-6372}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial root symbionts contributing to improved plant growth and development and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Commercial bioinoculants containing AMF are widely considered as an alternative to agrochemicals in vineyards. However, their effects on grapevine plants grown in soil containing native communities of AMF are still poorly understood. In a greenhouse experiment, we evaluated the influence of five different bioinoculants on the composition of native AMF communities of young Cabernet Sauvignon vines grown in a non-sterile soil. Root colonization, leaf nitrogen concentration, plant biomass and root morphology were assessed, and AMF communities of inoculated and non-inoculated grapevine roots were profiled using high-throughput sequencing.

RESULTS: Contrary to our predictions, no differences in the microbiome of plants exposed to native AMF communities versus commercial AMF bioinoculants + native AMF communities were detected in roots. However, inoculation induced positive changes in root traits as well as increased AMF colonization, plant biomass, and leaf nitrogen. Most of these desirable functional traits were positively correlated with the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units identified as Glomus, Rhizophagus and Claroideoglomus genera.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest synergistic interactions between commercial AMF bioinoculants and native AMF communities of roots to promote grapevine growth. Long-term studies with further genomics, metabolomics and physiological research are needed to provide a deeper understanding of the symbiotic interaction among grapevine roots, bioinoculants and natural AMF communities and their role to promote plant adaptation to current environmental concerns.}, } @article {pmid39891167, year = {2025}, author = {Marangon, E and Rädecker, N and Li, JYQ and Terzin, M and Buerger, P and Webster, NS and Bourne, DG and Laffy, PW}, title = {Destabilization of mutualistic interactions shapes the early heat stress response of the coral holobiont.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {31}, pmid = {39891167}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Heat-Shock Response/physiology ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; Microbiota/physiology ; Hot Temperature ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The stability of the symbiotic relationship between coral and their dinoflagellate algae (Symbiodiniaceae) is disrupted by ocean warming. Although the coral thermal response depends on the complex interactions between host, Symbiodiniaceae and prokaryotes, the mechanisms underlying the initial destabilization of these symbioses are poorly understood.

RESULTS: In a 2-month manipulative experiment, we exposed the coral Porites lutea to gradually increasing temperatures corresponding to 0-8 degree heating weeks (DHW) and assessed the response of the coral holobiont using coral and Symbiodiniaceae transcriptomics, microbial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and physiological measurements. From early stages of heat stress (< 1 DHW), the increase in metabolic turnover shifted the holobiont to a net heterotrophic state in which algal-derived nutrients were insufficient to meet host energy demands, resulting in reduced holobiont performance at 1 DHW. We postulate the altered nutrient cycling also affected the coral-associated microbial community, with the relative abundance of Endozoicomonas bacteria declining under increasing heat stress. Integration of holobiont stress responses correlated this decline to an increase in expression of a host ADP-ribosylation factor, suggesting that Symbiodiniaceae and Endozoicomonas may underlie similar endosymbiotic regulatory processes.

CONCLUSIONS: The thermotolerance of coral holobionts therefore is influenced by the nutritional status of its members and their interactions, and this identified metabolic interdependency highlights the importance of applying an integrative approach to guide coral reef conservation efforts. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid39889985, year = {2025}, author = {Zuo, X and Xu, Y and Jiang, GRD and Liu, C}, title = {Licorice endophytes activate glycyrrhizin synthesis metabolic flux through feedback of β-glucuronidase conversion activity.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {140484}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140484}, pmid = {39889985}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Terpenoids are widely distributed in plants and are often used as defense molecules in plant-microbe interactions. However, endophytic microorganisms usually establish a better symbiotic relationship with their hosts by secreting enzymes to avoid defense plant metabolites. This study evaluated the in vitro biotransformation activity of licorice endophytic fungi on glycyrrhizin and further explored the molecular regulation of their in vivo colonization on the licorice growth and metabolism. The results indicated that licorice endophytic fungi generally possessed the ability to bio-transform glycyrrhizin, with Z6 and Z15 exhibiting glycyrrhizin-induced β-glucuronidase activity. The Z6GH2 and Z15GH2 proteins were identified to hydrolyze glycyrrhizin in different ways by prokaryotic and eukaryotic experiments. In vivo re-infestation of licorice by Z6 and Z15 revealed significant promotion of glycyrrhizin biosynthesis and accumulation by regulating the expression levels of genes involved in glycolysis and glycyrrhizin biosynthesis pathway in licorice. These findings were further validated in J3, which has glycyrrhizin biotransformation properties. In summary, this study reveals the molecular mechanism by which endophytic fungi with glycyrrhizin β-glucuronidase activity promote glycyrrhizin biosynthesis and accumulation in licorice through feedback regulation of its metabolic flux. These finding highlight the importance of endophytic fungi in regulating the accumulation of active ingredients in medicinal plants.}, } @article {pmid39889806, year = {2025}, author = {Zang, J and Yin, F and Liu, Z and Li, F and Zhang, Y}, title = {Bacteria-tumor symbiosis destructible novel nanocatalysis drug delivery systems for effective tumor therapy.}, journal = {Nanomedicine (London, England)}, volume = {20}, number = {3}, pages = {305-318}, doi = {10.1080/17435889.2024.2443388}, pmid = {39889806}, issn = {1748-6963}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy/microbiology/pathology ; *Fusobacterium nucleatum/drug effects ; Animals ; Symbiosis ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/administration & dosage ; Nanostructures/chemistry ; }, abstract = {Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant threat to human health. The dynamic equilibrium between probiotics and pathogenic bacteria within the gut microbiota is crucial in mitigating the risk of CRC. An overgrowth of harmful microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract can result in an excessive accumulation of bacterial toxins and carcinogenic metabolites, thereby disrupting the delicate balance of the microbiota. This disruption may lead to alterations in microbial composition, impairment of mucosal barrier function, potential promotion of abnormal cell proliferation, and ultimately contribute to the progression of CRC. Recently, research has indicated that intestinal presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) significantly influences the onset, progression, and metastasis of CRC. Consequently, disrupting the interaction between CRC cells and Fn presents a promising strategy against CRC. Nanomaterials have been extensively utilized in cancer therapy and bacterial infection control, demonstrating substantial potential in treating bacteria-associated tumors. This review begins by elucidating the mechanisms of gut microbiota and the occurrence and progression of CRC, with a particular emphasis on clarifying the intricate relationship between Fn and CRC. Subsequently, we highlight strategies that utilize nanomaterials to disrupt the association between Fn and CRC. Overall, this review offers valuable insight and guidance for leveraging nanomaterials in CRC therapy.}, } @article {pmid39889699, year = {2025}, author = {Tagirdzhanova, G and Scharnagl, K and Sahu, N and Yan, X and Bucknell, A and Bentham, AR and Jégousse, C and Ament-Velásquez, SL and Onuț-Brännström, I and Johannesson, H and MacLean, D and Talbot, NJ}, title = {Complexity of the lichen symbiosis revealed by metagenome and transcriptome analysis of Xanthoria parietina.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.12.041}, pmid = {39889699}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Lichens are composite, symbiotic associations of fungi, algae, and bacteria that result in large, anatomically complex organisms adapted to many of the world's most challenging environments. How such intricate, self-replicating lichen architectures develop from simple microbial components remains unknown because of their recalcitrance to experimental manipulation. Here, we report a metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis of the lichen Xanthoria parietina at different developmental stages. We identified 168 genomes of symbionts and lichen-associated microbes across the sampled thalli, including representatives of green algae, three different classes of fungi, and 14 bacterial phyla. By analyzing the occurrence of individual species across lichen thalli from diverse environments, we defined both substrate-specific and core microbial components of the lichen. Metatranscriptomic analysis of the principal fungal symbiont from three different developmental stages of a lichen, compared with axenically grown fungus, revealed differential gene expression profiles indicative of lichen-specific transporter functions, specific cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, and secondary metabolic capacity. Putative immunity-related proteins and lichen-specific structurally conserved secreted proteins resembling fungal pathogen effectors were also identified, consistent with a role for immunity modulation in lichen morphogenesis.}, } @article {pmid39887637, year = {2025}, author = {Cagatay, NS and Akhoundi, M and Izri, A and Brun, S and Hurst, GDD}, title = {Prevalence of Heritable Symbionts in Parisian Bedbugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {e70054}, pmid = {39887637}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {//TÜBİTAK [The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye]/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Bedbugs/microbiology/genetics ; *Wolbachia/genetics/isolation & purification/classification ; Paris ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; Haplotypes ; Prevalence ; }, abstract = {Like many insects, the biology of bedbugs is impacted by a range of partner heritable microbes. Three maternally inherited symbionts are recognised: Wolbachia (an obligate partner), Symbiopectobacterium purcellii strain SyClec, and Candidatus Tisiphia sp. (facultative symbionts typically present in some but not all individuals). Past work had examined the presence of these heritable microbes from established laboratory lines, but not from broader field samples. We therefore deployed targeted endpoint PCR assays to determine the symbiont infection status for 50 bedbugs collected from 10 districts of Paris during the 2023 outbreak. All three symbionts were found to be broadly present across Cimex lectularius samples, with the Symbiopectobacterium-Candidatus Tisiphia-Wolbachia triple infection most commonly observed. A minority of individuals lacked either one or both facultative symbionts. Five mtDNA haplotypes were observed across the COI barcode region, and triple infections were found in all mtDNA haplotypes, indicating that symbiont infection is not a recent invasion event. We conclude that the Parisian bedbug outbreak was one in which the host's secondary symbionts were present at high-frequency coinfections, and facultative symbionts are an important but uncharacterised component of bedbug populations.}, } @article {pmid39886864, year = {2025}, author = {Herrera-Cardoso, ED and Tapia-Cervantes, KA and Cepeda-Negrete, J and Gutiérrez-Vargas, S and León-Galván, MF}, title = {Isolation and identification of Lactobacillus species from gut microbiota of Aegiale hesperiaris (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) larvae.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology letters}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsle/fnaf015}, pmid = {39886864}, issn = {1574-6968}, abstract = {Entomophagy, the practice of consuming insects, is a global tradition. In Mexico, one of the most notable and widely consumed insects is the larva of Aegiale hesperiaris. This insect feeds on the leaves of various Agave species with high polysaccharide content, suggesting their potential role as prebiotics for the intestinal microbiota, particularly lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB are recognized for their use as probiotics in foods due to their health-promoting capabilities. In this study, LAB from the intestinal microbiota of A. hesperiaris larvae were isolated and characterized, utilizing 16S rRNA gene identification. The analysis revealed three bacterial species from the Lactobacillaceae family, indicating a close symbiotic relationship with the insect. This suggests a significant impact on carbohydrate and protein metabolism, vitamin synthesis, and amino acid production, contributing to the high nutritional value of this edible insect. The study provides insights into the bacteria within the digestive tract of A. hesperiaris larvae and their role in enhancing the nutritional value of this edible insect. Additionally, it establishes a foundation for future research on the ecological roles and potential biotechnological benefits of these bacteria in the food industry and the development of therapies for various conditions and diseases.}, } @article {pmid39886814, year = {2025}, author = {Junker, AD and Chen, JZ and DuBose, JG and Gerardo, NM}, title = {Dynamic reciprocal morphological changes in insect hosts and bacterial symbionts.}, journal = {The Journal of experimental biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1242/jeb.249474}, pmid = {39886814}, issn = {1477-9145}, support = {2023-67012-40012//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; 2019-67013-29371//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions, central to most life on Earth, are interwoven associations that vary in intimacy and duration. Some of the most well-known examples of symbioses occur between animals and gut bacteria. These associations lead to physiological integration of host and symbionts. The diversity of microbes within animal hosts can make studying them technically challenging. Thus, most science heavily focuses on the animal side of symbioses, limiting study of the microbial symbionts to characterization of their genetic and functional diversity. These limitations are minimized in Heteropteran insects that have specialized midguts that separately house single symbiont species away from ingested food. These insect-bacteria associations allow us to address fundamental questions as to how both hosts and symbionts change to establish a cooperative relationship. In this study, through ex vivo and in vivo observations of cellular behaviors, we explore concurrent structural and cellular dynamics in both the squash bug host (Anasa tristis) and its Caballeronia zhejiangensis symbionts during the initiation of symbiosis. We elucidate how C. zhejiangensis is sequestered within a specialized symbiotic organ within the A. tristis midgut, how the symbiont uses active motility to reach the symbiotic organ, how symbionts colonize host crypts within the organ and how host crypt morphogenesis progresses during the initiation of symbiotic interactions. Our findings provide insight into how dynamic cellular activity and morphological development reciprocally change in both host and symbiont as they establish symbiotic interactions.}, } @article {pmid39886690, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, M and Lei, C and Ma, C and Hou, X and Yao, M and Mi, L and Liu, E and Xu, L and Wang, S and Liu, C and Chen, Q and Xin, D and Xu, C and Wang, J}, title = {GmWRKY33a is a hub gene responsive to brassinosteroid signaling that suppresses nodulation in soybean (Glycine max).}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1507307}, pmid = {39886690}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Brassinosteroids (BRs) are key phytohormones influencing soybean development, yet their role in symbiosis remains unclear. Here, the RNA-Seq was used to identify important gene associated with BRs and symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and the function of candidate gene was verified by transgenic hairy roots. The result shows that the RNA-Seq analysis was conducted in which BR signaling was found to suppress nodule formation and many DEGs enriched in immunity-related pathways. WGCNA analyses led to the identification of GmWRKY33a as being responsive to BR signaling in the context of symbiosis establishment. Transgenic hairy roots analyses indicated that GmWRKY33a served as a negative regulator of the establishment of symbiosis. The qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that BR signaling upregulates GmWRKY33a, leading to nodulation suppression and activation of soybean immune responses. In summary, our research revealed that BR suppresses root nodule formation by modulating the immune signaling pathway in soybean roots. We further identified that GmWRKY33a, a crucial transcription factor in BR signaling, plays a negative role in the symbiotic establishment.}, } @article {pmid39885562, year = {2025}, author = {Grieves, LA and Gloor, GB}, title = {Uropygial gland microbiota of nearctic-neotropical migrants vary with season and migration distance.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {11}, pmid = {39885562}, issn = {2524-4671}, abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota are important drivers of host behaviour, health, and fitness. While most studies focus on humans, model organisms, and domestic or economically important species, research investigating the role of host microbiota in wild populations is rapidly accumulating. Most studies focus on the gut microbiota; however, skin and other glandular microbiota also play an important role in shaping traits that may impact host fitness. The uropygial gland is an important source of chemical cues and harbours diverse microbes that could mediate chemical communication in birds, so determining the factors most important in shaping host microbiota should improve our understanding of microbially-mediated chemical communication. Hypothesizing that temporal, geographic, and taxonomic effects influence host microbiota, we evaluated the effects of season, migration distance, and taxonomy on the uropygial gland microbiota of 18 passerine species from 11 families. By sampling 473 birds at a single stopover location during spring and fall migration and using 16S rRNA sequencing, we demonstrate that season, followed by migration distance, had the strongest influence on uropygial gland microbial community composition. While statistically significant, taxonomic family and species had only weak effects on gland microbiota. Given that temporal effects on gland microbiota were nearly ubiquitous among the species we tested, determining the consequences of and mechanisms driving this seasonal variation are important next steps.}, } @article {pmid39884621, year = {2025}, author = {Dhayalan, A and P D, KJ and Manoharan, S and Nadeem, A and Govindasamy, B and Pachiappan, P and Vasudhevan, P}, title = {Fish gut symbiotic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis: RSM optimization for its extracellular lipase enzyme production, lipase-protein purification, characterization, and docking analysis.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {301}, number = {}, pages = {140428}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140428}, pmid = {39884621}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Lipase enzymes play a vital role in digestion and nutrient metabolism in host organisms, with symbiotic bacteria producing abundant enzymes, carbohydrates, vitamins, and other nutrients. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and screen lipase-producing bacteria from the gut of Systomus sarana, optimize enzyme production using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and characterize the extracted lipase protein. A total of 11 bacterial strains were isolated and identified through 16S rRNA sequencing. Among these, Bacillus thuringiensis (SS5) exhibited the highest enzyme index (5.46 mm) and crude enzyme activity (109 U/mL). Using RSM optimization, growth conditions were refined to pH 7.5, temperature 35 °C, incubation time 30 h, with 2.3 % peptone and 2.34 % lactose, resulting in enhanced lipase production of 210 U/mL. The partially purified protein (~30 kDa) was characterized by SDS-PAGE and FTIR spectroscopy, revealed functional groups such as acids, aliphatic amines, and aromatics. MALDI-TOF/MS analysis identified eight peptides, with one major peptide sequence (IYVYYSDIMHVMNTMGQR). The modelled protein structure based on 259 amino acids was validated through homology modeling. Molecular docking studies demonstrated strong binding affinities (-7.36 to -8.95 kcal/mol) between the lipase protein and fatty acids (linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid) as well as tripalmitin. These findings highlight the potential of fish gut-derived Bacillus thuringiensis as a valuable source of lipase enzymes for industrial applications such as bioremediation and biodiesel production. Further exploration of these bacterial enzymes within their native ecosystems is recommended to expand their biotechnological utility.}, } @article {pmid39883607, year = {2025}, author = {Hemmler, KS and Camara, B and Buerkert, A}, title = {Social ecology of artisanal sand mining in the Niger River around Bamako, Mali.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {e0318029}, pmid = {39883607}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Mali ; *Mining ; *Rivers ; *Sand ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; }, abstract = {Sand, shaping both natural waterways and urban infrastructure, has recently seen a major surge in extraction, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions like West Africa. To assess the organization, quantification, and socio-ecological implications of sand mining around Mali's capital Bamako, we employed a mixed methods approach including structured and unstructured interviews, truck counts, turbidity analyses, and river depth measurements. Our study identified five artisanal systems for mining sand and gravel from the Niger River, using tied-up pirogues, single pirogues, carts, tractors, and trucks. Recent increases in extracted quantities, workforce size, and sand prices were observed, resulting in an estimated annual extraction of 4.86 million m3 in 2022, mainly sourced from upstream of Bamako. With extraction rates surpassing natural replenishment, the riverbed in the study communities of Gouni and Usine Toch has reportedly lowered by 1.4 m and 1.8 m during the last 50 years. Mining activities are highly informal, characterized by self-organization, low and irregular salaries, and unsafe working conditions, particularly for women. Economically, sand mining activities have created symbiotic relationships rather than conflicts with local farming, fishing and other livelihoods. Sand mining operations did not significantly affect the Niger River's water turbidity, which varied primarily with seasonal rainfall fluctuations. Recent developments suggest that mining activities are accelerating, with mechanized practices likely to replace current artisanal methods and underlying social structures.}, } @article {pmid39883363, year = {2024}, author = {Cecchini, P and Nitta, T and Sena, E and Du, ZY}, title = {Saving coral reefs: significance and biotechnological approaches for coral conservation.}, journal = {Advanced biotechnology}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, pages = {42}, pmid = {39883363}, issn = {2948-2801}, support = {2020-38500-32559//U.S. Department of Agriculture/ ; 2022-38500-38099//U.S. Department of Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that provide valuable services to coastal communities worldwide. However, both local and global anthropogenic stressors, threaten the coral-algal symbiosis that enables reef formation. This breakdown of the symbiotic relationship, known as bleaching, is often triggered by cumulative cell damage. UV and heat stress are commonly implicated in bleaching, but other anthropogenic factors may also play a role. To address coral loss, active restoration is already underway in many critical regions. Additionally, coral researchers are exploring assisted evolution methods for greater coral resilience to projected climate change. This review provides an overview of the symbiotic relationship, the mechanisms underlying coral bleaching in response to stressors, and the strategies being pursued to address coral loss. Despite the necessity of ongoing research in all aspects of this field, action on global climate change remains crucial for the long-term survival of coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid39883080, year = {2025}, author = {Liang, SM and Abeer, H and Elsayed, FAA and Wu, QS}, title = {Transcriptomic analysis reveals potential roles of polyamine and proline metabolism in waterlogged peach roots inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae and Serendipita indica.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpaf013}, pmid = {39883080}, issn = {1758-4469}, abstract = {Root-associated endophytic fungi can create symbiotic relationships with trees to enhance stress tolerance, but the underlying mechanisms, especially with regard to waterlogging tolerance, remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of Funneliformis mosseae and Serendipita indica on the growth, root cross-section structure, and root transcriptional responses of peach under waterlogging stress, with a focus on polyamine and proline metabolism. Genes and transcription factors associated with secondary cell wall biosynthesis were selected, and their expression profiles were analyzed. F. mosseae significantly increased the height, stem diameter, and leaf number of peach seedlings subjected to two weeks of waterlogging stress, whereas S. indica only significantly improved stem diameter. Both fungal species substantially increased root diameter, stele diameter, the number of late metaxylem inside the stele, and late metaxylem diameter, thus improving aeration within inoculated roots under waterlogging stress. Transcriptomic analysis of waterlogged roots identified 5425 and 5646 differentially expressed genes following inoculation with F. mosseae and S. indica, respectively. The arginine and proline metabolism and arginine biosynthesis pathways were enriched following fungal inoculations. Both fungi reduced the conversion of glutamate and ornithine for proline synthesis. However, S. indica promoted peptide-to-proline conversion by up-regulating the expression of PIPs. Although both fungi promoted the expression of genes involved in arginine and ornithine synthesis pathway, only F. mosseae led to increased levels of arginine and ornithine. Additionally, F. mosseae promoted the accumulation of putrescine and maintained polyamine homeostasis by down-regulating PAO2 and SAMDC. Moreover, F. mosseae facilitated the metabolism of cadaverine. In conclusion, both F. mosseae and S. indica formed symbiotic relationships with peach, with F. mosseae primarily improving polyamine accumulation and S. indica predominantly facilitating proline accumulation for enhanced waterlogging resistance.}, } @article {pmid39881995, year = {2024}, author = {Sodhi, GK and Wijesekara, T and Kumawat, KC and Adhikari, P and Joshi, K and Singh, S and Farda, B and Djebaili, R and Sabbi, E and Ramila, F and Sillu, D and Santoyo, G and de Los Santos-Villalobos, S and Kumar, A and Pellegrini, M and Mitra, D}, title = {Nanomaterials-plants-microbes interaction: plant growth promotion and stress mitigation.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1516794}, pmid = {39881995}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil salinization, extreme climate conditions, and phytopathogens are abiotic and biotic stressors that remarkably reduce agricultural productivity. Recently, nanomaterials have gained attention as effective agents for agricultural applications to mitigate such stresses. This review aims to critically appraise the available literature on interactions involving nanomaterials, plants, and microorganisms. This review explores the role of nanomaterials in enhancing plant growth and mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses. These materials can be synthesized by microbes, plants, and algae, and they can be applied as fertilizers and stress amelioration agents. Nanomaterials facilitate nutrient uptake, improve water retention, and enhance the efficiency of active ingredient delivery. Nanomaterials strengthen plant antioxidant systems, regulate photosynthesis, and stabilize hormonal pathways. Concurrently, their antimicrobial and protective properties provide resilience against biotic stressors, including pathogens and pests, by promoting plant immune responses and optimizing microbial-plant symbiosis. The synergistic interactions of nanomaterials with beneficial microorganisms optimize plant growth under stress conditions. These materials also serve as carriers of nutrients, growth regulators, and pesticides, thus acting like "smart fertilizers. While nanotechnology offers great promise, addressing potential environmental and ecotoxicological risks associated with their use is necessary. This review outlines pathways for leveraging nanotechnology to achieve resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart agricultural systems by integrating molecular insights and practical applications.}, } @article {pmid39881990, year = {2024}, author = {Xiao, J and He, Z and He, X and Lin, Y and Kong, X}, title = {Tracing microbial community across endophyte-to-saprotroph continuum of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl leaves considering priority effect of endophyte on litter decomposition.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1518569}, pmid = {39881990}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Endophytes typically coexist with plants in symbiosis and transition into the saprobic system as plant tissues senesce, participating in the decomposition process of litter. However, the dynamic changes of endophytic communities during this process and their role in litter decomposition remain unclear. This study tracked the microbial composition across the transition from live leaves to litter in Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl (C. camphora), evaluating the contribution of endophytes to litter decomposition by examining microbial diversity, community assembly, and co-occurrence networks along the endophyte-to-saprotroph spectrum. The results revealed increasing bacterial diversity but stable fungal diversity, and the diversity of endogenous microbes is mirrored this in the saprophytic phase. Bacterial community assembly was characterized by deterministic processes during the symbiotic phase, shifted to stochastic processes during the saprophytic phase. In contrast, fungal community assembly was predominantly driven by stochastic processes throughout the continuum. Out of the 49 keystone taxa identified, only Pseudorhodoplanes sinuspersici demonstrated a significant positive correlation with community assembly. All identified bacterial keystone taxa during the saprophytic phase originated from endophytic sources, and around 80% of the fungal keystone taxa in the initial stages of decomposition were similarly endophytic in origin. Additionally, 60% of the dominant bacterial taxa and 28% of the dominant fungal taxa at the commencement of decomposition were of endophytic descent. This suggests that endogenous microbes possess the potential to evolve into both keystone and dominant taxa during the saprophytic phase. Endogenous keystone and dominant microbes both exhibited significant correlations with microbial network, indicating their substantial ecological presence in microbial community. Both endogenous keystone and dominant taxa exerted significant potential influences on litter decomposition. Overall, during the saprophytic phase, endophytes are likely to influence the assemblage of microbial communities, the network structure, and decomposition-related functions. Specifically, it appears that bacterial endophytes may possess a greater adaptability to the decomposition processes of leaf litter compared to their fungal counterparts.}, } @article {pmid39881987, year = {2024}, author = {Yan, S and Zhang, Q and Jia, S and Guo, M and Zhang, Q and Gu, P}, title = {Endophytic strategies decoded by genome and transcriptome analysis of Fusarium nematophilum strain NQ8GII4.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1487022}, pmid = {39881987}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Fusarium nematophilum strain NQ8GII4 is an endophytic fungus with significant potential for improving growth and disease resistance of alfalfa. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiotic relationship between NQ8GII4 and alfalfa roots remain poorly understood.

METHODS: In this study, we conducted (1) a comparative genomic analysis of selected saprophytic, pathogenic, and endophytic fungi, including molecular phylogeny analysis, whole-genome alignment, and divergence date estimation positioning, and (2) transcriptomic profiling of alfalfa roots infected with NQ8GII4.

RESULTS: Our findings reveal that NQ8GII4 is genetically closely related to F. solani, suggesting it diverged from Fusarium phytopathogens. During the early stages of symbiosis establishment, genes encoding glycosyltransferases (GTs), fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes (FCWDEs), and steroid-14α-demethylase (CYP51) were significantly downregulated, potentially suppressing hyphal growth of the fungus. Once symbiosis was established, NQ8GII4 secreted effectors that activated plant immunity, which in turn could slow growth of the fungus. Moreover, genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, such as type I polyketide synthases (T1PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), were significantly downregulated. Homologs of autophagy-related genes, including ATG1, ATG2, ATG11, and others, were also downregulated, suggesting that reduced phytotoxin production and autophagy inhibition is a consequence of NQ8GII4's symbiosis.

DISCUSSION: This study investigated the comprehensive molecular and genetic mechanisms governing the interaction between NQ8GII4 and alfalfa roots. Beyond the NQ8GII4-alfalfa system, these findings also provide a valuable molecular framework for understanding the mechanism of interactions between endophytic fungi and their host plants.}, } @article {pmid39881730, year = {2024}, author = {Delpiano, CA and Rios, RS and Barraza-Zepeda, CE and Pozo, MJ and Aguilera, LE and Loayza, AP}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization defines root ecological strategies in an extreme arid environment.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1488383}, pmid = {39881730}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {The symbiosis between mycorrhizae fungi and plant roots is essential for plant establishment in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems. However, the role of mycorrhizal colonization (colM) in shaping root ecological strategies remains poorly understood. Emerging research identifies colM as a key trait influencing the multidimensional covariation of root traits within the Root Economic Space (RES), where a 'collaboration gradient' is proposed. At one end of this gradient, species with larger root diameters (RD) rely on colM for resource acquisition through an 'outsourcing' strategy, while at the other end, species with finer roots and greater exploration capacity employ a 'do it yourself' strategy to acquire resources independently. Although the RES framework has improved our understanding of root strategies, the relationship between colM and root traits in desert ecosystems remains underexplored, particularly in hyper-arid environments, where limited resources can constrain both plant and mycorrhizal survival. In this study, we examine the root ecological strategies of 32 dominant shrub species in Chile's Coastal Atacama Desert, focusing on the link between specific root traits and colM. We found that larger RD correlated with higher levels of colM, supporting the 'outsourcing' strategy within the 'collaboration gradient' hypothesis of the RES. Additionally, RD and colM emerged as playing key roles in defining both dimensions of root ecological strategies. Moreover, we identified colM as a central hub trait in the root phenotypic network, underscoring its role in survival strategies under hyper-arid conditions. These findings emphasize the critical importance of colM in modulating plant ecological strategies and highlight the need to further investigate how AM enhances root lifespan and optimizes resource uptake in extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid39881025, year = {2025}, author = {Haider, K and Sufian, M and Abbas, D and Kabir, K and Ali, MS and Kausar, Y and Ghafar, MA}, title = {The Role of Gut Microbiota in Shaping Immune Responses in Tephritidae Fruit Fly and Prospective Implications for Management.}, journal = {Neotropical entomology}, volume = {54}, number = {1}, pages = {34}, pmid = {39881025}, issn = {1678-8052}, mesh = {*Tephritidae/immunology/microbiology ; Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Symbiosis ; Pest Control, Biological ; }, abstract = {The interaction of microbial communities with host immunity has become one of the most explored research areas with significant implications for pest control strategies. It has been found that the gut microbiota plays substantial roles in immune response regulation and host-gut microbiome symbiosis, as well as in pathogen resistance and overall fitness in Tephritidae fruit flies that are major pests of agricultural importance. In this review, we discuss the modulation of immune responses of Tephritidae fruit flies by the gut microbiota with particular emphasis on the general interactions between microbiota and the immune system. These interactions help to unravel new horizons of pest management. Regulating gut microbiota modifies the performance of biological control agents and SIT and allows the creation of microbial therapies that affect the vital physiological functions of fruit flies. Besides, deploying microbes that can modulate the immune response and using microbial-derived signals provide an eco-friendly and more sustainable way of eradicating chemical pesticides and making farming systems less susceptible to climatic variability. This paper reviews various aspects of the possibility of using gut microbiota for changing the approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs that would improve methods of controlling Tephritidae fruit fly populations more ecologically.}, } @article {pmid39880954, year = {2025}, author = {Huang, Y and Igarashi, K and Liu, L and Mayumi, D and Ujiie, T and Fu, L and Yang, M and Lu, Y and Cheng, L and Kato, S and Nobu, MK}, title = {Methanol transfer supports metabolic syntrophy between bacteria and archaea.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39880954}, issn = {1476-4687}, abstract = {In subsurface methanogenic ecosystems, the ubiquity of methylated-compound-using archaea-methylotrophic methanogens[1-4]-implies that methylated compounds have an important role in the ecology and carbon cycling of such habitats. However, the origin of these chemicals remains unclear[5,6] as there are no known energy metabolisms that generate methylated compounds de novo as a major product. Here we identified an energy metabolism in the subsurface-derived thermophilic anaerobe Zhaonella formicivorans[7] that catalyses the conversion of formate to methanol, thereby producing methanol without requiring methylated compounds as an input. Cultivation experiments showed that formate-driven methanologenesis is inhibited by the accumulation of methanol. However, this limitation can be overcome through methanol consumption by a methylotrophic partner methanogen, Methermicoccus shengliensis. This symbiosis represents a fourth mode of mutualistic cross-feeding driven by thermodynamic necessity (syntrophy), previously thought to rely on transfer of hydrogen, formate or electrons[8-10]. The unusual metabolism and syntrophy provide insights into the enigmatic presence of methylated compounds in subsurface methanogenic ecosystems and demonstrate how organisms survive at the thermodynamic limit through metabolic symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid39880798, year = {2025}, author = {Chaib De Mares, M and Arciniegas Castro, E and Ulloa, MA and Torres, JM and Sierra, MA and Butler, DJ and Mason, CE and Zambrano, MM and Moncada, B and Reyes Muñoz, A}, title = {Distinct bacteria display genus and species-specific associations with mycobionts in paramo lichens in Colombia.}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiaf010}, pmid = {39880798}, issn = {1574-6941}, abstract = {Lichens are complex symbiotic systems where fungi interact with an extracellular arrangement of one or more photosynthetic partners and an indeterminate number of other microbes. Recently, specific lichen-microbial community associations have been proposed. In this study, we aimed to characterize the differences in bacteria associated with closely related lichens, under a defined set of environmental conditions in Colombian paramos. Our goal was to determine if there is a correlation between microbiota and host divergence in lichen species belonging to the genus Sticta. We found that specific microbiota are defined by their mycobiont at the genus level. Further, distinct bacterial families show differences among the three studied genera, and specific amplicon sequence variants further discriminate among lichen species within each genus. A geographic component also determines the composition of these microbial communities among lichen species. Our functional analysis revealed that fungal partners play a key role in synthesizing complex polysaccharides, while bacterial-derived antioxidants and photoprotective mechanisms contribute to desiccation tolerance in lichens. These insights highlight the complex interactions within lichen symbioses that could be relevant in environments such as the paramo ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid39880116, year = {2025}, author = {Runchu, W and Zhigang, T and Sha, W and Risen, Y and Hanbo, Y and Jing, C and Jingyi, J and Jianhong, J and Zhe, K and Yanxiao, W and Elsayed Ali, EA and Hong, C}, title = {Enhancing single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process with airlift inner-circulation and oxygen partition: a novel strategy for treating high-strength ammonium wastewater.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {120968}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.120968}, pmid = {39880116}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {In the single-stage partial nitritation-anammox process for high-ammonium wastewater treatment, the presence of sufficient biomass with high activity is essential. This study developed an innovative airlift inner-circulation partition bioreactor (AIPBR) with a dual-cylinder structure. During the 362 days' operation, the AIPBR exhibited robust and stable nitrogen removal performance under diverse influent ammonium spanning from 300 to 1800 mg N/L. Notably, when the influent ammonium was 1820 ± 34 mg N/L, the nitrogen removal rate reached 3.194 ± 0.074 kg N/m[3]/d, accompanied by removal efficiency of 87.6 ± 1.5%. The unique design of the reactor enabled the formation of dissolved oxygen gradient, which improved the synergy of functional microorganisms by facilitating mass transfer within the sludge. Additionally, it maintained appropriate hydraulic shear in the inner cylinder to support granule formation and simultaneously reduced excessive flow in the outer cylinder to prevent sludge loss. Through the cyclic granulation, the system fostered a symbiotic consortium of flocculent and granular sludge with particle size predominantly distributed within the range of 200-400 μm, which enhanced the activity of microorganisms. These findings highlight the potential of AIPBR as a novel and effective strategy for high-ammonium wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid39880115, year = {2025}, author = {Sun, K and Yang, R and Liu, J and Zhao, W and Li, X and Wang, Y and Song, S}, title = {Precipitation changes reshape desert soil microbial community assembly and potential functions.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {120958}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.120958}, pmid = {39880115}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Understanding the responses of desert microbial communities to escalating precipitation changes is a significant knowledge gap in predicting future soil health and ecological function. Through a five-year precipitation manipulation experiment, we investigated the contrasting eco-evolutionary processes of desert bacteria and fungi that manifested in changes to the assembly and potential functions of the soil microbiome. Elevated precipitation increased the alpha diversity and network complexity of bacteria and fungi, proportion of non-dominant phyla, and abundance of carbon- and nitrogen-fixing bacteria and saprophytic, symbiotic, and pathogenic fungi. Conversely, decreased precipitation reduced the alpha diversity and network complexity of bacteria and fungi while increasing the proportion of non-dominant phyla, stability of the network, and abundance of functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen degradation, nitrification, and ammonification. This suggests that soil microbes may attenuate the negative effects of reduced precipitation by streamlining communities, enhancing carbon and nitrogen acquisition, and promoting nitrogen cycling. Furthermore, we revealed that soil properties and vegetation attributes explained approximately 27.86%-37.75% and 17.76%-22.84% of the variation in bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Finally, we demonstrated that precipitation-driven soil nutrient content and vegetation attributes are the potentially critical factors in shaping the soil microbial assembly and functions. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the response of desert soil microbes to escalating climate change.}, } @article {pmid39879950, year = {2025}, author = {Miao, C and Zeller, V}, title = {Nutrient circularity from waste to fertilizer: A perspective from LCA studies.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {965}, number = {}, pages = {178623}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178623}, pmid = {39879950}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Nutrient circularity, an exemplification of circular economy (CE), is situated in the waste/wastewater-agriculture nexus. Recycling nutrient elements from waste streams to fertilizer products amplify the sustainable management of resources and intersect technical and biological loops, a concept developed for CE. Such a complex system needs to be directed by robust assessment methods such as life cycle assessment (LCA) to identify trade-offs and potentials. This review aims to provide a comprehensive outlook of the current state of nutrient circularity and a critical analysis on the applicability of LCA to nutrient CE pathways. Our worked has summarized CE pathways including direct land application, traditionally integrated processes in wastewater treatment plants, and targeted nutrient recycling technologies. Despite the restrictions on inputs streams, recycling technologies demonstrated a relative low selectivity. LCA is a powerful instrument to guide nutrient circularity; however, system modeling settings can confine the applicability of LCA for CE pathways. Given that LCA studies can only partially capture the CE characteristics, a deliberate methodological selection of functional unit, allocation method and impact indicators is required for the specific CE aspect under investigation. Lower data scale limits the LCA ability to assess CE practices that requires systemic analyses. Hence, full scale assessment is of necessity since it incorporates potential gains and drawbacks from the material upscaling, process efficiency changes and possible industrial symbiosis. The findings of this review lay a robust groundwork for future research, pinpointing areas of focus in LCA modeling within nutrient circularity. This is particularly vital for the Global South to ensure knowledge transfer and prompt action.}, } @article {pmid39879929, year = {2025}, author = {Lera, M and Ferrer, JF and Borrás, L and Martí, N and Serralta, J and Seco, A}, title = {Mesophilic anaerobic digestion of mixed sludge in CSTR and AnMBR systems: A perspective on microplastics fate.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {375}, number = {}, pages = {124250}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124250}, pmid = {39879929}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Most microplastics (MPs) end up in the biosolids produced in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can pose contamination risks when the biosolids are applied to agriculture. This study evaluated the impact of mesophilic anaerobic digestion on the fate of MPs in WWTP sludge. For this, two laboratory-scale anaerobic digesters were operated in parallel, consisting of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) equipped with an ultrafiltration membrane to decouple the hydraulic and sludge retention times. Both digesters were continuously fed with mixed sludge from a municipal WWTP. The results showed a significant reduction in the MP concentration, with the AnMBR having the higher MP removal efficiency (88.6% vs. 62.1%) and obtaining a higher percentage of biomethanisation (58.3% vs. 43.7%). Polypropylene (PP) and polyacrylonitrile were the main polymers in the mixed sludge, while PP and polyethylene were the dominant polymers in the digested samples. The MP particles in all the samples were predominantly in the 500-104 μm size range. Microbiological analysis indicates a greater species diversity in the microbial community of the AnMBR, the results also revealed a symbiotic relationship between the Firmicutes and Patescibacteria phyla in this digester.}, } @article {pmid39878511, year = {2025}, author = {Chaddad, Z and Bouhnik, O and Lamrabet, M and Alami, S and Missbah El Idrissi, M}, title = {Complete genome sequence of Bradyrhizobium lupini LLZ14, a nitrogen-fixing and plant growth-promoting bacterium.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0093524}, doi = {10.1128/mra.00935-24}, pmid = {39878511}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {In this study, we present the complete genome of Bradyrhizobium lupini LLZ14, a nodule-forming bacterium isolated from Lupinus luteus root nodules with high plant growth-promoting abilities. This genome contains genes predicted to be involved in plant stress tolerance and growth promotion, including auxin production, phosphatase, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase.}, } @article {pmid39878491, year = {2025}, author = {Guo, M and Jiang, L and Zhou, G and Lian, J and Yu, X and Huang, H}, title = {Diversity and dynamics of multiple symbionts contribute to early development of broadcast spawning reef-building coral Dipsastraea veroni.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0235924}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02359-24}, pmid = {39878491}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Sexual reproduction and recruitment enhance the genetic diversity and evolution of reef-building corals for population recovery and coral reef conservation under climate change. However, new recruits are vulnerable to physical changes and the mechanisms of symbiosis establishment remain poorly understood. Here, Dipsastraea veroni, a broadcast spawning hermaphrodite reef-building coral, was subjected to settlement and juvenile growth in flow-through in situ seawater at 27.93 ± 0.96°C. Symbiosis of Symbiodiniaceae, bacteria, and/or archaea by horizontal acquisition and/or hypothetical vertical transmission through the mucus with symbionts from the parent appears to be a heritable process of selection and adaptation in D. veroni at the egg, larva, juvenile (5 days post settlement, d p.s. and 32 d p.s.) stages. Symbiodiniaceae was dominated by the genera Cladocopium, Durusdinium, Symbiodinium, with increasing relative abundance of Durusdinium at 5 d p.s. and Symbiodinium at 32 d p.s. Mixed acquisition of the dominant phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, Cyanobacteriota, Bacillota, Planctomycetota, and Actinomycetota in egg, larva, and/or juvenile showed a winnowing and regulated bacterial diversity and dynamics, resulting in stage-abundant orders Pseudomonadales and Bacillales in egg and Rhodobacterales, Rhodospirillales, Cyanobacteria, and Cyanobacteriales in larva and/or juvenile. The photoautotrophic Chloroflexales, Cyanobacteriales, and Chlorobiales were abundant in adults. The stable archaeal community contained predominant Crenarchaeota, Halobacterota, Nanoarchaeia Thermoplasmatota, and eight rare phyla, with increased relative abundance of the genera Bathyarchaeota, Candidatus_Nitrosopumilus, Candidatus_Nitrocosmicus, Nitrosarchaeum, Candidatus_Nitrosotenuis, Candidatus_Nitrosopelagicus, Cenarchaeum, Haladaptatus, Halogranum, Halolamina, and Woesearchaeales and GW2011-AR15 in juveniles. All results revealed flexible symbiotic mechanisms in D. veroni during early ontogeny for coral survival and evolution.IMPORTANCEFlexible symbioses of Symbiodiniaceae, bacteria, and archaea appear to be a heritable process of selection and adaptation in Dipsastraea veroni in the field, benefiting early coral development and facilitating coral population recovery and reef conversation.}, } @article {pmid39878466, year = {2025}, author = {Fung, BL and Visick, KL}, title = {LitR and its quorum-sensing regulators modulate biofilm formation by Vibrio fischeri.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0047624}, doi = {10.1128/jb.00476-24}, pmid = {39878466}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {Quorum sensing controls numerous processes ranging from the production of virulence factors to biofilm formation. Biofilms, communities of bacteria that are attached to one another and/or a surface, are common in nature, and when they form, they can produce a quorum of bacteria. One model system to study biofilms is the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, which forms a biofilm that promotes the colonization of its symbiotic host. Many factors promote V. fischeri biofilm formation in vitro, including the symbiosis polysaccharide (SYP) and cellulose, but the role of quorum sensing is currently understudied. Recently, a quorum-sensing-dependent transcription factor, LitR, was shown to negatively influence V. fischeri biofilm formation in the context of a biofilm-overproducing strain. To better understand the importance of LitR, we identified conditions in which the impact of LitR on biofilm formation could be observed in an otherwise wild-type strain and then investigated its role and the roles of upstream quorum regulators in biofilm phenotypes. In static conditions, LitR and its upstream quorum regulators, including autoinducer synthases LuxS and AinS, contributed to control over biofilms that were both SYP and cellulose dependent. In shaking liquid conditions, LitR and AinS contributed to control over biofilms that were primarily cellulose dependent. LitR modestly inhibited cellulose transcription in a manner that depended on the transcription factor VpsR. These findings expand our understanding of LitR and the quorum-sensing pathway in the physiology of V. fischeri and illuminate negative control mechanisms that prevent robust biofilm formation by wild-type V. fischeri under laboratory conditions.IMPORTANCEQuorum sensing is a key regulatory mechanism that controls diverse phenotypes in numerous bacteria, including Vibrio fischeri. In many microbes, quorum sensing has been shown to control biofilm formation, yet in V. fischeri, the link between quorum sensing and biofilm formation has been understudied. This study fills that knowledge gap by identifying roles for the quorum sensing-controlled transcription factor, LitR, and its upstream quorum-sensing regulators, including the autoinducer synthases AinS and LuxS, in inhibiting biofilm formation under specific conditions. It also determined that LitR inhibits the transcription of genes required for cellulose biosynthesis. This work thus expands our understanding of the complex control over biofilm regulation.}, } @article {pmid39877724, year = {2025}, author = {Lipnicky, A and Subramanian, P and El Atrouni, W}, title = {A case of W. chitiniclastica bacteremia in a 38-year-old homeless male originating from a maggot-infested amputated foot.}, journal = {IDCases}, volume = {39}, number = {}, pages = {e02146}, pmid = {39877724}, issn = {2214-2509}, abstract = {Wohlfahrtiimonas (W.) chitiniclastica was first isolated from the larval stage of the fly vector Wohlfahrtia magnifica. It is a gram-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic rod that thrives in temperatures between 28º C and 37º C. Its strong chitinase activity aids in metamorphosis, which suggests a symbiotic relationship with the fly. Although rare, W. chitiniclastica has been implicated in human infections, like bacteremia and osteomyelitis, typically transmitted through fly larvae in skin wounds. Over the past decade, there have been 12 documented human infections, including five confirmed cases of bacteremia. We present a case involving a 38-year-old homeless male with W. chitiniclastica bacteremia secondary to maggot-infested wounds. The patient had a medical history of late latent syphilis and previous frostbite requiring right transmetatarsal amputation and presented with a stump infection on the right foot, featuring maggots. He was afebrile with stable signs and blood cultures revealed W. chitiniclastica. The pathogen was susceptible to various antibiotics, including cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and levofloxacin. The patient was treated with piperacillin/tazobactam and later transitioned to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole but left against medical advice. This case underscores the intersection of infectious diseases and social inequalities, highlighting the need for clinicians to consider W. chitiniclastica in patients with poor hygiene, alcoholism, peripheral vascular disease, and open wounds. It also emphasizes the dual role of maggots in wound care, capable of both cleaning necrotic tissue and introducing pathogenic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid39877627, year = {2025}, author = {Mahdavifard, S and Malekzadeh, HR}, title = {Symbiotic anti-oxidant, anti-glycation, and anti-inflammatory qualities of a combination of thiamine and niacin protected type-2 diabetic male rats against both macro and micro-vascular complications.}, journal = {Iranian journal of basic medical sciences}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {98-104}, pmid = {39877627}, issn = {2008-3866}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Increased nuclear factor (NF-kβ) and carbonyl stress due to decreased glyoxalase-1 activity (Glo-I) contribute significantly to insulin resistance and vascular complications. Therefore, we aimed to study the impact of the combination of thiamine and niacin on hepatic NF-kβ signaling, metabolic profile, and Glo-I activity in male rats with type-2 diabetes (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male rats were divided equally into five groups: control, diabetic, diabetic treated with thiamine (180 mg/l in drinking water), niacin (180 mg/l), and a combination of both. The treated groups received the treatments daily in drinking water for two months. T2DM was induced using a combination of nicotinamide and alloxan. Metabolic profile and renal dysfunction parameters were assessed. Additionally, various glycation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers were measured.

RESULTS: The treated group with both vitamins showed the lowest blood sugar and insulin resistance indices, cardiovascular indices, renal dysfunction parameters, hepatic NF-kβ expression, oxidative stress, inflammatory and glycation markers, and the highest anti-oxidant and anti-glycation markers, β cell activity, and insulin sensitivity. Thiamine exhibited more anti-inflammatory activity than niacin in diabetic rats, while niacin demonstrated stronger anti-oxidant activity (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: The combined use of vitamins had a more beneficial impact on macro and microvascular complications in diabetes than each alone, attributed to their higher anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-glycation characteristics. The vitamins also had a more corrective effect on glucose-lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and renal function through a stronger lowering effect on hepatic NF-kβ expression.}, } @article {pmid39875095, year = {2025}, author = {Moeller, AH}, title = {Partner fidelity, not geography, drives co-diversification of gut microbiota with hominids.}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {20240454}, pmid = {39875095}, issn = {1744-957X}, support = {/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Phylogeny ; Hominidae/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Genome, Bacterial ; Geography ; }, abstract = {Bacterial strains that inhabit the gastrointestinal tracts of hominids have diversified in parallel (co-diversified) with their host species. The extent to which co-diversification has been mediated by partner fidelity between strains and hosts or by geographical distance between hosts is not clear due to a lack of strain-level data from clades of hosts with unconfounded phylogenetic relationships and geographical distributions. Here, I tested these competing hypotheses through meta-analyses of 7121 gut bacterial genomes assembled from wild-living ape species and subspecies sampled throughout their ranges in equatorial Africa. Across the gut bacterial phylogeny, strain diversification was more strongly associated with host phylogeny than with geography. In total, approximately 14% of the branch length of the gut bacterial phylogeny showed significant evidence of co-diversification independent of geography, whereas only approximately 4% showed significant evidence of diversification associated with geography independent of host phylogeny. Geographically co-occurring heterospecific hosts (Pan and Gorilla) universally maintained distinct co-diversified bacterial strains. Strains whose diversification was associated with geography independent of host phylogeny included clades of Proteobacteria known to adopt free-living lifestyles (e.g. Escherichia). These results show that co-diversification of gut bacterial strains with hominids has been driven primarily by fidelity of strains to host lineages rather than geography.}, } @article {pmid39874245, year = {2025}, author = {Milbrath, LR and Biazzo, J and van Zoeren, J}, title = {Flight phenology and influence of region and habitat on the abundance of Xylosandrus germanus and Anisandrus maiche (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in New York.}, journal = {Environmental entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ee/nvaf010}, pmid = {39874245}, issn = {1938-2936}, support = {#8062-22410-007-000D//USDA/ ; //Agricultural Research Service/ ; }, abstract = {The non-native wood-boring and symbiotic fungus-culturing Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) was first reported in New York apple orchards in 2013. Trapping surveys have been conducted annually since to assist growers in timely applications of preventative control measures. In 2021, a similar-looking introduced species, Anisandrus maiche (Kurentsov), was identified in traps in west central New York. Anisandrus maiche was first recorded in 2005 in Pennsylvania but its history in New York was unclear due to potential misidentification. We collected and identified ambrosia beetles using ethanol-baited bottle traps in 2022 and 2023 in New York at 2 commercial apple orchards near Lake Ontario and 2 cider apple orchards in the lower Finger Lakes district. Traps were placed in a forest interior, the forest edge, and the orchard edge at each site. Xylosandrus germanus was trapped from mid-April into early October; it was abundant in the Lake Ontario region but less so in the Finger Lakes. In contrast, counts of A. maiche were very high in the Finger Lakes but extremely low near Lake Ontario. It was trapped from late-May to mid-September. Most other bark and ambrosia beetle species were uncommon. Captures of X. germanus and A. maiche were generally highest in the forest interior and declined toward the orchard edge, but each species was usually present in traps across habitats at the same time. Thus, the practice of trapping at forest edges should continue. Both species can potentially infest stressed trees, including in orchards, throughout the growing season.}, } @article {pmid39872724, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, S and Jurgensen, L and Harrison, MJ}, title = {Utilizing FRET-based Biosensors to Measure Cellular Phosphate Levels in Mycorrhizal Roots of Brachypodium distachyon.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {e5158}, pmid = {39872724}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi engage in symbiotic relationships with plants, influencing their phosphate (Pi) uptake pathways, metabolism, and root cell physiology. Despite the significant role of Pi, its distribution and response dynamics in mycorrhizal roots remain largely unexplored. While traditional techniques for Pi measurement have shed some light on this, real-time cellular-level monitoring has been a challenge. With the evolution of quantitative imaging with confocal microscopy, particularly the use of genetically encoded fluorescent sensors, live imaging of intracellular Pi concentrations is now achievable. Among these sensors, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based biosensors stand out for their accuracy. In this study, we employ the Pi-specific biosensor (cpFLIPPi-5.3m) targeted to the cytosol or plastids of Brachypodium distachyon plants, enabling us to monitor intracellular Pi dynamics during AM symbiosis. A complementary control sensor, cpFLIPPi-Null, is introduced to monitor non-Pi-specific changes. Leveraging a semi-automated ImageJ macro for sensitized FRET analysis, this method provides a precise and efficient way to determine relative intracellular Pi levels at the level of individual cells or organelles. Key features • This protocol describes the use of FRET biosensors for in vivo visualization of spatiotemporal phosphate levels with cellular and subcellular resolution in Brachypodium distachyon. • An optimized growth system can allow tracing of Pi transfer between AM fungi and host root. This protocol is used in: New Phytol (2022), DOI: 10.1111/nph.18081.}, } @article {pmid39872723, year = {2025}, author = {Galvis, J and Guyon, J and Daubon, T and Nikolski, M}, title = {Using DIMet for Differential Analysis of Labeled Metabolomics Data: A Step-by-step Guide Showcasing the Glioblastoma Metabolism.}, journal = {Bio-protocol}, volume = {15}, number = {2}, pages = {e5168}, pmid = {39872723}, issn = {2331-8325}, abstract = {Stable-isotope resolved metabolomics (SIRM) is a powerful approach for characterizing metabolic states in cells and organisms. By incorporating isotopes, such as [13]C, into substrates, researchers can trace reaction rates across specific metabolic pathways. Integrating metabolomics data with gene expression profiles further enriches the analysis, as we demonstrated in our prior study on glioblastoma metabolic symbiosis. However, the bioinformatics tools for analyzing tracer metabolomics data have been limited. In this protocol, we encourage the researchers to use SIRM and transcriptomics data and to perform the downstream analysis using our software tool DIMet. Indeed, DIMet is the first comprehensive tool designed for the differential analysis of tracer metabolomics data, alongside its integration with transcriptomics data. DIMet facilitates the analysis of stable-isotope labeling and metabolic abundances, offering a streamlined approach to infer metabolic changes without requiring complex flux analysis. Its pathway-based "metabologram" visualizations effectively integrate metabolomics and transcriptomics data, offering a versatile platform capable of analyzing corrected tracer datasets across diverse systems, organisms, and isotopes. We provide detailed steps for sample preparation and data analysis using DIMet through its intuitive, web-based Galaxy interface. To showcase DIMet's capabilities, we analyzed LDHA/B knockout glioblastoma cell lines compared to controls. Accessible to all researchers through Galaxy, DIMet is free, user-friendly, and open source, making it a valuable resource for advancing metabolic research. Key features • Glioblastoma tumor spheroids in vitro replicate tumors' three-dimensional structure and natural nutrient, metabolite, and gas gradients, providing a more realistic model of tumor biology. • Joint analysis of tracer metabolomics and transcriptomics datasets provides deeper insights into the metabolic states of cells. • DIMet is a web-based tool for differential analysis and seamless integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics data, making it accessible and user-friendly. • DIMet enables researchers to infer metabolic changes, offering intuitive and visually appealing "metabologram" outputs, surpassing conventional visual representations commonly used in the field.}, } @article {pmid39871894, year = {2024}, author = {Ren, Y and Chen, M and Wang, Z and Han, JJ}, title = {Oral microbiota in aging and diseases.}, journal = {Life medicine}, volume = {3}, number = {3}, pages = {lnae024}, pmid = {39871894}, issn = {2755-1733}, abstract = {Human microbiomes are microbial populations that form a symbiotic relationship with humans. There are up to 1000 species on the surface of human skin and mucosal system, among which gut microbiota attracts the most interest. As the beginning of the digestive tract, oral cavity is also an important microbial habitat in the human body which is the first line of defense against pathogens entering the body. Many studies have revealed that oral microbial dysbiosis could not only contribute to oral diseases but also whole-body systemic diseases and health status. Oral microorganisms can enter the gastrointestinal tract with saliva and food, or enter the blood circulation through mouth breakage, thus causing systemic inflammation and aging-related diseases including some causal links to Alzheimer's disease. A series of changes take place in oral microbial composition during development, with different age stages marked by different dominant microbial species. Despite a lack of comprehensive studies on aging oral microbiota, through systemic inflammation, oral pathogenic microbes are likely to contribute inflammatory aging. As inflammaging is a key signature and one of the causes for accelerated aging, improving the structure of oral microbiome may be not only a new strategy for disease prevention and treatment, but also for aging intervention.}, } @article {pmid39870251, year = {2025}, author = {Oubohssaine, M and Rabeh, K and Hnini, M}, title = {Symbiosis vs Pathogenesis in Plants: Reflections and Perspectives.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107333}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107333}, pmid = {39870251}, issn = {1096-1208}, abstract = {Plant-microbe partnerships constitute a complex and intricately woven network of connections that have evolved over countless centuries, involving both cooperation and antagonism. In various contexts, plants and microorganisms engage in mutually beneficial partnerships that enhance crop health and maintain balance in ecosystems. However, these associations also render plants susceptible to a range of pathogens. Understanding the fundamental molecular mechanisms governing these associations is crucial, given the notable susceptibility of plants to external environmental influences. Based on quorum sensing signals, phytohormone, and volatile organic carbon (VOC) production and others molecules, microorganisms influence plant growth, health, and defense responses. This review explores the multifaceted relationships between plants and their associated microorganisms, encompassing mutualism, commensalism, and antagonism. The molecular mechanisms of symbiotic and pathogenic interactions share similarities but lead to different outcomes. While symbiosis benefits both parties, pathogenesis harms the host. Genetic adaptations optimize these interactions, involving coevolution driving process. Environmental factors influence outcomes, emphasizing the need for understanding and manipulation of microbial communities for beneficial results. Research directions include employing multi-omics techniques, functional studies, investigating environmental factors, understanding evolutionary trajectories, and harnessing knowledge to engineer synthetic microbial consortia for sustainable agriculture and disease management.}, } @article {pmid39869923, year = {2025}, author = {Kausar Sk, M and Mandal, A and Chattopadhyay, J}, title = {Tipping events in a fear-affected symbiotic ecological system with adaptive hunting strategy.}, journal = {Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1063/5.0241236}, pmid = {39869923}, issn = {1089-7682}, mesh = {Animals ; *Predatory Behavior/physiology ; *Fear/physiology ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; *Models, Biological ; Ecosystem ; Adaptation, Physiological/physiology ; Food Chain ; }, abstract = {Experimental observations and field data demonstrated that predators adapt their hunting strategies in response to prey abundance. While previous studies explored the impact of predation risk on predator-prey interactions, the impact of symbiotic relationships between fear-affected prey and non-prey species on system dynamics remains unexplored. This study uses a mathematical approach to investigate how different symbiotic relationships govern system dynamics when predators adapt to prey availability. Our study illustrates that the mutualistic relationship between prey and partners extends predator survivability. However, the fear-affected symbiotic system may undergo regime shifts, which can be catastrophic or non-catastrophic, depending on symbiotic interaction patterns. The study demonstrates a hump-shaped relationship between the predator's optimal search rate and biomass and identifies an intermediate range of search rates where the system exhibits a "bubbling"phenomenon. Overall, our findings provide new insights into symbiotic relationships in community ecology, highlighting the complex interplay among predators, prey, and non-prey species.}, } @article {pmid39869587, year = {2025}, author = {Kumari, Y and Gunathilaka, N and Amarasinghe, D}, title = {A comprehensive review of biological and genetic control approaches for leishmaniasis vector sand flies; emphasis towards promoting tools for integrated vector management.}, journal = {PLoS neglected tropical diseases}, volume = {19}, number = {1}, pages = {e0012795}, pmid = {39869587}, issn = {1935-2735}, mesh = {Animals ; *Psychodidae/genetics/parasitology ; *Leishmaniasis/prevention & control/transmission ; *Insect Vectors/genetics/parasitology ; Insect Control/methods ; Humans ; Gene Editing/methods ; Leishmania/genetics ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Pest Control, Biological/methods ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a health problem in many regions with poor health and poor life resources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 700,000-1 million new cases arise annually. Effective control of sand fly vector populations is crucial for reducing the transmission of this disease. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively examine and evaluate the current methods for controlling sand fly populations, focusing on biological and gene drive techniques.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: A detailed, comprehensive literature search was carried out using databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the National Library of Medicine (NIH). These searches were done using specific keywords related to the field of study. This current review identified several promising methods, including genetically modified sand flies, using transgenic approaches by taking advanced gene editing tools like Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) and genetic modification of symbiotic microorganisms for controlling sand fly populations, which appeared to be proven under laboratory and field settings.

CONCLUSION: Genetic control approaches have many benefits over chemical control, including long-lasting effects on targets, high specificity, and less environmental impact. Advances in genetic engineering technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, sterile insect techniques, and gene drive insect modification, offer new avenues for precise and efficient sand fly management. Future research should prioritize optimizing rearing and sterilization techniques, conducting controlled field trials, and fostering collaboration across disciplines to realize the potential of genetic control strategies in combating leishmaniasis.}, } @article {pmid39869214, year = {2025}, author = {Shen, Y and Yang, J and Ma, Z and Li, Y and Dong, W and Duan, T}, title = {AM fungus plant colonization rather than an Epichloë endophyte attracts fall armyworm feeding.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, pmid = {39869214}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; CARS-22 Green Manure//China Modern Agriculture Research System/ ; 32071879//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32071879//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32071879//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32071879//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32071879//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32071879//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Epichloe/physiology ; *Spodoptera/physiology/microbiology ; *Endophytes/physiology ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Larva/microbiology/physiology/growth & development ; *Lolium/microbiology/physiology ; Herbivory ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Most cold-season grasses can be colonized by belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and foliar grass endophytes (Epichloë) simultaneously while also be attacked by insect herbivores. The colonization of AM fungi or the presence of grass endophytes is associated with increased resistance by the host plant. However, studies on how these two symbionts affect host plants and mitigate insect pest attack are currently lacking. In a glasshouse study we investigated the effects of an AM fungus (Acaulospora delicata), a foliar grass endophyte (Epichloë), and the insect pest Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) on plant growth, defense enzyme activity, and hormone concentrations of the important pasture grass Lolium perenne. Additionally, we assessed the selective behavior of FAW larvae in response to these interactions using olfactometer tests. Our results showed that the AM fungus and its co-colonization with Epichloë endophytes increased aboveground biomass, while Epichloë endophytes alone had no significant impact on ryegrass aboveground biomass. In contrast, FAW reduced aboveground biomass. The Epichloë endophytes and FAW significantly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization rate by 21.67% and 30.16%, respectively. Interestingly, compared to non-mycorrhizal plants, AM fungus colonized plants were more attractive to FAW larvae feeding, and the defense enzyme activity was not discernibly affected by any experimental treatments. The interactions of the AM fungus and Epichloë endophyte increased the jasmonic acid concentrations by 24.29% and decreased trasylol activity by 11.75% in the host plants under FAW attack. Neither the AM fungus nor Epichloë endophyte influenced the relative growth rate (RGR) of FAW. Overall, the AM fungus had a greater positive effect on plant growth than the Epichloë endophyte, regardless of FAW larvae infestation.}, } @article {pmid39868786, year = {2025}, author = {Engelhart, MJ and Brock, OD and Till, JM and Glowacki, RWP and Cantwell, JW and Clarke, DJ and Wesener, DA and Ahern, PP}, title = {BT1549 coordinates the in vitro IL-10 inducing activity of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0166924}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01669-24}, pmid = {39868786}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: The intestine is home to a complex immune system that is engaged in mutualistic interactions with the microbiome that maintain intestinal homeostasis. A variety of immune-derived anti-inflammatory mediators have been uncovered and shown to be critical for maintaining these beneficial immune-microbiome relationships. Notably, the gut microbiome actively invokes the induction of anti-inflammatory pathways that limit the development of microbiome-targeted inflammatory immune responses. Despite the importance of this microbiome-driven immunomodulation, detailed knowledge of the microbial factors that promote these responses remains limited. We have previously established that the gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron stimulates the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 via soluble factors in a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-MyD88-dependent manner. Here, using TLR2 activity reporter cell lines, we show that the capacity of B. thetaiotaomicron to stimulate TLR2 activity was not critically dependent on either of the canonical heterodimeric forms of TLR2, TLR2/TLR1, or TLR2/TLR6, that typically mediate its function. Furthermore, biochemical manipulation of B. thetaiotaomicron-conditioned media suggests that IL-10 induction is mediated by a protease-resistant or non-proteogenic factor. We next uncovered that deletion of gene BT1549, a predicted secreted lipoprotein, significantly impaired the capacity of B. thetaiotaomicron to induce IL-10, while complementation in trans restored IL-10 induction, suggesting a role for BT1549 in the immunomodulatory function of B. thetaiotaomicron. Collectively, these data provide molecular insight into the pathways through which B. thetaiotaomicron operates to promote intestinal immune tolerance and symbiosis.

IMPORTANCE: Intestinal homeostasis requires the establishment of peaceful interactions between the gut microbiome and the intestinal immune system. Members of the gut microbiome, like the symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, actively induce anti-inflammatory immune responses to maintain mutualistic relationships with the host. Despite the importance of such interactions, the specific microbial factors responsible remain largely unknown. Here, we show that B. thetaiotaomicron, which stimulates Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to drive IL-10 production, can stimulate TLR2 independently of TLR1 or TLR6, the two known TLR that can form heterodimers with TLR2 to mediate TLR2-dependent responses. Furthermore, we show that IL-10 induction is likely mediated by a protease-resistant or non-proteogenic factor, and that this requires gene BT1549, a predicted secreted lipoprotein and peptidase. Collectively, our work provides insight into the molecular dialog through which B. thetaiotaomicron coordinates anti-inflammatory immune responses. This knowledge may facilitate future strategies to promote such responses for therapeutic purposes.}, } @article {pmid39868566, year = {2025}, author = {Jiménez-Leiva, A and Juárez-Martos, RA and Cabrera, JJ and Torres, MJ and Mesa, S and Delgado, MJ}, title = {Dual Oxygen-Responsive Control by RegSR of Nitric Oxide Reduction in the Soybean Endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens.}, journal = {Antioxidants & redox signaling}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1089/ars.2024.0710}, pmid = {39868566}, issn = {1557-7716}, abstract = {Aims: To investigate the role of the RegSR-NifA regulatory cascade in the oxygen control of nitric oxide (NO) reduction in the soybean endosymbiont Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens. Results: We have performed an integrated study of norCBQD expression and NO reductase activity in regR, regS1, regS2, regS1/2, and nifA mutants in response to microoxia (2% O2) or anoxia. An activating role of RegR and NifA was observed under anoxia. In contrast, under microaerobic conditions, RegR acts as a repressor by binding to a RegR box located between the -10 and -35 regions within the norCBQD promoter. In addition, both RegS1 and RegS2 sensors cooperated with RegR in repressing norCBQD genes. Innovation: NO is a reactive gas that, at high levels, acts as a potent inhibitor of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. In this paper, we report new insights into the regulation of NO reductase, the major enzyme involved in NO removal in rhizobia. This knowledge will be crucial for the development of new strategies and management practices in agriculture, in particular, for improving legume production. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate, for the first time, a dual control of the RegSR two-component regulatory system on norCBQD genes control in response to oxygen levels. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000.}, } @article {pmid39868164, year = {2025}, author = {Galloway, A and Hofstede, BT and Walsh, AJ}, title = {Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy for metabolic analysis of LDHB inhibition in triple negative breast cancer.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2025.01.13.632864}, pmid = {39868164}, issn = {2692-8205}, abstract = {Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with no targeted treatments currently available. TNBC cells participate in metabolic symbiosis, a process that optimizes tumor growth by balancing metabolic processes between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation through increased activity by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB). Metabolic symbiosis allows oxidative cancer cells to function at a similar rate as glycolytic cancer cells, increasing overall metabolic activity and proliferation. Here, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is used to analyze the metabolism of TNBC cells with inhibition of LDHB using a multiphoton microscope to measure the fluorescent lifetimes of two metabolic coenzymes, NAD(P)H and FAD. LDHB is inhibited via an indole derivative known as AXKO-0046 in varying concentrations. Understanding how TNBC cell metabolism changes due to LDHB inhibition will provide further insight into metabolic symbiosis and potential new TNBC treatment options.}, } @article {pmid39868027, year = {2024}, author = {Stockdale, C and Avdikos, V}, title = {Transformative social innovation and rural collaborative workspaces: assembling community economies in Austria and Greece.}, journal = {Open research Europe}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {205}, pmid = {39868027}, issn = {2732-5121}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Collaborative Workspaces are rapidly growing and evolving across the world. Traditionally understood as an urban phenomenon, most research understands them as either 'entrepreneurial-led', as profit-driven and commercial spaces such as business incubators and accelerators, or 'community-led' as being bottom-up, not-for-profit ventures aimed at catering for the needs of their community. Recent years however have seen their diffusion beyond large urban agglomerations to small towns and villages, with their functions assumed to be more community-orientated. At the same time, social innovation, or social innovation processes have been gaining prominence in academia, policy, and practice, as they address societal problems and hold potential for new forms of social relations. This paper attempts to provide a novel framework towards understanding the transformative potential of rural collaborative workspaces, as they engage in processes of social innovation, by drawing from diverse and community economies literature and assemblage thinking.

METHODS: The paper uses international case study comparison between rural Austria and Greece (One case from each country). Methods applied were: semi-structured interviews (N=28), participant observation and focus groups (2).

RESULTS: Community-led rural collaborative workspaces hold transformative potential from i) their ability to assist rural actors with their capacities and realizing their desires and ii) changing individual subjectivities towards collective. Through changing social relations in praxis and perceptions, we examine how social innovation processes through collaborative workspaces can be understood as a means of opening new economic subjectivities towards creating community economies as their transformative potential.

CONCLUSIONS: Although rural collaborative workspaces hold potential for societal transformation, they require further institutionalization and support to move beyond the interstitial and symbiotic stages of transformation.}, } @article {pmid39865396, year = {2025}, author = {Haskett, TL and Cooke, L and Green, P and Poole, PS}, title = {Regulation of Rhizobial Nodulation Genes by Flavonoid-Independent NodD Supports Nitrogen-Fixing Symbioses With Legumes.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {e70014}, pmid = {39865396}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {RF-2019-100238//Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851/ ; BB/T006722/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Flavonoids/metabolism/biosynthesis ; *Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Medicago truncatula/microbiology/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Fabaceae/microbiology ; Pisum sativum/microbiology ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Rhizobia and legumes form a symbiotic relationship resulting in the formation of root structures known as nodules, where bacteria fix nitrogen. Legumes release flavonoids that are detected by the rhizobial nodulation (Nod) protein NodD, initiating the transcriptional activation of nod genes and subsequent synthesis of Nod Factors (NFs). NFs then induce various legume responses essential for this symbiosis. Although evidence suggests differential regulation of nodD expression and NF biosynthesis during symbiosis, the necessity of this regulation for the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules remains uncertain. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the Rlv3841 NodD regulatory domain results in a constitutively active protein (NodDFI) capable of activating NF biosynthesis gene expression without the presence of flavonoids. Optimised constitutive expression of nodDFI or nodD3 in nodD null mutants led to wild-type levels of nodulation and nitrogen fixation in pea and M. truncatula, respectively, indicating that flavonoid-regulated nodD expression is not essential for supporting symbiosis. These findings illustrate that transcriptional control of flavonoid-independent NodD regulators can be employed to drive NF biosynthesis, which holds potential for engineering symbiosis between rhizobia and cereals equipped with reconstituted NF receptors.}, } @article {pmid39864254, year = {2025}, author = {Iida, H}, title = {Cytoplasmic streaming of symbiotic algae in the ciliate Stentor pyriformis.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {176}, number = {}, pages = {126086}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2025.126086}, pmid = {39864254}, issn = {1618-0941}, abstract = {Stentor pyriformis is a unicellular organism whose inherent green-algal symbionts can be utilized in evolutionary and cytological studies. The cytoplasm contains symbiotic algae and starch granules, which are in constant motion. The habitats of the ciliate S. pyriformis are restricted to a few oligotrophic ponds in Japan. This study aimed to develop a culture medium for long-term incubation based on pond water quality data and to investigate the cytoplasmic streaming of symbiotic algae and starch granules in S. pyriformis. In addition, the involvement of the cytoskeleton and motor proteins in cytoplasmic streaming was examined using microtubule polymerization and dynein ATPase inhibitors. The results indicated that the cytoplasmic streaming in S. pyriformis is associated with the microtubule system. Immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of KM-fibers, bundles of microtubules running longitudinally along the cell surface. These findings suggest a possible link between microtubules and cytoplasmic streaming in S. pyriformis.}, } @article {pmid39863222, year = {2025}, author = {Liu, W and Yu, Q and Nasir, M and Zhu, X and Iqbal, MS and Elumalai, P and Wang, L and Zhang, K and Li, D and Ji, J and Luo, J and Cui, J and Gao, X}, title = {The Cry2Aa protein is not enough to pose a threat to Pardosa astrigera.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {140241}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140241}, pmid = {39863222}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {The widespread commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops makes it important to assess the potential impact of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on non-target organisms. Pardosa astrigera is an important predator in agroforestry ecosystems, and female and male spiders may react differently to Bt toxins due to their different activity habits and nutritional requirements. In this study, we found that exposure to Cry2Aa protein did not affect the survival and body weight of P. astrigera during growth and development. However, according to 16S rRNA sequencing results of the P. astrigera adults, Cry2Aa protein not only changed the diversity of symbiont bacteria, but also changed its symbiont composition. During feeding on prey without Bt artificial feed, the dominant communities in female and male adults were Actinobacteria and Corynebacterium-1, respectively. Feeding on prey containing Cry2Aa protein, Firmicutes were the dominant phyla. At the genus level, Cry2Aa protein significantly increased the relative abundance of Enterococcus and became the dominant genus in females only. In addition, Bacillus, Weissella and other symbiotic bacteria had significant changes in females. In terms of species composition, sex differences resulted in the absence of different types of symbiotic bacteria. Functional analysis of enrichment pathways showed significant changes in various metabolic pathways such as "Carbohydrate metabolism" and "Nucleotide metabolism", and there are differences between the sexes. These findings provide new data information and support for revealing the different strategies of spiders to cope with Cry2Aa protein based on sex differences, and also provide new data information and support for environmental safety assessment of GM crops.}, } @article {pmid39862964, year = {2025}, author = {Brown, JA and Bashir, H and Zeng, MY}, title = {Lifelong partners: Gut microbiota-immune cell interactions from infancy to old age.}, journal = {Mucosal immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.mucimm.2025.01.006}, pmid = {39862964}, issn = {1935-3456}, abstract = {Our immune system and gut microbiota are intricately coupled from birth, both going through maturation during early life and senescence during aging almost in a synchronized fashion. The symbiotic relationship between the human host and microbiota is critically dependent on a healthy immune system to keep our microbiota in check, while the microbiota provides essential functions to promote the development and fitness of our immune system. The partnership between our immune system and microbiota is particularly important during early life, when microbial ligands and metabolites shape the development of the immune cells and immune tolerance; during aging, having sufficient beneficial gut bacteria is critical for the maintenance of intact mucosal barriers, immune metabolic fitness, and strong immunity against pathogens. The immune system during childhood is programmed, with the support of the microbiota, to develop robust immune tolerance, and limit autoimmunity and metabolic dysregulation, which are prevalent during aging. This review comprehensively explores the mechanistic underpinnings of gut microbiota-immune cell interactions during infancy and old age, with the goal to gain a better understanding of potential strategies to leverage the gut microbiota to combat age-related immune decline.}, } @article {pmid39859177, year = {2025}, author = {Frolov, A and Shumilina, J and Etemadi Afshar, S and Mashkina, V and Rhomanovskaya, E and Lukasheva, E and Tsarev, A and Sulima, AS and Shtark, OY and Ihling, C and Soboleva, A and Tikhonovich, IA and Zhukov, VA}, title = {Responsivity of Two Pea Genotypes to the Symbiosis with Rhizobia and Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi-A Proteomics Aspect of the "Efficiency of Interactions with Beneficial Soil Microorganisms" Trait.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {26}, number = {2}, pages = {}, pmid = {39859177}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {22-16-00109//Russian science foundation/ ; 20-16-00086//Russian Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Pisum sativum/microbiology/genetics/metabolism ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Proteomics/methods ; *Genotype ; Proteome/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhizobium/physiology/genetics/metabolism ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; }, abstract = {It is well known that individual pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars differ in their symbiotic responsivity. This trait is typically manifested with an increase in seed weights, due to inoculation with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The aim of this study was to characterize alterations in the root proteome of highly responsive pea genotype k-8274 plants and low responsive genotype k-3358 ones grown in non-sterile soil, which were associated with root colonization with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (in comparison to proteome shifts caused by soil supplementation with mineral nitrogen salts). Our results clearly indicate that supplementation of the soil with mineral nitrogen-containing salts switched the root proteome of both genotypes to assimilation of the available nitrogen, whereas the processes associated with nitrogen fixation were suppressed. Surprisingly, inoculation with rhizobial bacteria had only a minor effect on the root proteomes of both genotypes. The most pronounced response was observed for the highly responsive k-8274 genotype inoculated simultaneously with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. This response involved activation of the proteins related to redox metabolism and suppression of excessive nodule formation. In turn, the low responsive genotype k-3358 demonstrated a pronounced inoculation-induced suppression of protein metabolism and enhanced diverse defense reactions in pea roots under the same soil conditions. The results of the study shed light on the molecular basis of differential symbiotic responsivity in different pea cultivars. The raw data are available in the PRIDE repository under the project accession number PXD058701 and project DOI 10.6019/PXD058701.}, } @article {pmid39858957, year = {2025}, author = {Ge, D and Yin, C and Jing, J and Li, Z and Liu, L}, title = {Relationship Between the Host Plant Range of Insects and Symbiont Bacteria.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39858957}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {2022YFC2601500//National Key Research and Development Projects/ ; }, abstract = {The evolution of phytophagous insects has resulted in the development of feeding specializations that are unique to this group. The majority of current research on insect palatability has concentrated on aspects of ecology and biology, with relatively little attention paid to the role of insect gut symbiotic bacteria. Symbiont bacteria have a close relationship with their insect hosts and perform a range of functions. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between insect host plant range and gut symbiotic bacteria. A synthesis of the extant literature on the intestinal commensal bacteria of monophagous, oligophagous, and polyphagous tephritids revealed no evidence of a positive correlation between the plant host range and the diversity of larval intestinal microbial species. The gut symbionts of same species were observed to exhibit discrepancies between different literature sources, which were attributed to variations in multiple environmental factors. However, following beta diversity analysis, monophagy demonstrated the lowest level of variation in intestinal commensal bacteria, while polyphagous tephritids exhibited the greatest variation in intestinal commensal bacteria community variation. In light of these findings, this study proposes the hypothesis that exclusive or closely related plant hosts provide monophagy and oligophagy with a stable core colony over long evolutionary periods. The core flora is closely associated with host adaptations in monophagous and oligophagous tephritids, including nutritional and detoxification functions. This is in contrast to polyphagy, whose dominant colony varies in different environments. Our hypothesis requires further refinement of the data on the gut commensal bacteria of monophagy and oligophagy as the number of species and samples is currently limited.}, } @article {pmid39858809, year = {2024}, author = {Zhu, F and Kamiya, T and Fujiwara, T and Hashimoto, M and Gong, S and Wu, J and Nakanishi, H and Fujimoto, M}, title = {A Comparison of Rice Root Microbial Dynamics in Organic and Conventional Paddy Fields.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39858809}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {JPMJSP2108//Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) SPRING/ ; 23KJ0514//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 20H00418//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 24H00509//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 19KT0033//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 20K05955//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 23K18023//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; 24K01892//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI/ ; }, abstract = {The assembly of plant root microbiomes is a dynamic process. Understanding the roles of root-associated microbiomes in rice development requires dissecting their assembly throughout the rice life cycle under diverse environments and exploring correlations with soil properties and rice physiology. In this study, we performed amplicon sequencing targeting fungal ITS and the bacterial 16S rRNA gene to characterize and compare bacterial and fungal community dynamics of the rice root endosphere and soil in organic and conventional paddy fields. Our analysis revealed that root microbial diversity and composition was significantly influenced by agricultural practices and rice developmental stages (p < 0.05). The root microbiome in the organic paddy field showed greater temporal variability, with typical methane-oxidizing bacteria accumulating during the tillering stage and the amount of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria increasing dramatically at the early ripening stage. Redundancy analysis identified ammonium nitrogen, iron, and soil organic matter as key drivers of microbial composition. Furthermore, correlation analysis between developmental stage-enriched bacterial biomarkers in rice roots and leaf mineral nutrients showed that highly mobile macronutrient concentrations positively correlated with early-stage biomarkers and negatively correlated with later-stage biomarkers in both paddy fields. Notably, later-stage biomarkers in the conventional paddy field tended to show stronger correlations with low-mobility nutrients. These findings suggest potential strategies for optimizing microbiome management to enhance productivity and sustainability.}, } @article {pmid39858605, year = {2025}, author = {Jin, F and Ke, D and Lu, L and Hu, Q and Zhang, C and Li, C and Liang, W and Yuan, S and Chen, H}, title = {Suppression of Nodule Formation by RNAi Knock-Down of Bax inhibitor-1a in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39858605}, issn = {2073-4425}, mesh = {*Lotus/genetics/microbiology/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *RNA Interference ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Root Nodules, Plant/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The balanced regulation of innate immunity plays essential roles in rhizobial infection and the establishment and maintenance of symbiosis. The evolutionarily conserved cell death suppressor Bax inhibitor-1 plays dual roles in nodule symbiosis, providing a valuable clue in balancing immunity and symbiosis, while it remains largely unexplored in the legume Lotus japonicus.

METHODS/RESULTS: In the present report, the BI-1 gene family of L. japonicus was identified and characterized. We identified 6 BI-1 genes that translate into peptides containing 240-255 amino acids with different structural characteristics and isoelectric points. We performed phylogenetic analyses and detected evolutionary conservation and divergence among BI-1 proteins from L. japonicus, Glycine max, Medicago truncatula, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Oryza sativa. Expression profiles among different roots indicated that the inoculation of MAFF303099 significantly increased the expression of most of the L. japonicus BI-1 family genes. We down-regulated the transcripts of LjBI-1a by RNA interference and observed that LjBI-1a promotes nodulation and nodule formation.

CONCLUSIONS: These discoveries shed light on the functions of BI-1 genes in L. japonicus, and simultaneously emphasize the potential application of LjBI-1a in enhancing the symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability of legumes.}, } @article {pmid39858512, year = {2025}, author = {Yeremko, L and Czopek, K and Staniak, M and Marenych, M and Hanhur, V}, title = {Role of Environmental Factors in Legume-Rhizobium Symbiosis: A Review.}, journal = {Biomolecules}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39858512}, issn = {2218-273X}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium/metabolism/physiology ; *Fabaceae/microbiology/metabolism/growth & development/physiology ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Soil/chemistry ; Soil Microbiology ; Salinity ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes play a pivotal role in addressing global challenges of food and nutrition security by offering a sustainable source of protein and bioactive compounds. The capacity of legumes to establish symbiotic relationships with rhizobia bacteria enables biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), reducing the dependence on chemical fertilizers while enhancing soil health. However, the efficiency of this symbiosis is significantly influenced by environmental factors, such as soil acidity, salinity, temperature, moisture content, light intensity, and nutrient availability. These factors affect key processes, including rhizobia survival, nodule formation, and nitrogenase activity, ultimately determining the growth and productivity of legumes. This review summarizes current knowledge on legume-rhizobia interactions under varying abiotic conditions. It highlights the impact of salinity and acidity in limiting nodule development, soil temperature in regulating microbial community dynamics, and moisture availability in modulating metabolic and hormonal responses during drought and waterlogging. Moreover, the role of essential nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements such as iron, molybdenum, and boron, in optimizing symbiosis is critically analyzed.}, } @article {pmid39857318, year = {2025}, author = {Kashchenko, G and Taldaev, A and Adonin, L and Smutin, D}, title = {Investigating Aerobic Hive Microflora: Role of Surface Microbiome of Apis Mellifera.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39857318}, issn = {2079-7737}, support = {No 075-15-2022-305//Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation within the framework of state support for the creation and development of World-Class Research Centers 'Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare'./ ; }, abstract = {This study investigated the surface microbiome of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), focusing on the diversity and functional roles of its associated microbial communities. While the significance of the microbiome to insect health and behavior is increasingly recognized, research on invertebrate surface microbiota lags behind that of vertebrates. A combined metagenomic and cultivation-based approach was employed to characterize the bacterial communities inhabiting the honeybee exoskeleton. Our findings reveal a complex and diverse microbiota exhibiting significant spatial and environmental heterogeneity. The identification of antimicrobial compound producers, validated through both culture and metagenomic analyses, including potentially novel Actinobacteria species, underscores the potential impact of these microbial communities on honeybee health, behavior, and hive dynamics. This research contributes to a more profound ecological understanding of the honeybee microbiome, particularly in its winter configuration.}, } @article {pmid39856179, year = {2025}, author = {Lynch, SC and Reyes-Gonzalez, E and Bossard, EL and Alarcon, KS and Love, NLR and Hollander, AD and Nobua-Behrmann, BE and Gilbert, GS}, title = {A phylogenetic epidemiology approach to predicting the establishment of multi-host plant pests.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {117}, pmid = {39856179}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {17-01-NCC//California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)/ ; CDFASCB16051//California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; *Coleoptera/genetics/physiology ; California/epidemiology ; Plant Diseases/parasitology ; Trees/parasitology ; Introduced Species ; Models, Biological ; }, abstract = {Forecasting emergent pest spread is paramount to mitigating their impacts. For host-specialized pests, epidemiological models of spread through a single host population are well developed. However, most pests attack multiple host species; the challenge is predicting which communities are most vulnerable to infestation. Here, we develop a phylogenetically-informed approach to predict establishment of emergent multi-host pests across heterogeneous landscapes. We model a beetle-pathogen symbiotic complex on trees, introduced from Southeast Asia to California. The phyloEpi model for likelihood of establishment was predicted from the phylogenetic composition of woody species in the invaded community and the influence of temperature on beetle reproduction. Plant communities dominated by close relatives of known epidemiologically critical hosts were four times more likely to become infested than communities with more distantly related species. Where microclimate favored beetle reproduction, pest establishment was greater than expected based only on species composition. We applied this phyloEpi model to predict infestation risk in California using weather data and complete tree inventories from 9262 1-km[2] grids in 170 cities. Regions in the state predicted with low likelihood of infestation were confirmed by independent monitoring. Analysts can adapt these phylogenetic ecology tools to predict spread of any multi-host pest in novel habitats.}, } @article {pmid39855200, year = {2025}, author = {Tan, X and Wang, D and Zhang, X and Zheng, S and Jia, X and Liu, H and Liu, Z and Yang, H and Dai, H and Chen, X and Qian, Z and Wang, R and Ma, M and Zhang, P and Yu, N and Wang, E}, title = {A pair of LysM receptors mediates symbiosis and immunity discrimination in Marchantia.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2024.12.024}, pmid = {39855200}, issn = {1097-4172}, abstract = {Most land plants form symbioses with microbes to acquire nutrients but also must restrict infection by pathogens. Here, we show that a single pair of lysin-motif-containing receptor-like kinases, MpaLYR and MpaCERK1, mediates both immunity and symbiosis in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea. MpaLYR has a higher affinity for long-chain (CO7) versus short-chain chitin oligomers (CO4). Although both CO7 and CO4 can activate symbiosis-related genes, CO7 triggers stronger immune responses than CO4 in a dosage-dependent manner. CO4 can inhibit CO7-induced strong immune responses, recapitulating the early response to inoculation with the symbiont arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We show that phosphate starvation of plants increases their production of strigolactone, which stimulates CO4/CO5 secretion from mycorrhizal fungi, thereby prioritizing symbiosis over immunity. Thus, a single pair of LysM receptors mediates dosage-dependent perception of different chitin oligomers to discern symbiotic and pathogenic microbes in M. paleacea, which may facilitate terrestrialization.}, } @article {pmid39854864, year = {2025}, author = {Wan, S and Wang, S and Li, Y and Xie, Y and Li, Q and Fang, Y and Yin, Z and Wang, S and Zhai, Y and Tang, B}, title = {Megoura crassicauda promote the ability of Vicia faba L. to remediate cadmium pollution of water and soil.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {290}, number = {}, pages = {117777}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117777}, pmid = {39854864}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {With the increasing severity of heavy metal pollution in soil and water, phytoremediation is becoming increasingly popular because of its low cost, high returns, and environmental friendliness. The use of leguminous plants such as the broad bean for heavy metal remediation is becoming a research hotspot because of their symbiotic relationship with rhizobia. This study investigated the cadmium (Cd) remediation ability of fava beans by M. crassicauda feeding on or not using both hydroponic and soil cultures containing varying concentrations of Cd. Under hydroponic conditions, the Cd content in fava beans increased significantly following aphid invasion. while the Cd content decreased after aphid infestation under soil cultivation conditions. Aphid infestation significantly decreased the Cd content in both soil and hydroponic solution. However, there were no significant changes in germination rate and phenotype. We also found that prolonged Cd treatment increased the activities of stress-related antioxidant enzymes in fava beans, including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and malondialdehyde. After consumption by M. crassicauda, the levels of total sugar content underwent varying changes. These results demonstrate that fava beans not only exhibit high Cd tolerance but can also effectively absorb Cd ions from soil and water. Moreover, pest infestation can enhance broad bean remediation efficiency, making them potential targets for use in the phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution.}, } @article {pmid39853059, year = {2025}, author = {Guo, D and Liu, C and Zhu, H and Cheng, Y and Huo, X and Guo, Y and Qian, H}, title = {Food-Induced Adverse Reactions: A Review of Physiological Food Quality Control, Mucosal Defense Mechanisms, and Gastrointestinal Physiology.}, journal = {Toxics}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/toxics13010061}, pmid = {39853059}, issn = {2305-6304}, abstract = {Although food is essential for the survival of organisms, it can also trigger a variety of adverse reactions, ranging from nutrient intolerances to celiac disease and food allergies. Food not only contains essential nutrients but also includes numerous substances that may have positive or negative effects on the consuming organism. To protect against potentially harmful components, all animals have evolved defense mechanisms, which are similar to antimicrobial defenses but often come at the cost of the organism's health. When these defensive responses are exaggerated or misdirected, they can lead to adverse food reactions, where the costs outweigh the benefits. Furthermore, due to the persistent toxicity of harmful food components, the failure of defense mechanisms can also result in pathological effects triggered by food. This article review presents a food quality control framework that aims to clarify how these reactions relate to normal physiological processes. Organisms utilize several systems to coexist with symbiotic microbes, regulate them, and concurrently avoid, expel, or neutralize harmful pathogens. Similarly, food quality control systems allow organisms to absorb necessary nutrients while defending against low-quality or harmful components in food. Although many microbes are lethal in the absence of antimicrobial defenses, diseases related to microbiome dysregulation, such as inflammatory bowel disease, have significantly increased. Antitoxin defenses also come with costs and may fail due to insufficiencies, exaggerations, or misdirected actions, ultimately leading to adverse food reactions. With the changes in human diet and lifestyle, the failure of defense mechanisms has contributed to the rising incidence of food intolerances. This review explores the mechanisms of antitoxin defenses and analyzes how their failure can lead to adverse food reactions, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive understanding of food quality control mechanisms for developing more effective treatments for food-triggered diseases.}, } @article {pmid39852539, year = {2025}, author = {Svetashev, VI}, title = {Fatty Acids in Cnidaria: Distribution and Specific Functions.}, journal = {Marine drugs}, volume = {23}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/md23010037}, pmid = {39852539}, issn = {1660-3397}, mesh = {Animals ; *Cnidaria/metabolism/chemistry ; *Fatty Acids/metabolism ; Aquatic Organisms ; }, abstract = {The phylum Cnidaria comprises five main classes-Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Hexacorallia, Octocorallia and Cubozoa-that include such widely distributed and well-known animals as hard and soft corals, sea anemones, sea pens, gorgonians, hydroids, and jellyfish. Cnidarians play a very important role in marine ecosystems. The composition of their fatty acids (FAs) depends on food (plankton and particulate organic matter), symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates and bacteria, and de novo biosynthesis in host tissues. In cnidarian lipids, besides the common FA characteristics of marine organisms, numerous new and rare FAs are also found. All Octocorallia species and some Scyphozoa jellyfish contain polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) with 24 and 26 carbon atoms. The coral families can be distinguished by specific FA profiles: the presence of uncommon FAs or high/low levels of common fatty acids. Many of the families have characteristic FAs: Acroporidae are characterized by 18:3n6, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 20:5n3, 22:4n6, and 22:5n3; Pocilloporidae by 20:3n6, 20:4n3, and docosahexaenoic acid 22:6n3 (DHA); and Poritidae by arachidonic acid (AA) and DHA. The species of Faviidae show elevated concentrations of 18:3n6 and 22:5n3 acids. Dendrophylliidae, being azooxanthellate corals, have such dominant acids as EPA and 22:5n3 and a low content of DHA, which is the major PUFA in hermatypic corals. The major and characteristic PUFAs for Milleporidae (class Hydrozoa) are DHA and 22:5n6, though in scleractinian corals, the latter acid is found only in trace amounts.}, } @article {pmid39852482, year = {2025}, author = {Filippou, C and Coutts, RHA and Kotta-Loizou, I and El-Kamand, S and Papanicolaou, A}, title = {Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Mechanisms Underpinning Mycovirus-Mediated Hypervirulence in Beauveria bassiana Infecting Tenebrio molitor.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof11010063}, pmid = {39852482}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Mycoviral infection can either be asymptomatic or have marked effects on fungal hosts, influencing them either positively or negatively. To fully understand the effects of mycovirus infection on the fungal host, transcriptomic profiling of four Beauveria bassiana isolates, including EABb 92/11-Dm that harbors mycoviruses, was performed 48 h following infection of Tenebrio molitor via topical application or injection. Genes that participate in carbohydrate assimilation and transportation, and those essential for fungal survival and oxidative stress tolerance, calcium uptake, and iron uptake, were found to be overexpressed in the virus-infected isolate during the mid-infection stage. Mycotoxin genes encoding bassianolide and oosporein were switched off in all isolates. However, beauvericin, a mycotoxin capable of inducing oxidative stress at the molecular level, was expressed in all four isolates, indicating an important contribution to virulence against T. molitor. These observations suggest that detoxification of immune-related (oxidative) defenses and nutrient scouting, as mediated by these genes, occurs in mid-infection during the internal growth phase. Consequently, we observe a symbiotic relationship between mycovirus and fungus that does not afflict the host; on the contrary, it enhances the expression of key genes leading to a mycovirus-mediated hypervirulence effect.}, } @article {pmid39852469, year = {2025}, author = {Chacón-Fuentes, M and León-Finalé, G and Lizama, M and Gutiérrez-Gamboa, G and Martínez-Cisterna, D and Quiroz, A and Bardehle, L}, title = {Induced Defense in Ryegrass-Epichloë Symbiosis Against Listronotus bonariensis: Impact on Peramine Levels and Pest Performance.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof11010050}, pmid = {39852469}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {11240860//FONDECYT INICIACIÓN/ ; 11130715//FONDECYT INICIACIÓN/ ; }, abstract = {The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with Epichloë endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a primary defense. In addition, ryegrass can activate induced defense mechanisms, with peramine remaining the central agent in response to herbivorous insect attacks. Therefore, this study assessed the feeding of the ASW on ryegrass carrying endophytic fungus and peramine levels in aerial organs and its effects on pest performance. Argentine stem weevil adults and larvae were placed on ryegrass leaves and stems to assess feeding. Two treatments were used: endophyte-free plants and endophyte-colonized plants. After ASW feeding damage, insect consumption was measured by the leaf area consumed. To evaluate peramine production and its increase in response to ASW attack, peramine levels in leaves were analyzed using liquid chromatography. Damaged E+ ryegrass plants showed significant increases in peramine, with adult and larval herbivory raising levels by 291% and 216% in stems and by 135% and 85% in leaves, respectively, compared to controls. Endophyte-free (E-) plants experienced more ASW damage, as insects preferred feeding on them, showing reduced activity as peramine levels rose in endophyte-infected (E+) plants. An oviposition assay confirmed insect preference for endophyte-free (E-) plants. Additionally, larvae reared on endophyte-infected (E+) plants had lower survival rates, correlating negatively with peramine levels. These results emphasize peramine's role in strengthening ryegrass defenses against ASW, impacting both feeding and larval development.}, } @article {pmid39852449, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, X and Zhang, Y and Li, J and Ding, Y and Ma, X and Zhang, P and Liu, H and Wei, J and Bao, Y}, title = {Diversity and Functional Insights into Endophytic Fungi in Halophytes from West Ordos Desert Ecosystems.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof11010030}, pmid = {39852449}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {2023YFF1306004//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 30960309//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Arid desert regions are among the harshest ecological environments on Earth. Halophytes, with their unique physiological characteristics and adaptability, have become the dominant vegetation in these areas. Currently, research on halophytes in this region is relatively limited, particularly concerning studies related to their root endophytic fungi, which have been rarely reported on. Therefore, investigating the diversity and composition of endophytic fungi in halophytes is crucial for maintaining ecological balance in such an arid environment. This study focuses on eight representative angiosperm halophytes from the West Ordos Desert in China (including Nitraria tangutorum, Salsola passerina, Suaeda glauca, Reaumuria trigyna, Reaumuria kaschgarica, Limonium aureum, Apocynum venetum, and Tripolium vulgare), utilizing Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology combined with soil physicochemical factor data to analyze the diversity, composition, and ecological functions of their root-associated fungal communities. Ascomycota dominated the fungal composition in most halophytes, particularly among the recretohalophytes, where it accounted for an average of 88.45%, while Basidiomycota was predominant in Suaeda glauca. A Circos analysis of the top 10 most abundant genera revealed Fusarium, Dipodascus, Curvularia, Penicillium, and other dominant genera. Co-occurrence network analysis showed significant differences in fungal networks across halophyte types, with the most complex network observed in excreting halophytes, characterized by the highest number of nodes and connections, indicating tighter fungal symbiotic relationships. In contrast, fungal networks in pseudohalophytes were relatively simple, reflecting lower community cohesiveness. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Mantel tests demonstrated that soil factors such as organic matter, available sulfur, and urease significantly influenced fungal diversity, richness, and evenness, suggesting that soil physicochemical properties play a critical role in regulating fungal-plant symbiosis. Functional predictions indicated that endophytic fungi play important roles in metabolic pathways such as nucleotide biosynthesis, carbohydrate degradation, and lipid metabolism, which may enhance plant survival in saline-alkaline and arid environments. Furthermore, the high abundance of plant pathogens and saprotrophs in some fungal communities suggests their potential roles in plant defense and organic matter decomposition. The results of this study provide a reference for advancing the development and utilization of halophyte endophytic fungal resources, with applications in desert ecosystem restoration and halophyte cultivation.}, } @article {pmid39852446, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, Z and Liu, C and Tie, Y and Song, X and Wang, H and Lu, Q}, title = {Ophiostomatalean Fungi (Ascomycota, Ophiostomatales) Associated with Three Beetles from Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Heilongjiang, China.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof11010027}, pmid = {39852446}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {32230071//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2023YFC2604801-4//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; }, abstract = {Globally, forest decline and tree mortality are rising due to climate change. As one of the important afforestation trees in northeast China, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica is suffering from forest decline and the accompanying pests. Certain fungi from the ophiostomatalean contribute to forest pest outbreaks and can be pathogenic to pine trees. However, only a limited number of ophiostomatalean fungi associated with beetles infesting Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica have been identified. In this study, 293 ophiostomatalean fungi were isolated from Acanthocinus griseus, Ips chinensis, and Pissodes nitidus infesting Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Heilongjiang Province, including Graphilbum griseum sp. nov., Gra. nitidum sp. nov., Graphilbum sp., and Ophiostoma ips. Ophiostoma ips was the dominant species, followed by Graphilbum sp., Graphilbum griseum, and Gra. nitidum, which accounted for 73.38, 17.41, 7.17, and 2.05% of the isolated ophiostomatalean fungi, respectively. Fungi associated with different beetles are diverse, even within the same host. This study deepens our understanding of the pest-associated fungi of P. sylvestris var. mongolica and provides a basis for exploring the causes of forest decline.}, } @article {pmid39852430, year = {2024}, author = {Dovana, F and Para, R and Moreno, G and Scali, E and Garbelotto, M and Lechner, BE and Forte, L}, title = {Description of the New Species Laccaria albifolia (Hydnangiaceae, Basidiomycota) and a Reassessment of Laccaria affinis Based on Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/jof11010011}, pmid = {39852430}, issn = {2309-608X}, abstract = {Laccaria is a diverse and widespread genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic associations with various trees and shrubs, playing a significant role in forest ecosystems. Approximately 85 Laccaria species are formally recognised, but recent studies indicate this number may be an underestimation, highlighting the need for further taxonomic studies to improve our understanding of species boundaries. This manuscript focuses on Laccaria affinis, originally described by Singer in 1967 as Laccaria laccata var. affinis, and details a comprehensive study of its morphological and molecular characteristics, including the examination of its holotype and recent collections from Italy and the United Kingdom. Our findings reveal significant micromorphological traits that enhance the original description. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that L. affinis occupies a distinct clade within Northern Hemisphere Laccaria species, although minimal genetic differences challenge its independence from L. macrocystidiata. Consequently, we propose that these two taxa be considered synonymous. This study not only contributes to the understanding of Laccaria diversity but also proposes the formal designation of an epitype for L. affinis, thereby providing a foundation for future research on this ecologically significant genus. Furthermore, a new species named Laccaria albifolia belonging to the "/Laccaria bicolor complex clade" is described here on the base of six collections from Italy and Spain.}, } @article {pmid39852253, year = {2025}, author = {Penchev, H and Ivanova, G and Hubenov, V and Boyadzieva, I and Budurova, D and Ublekov, F and Gigova, A and Stoyanova, A}, title = {Supercapacitor Cell Performance with Bacterial Nanocellulose and Bacterial Nanocellulose/Polybenzimidazole Impregnated Membranes as Separator.}, journal = {Membranes}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/membranes15010012}, pmid = {39852253}, issn = {2077-0375}, abstract = {Supercapacitors are advanced energy storage devices renowned for their rapid energy delivery and long operational lifespan, making them indispensable across various industries. Their relevance has grown in recent years due to the adoption of environmentally friendly materials. One such material is bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), produced entirely from microbial sources, offering sustainability and a bioprocess-driven synthesis. In this study, BNC was synthesized using a symbiotic microbial community. After production and purification, pristine BNC membranes, with an average thickness of 80 microns, were impregnated with an alkali-alcohol meta-polybenzimidazole (PBI) solution. This process yielded hybrid BNC/PBI membranes with improved ion-transport properties. The BNC membranes were then doped with a 6 M KOH solution, to enhance OH[-] conductivity, and characterized using optical microscopy, ATR FT-IR, XRD, CVT, BET analysis, and impedance spectroscopy. Both BNC and BNC/PBI membranes were tested as separators in laboratory-scale symmetric supercapacitor cells, with performance compared to a commercial Viledon[®] separator. The supercapacitors employing BNC membranes exhibited high specific capacitance and excellent cycling stability, retaining performance over 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. These findings underscore the potential of BNC/KOH membranes for next-generation supercapacitor applications.}, } @article {pmid39850652, year = {2025}, author = {Xu, C and Zhang, J and Li, W and Guo, J}, title = {The role of Exo70s in plant defense against pathogens and insect pests and their application for crop breeding.}, journal = {Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement}, volume = {45}, number = {2}, pages = {17}, pmid = {39850652}, issn = {1572-9788}, abstract = {Plant diseases caused by pathogens and pests lead to crop losses, posing a threat to global food security. The secretory pathway is an integral component of plant defense. The exocyst complex regulates the final step of the secretory pathway and is thus essential for secretory defense. In the last decades, several subunits of the exocyst complex have been reported to be involved in plant defense, especially Exo70s. This comprehensive review focuses on the functions of the exocyst Exo70s in plant immunity, particularly in recognizing pathogen and pest signatures. We discussed Exo70's interactions with immune receptors and other immune-related proteins, its symbiotic relationships with microbes, and its role in non-host resistance. Finally, we discussed the future engineering breeding of crops with resistance to pathogens and pests based on our current understanding of Exo70s.}, } @article {pmid39850136, year = {2024}, author = {Chadha, S and Menendez, E and Montes, N}, title = {Editorial: Women in microbe and virus interactions with plants: 2022/2023.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1532112}, pmid = {39850136}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid39847448, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, S and Luo, H}, title = {Dating the bacterial tree of life based on ancient symbiosis.}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syae071}, pmid = {39847448}, issn = {1076-836X}, abstract = {Obtaining a timescale for bacterial evolution is crucial to understand early life evolution but is difficult owing to the scarcity of bacterial fossils. Here, we introduce multiple new time constraints to calibrate bacterial evolution based on ancient symbiosis. This idea is implemented using a bacterial tree constructed with genes found in the mitochondrial lineages phylogenetically embedded within Proteobacteria. The expanded mitochondria-bacterial tree allows the node age constraints of eukaryotes established by their abundant fossils to be propagated to ancient co-evolving bacterial symbionts and across the bacterial tree of life. Importantly, we formulate a new probabilistic framework that considers uncertainty in inference of the ancestral lifestyle of modern symbionts to apply 19 relative time constraints (RTC) each informed by host-symbiont association to constrain bacterial symbionts no older than their eukaryotic host. Moreover, we develop an approach to incorporating substitution mixture models that better accommodate substitutional saturation and compositional heterogeneity for dating deep phylogenies. Our analysis estimates that the last bacterial common ancestor (LBCA) occurred approximately 4.0-3.5 billion years ago (Ga), followed by rapid divergence of major bacterial clades. It is generally robust to alternative root ages, root positions, tree topologies, fossil ages, ancestral lifestyle reconstruction, gene sets, among other factors. The obtained timetree serves as a foundation for testing hypotheses regarding bacterial diversification and its correlation with geobiological events across different timescales.}, } @article {pmid39847340, year = {2025}, author = {Ganley, JG and Seyedsayamdost, MR}, title = {Iron limitation triggers roseoceramide biosynthesis and membrane remodeling in marine roseobacter.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {122}, number = {4}, pages = {e2414434122}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2414434122}, pmid = {39847340}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {Postdoctoral Fellowship in Marine Microbial Ecology//Simons Foundation (SF)/ ; R35 GM152049/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, mesh = {*Roseobacter/metabolism ; *Iron/metabolism ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; Seaweed/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; }, abstract = {Chemical communication between marine bacteria and their algal hosts drives population dynamics and ultimately determines the fate of major biogeochemical cycles in the ocean. To gain deeper insights into this small molecule exchange, we screened niche-specific metabolites as potential modulators of the secondary metabolome of the roseobacter, Roseovarius tolerans. Metabolomic analysis led to the identification of a group of cryptic lipids that we have termed roseoceramides. The roseoceramides are elicited by iron-binding algal flavonoids, which are produced by macroalgae that Roseovarius species associate with. Investigations into the mechanism of elicitation show that iron limitation in R. tolerans initiates a stress response that results in lowered oxidative phosphorylation, increased import and catabolism of algal exudates, and reconfiguration of lipid ynthesis to prioritize production of roseoceramides over phospholipids, likely to fortify membrane integrity as well as promote a sessile and symbiotic lifestyle. Our findings add new small molecule words and their "meanings" to the algal-bacterial lexicon and have implications for the initiation of these interactions.}, } @article {pmid39847211, year = {2025}, author = {de Araújo, TGF and Rodrigues, EP and Hungria, M and Barcellos, FG}, title = {Soil and climatic conditions determine the rhizobia in association with Phaseolus vulgaris in southern Brazil.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39847211}, issn = {1678-4405}, support = {465133/2014-4//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; }, abstract = {The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plays a significant economic and social role in Brazil. However, the national average yield remains relatively low, largely because most bean cultivation is undertaken by small-scale farmers. In this context, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is an effective strategy for improving crop yield. Therefore, it is important to identify novel rhizobial strains well suited to local climatic conditions. This study used Phaseolus vulgaris as a trap plant in soils from three distinct conservation areas (Ponta Grossa, Ortigueira, and Londrina) within Paraná State, Brazil. The soil chemical analysis revealed that the pH values in the Ponta Grossa and Ortigueira regions were low, whereas the Ortigueira region exhibited elevated aluminum levels. A total of 94 strains were obtained from the nodules of plants and subjected to analysis for their morphological and genetic properties. No nodules were observed in the Ortigueira region. In the Ponta Grossa region, most of the strains were identified as belonging to the genus Paraburkholderia, whereas all strains from Londrina were identified as Rhizobium. The 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis revealed a high degree of genetic similarity between the Paraburkholderia and Rhizobium strains. These findings indicate that soil chemical properties (pH and aluminum level) and climate conditions may have a significant impact on the symbiotic association between rhizobia and common bean.}, } @article {pmid39847210, year = {2025}, author = {Moura, FT and Delai, CV and Klepa, MS and Ribeiro, RA and Nogueira, MA and Hungria, M}, title = {Unveiling remarkable bacterial diversity trapped by cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) nodules inoculated with soils from indigenous lands in Central-Western Brazil.}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39847210}, issn = {1678-4405}, support = {CNPq 465133/2014-4, Fundação Araucária-STI 043/2019, CAPES//INCT - Plant Growth Promoting Microorganisms for Agricultural Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility/ ; }, abstract = {Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is recognized as a promiscuous legume in its symbiotic relationships with rhizobia, capable of forming associations with a wide range of bacterial species. Our study focused on assessing the diversity of bacterial strains present in cowpea nodules when inoculated with soils from six indigenous lands of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Central-Western Brazil, comprising the Cerrado and the Pantanal biomes, which are known for their rich diversity. The DNA profiles (BOX-PCR) of 89 strains indicated great genetic diversity, with 20 groups and 23 strains occupying single positions, and all strains grouped at a final similarity level of only 25%. Further characterization using 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a diverse array of bacterial genera associated with the cowpea nodules. The strains (number in parenthesis) were classified into ten genera: Agrobacterium (47), Ancylobacter (2), Burkholderia (12), Ensifer (1), Enterobacter (1), Mesorhizobium (1), Microbacterium (1), Paraburkholderia (1), Rhizobium (22), and Stenotrophomonas (1), split into four different classes. Notably, only Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, and Paraburkholderia are classified as rhizobia. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on the classes of the identified genera and the type strains of the closest species. Our integrated analyses, combining phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic approaches, highlighted the significant promiscuity of cowpea in associating with a diverse array of bacteria within nodules, showcasing the Brazilian soils as a hotspot of bacterial diversity.}, } @article {pmid39846764, year = {2025}, author = {Welmillage, SU and James, EK and Tak, N and Shedge, S and Huang, L and Muszyński, A and Azadi, P and Gyaneshwar, P}, title = {A rhamnose-rich O-antigen of Paraburkholderia phymatum MP20 is required for symbiosis with Mimosa pudica.}, journal = {Journal of bacteriology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0042224}, doi = {10.1128/jb.00422-24}, pmid = {39846764}, issn = {1098-5530}, abstract = {Paraburkholderia phymatum, a β-proteobacterium, forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with many species of the large legume genus Mimosa as well as with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Paraburkholderia are considered to have evolved nodulation independently from the well-studied α-proteobacteria symbionts of legumes. However, the detailed mechanisms important for β-rhizobia-legume symbiosis have not yet been determined. In this manuscript, we have sequenced the genome of P. phymatum MP20, a strain isolated from Mimosa pudica nodules, and utilized transposon mutagenesis to identify a mutant that showed delayed and ineffective nodulation of M. pudica. Further analysis revealed that the mutant strain produced an altered lipopolysaccharide lacking rhamnose containing O-antigen. Complementation with the wild-type gene restored the symbiosis. Microscopic analysis of the ineffective nodules showed that the mutant strain did not infect the cortical cells but was restricted to the endodermis. The results suggest that the O-antigen of P. phymatum is important for the bacterial infection of cortical cells and for nodule maturation. Further research will unveil the specific involvement of the glycosyltransferase gene in LPS biosynthesis and its impact on successful nodule formation by P. phymatum.IMPORTANCEThe nitrogen-fixing symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia is important for agricultural and environmental sustainability. The mechanisms of the symbiotic interactions are extensively studied using α-rhizobia. In contrast, mechanisms of symbiotic interactions important for β-rhizobia and their Caesalpinioid (mimosoid) legume hosts are not well known. Here, we describe the genome sequence of P. phymatum MP20, a β-rhizobia isolated from the nodules of M. pudica, and isolation and characterization of a transposon mutant defective in symbiosis. We demonstrate that the O-antigen of the LPS is required for nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. This study broadens our knowledge of symbiotic interactions in β-rhizobia and will lead to a better understanding of the wider rhizobial-legume symbiosis apart from the α-rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid39846424, year = {2025}, author = {Zhu, C and Wang, E and Li, Z and Ouyang, H}, title = {Advances in Symbiotic Bioabsorbable Devices.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2410289}, doi = {10.1002/advs.202410289}, pmid = {39846424}, issn = {2198-3844}, support = {2023YFC2411901//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2023176//Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS/ ; 7232347//Beijing Natural Science Foundation/ ; L212010//Beijing Natural Science Foundation/ ; 2024047//Beijing Nova Program/ ; E0EG6802×2//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; E2E45101×2//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 62004010//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 52373256//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; T2125003//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bioabsorbable devices are ideal for temporary treatment. This eliminates the boundaries between the device and organism and develops a symbiotic relationship by degrading nutrients that directly enter the cells, tissues, and body to avoid the hazards of device retention. Symbiotic bioresorbable electronics show great promise for sensing, diagnostics, therapy, and rehabilitation, as underpinned by innovations in materials, devices, and systems. This review focuses on recent advances in bioabsorbable devices. Innovation is focused on the material, device, and system levels. Significant advances in biomedical applications are reviewed, including integrated diagnostics, tissue repair, cardiac pacing, and neurostimulation. In addition to the material, device, and system issues, the challenges and trends in symbiotic bioresorbable electronics are discussed.}, } @article {pmid39845493, year = {2024}, author = {Safavi-Rizi, V and Friedlein, H and Safavi-Rizi, S and Krajinski-Barth, F}, title = {The impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization on flooding response of Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1512350}, pmid = {39845493}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Climate change is expected to lead to an increase in precipitation and flooding. Consequently, plants that are adapted to dry conditions have to adjust to frequent flooding periods. In this study, we investigate the flooding response of Medicago truncatula, a Mediterranean plant adapted to warm and dry conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis plays a key role in enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance, yet its interactions with environmental stressors such as flooding remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of mycorrhizal colonization and flooding stress on the growth, physiological and molecular responses of M. truncatula wild-type (WT) and ha1-2 mutant lines. ha1-2 mutant plants are unable to form a functional symbiosis with AM fungi as they are impaired in the proton pump required for phosphate transport from AM fungus to the plant. Over a six-week period, WT and ha1-2 plants were cultivated in the presence of Rhizophagus irregularis and subsequently subjected to a 10-day waterlogging treatment. Our results indicated that under control and also flooding conditions, WT mycorrhizal plants exhibited increased dry biomass compared to non-mycorrhizal WT plants. In contrast, the ha1-2 mutant plants did not show the enhanced biomass gain associated with AM symbiosis. The decline in biomass in response to flooding was more pronounced in mycorrhizal plants compared to the non-mycorrhizal plants. In mycorrhizal plants, flooding suppressed the transcript levels of MtPt4 gene in both WT, although not significantly, and ha1-2 mutant lines. Gene expression analysis showed modulation in genes related to nitrogen metabolism and hypoxic response. A strong upregulation of the MtGNS1 transcript (~3000-fold) was observed in WT, however, this upregulation was milder in the ha1-2 plants. Our findings suggest that while AMF symbiosis positively affects plant biomass under control conditions, its beneficial effects were attenuated under flooding stress. Future research will focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind AMF modulation of flooding stress responses, including nutrient uptake and metabolism, stress tolerance, and recovery post-flooding. These results will facilitate the enhancement of AMF-based strategies to improve plant resilience against climate change-induced flooding events.}, } @article {pmid39845035, year = {2024}, author = {Zhou, H and Yu, K and Nie, L and Liu, L and Zhou, J and Wu, K and Ye, H and Wu, Z}, title = {Effects of biological agents on rhizosphere microecological environment and nutrient availability for rice.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1447527}, pmid = {39845035}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {As the world's population grows, pursuing sustainable agricultural production techniques to increase crop yields is critical to ensuring global food security. The development and application of biological agents is of great significance in promoting the sustainable development of agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the role of JZ (compound microbial agent) and MZ (biological agent made from plant materials) in improving the rhizosphere microecological environment and nutrient availability for rice. This study found that JZ enriched Cyanobacteria with biological nitrogen fixation functions; spraying MZ can enrich some beneficial microbiota, such as Bradyrhizobium, playing a role in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Meanwhile, JZ and MZ were found to affect rhizosphere soil metabolism and improve potassium and nitrogen availability. JZ may promote the degradation of fungicides in the rhizosphere soil environment. Overall, applying biological agents through optimizing rice growing environment to improve yield showed great potential.}, } @article {pmid39844274, year = {2025}, author = {Camper, BT and Kanes, AS and Laughlin, ZT and Manuel, RT and Bewick, SA}, title = {Transgressive hybrids as hopeful holobionts.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {19}, pmid = {39844274}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Hybridization, Genetic ; *Symbiosis ; *Microbiota ; Animals ; Biological Evolution ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Hybridization between evolutionary lineages has profound impacts on the fitness and ecology of hybrid progeny. In extreme cases, the effects of hybridization can transcend ecological timescales by introducing trait novelty upon which evolution can act. Indeed, hybridization can even have macroevolutionary consequences, for example, as a driver of adaptive radiations and evolutionary innovations. Accordingly, hybridization is now recognized as a motor for macrobial evolution. By contrast, there has been substantially less progress made towards understanding the positive eco-evolutionary consequences of hybridization on holobionts. Rather, the emerging paradigm in holobiont literature is that hybridization disrupts symbiosis between a host lineage and its microbiome, leaving hybrids at a fitness deficit. These conclusions, however, have been drawn based on results from predominantly low-fitness hybrid organisms. Studying "dead-end" hybrids all but guarantees finding that hybridization is detrimental. This is the pitfall that Dobzhansky fell into over 80 years ago when he used hybrid sterility and inviability to conclude that hybridization hinders evolution. Goldschmidt, however, argued that rare saltational successes-so-called hopeful monsters-disproportionately drive positive evolutionary outcomes. Goldschmidt's view is now becoming a widely accepted explanation for the prevalence of historical hybridization in extant macrobial lineages. Aligning holobiont research with this broader evolutionary perspective requires recognizing the importance of similar patterns in host-microbiome systems. That is, rare and successful "hopeful holobionts" (i.e., hopeful monsters at the holobiont scale) might be disproportionately responsible for holobiont evolution. If true, then it is these successful systems that we should be studying to assess impacts of hybridization on the macroevolutionary trajectories of host-microbiome symbioses.

RESULTS: In this paper, we explore the effects of hybridization on the gut (cloacal) and skin microbiota in an ecologically successful hybrid lizard, Aspidoscelis neomexicanus. Specifically, we test the hypothesis that hybrid lizards have host-associated (HA) microbiota traits strongly differentiated from their progenitor species. Across numerous hybrid microbiota phenotypes, we find widespread evidence of transgressive segregation. Further, microbiota restructuring broadly correlates with niche restructuring during hybridization. This suggests a relationship between HA microbiota traits and ecological success.

CONCLUSION: Transgressive segregation of HA microbiota traits is not only limited to hybrids at a fitness deficit but also occurs in ecologically successful hybrids. This suggests that hybridization may be a mechanism for generating novel and potentially beneficial holobiont phenotypes. Supporting such a conclusion, the correlations that we find between hybrid microbiota and the hybrid niche indicate that hybridization might change host microbiota in ways that promote a shift or an expansion in host niche space. If true, hybrid microbiota restructuring may underly ecological release from progenitors. This, in turn, could drive evolutionary diversification. Using our system as an example, we elaborate on the evolutionary implications of host hybridization within the context of holobiont theory and then outline the next steps for understanding the role of hybridization in holobiont research. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid39842377, year = {2025}, author = {Sun, L and Wang, D and Liu, X and Zhou, Y and Wang, S and Guan, X and Huang, W and Wang, C and Gong, B and Xie, Z}, title = {The GlnE protein of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 plays a crucial role in the nodulation process of the legume host Sesbania rostrata.}, journal = {Microbiological research}, volume = {293}, number = {}, pages = {128072}, doi = {10.1016/j.micres.2025.128072}, pmid = {39842377}, issn = {1618-0623}, abstract = {The GlnE enzyme, functioning as an adenylyltransferase/adenylyl-removing enzyme, plays a crucial role in reversible adenylylation of glutamine synthetase (GS), which in turn regulates bacterial nitrogen assimilation. Genomic analysis of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 revealed an open reading frame encoding a GlnE protein, whose function in the free-living and symbiotic states remains to be elucidated. A glnE deletion mutant retained high GS activity even under nitrogen-rich conditions. However, a reduction in growth was observed for the mutant strain at lower NH4[+] concentrations than for the wild-type strain. Furthermore, the ΔglnE mutant strain showed reduced motility on ammonium-containing media. Inactivation of GlnE led to an increase in root adhesion, biofilm formation, and nodulation on Sesbania rostrata. Nevertheless, the nodules induced by the glnE mutant strain were ineffective. In addition, A. caulinodans GlnE played a significant role in enhancing resistance against environmental stresses, such as heat, heavy metals, and cumene hydroperoxide. This study demonstrates that GlnE plays multiple regulatory roles in A. caulinodans beyond nitrogen metabolism and is essential for establishing symbiotic relationships with host plants.}, } @article {pmid39839660, year = {2025}, author = {Mitcov, A and Ko, D and Ko, K and Kim, J and Oh, NH and Kim, HS and Choe, H and Chung, H}, title = {Composition of soil fungal communities and microbial activity along an elevational gradient in Mt. Jiri, Republic of Korea.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {e18762}, pmid = {39839660}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Soil Microbiology ; *Altitude ; Republic of Korea ; *Fungi/enzymology/isolation & purification ; *Soil/chemistry ; Biomass ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ecosystem ; Mycobiome ; Climate Change ; }, abstract = {Approximately 64% of the Republic of Korea comprises mountainous areas, which as cold and high-altitude regions are gravely affected by climate change. Within the mountainous and the alpine-subalpine ecosystems, microbial communities play a pivotal role in biogeochemical cycling and partly regulate climate change through such cycles. We investigated the composition and function of microbial communities, with a focus on fungal communities, in Republic of Korea's second tallest mountain, Mt. Jiri, along a four-point-altitude gradient: 600-, 1,000-, 1,200-, and 1,400-m. Soil pH and elevation were negatively correlated, with soils becoming more acidic at higher altitude. Of the five soil enzyme activities analyzed, cellobiohydrolase, β-1,4-glucosidase, and β-1,4-xylosidase activity showed differences among the elevation levels, with lower activity at 600 m than that at 1,400 m. Soil microbial biomass correlated positively with increasing elevation and soil water content. The decrease in β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase suggests a reduction in fungal biomass with increasing altitude, while factors other than elevation may influence the increase in activity of the cellobiohydrolase, β-1,4-glucosidase and β-1,4-xylosidase. Fungal alpha diversity did not exhibit an elevational trend, whereas beta diversity formed two clusters (600-1,000 m and 1,200-1,400 m). Community composition was similar among the elevations, with Basidiomycota being the most predominant phylum, followed by Ascomycota. Conversely, among the fungal communities at 1,000 m, Ascomycota was the most dominant, possibly due to increased pathotroph percentage. Elevational gradients induce changes in soil properties, vegetation, and climate factors such as temperature and precipitation, all of which impact soil microbial communities and altogether create a mutually reinforcing system. Hence, inspection of elevation-based microbial communities can aid in inferring ecosystem properties, specifically those related to nutrient cycling, and can partly help assess the oncoming direct and indirect effects of climate change.}, } @article {pmid39838803, year = {2025}, author = {Chan, WY and Sakamoto, R and Doering, T and Narayana, VK and De Souza, DP and McConville, MJ and van Oppen, MJH}, title = {Heat-Evolved Microalgae (Symbiodiniaceae) Are Stable Symbionts and Influence Thermal Tolerance of the Sea Anemone Exaiptasia diaphana.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {e70011}, pmid = {39838803}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {DE240100317//Australian Research Council/ ; FL180100036//Australian Research Council/ ; APP1154540//National Health and Medical Research Council/ ; //Westpac Research Fellowship/ ; }, mesh = {*Sea Anemones/physiology ; *Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Thermotolerance ; *Hot Temperature ; Microalgae/metabolism ; Dinoflagellida/physiology ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic cnidarians, such as sea anemones and corals, rely on their mutualistic microalgal partners (Symbiodiniaceae) for survival. Marine heatwaves can disrupt this partnership, and it has been proposed that introducing experimentally evolved, heat-tolerant algal symbionts could enhance host thermotolerance. To test this hypothesis, the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana (a coral model) was inoculated with either the heterologous wild type or heat-evolved algal symbiont, Cladocopium proliferum, and homologous wild-type Breviolum minutum. The novel symbioses persisted for 1.5 years and determined holobiont thermotolerance during a simulated summer heatwave. Anemones hosting SS8, one of the six heat-evolved strains tested, exhibited the highest thermotolerance. Notably, anemones hosting the wild-type C. proliferum (WT10) were the second most thermally tolerant group, whereas anemones hosting the heat-evolved SS5 or SS9 strains were among the most thermosensitive. Elevated temperatures led to an increase in the levels of many amino acids and a decrease in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) metabolites in all anemone hosts, potentially indicating an increase in autophagy and a reduction in energy and storage production. Some consistent differences were observed in changes in metabolite levels between anemone groups in response to elevated temperature, suggesting that the algal symbiont influenced host metabolome and nutritional budget.}, } @article {pmid39837882, year = {2025}, author = {Zhao, X and Shao, B and Su, J and Tian, N}, title = {Exploring synergistic evolution of carbon emissions and air pollutants and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of influencing factors in Chinese cities.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2657}, pmid = {39837882}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {No. 62072363//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No.21YJZH138//the General Program of Humanities and Social Sciences Research, Ministry of Education/ ; }, abstract = {The acceleration of urbanization has significantly exacerbated climate change due to excessive anthropogenic carbon emissions and air pollutants. Based on data from 281 prefecture-level cities in China between 2015 and 2021. The spatiotemporal co-evolution of urban carbon emissions and air pollutants was analyzed through map visualization and kernel density estimation, revealing non-equilibrium and heterogeneity. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) multiscale geographically weighted regression models(MGWR) and SHAP theory from game theory were employed to deeply investigate the disparities in relevance, spatial heterogeneity, and multiscale fluctuations of carbon emissions and air pollution. The main results are summarized as follows: (1) Between 2015 and 2018, CO2 emissions exhibited significant fluctuations, while SO2 and PM2.5 concentrations decreased markedly. (2) The XGBoost-SHAP model identified seven key driving factors, demonstrating high precision, the SHAP model is used to explain the model and reveal the influence of driving factors on carbon emissions. (3) The concentrations of CO2, SO2, and PM2.5 were positively correlated, the influence of each factor exhibited significant spatiotemporal differences, with varying directions of fluctuation across different regions. Thus, the symbiotic relationship between carbon emissions and air pollutants can inform decision-making for regional planning and sustainable urban development.}, } @article {pmid39836459, year = {2025}, author = {Li, J and King, K}, title = {Microbial Primer: Microbiome and thermal tolerance - a new frontier in climate resilience?.}, journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)}, volume = {171}, number = {1}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001523}, pmid = {39836459}, issn = {1465-2080}, mesh = {*Microbiota/physiology ; Animals ; *Climate Change ; *Symbiosis ; Thermotolerance ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; Host Microbial Interactions/physiology ; Temperature ; }, abstract = {Microbiome-animal host symbioses are ubiquitous in nature. Animal-associated microbiomes can play a crucial role in host physiology, health and resilience to environmental stressors. As climate change drives rising global temperatures and increases the frequency of thermal extremes, microbiomes are emerging as a new frontier in buffering vulnerable animals against temperature fluctuations. In this primer, we briefly introduce key concepts of microbiome-host symbiosis and microbial responses to temperature shifts. We then summarize the current evidence and understanding of how microbes can buffer the thermal stress faced by their hosts. We identify key challenges for future research. Finally, we emphasize the potential of harnessing microbiomes to improve conservation strategies in a rapidly changing climate, offering a concise overview of this evolving field.}, } @article {pmid39836170, year = {2025}, author = {Prakash, S and Kumar, A}, title = {Life in the dead shell: utilization of dead Pinna shells by the blenny fish Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor, 1849 (Blennidae).}, journal = {Die Naturwissenschaften}, volume = {112}, number = {1}, pages = {9}, pmid = {39836170}, issn = {1432-1904}, mesh = {Animals ; *Phylogeny ; India ; Animal Shells/anatomy & histology ; Fishes/classification/physiology/anatomy & histology ; Ecosystem ; }, abstract = {The seagrass ecosystem supports a diverse range of marine life, including fish, crabs, and seahorses. It plays a vital role in providing essential services such as habitat creation, nutrient cycling, and shoreline stabilization. In the present study, we conducted line intercept transects to assess the abundance of Pinna shells in seagrass meadows of the Sangumal region in the Palk Bay, India. Among the 30 transects surveyed, we observed a total of 33 Pinna shells. Ten shells were found to be empty, while 6 hosted blenny fish. The fish were identified as saber-tooth blenny Petroscirtes variabilis Cantor, 1849, via integrative taxonomy (morphology + cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene phylogeny). The phylogenetic tree based on the maximum likelihood inference method indicated that P. variabilis clustered together with other sequences of P. variabilis available in the NCBI GenBank. We also revealed the importance of empty Pinna shells acting as refugia for blenny fish, which was evident from the presence of eggs attached to the shells.}, } @article {pmid39836086, year = {2025}, author = {Xia, R and Yin, X and Balcazar, JL and Huang, D and Liao, J and Wang, D and Alvarez, PJJ and Yu, P}, title = {Bacterium-Phage Symbiosis Facilitates the Enrichment of Bacterial Pathogens and Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in the Plastisphere.}, journal = {Environmental science & technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.4c08265}, pmid = {39836086}, issn = {1520-5851}, abstract = {The plastisphere, defined as the ecological niche for microbial colonization of plastic debris, has been recognized as a hotspot of pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, the interactions between bacteria and phages facilitated by the plastisphere, as well as their impact on microbial risks to public health, remain unclear. Here, we analyzed public metagenomic data from 180 plastisphere and environmental samples, stemming from four different habitats and two plastic types (biodegradable and nonbiodegradable plastics) and obtained 611 nonredundant metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and 4061 nonredundant phage contigs. The plastisphere phage community exhibited decreased diversity and virulent proportion compared to those found in environments. Indexes of phage-host interaction networks indicated significant associations of phages with pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), particularly for biodegradable plastics. Known phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were involved in nutrient metabolism, antibiotic production, quorum sensing, and biofilm formation in the plastisphere, which contributed to enhanced competition and survival of pathogens and ARB hosts. Phages also carried transcriptionally active virulence factor genes (VFGs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and could mediate their horizontal transfer in microbial communities. Overall, these discoveries suggest that plastisphere phages form symbiotic relationships with their hosts, and that phages encoding AMGs and mediating horizontal gene transfer (HGT) could increase the source of pathogens and antibiotic resistance from the plastisphere.}, } @article {pmid39836041, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, G and Zeng, Y and Bu, Y and Yuan, X and Peng, M and Zhao, Q and Wang, Y}, title = {Draft genome sequence of Armillaria calvescens strain YAFA0618 associated with Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0085824}, doi = {10.1128/mra.00858-24}, pmid = {39836041}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Armillaria calvescens is a symbiotic fungus of Gastrodia elata. Here, we present a draft genome sequence of A. calvescens strain YAFA0618. The genome resource will support subsequent research into the relationship between A. calvescens and G. elata.}, } @article {pmid39835397, year = {2025}, author = {Motta, MCM and Camelo, TM and Cerdeira, CMC and Gonçalves, CS and Borghesan, TC and Villalba-Alemán, E and de Souza, W and Teixeira, MMG and de Camargo, EFP}, title = {Phylogenetic and structural characterization of Kentomonas inusitatus n. sp.: Unique insect trypanosomatid of the Strigomonadinae subfamily naturally lacking bacterial endosymbiont.}, journal = {The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology}, volume = {72}, number = {1}, pages = {e13083}, doi = {10.1111/jeu.13083}, pmid = {39835397}, issn = {1550-7408}, support = {E-26/201.011/2021//Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/ ; 2016/07487-0//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 305299/2022-0//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Trypanosomatina/classification/genetics/isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Brazil ; Uganda ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; }, abstract = {All insect trypanosomatids of the subfamily Strigomonadinae harbor a proteobacterial symbiont in their cytoplasm and unique ultrastructural cell organization. Here, we report an unexpected finding within the Strigomonadinae subfamily: the identification of a new species lacking bacterial symbiont, represented by two isolates obtained from Calliphoridae flies in Brazil and Uganda. This species is hereby designated as Kentomonas inusitatus n. sp. Molecular investigations targeting symbiont DNA, cell proliferation, and ultrastructural analyses agreed with the absence of bacterial symbionts in cultured flagellates. PCR-screening specifically targeting symbiont DNA corroborated the absence of symbionts in K. inusitatus present in the intestine of the respective host flies. K. inusitatus exhibited forms varying in size and shape. While displaying overall ultrastructural features of the Strigomonadinae, the novel species showed mitochondrial branches juxtaposed to the plasma membrane in locations both without and notable, with subpellicular microtubules. The discovery of the first Strigomonadinae species naturally lacking a symbiont and closely related to K. sorsogonicus, suggests a unique evolutionary history for the genus Kentomonas. Our findings provide novel insights into the complex relationships between trypanosomatids and their symbionts.}, } @article {pmid39834927, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, Y and Liao, J and Tang, S and Zhou, C and Tan, Z and Salem, AZM}, title = {Physicochemical profiles of mixed ruminal microbes in response to surface tension and specific surface area.}, journal = {Frontiers in veterinary science}, volume = {11}, number = {}, pages = {1514952}, pmid = {39834927}, issn = {2297-1769}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: In ruminants, a symbiotic rumen microbiota is responsible for supporting the digestion of dietary fiber and contributes to health traits closely associated with meat and milk quality. A holistic view of the physicochemical profiles of mixed rumen microbiota (MRM) is not well-illustrated.

METHODS: The experiment was performed with a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement of the specific surface area (SSA: 3.37, 3.73, and 4.44 m[2]/g) of NDF extracted from rice straw and the surface tension (ST: 54, 46, 43, and 36 dyn/cm) of a fermented medium in a fermentation time series of 6, 12, 24, 48 h with three experimental units. Here, we used three rumen-fistulated adult Liuyang black goats as the rumen liquid donors for this experiment.

RESULTS: It was found that increasing SSA decreased the average acetate/propionate ratio (A/P, p < 0.05) and increased the molarity of propionate (p < 0.05). Increasing ST decreased total volatile fatty acid (tVFA) concentration (p < 0.01). Greater SSA increased (p < 0.01) MRM hydrophobicity, whereas increasing ST increased MRM cell membrane permeability (p < 0.01). The neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD, r = 0.937) and tVFA (r = 0.809) were positively correlated with the membrane permeability of MRM.

DISCUSSION: The surface tension of the artificial medium and substrate-specific surface area had a significant influence on MRM's fermentation profiles, hydrophobicity, and permeability. The results suggest that physical environmental properties are key in regulating rumen fermentation function and homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid39834362, year = {2024}, author = {Li, T and Gao, Z and Zhou, P and Huang, M and Wang, G and Xu, J and Deng, W and Wang, M}, title = {Structures and determinants of soil microbiomes along a steep elevation gradient in Southwest China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1504134}, pmid = {39834362}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Soil microbial communities play a vital role in accelerating nutrient cycling and stabilizing ecosystem functions in forests. However, the diversity of soil microbiome and the mechanisms driving their distribution patterns along elevational gradients in montane areas remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the soil microbial diversity along an elevational gradient from 650 m to 3,800 m above sea level in southeast Tibet, China, through DNA metabarcode sequencing of both the bacterial and fungal communities. Our results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla across elevations were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteriota, and the dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The Simpson indices of both soil bacteria and fungi demonstrated a hollow trend along the elevational gradient, with an abrupt decrease in bacterial and fungal diversity at 2,600 m a.s.l. in coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests (CBM). Soil bacterial chemoheterotrophy was the dominant lifestyle and was predicted to decrease with increasing elevation. In terms of fungal lifestyles, saprophytic and symbiotic fungi were the dominant functional communities but their relative abundance was negatively correlated with increasing elevation. Environmental factors including vegetation type (VEG), altitude (ALT), soil pH, total phosphorus (TP), nitrate nitrogen (NO3 [-]-N), and polyphenol oxidase (ppo) all exhibited significant influence on the bacterial community structure, whereas VEG, ALT, and the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) were significantly associated with the fungal community structure. The VPA results indicated that edaphic factors explained 37% of the bacterial community variations, while C/N, ALT, and VEG explained 49% of the total fungal community variations. Our study contributes significantly to our understanding of forest ecosystems in mountainous regions with large elevation changes, highlighting the crucial role of soil environmental factors in shaping soil microbial communities and their variations in specific forest ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid39832421, year = {2025}, author = {Cubillos, VM and Montory, JA and Chaparro, OR and Cruces, E and Segura, CJ and Ramírez-Kuschel, EF and Mardones, DA and Valdivia, N and Paredes-Molina, FJ and Echeverría-Pérez, I and Salas-Yanquin, LP and Büchner-Miranda, JA}, title = {Leaving the incubation chamber: Cellular and physiological challenges of the juvenile stage of the sea anemone Anthopleura hermaphroditica (Carlgren, 1899) to cope with fluctuating environmental stressors in the Quempillén estuary, southern Chile.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {106962}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2025.106962}, pmid = {39832421}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Environmental stress on early life stages has severe consequences for individual performance and population dynamics. The internal incubation process of the symbiotic intertidal anemone Anthopleura hermaphroditica ends when the juveniles leave the gastrovascular cavity of the adult, at which moment they are exposed to a highly stressful environment due to tidal changes and environmental radiation in the Quempillén estuary. To determine the cellular and physiological tolerance capabilities of juvenile anemones to changes in salinity and environmental radiation resulting from the abandonment of the gastrovascular cavity, an experiment with an orthogonal design was performed on individuals exposed to four levels of salinity (30.0, 22.5, 15.0 and 7.5 psu) and two of solar radiation (P/<400-700 nm; PAB/<280-700 nm). The cellular response was evaluated by estimation of peroxidative damage and total antioxidant capacity. In addition, the effects of salinity and radiation on the photosynthetic process (with and without inhibition of the photosynthetic process by the addition of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU)) and on the oxygen consumption rate were determined. Finally, the mean maximum effective concentration (EC50) was determined for each of the experimental conditions. Overall, salinity, radiation and photosynthetic condition (and their interaction) influence the level of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity of juvenile A. hermaphroditica. Thus, levels of oxidative damage and antioxidant response increase with decreasing salinity and are exacerbated at salinities of 7.5 psu combined with UV-R radiation (PAB treatment). Photosynthesis by the zooxanthellae of the symbiont complex not only increases cell damage and antioxidant response, but also generates elevated oxygen levels higher than those utilized by the anemone through oxygen consumption rate. In this context, salinities ≤15 and ≤ 22.5 psu reduce oxygen production/consumption by the symbiont complex under P and PAB conditions, respectively. Consequently, juveniles photosynthesizing in the presence of PAB generate narrower physiological tolerance ranges to hyposaline conditions (EC50 = 23 psu) than non-photosynthetic organisms exposed to P radiation treatment alone (EC50 = 18 psu). Future studies are needed to determine the effect of radiation on the release of juvenile A. hermaphroditica from the gastrovascular cavity of adult anemones. Therefore, symbiotic photosynthetic activity mediates the interdependent effects of salinity and radiation on juveniles' cellular responses and physiological capabilities.}, } @article {pmid39832384, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, Y and Du, Y}, title = {Hypothesis for Molecular Evolution in the Pre-Cellular Stage of the Origin of Life.}, journal = {Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. RNA}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {e70001}, doi = {10.1002/wrna.70001}, pmid = {39832384}, issn = {1757-7012}, support = {42376149//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZDSYS20230626091459009//Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Marine Ecology/ ; }, mesh = {*Origin of Life ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Ribosomes/metabolism/genetics ; }, abstract = {Life was originated from inorganic world and had experienced a long period of evolution in about 3.8 billion years. The time for emergence of the pioneer creations on Earth is debatable nowadays, and how the scenario for the prebiotic molecular interactions is still mysterious. Before the spreading of cellular organisms, chemical evolution was perhaps prevailing for millions of years, in which inorganic biosynthesis was ultimately replaced by biochemical reactions. Understanding the major molecular players and their interactions toward cellular life is fundamental for current medical science and extraterrestrial life exploration. In this review, we propose a road map for the primordial molecular evolution in early Earth, which probably occurred adjacent to hydrothermal vents with a strong gradient of organic molecules, temperature, and metal contents. Natural selection of the macromolecules with strong secondary structures and catalytic centers is associated with decreasing of overall entropy of the biopolymers. Our review may shed lights into the important selection of gene-coding RNA with secondary structures from large amounts of random biopolymers and formation of ancient ribosomes with biological machines supporting the basic life processes. Integration of the free environmental ribosomes by the early cellular life as symbiotic molecular machines is probably the earliest symbiosis on Earth.}, } @article {pmid39830700, year = {2025}, author = {Yamawo, A and Hagiwara, T and Yoshida, S and Ohno, M and Nakajima, R and Mori, Y and Hayashi, T and Yamagishi, H and Shiojiri, K}, title = {Interspecific Variations in Interplant Communication and Ecological Characteristics in Trees.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e70876}, pmid = {39830700}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Plants evolve diverse communication systems in adapting to complex and variable environments. Here, we examined the relationship between plant architecture, population density and inter-plant communication within tree species. We tested the hypothesis that trees of species with complex architecture or high population density (high population density: HPD) communicate among conspecifics via volatiles. In addition, we hypothesize that states of mycorrhizal symbiosis (arbuscular mycorrhizal or ectomycorrhiza) which relation to population density can predict the development of interplant communication in trees. We tested induced defense as an indicator of communication in saplings of nine tree species with various complexities of architecture (number of leaves per shoot) and either low (low population density: LPD) or HPD, either exposed for 10 days to volatiles from a damaged conspecific or not exposed. We evaluated the number of insect-damaged leaves and the area of leaf damage on these trees after 1 and 2 months in the field. Most exposed HPD trees had less leaf damage than controls. However, LPD trees did not differ in leaf damage between treatments. These results are partially supported by plant hormone analysis. In addition, the presence of inter-plant communication was positively correlated with both the number of leaves per shoot (complexity of plant architecture) and population density. The analysis which combined results of previous studies suggests that states of mycorrhizal symbiosis predict the development of interplant communication; interplant communication is common in ectomycorrhiza species. These results suggest the importance of plant architecture and population density as well as state of mycorrhizal symbiosis in the development of interplant communications within tree species.}, } @article {pmid39830096, year = {2025}, author = {Fei, C and Booker, A and Klass, S and Vidyarathna, NK and Ahn, SH and Mohamed, AR and Arshad, M and Glibert, PM and Heil, CA and Martínez Martínez, J and Amin, SA}, title = {Friends and foes: symbiotic and algicidal bacterial influence on Karenia brevis blooms.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {5}, number = {1}, pages = {ycae164}, pmid = {39830096}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) of the toxigenic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (KB) are pivotal in structuring the ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM), decimating coastal ecology, local economies, and human health. Bacterial communities associated with toxigenic phytoplankton species play an important role in influencing toxin production in the laboratory, supplying essential factors to phytoplankton and even killing blooming species. However, our knowledge of the prevalence of these mechanisms during HAB events is limited, especially for KB blooms. Here, we introduced native microbial communities from the GoM, collected during two phases of a Karenia bloom, into KB laboratory cultures. Using bacterial isolation, physiological experiments, and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we identified both putative enhancers and mitigators of KB blooms. Metagenome-assembled genomes from the Roseobacter clade showed strong correlations with KB populations during HABs, akin to symbionts. A bacterial isolate from this group of metagenome-assembled genomes, Mameliella alba, alleviated vitamin limitations of KB by providing it with vitamins B1, B7 and B12. Conversely, bacterial isolates belonging to Bacteroidetes and Gammaproteobacteria, Croceibacter atlanticus, and Pseudoalteromonas spongiae, respectively, exhibited strong algicidal properties against KB. We identified a serine protease homolog in P. spongiae that putatively drives the algicidal activity in this isolate. While the algicidal mechanism in C. atlanticus is unknown, we demonstrated the efficiency of C. atlanticus to mitigate KB growth in blooms from the GoM. Our results highlight the importance of specific bacteria in influencing the dynamics of HABs and suggest strategies for future HAB management.}, } @article {pmid39829398, year = {2024}, author = {Abdizadeh, T and Rezaei, S and Emadi, Z and Sadeghi, R and Saffari-Chaleshtori, J and Sadeghi, M}, title = {Investigation of bioremediation for glyphosate and its metabolite in soil using arbuscular mycorrhizal GmHsp60 protein: a molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations approach.}, journal = {Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-25}, doi = {10.1080/07391102.2024.2445767}, pmid = {39829398}, issn = {1538-0254}, abstract = {The widespread use of glyphosate and the high dependence of the agricultural industry on this herbicide cause environmental pollution and pose a threat to living organisms. One of the appropriate solutions in sustainable agriculture to deal with pollution caused by glyphosate and its metabolites is creating a symbiotic relationship between plants and mycorrhizal fungi. Glomalin-related soil protein is a key protein for the bioremediation of glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethyl phosphonic acid in soil. This study uses homology modeling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation approaches to investigate the binding mechanism of glomalin-related soil protein from arbuscular mycorrhiza (GmHsp60) with glyphosate and its metabolite and the role of soil protein in the removal and sequestering of common agricultural soil pollutants. GmHsp60 protein structure was predicted by homology modeling, and the quality of the generated model was assessed. Then, the interaction between glyphosate and aminomethyl phosphonic acid and the modeled GmHsp60 protein was explored by molecular docking. Based on docking results, GmHsp60 has an efficient role in the bioremediation of glyphosate and aminomethyl phosphonic acid (-6.03 and -5.34 kcal/mol). Glyphosate forms three hydrogen bonds with Lys258, Gly262, and Glu58 of GmHsp60, and aminomethyl phosphonic acid forms three hydrogen bonds with Lys258, Gly261, and Gly262 of GmHsp60. In addition, the glyphosate's and its metabolite's stability was confirmed by molecular docking simulations and binding free energy calculations using MM/PBSA analysis. This study provides a molecular-level understanding of GmHsp60 expression and function for glyphosate bioremediation.}, } @article {pmid39828985, year = {2025}, author = {Hu, JP and Deng, SJ and Gu, L and Li, L and Tu, L and Li, JL and Tang, JX and Zhu, GD}, title = {Fungi on the cuticle surface increase the resistance of Aedes albopictus to deltamethrin.}, journal = {Insect science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/1744-7917.13503}, pmid = {39828985}, issn = {1744-7917}, support = {2023YFA1801004//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 82261128002//National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joint program/ ; 2022YFML1003//National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation joint program/ ; }, abstract = {Aedes albopictus (Ae. albopictus) is widely distributed and can transmit many infectious diseases, and insecticide-based interventions play an important role in vector control. However, increased insecticide resistance has become a severe public health problem, and the clarification of its detailed mechanism is a matter of urgence. This study found that target-site resistance and metabolic resistance could not fully explain insecticide resistance in field Ae. albopictus, and there were likely other resistance mechanisms involved. The 16S and internal transcribed spacer sequencing revealed significant differences in the species compositions of the cuticle surface symbiotic bacteria and fungi between deltamethrin (DM)-resistant (DR) and DM-susceptible (DS) Ae. albopictus. Additionally, the abundances of Serratia spp. and Candida spp. significantly increased after DM treatment. Furthermore, 2 fungi (Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Candida melibiosica) and 3 bacteria (Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella aerogenes, and Serratia sp.) isolated from DR Ae. albopictus can use DM as their sole carbon source. After reinoculation onto the cuticle surface of DS Ae. albopictus, R. mucilaginosa and C. melibiosica significantly enhanced the DM resistance of Ae. albopictus. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing of the surviving Ae. albopictus after DM exposure revealed that the gene expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes and glutathione-S-transferases increased, suggesting that besides the direct degradation, the candidate degrading microbes could also cause insecticide resistance via indirect enhancement of mosquito gene expression. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the cuticle surface symbiotic microbes were involved in the development of insecticide resistance in Ae. albopictus, providing novel and supplementary insights into insecticide resistance mechanisms.}, } @article {pmid39828947, year = {2025}, author = {Alperovitz, CH and Ben David, N and Ramot, Y and Gross, A and Mizrahi, B}, title = {Living Microneedles for Intradermal Delivery of Beneficial Bacteria.}, journal = {ACS biomaterials science & engineering}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c02230}, pmid = {39828947}, issn = {2373-9878}, abstract = {The skin, our first line of defense against external threats, combines a physical barrier and a rich microbial community. Disruptions of this community, for example, due to infectious injury, have been linked to a decrease in bacteria diversity and to mild to severe pathological conditions. Although some progress has been made in the field, possibilities/procedures for restoring the skin microbiome are still far from ideal. The objective of this study was to design and evaluate a dissolvable poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyvinylpyrrolidone microneedle (MN) patch containing live Bacillus subtilis. According to the plan, bacteria were distributed equally throughout the patch without compromising the morphology and mechanical properties of the needles. B. subtilis was successfully released from the MNs, reaching a logarithmic growth phase after 5 h. These MNs demonstrated remarkable antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive pathogenic S. pyogenes, S. aureus, and C. acnes, while the empty control MNs showed no such activity. Finally, mice were inserted with a single MN patch loaded with GFP-B. subtilis presented significantly higher total radiance efficiency (TRE) values compared to the empty-MN mice throughout the entire experiment. This concept of incorporating live, secreting bacteria within a supportive MN patch shows great promise as a bacterial delivery system, offering a potential shift from conventional pharmacological approaches to more sustainable and symbiotic therapies.}, } @article {pmid39828533, year = {2025}, author = {Andrew, N and Trofe, A and Laws, E and Pathiraja, G and Kalkar, S and Ignatova, T and Rathnayake, H}, title = {Charge Capacitive Signatures at the Interface of E. coli/MOF Biohybrids to Create a Live Cell Biocapacitor.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2411472}, doi = {10.1002/smll.202411472}, pmid = {39828533}, issn = {1613-6829}, support = {ECCS-1542174//NSF/ ; W911NF1910522//US Department of Defense, DoD HBCU/MSI/ ; W911NF2310290//DoD HBCU/MSI Research and Educational Program/ ; 2021-70410-35292//USDA NIFA Equipment grant program/ ; W911QY2220006//Department of Defense DEVCOM Centers/ ; NIFA EGP 2021-70410-35292//National Institute of Food and Agriculture/ ; W911QY2220006//U.S. Department of Defense/ ; }, abstract = {The chemistry of the extracellular electron transfer (EET) process in microorganisms can be understood by interfacing them with abiotic materials that act as external redox mediators. These mediators capture and transfer extracellular electrons through redox reactions, bridging the microorganism and the electrode surface. Understanding this charge transfer process is essential for designing biocapacitors capable of modulating and storing charge signatures as capacitance at the electrode interface. Herein, a novel biointerfacial strategy is presented to investigate directional charge injection from a non-exoelectrogenic living microbe to an electrode surface using the porous metal-organic framework (MOF), MIL-88B. The biohybrid, formed by interfacing Escherichia coli (E. coli) with MIL-88B, demonstrates symbiotic interactions between the biotic and abiotic components, facilitating EET from E. coli to the electrode via the MOF. Acting as a redox mediator, the MOF catalyzes E. coli's exoelectrogenic activity, generating distinct charge capacitive signatures at the E. coli-MOF interface. This system integrates the capacitive signatures resulting from the EET process with the MOF's intrinsic pseudocapacitive properties and surface-controlled capacitive effects, functioning as a highly efficient biocapacitor. Furthermore, this approach of converting the biochemical energy of a non-exoelectrogenic microorganism into capacitive signatures opens a new pathway for translating biological signals into functional outputs, paving the way for autonomous biosensing platforms.}, } @article {pmid39827948, year = {2025}, author = {Chammakhi, C and Pacoud, M and Boscari, A and Berger, A and Mhadhbi, H and Gharbi, I and Brouquisse, R}, title = {Differential regulation of the "phytoglobin-nitric oxide respiration" in Medicago truncatula roots and nodules submitted to flooding.}, journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {112393}, doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2025.112393}, pmid = {39827948}, issn = {1873-2259}, abstract = {Flooding induces hypoxia in plant tissues, impacting various physiological and biochemical processes. This study investigates the adaptive response of the roots and nitrogen-fixing nodules of Medicago truncatula in symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti under short-term hypoxia caused by flooding. Four-week-old plants were subjected to flooding for 1 to 4 days. Physiological parameters as well as the expression of the senescence marker gene MtCP6 remained unchanged after 4 days of flooding, indicating no senescence onset. Hypoxia was evident from the first day, as indicated by the upregulation of hypoxia marker genes (MtADH, MtPDC, MtAlaAT, MtERF73). Nitrogen-fixing capacity was unaffected after 1 day but markedly decreased after 4 days, while energy state (ATP/ADP ratio) significantly decreased from 1 day and was more affected in nodules than in roots. Nitric oxide (NO) production increased in roots but decreased in nodules after prolonged flooding. Nitrate reductase (NR) activity and expression of genes associated with Phytoglobin-NO (Pgb-NO) respiration (MtNR1, MtNR2, MtPgb1.1) were upregulated, suggesting a role in maintaining energy metabolism under hypoxia, but the use of M. truncatula nr1 and nr2 mutants, impaired in nitrite production, indicated the involvement of these two genes in ATP regeneration during initial flooding response. The addition of sodium nitroprusside or tungstate revealed that Pgb-NO respiration contributes significantly to ATP regeneration in both roots and nodules under flooding. Altogether, these results highlight the importance of NR1 and Pgb1.1 in the hypoxic response of legume root systems and show that nodules are more sensitive than roots to hypoxia.}, } @article {pmid39826554, year = {2025}, author = {Kirsch, R and Okamura, Y and García-Lozano, M and Weiss, B and Keller, J and Vogel, H and Fukumori, K and Fukatsu, T and Konstantinov, AS and Montagna, M and Moseyko, AG and Riley, EG and Slipinski, A and Vencl, FV and Windsor, DM and Salem, H and Kaltenpoth, M and Pauchet, Y}, title = {Symbiosis and horizontal gene transfer promote herbivory in the megadiverse leaf beetles.}, journal = {Current biology : CB}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2024.12.028}, pmid = {39826554}, issn = {1879-0445}, abstract = {Beetles that feed on the nutritionally depauperate and recalcitrant tissues provided by the leaves, stems, and roots of living plants comprise one-quarter of herbivorous insect species. Among the key adaptations for herbivory are plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) that break down the fastidious polymers in the cell wall and grant access to the nutritious cell content. While largely absent from the non-herbivorous ancestors of beetles, such PCWDEs were occasionally acquired via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or by the uptake of digestive symbionts. However, the macroevolutionary dynamics of PCWDEs and their impact on evolutionary transitions in herbivorous insects remained poorly understood. Through genomic and transcriptomic analyses of 74 leaf beetle species and 50 symbionts, we show that multiple independent events of microbe-to-beetle HGT and specialized symbioses drove convergent evolutionary innovations in approximately 21,000 and 13,500 leaf beetle species, respectively. Enzymatic assays indicate that these events significantly expanded the beetles' digestive repertoires and thereby contributed to their adaptation and diversification. Our results exemplify how recurring HGT and symbiont acquisition catalyzed digestive and nutritional adaptations to herbivory and thereby contributed to the evolutionary success of a megadiverse insect taxon.}, } @article {pmid39826408, year = {2025}, author = {Xie, K and Chen, Y and Wang, X and Zhou, X and Cheng, Y and Yu, X and Wang, J and Sun, M and Li, Y and He, C}, title = {Physiological and multi-omics analysis revealed the mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to cadmium toxicity in green onion.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {290}, number = {}, pages = {117754}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117754}, pmid = {39826408}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic agricultural pollutant that inhibits the growth and development of plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance plant tolerance to Cd, but the regulatory mechanisms in Allium fistulosum (green onion) are unclear. This study used a Cd treatment concentration of 1.5 mg·kg[-1], which corresponds to the risk control threshold for soil pollution in Chinese agricultural land, to examine the effects and molecular mechanisms of AMF inoculation on the growth and physiology of green onion under Cd stress. AMF formed an effective symbiotic relationship with green onion roots under Cd stress, increased plant biomass, improved root structure and enhanced root vitality. AMF-colonized green onion had reduced Cd content in roots and leaves by 63.00 % and 46.50 %, respectively, with Cd content being higher in the roots than in the leaves. The ameliorative effect of AMF on Cd toxicity was mainly due to a reduction in malondialdehyde content in leaves (30.12 %) and an enhancement of antioxidant enzyme activities (peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione) that mitigated damage from excessive reactive oxygen species. In addition, AMF induced secretion of easily extractable glomalin soil protein and total glomalin-related soil protein and inhibited the translocation of Cd to the shoots. Transcriptomic and metabolomic correlation analyses revealed that differentially expressed genes and metabolites in AMF-inoculated green onion under Cd stress were predominantly enriched in the "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis" and "phenylalanine metabolism" pathways, upregulated the expression of the HCT, PRDX6, HPD, MIF, and HMA3 genes, and accumulation of the phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose metabolites. Thus, AMF enhance Cd tolerance in green onions by sequestering Cd in roots, restricting its translocation, modulating antioxidant defenses and inducing the expression of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and phenylalanine metabolism pathways. Collectedly, we for the first time revealed the mechanism of AMF alleviating the toxicity of Cd to green onion, providing a theoretical foundation for the safe production and sustainable cultivation of green onion in Cd-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid39825495, year = {2025}, author = {Wall, CB and Kajihara, K and Rodriguez, FE and Vilonen, L and Yogi, D and Swift, SOI and Hynson, NA}, title = {Symbiotic fungi alter plant resource allocation independent of water availability.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e16459}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.16459}, pmid = {39825495}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {PREMISE: The ability of plants to adapt or acclimate to climate change is inherently linked to their interactions with symbiotic microbes, notably fungi. However, it is unclear whether fungal symbionts from different climates have different impacts on the outcome of plant-fungal interactions, especially under environmental stress.

METHODS: We tested three provenances of fungal inoculum (originating from dry, moderate or wet environments) with one host plant genotype exposed to three soil moisture regimes (low, moderate and high). Inoculated and uninoculated plants were grown in controlled conditions for 151 days, then shoot and root biomass were weighed and fungal diversity and community composition determined via amplicon sequencing.

RESULTS: The source of inoculum and water regime elicited significant changes in plant resource allocation to shoots versus roots, but only specific inocula affected total plant biomass. Shoot biomass increased in the high water treatment but was negatively impacted by all inoculum treatments relative to the controls. The opposite was true for roots, where the low water treatment led to greater proportional root biomass, and plants inoculated with wet site fungi allocated significantly more resources to root growth than dry- or moderate-site inoculated plants and the controls. Fungal communities of shoots and roots partitioned by inoculum source, water treatment, and the interaction of the two.

CONCLUSIONS: The provenance of fungi can significantly affect total plant biomass and resource allocation above- and belowground, with fungi derived from more extreme environments eliciting the strongest plant responses.}, } @article {pmid39824487, year = {2025}, author = {Lind, N and Hansson, H and Emanuelson, U and Lagerkvist, CJ}, title = {Healthy Cows, Happy Farmers? Exploring the Dynamics of Mastitis and Farmer Well-Being.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2024-25506}, pmid = {39824487}, issn = {1525-3198}, abstract = {Clinical mastitis, a prevalent production disease in the dairy industry, causes significant pain and swelling in dairy cows' udders. While previous research highlights a symbiotic relationship between humans and animals, particularly in terms of health, this study investigates how animal health, specifically clinical mastitis, influences farmers' well-being. Acknowledging farmers' pivotal role in mitigating animal health problems, we examined the human-animal relationship by exploring how dairy cow health relates to the psychological well-being of dairy farmers. This was performed by investigating the connection between animal and farmer health and whether it is mediated by farmers' perceptions of mastitis as a production disease and their sense of control over the situation. For the current study, we combined and matched data from a large questionnaire study covering dairy farmer's well-being (n = 356) with data on dairy cow herd health. For statistical analyses we used the PROCESS macro for serial multiple mediator analysis, an analysis that allows for the estimation of the effect of multiple mediators in a causal chain. We found that farmers' well-being is indirectly related to animal health though their illness perception (P < 0.05) and perceived self-efficacy (P < 0.001), underscoring the importance of cultivating awareness and control over mastitis occurrences. For these estimations, we controlled for the effect of farm size, expected income from dairy production, marital status, and cohabitation status of the farmer, as well as age and gender. Our results indicate that maintaining healthy animals with minimal mastitis incidents, coupled with farmers' perceived self-efficacy, is positively related with farmer well-being.}, } @article {pmid39824485, year = {2025}, author = {McAllister, TA and Thomas, KD and Gruninger, RJ and Elshahed, M and Li, Y and Cheng, Y}, title = {INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON RUMINANT PHYSIOLOGY: Rumen fungi, archaea and their interactions.}, journal = {Journal of dairy science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3168/jds.2024-25713}, pmid = {39824485}, issn = {1525-3198}, abstract = {Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF) were the last phylum to be identified within the rumen microbiome and account for 7-9% of microbial biomass. They produce potent lignocellulases that degrade recalcitrant plant cell walls, and rhizoids that can penetrate the cuticle of plant cells, exposing internal components to other microbiota. Interspecies H2 transfer between AGF and rumen methanogenic archaea is an essential metabolic process in the rumen that occurs during the reduction of CO2 to CH4 by methanogens. This symbiotic relationship is bolstered by hydrogensomes, fungal organelles that generate H2 and formate. Interspecies H2 transfer prevents the accumulation of reducing equivalents that would otherwise impede fermentation. The extent to which hydrogenosomes serve as a conduit for H2 flow to methanogens is unknown, but it is likely greater with low quality forages. Strategies that alter the production of CH4 could also have implications for H2 transfer by anaerobic fungi. Understanding the factors that drive these interactions and H2 flow could provide insight into the effect of reducing CH4 production on the activity of ruminal fungi and the digestion of low-quality feeds.}, } @article {pmid39824395, year = {2025}, author = {Tong, Y and Chen, R and Lu, X and Chen, C and Sun, G and Yu, X and Lyu, S and Feng, M and Long, Y and Gong, L and Chen, L}, title = {A nanobody-enzyme fusion protein targeting PD-L1 and sialic acid exerts anti-tumor effects by C-type lectin pathway-mediated tumor associated macrophages repolarizing.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {139953}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.139953}, pmid = {39824395}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Aberrant sialylated glycosylation in the tumor microenvironment is a novel immune suppression pathway, which has garnered significant attention as a targetable glycoimmune checkpoint for cancer immunotherapy to address the dilemma of existing therapies. However, rational drug design and in-depth mechanistic studies are urgently required for tumor sialic acid to become valuable glycoimmune targets. In this study, we explored the positive correlation of PD-L1 and sialyltransferase expression in clinical colorectal cancer tissues and identified their mutual regulation effects in macrophages. Subsequently, we characterized a new sialidase with excellent properties from human oral symbiotic bacteria and then developed a novel nanobody-enzyme fusion protein, designated as Nb16-Sia, to concurrently target the PD-L1 and sialic acid. Results from syngeneic colon tumor models reveal superior efficacy of Nb16-Sia over monotherapy and combinations, which could remodel the tumor immune microenvironment. Mechanistically, Nb16-Sia, which could repolarize macrophages from the tumor-promoting M2 to anti-tumor M1 phenotype via the C-type lectin pathway, exerted its antitumor efficacy mainly by regulating tumor-associated macrophages. Our strategy of nanobody-enzyme fusion protein effectively enables the delivery of sialidase, allows the collaboration between anti-PD-L1 nanobody and sialidase in combating tumors, and holds considerable promise for further development.}, } @article {pmid39824332, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, T and Yan, L and Qi, J and Su, R and Li, X and Sun, S and Song, Y and Wei, M and Zhang, D}, title = {Antibiotic resistance genes in the coastal atmosphere under varied weather conditions: distribution, influencing factors, and transmission mechanisms.}, journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {125695}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125695}, pmid = {39824332}, issn = {1873-6424}, abstract = {Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have escalated to levels of concern worldwide as emerging environmental pollutants. Increasing evidence suggests that non-antibiotic antimicrobial substances expedite the spread of ARGs. However, the drivers and mechanisms involved in the generation and spread of ARGs in the atmosphere remain inadequately elucidated. Co-occurrence networks, mantel test analysis, and partial least squares path modeling were used to analyze the symbiotic relationships of ARGs with meteorological conditions, atmospheric pollutants, water-soluble inorganic ions, bacteria, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), antibacterial biocide and metal resistance genes, and to identify the direct drivers of ARGs. The types and abundance of ARGs exhibited different seasonal distribution. Specifically, the types exhibited a strong alignment with the diversity of air masses terrestrial sources, while the abundance displayed a significant positive correlation with both biocide resistance genes (BRGs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs). The contribution of bacterial communities and MGEs to the generation and spread of ARGs was constrained by the low levels of antibiotics in the atmosphere and the existence of "viral intermediates". Conversely, antibacterial biocides and metals influenced mutation rates, cellular SOS responses, and oxidative stress of bacteria, consequently facilitating the generation and spread of ARGs. Moreover, the co-selection among their derivatives, resistance genes, ensured a stable presence of ARGs. The research highlighted the significant impact of residual antimicrobial substances on both the generation and spread of ARGs. Elucidating the sources of aerosols and the co-selection mechanism linking with ARGs, BRGs, and MRGs were crucial for preserving the stability of ARGs in the atmosphere.}, } @article {pmid39824320, year = {2025}, author = {Liu, S and Liang, D and Wang, Y and He, W and Feng, Y}, title = {Impact of carrier capacitance on Geobacter enrichment and direct interspecies electron transfer under anaerobic conditions.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {132079}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132079}, pmid = {39824320}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) enhances anaerobic digestion by facilitating electron exchange between electroactive bacteria and methanogenic archaea. While Geobacter species are recognized for donating electrons to methanogens via DIET, they are rarely detected in mixed microbial communities. This study examined various non-electrode biological carriers (zeolite, carbon cloth, activated carbon and biochar) to promote Geobacter cultivation under anaerobic conditions and identify pivotal factors influencing their symbiosis with methanogens. Capacitive materials, such as activated carbon and biochar, significantly enriched Geobacter populations and strengthened DIET-based mutualism with Methanosarcina, both in the presence and absence of electric fields Partial least-squares path modeling revealed that the porous structure and functional groups of materials positively and directly influenced the abundance of Geobacter and Methanosarcina. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of critical properties of capacitive materials for screening functional microorganisms and guiding the design of electroactive materials to augment anaerobic treatment processes.}, } @article {pmid39823489, year = {2025}, author = {Yang, G and Juncang, T and Zhi, W}, title = {Composition and functional diversity of soil and water microbial communities in the rice-crab symbiosis system.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {20}, number = {1}, pages = {e0316815}, pmid = {39823489}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Oryza/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Water Microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Bacteria/genetics/classification/metabolism ; Microbiota ; Fungi/genetics/classification ; Biodiversity ; }, abstract = {Rice-crab co-culture is an environmentally friendly agricultural and aquaculture technology with high economic and ecological value. In order to clarify the structure and function of soil and water microbial communities in the rice-crab symbiosis system, the standard rice-crab field with a ring groove was used as the research object. High-throughput sequencing was performed with rice field water samples to analyze the species and abundance differences of soil bacteria and fungi. The results showed that the OTU richness and community diversity in soil were significantly higher than those in water, while there were significant differences in soil microbial diversity and OTU richness in water sediments. The dominant species at the bacterial phylum level were Amoebacteria, Cyanobacteria, Actinomycetes, Synechococcus and Greenbacteria, and at the genus level the dominant species were norank_f_norank_o_Chloroplast, unclassified_f_Rhodobacteraceae, LD29, Cyanobium_PCC-6307, and norank_f_MWH-UniP1_aquatic_group. The dominant species at the fungal phylum level are unclassified_k_Fungi, Ascomycota, Rozellomycota, Phaeomycota and Stenotrophomonas, and at the genus level the dominant species are unclassified_k_Fungi, unclassified_p_Rozellomycota, Metschnikowia, Cladosporium, unclassified_p_Chytridiomycota. The dominant phylum may rely on mechanisms such as organic matter catabolism, secretion of secondary metabolites and phototrophic autotrophy, as predicted by functional gene analysis. The main functional genes are related to metabolic functions, including secondary product metabolism, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism.}, } @article {pmid39821486, year = {2025}, author = {Rogivue, A and Leempoel, K and Guillaume, AS and Choudhury, RR and Felber, F and Kasser, M and Joost, S and Parisod, C and Gugerli, F}, title = {Locally Specific Genome-Wide Signatures of Adaptation to Environmental Variation at High Resolution in an Alpine Plant.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e17646}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17646}, pmid = {39821486}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {2014.0821//Bundesbehörden der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft/ ; CR32I3_149741//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; }, abstract = {Microevolutionary processes shape adaptive responses to heterogeneous environments, where these effects vary both among and within species. However, it remains largely unknown to which degree signatures of adaptation to environmental drivers can be detected based on the choice of spatial scale and genomic marker. We studied signatures of local adaptation across two levels of spatial extents, investigating complementary types of genomic variants-single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and polymorphic transposable elements (TEs)-in populations of the alpine model plant species Arabis alpina . We coupled environmental factors, derived from remote sensed digital elevation models (DEMs) at very high resolution (0.5 m), with whole-genome sequencing data of 304 individuals across four populations. By comparing putatively adaptive loci detected between each local population versus a regional assessment including all populations simultaneously, we demonstrate that responses of A. alpina to similar amounts of abiotic variation are largely governed by local evolutionary processes. Furthermore, we find minimally overlapping signatures of local adaptation between SNPs and polymorphic TEs. Notably, functional annotations of candidate genes for adaptation revealed several symbiosis-related genes associated with the abiotic factors studied, which could represent selective pressures from biotic agents. Our results highlight the importance of considering different spatial extents and types of genomic polymorphisms when searching for signatures of adaptation to environmental variation. Such insights provide key information on microevolutionary processes and could guide management decisions to mitigate negative impacts of climate change on alpine plant populations.}, } @article {pmid39819563, year = {2025}, author = {Vasistha, P and Singh, PP and Srivastava, D and Johny, L and Shukla, S}, title = {Effector proteins of Funneliformis mosseae BR221: unravelling plant-fungal interactions through reference-based transcriptome analysis, in vitro validation, and protein‒protein docking studies.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {42}, pmid = {39819563}, issn = {1471-2164}, mesh = {*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; *Molecular Docking Simulation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism/chemistry ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Transcriptome ; Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form a highly adaptable and versatile group of fungi found in natural and man-managed ecosystems. Effector secreted by AM fungi influence symbiotic relationship by modifying host cells, suppressing host defense and promoting infection to derive nutrients from the host. Here, we conducted a reference-based transcriptome sequencing of Funneliformis mosseae BR221 to enhance understanding on the molecular machinery involved in the establishment of interaction between host and AM fungi.

RESULTS: A total of 163 effector proteins were identified in F. mosseae isolate BR221, of these, 79.14% are extracellular effectors and 5.5% are predicted cytoplasmic effectors. In silico prediction using a pathogen-host interaction database suggested four of the 163 effectors could be crucial in establishing AM fungi-host interactions. Protein-protein docking analysis revealed interactions between these potential effectors and plant proteins known to be differentially expressed during mycorrhizal association, such as defensins, aquaporins, and PTO proteins. These interactions are multifaceted in modulating host physiological and defense mechanisms, including immune suppression, hydration, nutrient uptake, and oxidative stress modulation.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings of the current study provide a foundational understanding of fungal-host molecular interactions and open avenues for exploring pathways influenced by these effectors. By deepening our knowledge of these mechanisms, the use of AM fungi in biofertilizer formulations can be refined by selecting strains with specific effectors that enhance nutrient uptake, improve drought and disease resistance, and tailor the fungi's symbiotic efficiency to different crops or environmental conditions, thus contributing to more targeted and sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid39818942, year = {2025}, author = {Vincent, M and Boubakri, H and Fournier, P and Parisot, N and Pétriacq, P and Cassan, C and Flandin, A and Miotello, G and Armengaud, J and Hay, AE and Herrera-Belaroussi, A}, title = {Phytophthora alni Infection Reinforces the Defense Reactions in Alnus glutinosa - Frankia Roots to the Detriment of Nodules.}, journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1094/MPMI-12-24-0160-R}, pmid = {39818942}, issn = {0894-0282}, abstract = {Alnus glutinosa, able to establish symbiosis with mutualistic bacteria of the genus Frankia, is one of the main species in European riparian environments, where it performs numerous biological and socio-economic functions. However, riparian ecosystems face a growing threat from Phytophthora alni, a highly aggressive waterborne pathogen causing severe dieback in A. glutinosa. To date, the tripartite interaction between the host plant, the symbiont Frankia and the pathogen remains unexplored but is critical for understanding how pathogen-induced stress influences the nodule molecular machinery and so on the host-symbiont metabolism. In the present study, we aimed to explore for the first time how P. alni affects the overall molecular processes of Alnus glutinosa - Frankia nodules, with a special focus on unraveling the spatial expression of defense mechanisms within these tissues. We conducted a laboratory experiment based on P. alni infection of young A. glutinosa seedlings nodulated with Frankia alni ACN14a, non-infected or infected with the pathogen P. alni. Multi-omics analyses were carried out on nodules (N) and associated roots (AR) of the same plant in order to underline the impact on the nodule molecular processes (i.e. N/AR markers) when the host plant is infected compared to non-infected plants. Our results revealed that P. alni infection modified the molecular nodule processes and induced reprograming of defense-related markers by a shift in associated roots to the detriment of nodules. These findings suggest that A. glutinosa reinforces locally its immune responses in roots but moderates this activation in nodule to preserve its Frankia symbiont.}, } @article {pmid39816909, year = {2025}, author = {Oliveira, BPN and Padeniya, U and Bledsoe, JW and Davis, DA and Liles, MR and Hussain, AS and Wells, DE and Bruce, TJ}, title = {Evaluation of Probiotic Effects on the Growth Performance and Microbiome of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in a High-Density Biofloc System.}, journal = {Aquaculture nutrition}, volume = {2025}, number = {}, pages = {5868806}, pmid = {39816909}, issn = {1365-2095}, abstract = {Biofloc technology is an aquaculture production system that has gained popularity with tilapia production. Probiotics provide benefits for the host and/or aquatic environments by both regulating and modulating microbial communities and their metabolites. When a probiotic feed is combined with a biofloc system, the production amount may be improved through better fish growth, disease resistance, and/or improved water quality by reducing organic matter and stabilizing metrics such as pH and components of the nitrogen cycle. Two research trials measured Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth performance and composition of the microbial communities in the water and within the fish fecal material, following feeding with top-coated probiotic treatments. Trial A incorporated tilapia (71.4 ± 4.4 g), and a commercial diet (Control) that was top coated with either Bacillus velenzensis AP193 (AP193; 1 × 10[7] CFU g[1]) and BiOWiSH Feedbuilder Syn3 (BW; 3.6 × 10[4] CFU g[-1]). In Trial B, juvenile tilapia (5.34 ± 0.42 g) were fed treatment diets top coated with two different concentrations of BiOWiSH Feedbuilder Syn3 at final concentrations of 3.6 × 10[4] CFU g[-1] (BWx1) and 7.2 × 10[4] CFU g[-1] (BWx2). Tilapia were offered commercial feed (38% protein floating tilapia feed) as a control diet for both trials. Results from both growth trials indicated no differences in growth performance due to the probiotic additions, except for feed conversion ratio (FCR) in Trial B. Both BWx1 and BWx2 showed improved survival, water quality, solids management, and bacterial composition of water and fecal matter. Even though growth performance results presented no significant differences, results could differ based on the probiotic concentration, the route of probiotic administration, or their impact on the microbial community of the biofloc system culture water. Trial results indicated that testing on a larger scale with varied probiotic doses may be necessary to achieve an effective dosage for improving tilapia growth performance.}, } @article {pmid39815312, year = {2025}, author = {Cui, H and Cheng, Q and Jing, T and Chen, Y and Li, X and Zhang, M and Qi, D and Feng, J and Vafadar, F and Wei, Y and Li, K and Zhao, Y and Zhou, D and Xie, J}, title = {Trichoderma virens XZ11-1 producing siderophores inhibits the infection of Fusarium oxysporum and promotes plant growth in banana plants.}, journal = {Microbial cell factories}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {22}, pmid = {39815312}, issn = {1475-2859}, support = {CATASCXTD202312//Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences for Science and Technology Innovation Team of National Tropical Agricultural Science Center/ ; CARS-31//China Agriculture Research System/ ; 321RC1094, 322QN417//Natural Science Foundation of Hainan/ ; NO.1630092022002//Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund for Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences/ ; 32360706//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; No. NKLTCB202311//Project of National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding (No. NKLTCB202311)./ ; }, mesh = {*Fusarium/metabolism/growth & development ; *Siderophores/metabolism/biosynthesis ; *Musa/microbiology/growth & development ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/prevention & control ; Hypocreales/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Soil Microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Banana Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense is a soil-borne fungal disease. Especially, tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) can infect almost Cavendish subgroup and has a fatal threat to banana industry. Use of antagonistic microbes to manage soil-borne pathogen is viewed as a promising strategy.

RESULTS: Strain XZ11-1 isolated from tropical rainforest has the production ability of high siderophore. By the analysis of physiological and biochemical profiles, construction of phylogenetic tree, and comparative results from the NR database, strain XZ11-1 was identified as Trichoderma virens. A relative content of 79.45% siderophores was produced in the optimized fermentation solution, including hydroxamate and carboxylate-type siderophores. Siderophores were key for inhibiting the growth of Foc TR4 by competing for environmental iron. Similarly, T. virens XZ11-1 also had antagonistic activities against 10 phytopathogenic fungi. Pot experiments demonstrated that T. virens XZ11-1 could colonize in the root system of banana plants. The symbiotic interaction not only improve plant resistance to Foc TR4, but also enhance iron absorption of roots to promote plant growth by secreting siderophores.

CONCLUSIONS: T. virens XZ11-1 with the high-yield siderophores was isolated and identified. The strain could effectively inhibit the infection of Foc TR4 in banana roots and promote plant growth. It is a promising biocontrol agent for controlling fungal disease.}, } @article {pmid39814887, year = {2025}, author = {Cook, NM and Gobbato, G and Jacott, CN and Marchal, C and Hsieh, CY and Lam, AHC and Simmonds, J and Del Cerro, P and Gomez, PN and Rodney, C and Cruz-Mireles, N and Uauy, C and Haerty, W and Lawson, DM and Charpentier, M}, title = {Autoactive CNGC15 enhances root endosymbiosis in legume and wheat.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39814887}, issn = {1476-4687}, abstract = {Nutrient acquisition is crucial for sustaining life. Plants develop beneficial intracellular partnerships with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria to surmount the scarcity of soil nutrients and tap into atmospheric dinitrogen, respectively[1,2]. Initiation of these root endosymbioses requires symbiont-induced oscillations in nuclear calcium (Ca[2+]) concentrations in root cells[3]. How the nuclear-localized ion channels, cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (CNGC) 15 and DOESN'T MAKE INFECTIONS1 (DMI1)[4] are coordinated to specify symbiotic-induced nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations remains unknown. Here we discovered an autoactive CNGC15 mutant that generates spontaneous low-frequency Ca[2+] oscillations. While CNGC15 produces nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations via a gating mechanism involving its helix 1, DMI1 acts as a pacemaker to specify the frequency of the oscillations. We demonstrate that the specificity of symbiotic-induced nuclear Ca[2+] oscillations is encoded in its frequency. A high frequency activates endosymbiosis programmes, whereas a low frequency modulates phenylpropanoid pathways. Consequently, the autoactive cngc15 mutant, which is capable of generating both frequencies, has increased flavonoids that enhance AM, root nodule symbiosis and nutrient acquisition. We transferred this trait to wheat, resulting in field-grown wheat with increased AM colonization and nutrient acquisition. Our findings reveal a new strategy to boost endosymbiosis in the field and reduce inorganic fertilizer use while sustaining plant growth.}, } @article {pmid39814757, year = {2025}, author = {Heim, S and Teav, T and Cortesi, F and Gallart-Ayala, H and Ivanisevic, J and Salamin, N}, title = {N-acetylated sugars in clownfish and damselfish skin mucus as messengers involved in chemical recognition by anemone host.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {2048}, pmid = {39814757}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {310030_185223//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; 310030_185223//Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung/ ; DE200100620//Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/metabolism/physiology ; *Skin/metabolism ; *Mucus/metabolism ; *N-Acetylneuraminic Acid/metabolism ; *Symbiosis/physiology ; Perciformes/metabolism ; Sugars/metabolism ; Acetylation ; }, abstract = {The clownfish - sea anemone system is a great example of symbiotic mutualism where host «toxicity» does not impact its symbiont partner, although the underlying protection mechanism remains unclear. The regulation of nematocyst discharge in cnidarians involves N-acetylated sugars like sialic acid, that bind chemoreceptors on the tentacles of sea anemones, leading to the release of stings. It has been suggested that clownfish could be deprived of sialic acid on their skin surface, sparing them from being stung and facilitating mutualism with sea anemones. In this study, we sampled the skin mucus of two anemone symbionts, the clownfish Amphiprion akindynos and the juvenile damselfish Dascyllus trimaculatus, as well as two non-symbiotic adult damselfish Pomacentrus moluccensis and P. pavo. The free and total sialic acid content, including its conjugated form, and three other intermediates of this pathway were quantified using a stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry approach. We found significantly higher levels of sialic acid and its precursor in the non-symbiotic damselfishes. Concentrations of total sialic acid in anemone symbionts ranged between 13 µM and 16 µM, whereas the non-symbiotic damselfishes ranged between 21 µM and 30 µM. The presence of this metabolite and its precursors, as triggers of nematocyst discharge, in anemone symbionts, suggests that this is not the direct mechanism of protection or that the trigger is concentration dependent. This experiment demonstrates that anemone symbionts are not spared by nematocysts because of a lack of N-acetylated sugars, as previously thought, rather the biochemical mechanisms involving N-acetylated sugars are more complex than just a presence/absence of these molecules.}, } @article {pmid39813926, year = {2025}, author = {Qu, C and Tang, J and Liu, J and Wang, W and Song, F and Cheng, S and Tang, X and Tang, CJ}, title = {Quorum sensing-enhanced electron transfer in anammox consortia: A mechanism for improved resistance to variable-valence heavy metals.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {487}, number = {}, pages = {137130}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137130}, pmid = {39813926}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Quorum sensing (QS) is recognized for enhancing bacterial resistance against heavy metals by regulating the production of extracellular substances that hinder metal penetration into the intracellular environment. However, it remains unclear whether QS contributes to resistance by regulating electron transfer, thereby transforming metals from more toxic to less toxic forms. This study investigated the regulatory mechanism of acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated QS on electron transfer under As(III) and Cr(VI) stress. Metagenomic binning results revealed that Candidatus Brocadia sinica serves as a major contributor to AHL production for regulating heavy metal resistance, while other symbiotic bacteria offer complementary resistance pathways. In these bacteria, the AHL synthesis gene htdS plays a pivotal role in QS regulation of electron transfer and heavy metal resistance. Experimental findings demonstrated that AHL increased the electron transport system activity by 19.8 %, and upregulated electron transfer gene expression by 1.1- to 6.9-fold. The enhanced electron transfer facilitated a 28.7 % increase in the transformation of As(III) to less toxic As(V) and monomethylarsonic acid, ultimately achieving efficient nitrogen removal under As(III) stress. This study expands our understanding of how QS strengthens bacterial resistance to heavy metals, offering novel strategies for enhancing nitrogen removal of anammox in heavy metal-contaminated environments.}, } @article {pmid39812995, year = {2025}, author = {Chen, CN and Yong, TC and Wang, JT}, title = {Activation of endogenous tolerance to bleaching stress by high salinity in cloned endosymbiotic dinoflagellates from corals.}, journal = {Botanical studies}, volume = {66}, number = {1}, pages = {3}, pmid = {39812995}, issn = {1817-406X}, support = {110-2621-B-110-002-MY2//Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan/ ; MOST 109-2621-B-110-001-MY2//Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Large-scale coral bleaching events have become increasingly frequent in recent years. This process occurs when corals are exposed to high temperatures and intense light stress, leading to an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by their endosymbiotic dinoflagellates. The ROS buildup prompts corals to expel these symbiotic microalgae, resulting in the corals' discoloration. Reducing ROS production and enhancing detoxification processes in these microalgae are crucial to prevent the collapse of coral reef ecosystems. However, research into the cell physiology and genetics of coral symbiotic dinoflagellates has been hindered by challenges associated with cloning these microalgae.

RESULTS: A procedure for cloning coral symbiotic dinoflagellates was developed in this study. Several species of coral symbionts were successfully cloned, with two of them further characterized. Experiments with the two species isolated from Turbinaria sp. showed that damage from light intensity at 340 μmol photons/m[2]/s was more severe than from high temperature at 36 °C. Additionally, preincubation in high salinity conditions activated their endogenous tolerance to bleaching stress. Pretreatment at 50 ppt salinity reduced the percentage of cells stained for ROS by 59% and 64% in the two species under bleaching stress compared to those incubated at 30 ppt. Furthermore, their Fv'/Fm' during the recovery period showed a significant improvement compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that intense light plays a more important role than high temperatures in coral bleaching by enhancing ROS generation in the symbiotic dinoflagellates. The findings also suggest the genomes of coral symbiotic dinoflagellates have undergone evolutionary processes to develop mechanisms, regulated by gene expression, to mitigate damages caused by high temperature and high light stress. Understanding this gene expression regulation could contribute to strengthening corals' resilience against the impact of global climate change.}, } @article {pmid39812981, year = {2025}, author = {Deda, O and Gika, HG and Theodoridis, G}, title = {Rat Fecal Metabolomics-Based Analysis.}, journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)}, volume = {2891}, number = {}, pages = {153-163}, pmid = {39812981}, issn = {1940-6029}, mesh = {*Feces/chemistry ; *Metabolomics/methods ; Animals ; Rats ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Metabolome ; Chromatography, Liquid/methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods ; }, abstract = {The gut's symbiome, a hidden metabolic organ, has gained scientific interest for its crucial role in human health. Acting as a biochemical factory, the gut microbiome produces numerous small molecules that significantly impact host metabolism. Metabolic profiling facilitates the exploration of its influence on human health and disease through the symbiotic relationship. Fecal metabolomics-based analysis is an indisputably valuable tool for elucidating the biochemistry of digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal system, serving as the most suitable specimen to study the symbiotic relationship between the host and the intestinal microbiota. It is well-established that the balance of the intestinal microbiota changes in response to various stimuli, both physiological, such as gender, age, diet, and exercise, and pathological, such as gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases. Fecal samples have been analyzed using widely adopted analytical techniques, including NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, and LC-MS/MS. Rat fecal samples are frequently used and particularly useful substrates for metabolomics-based studies in related fields.The complexity and diversity of fecal samples necessitate careful and skillful handling to extract metabolites, while avoiding their deterioration, effectively and quantitatively. Several determinative factors, such as the fecal sample weight to extraction solvent solution volume, the nature and pH value of the extraction solvent, and the homogenization process, play crucial roles in achieving optimal extraction for obtaining high-quality metabolic fingerprints, whether for untargeted or targeted metabolomics.}, } @article {pmid39810864, year = {2024}, author = {Imanbayev, N and Iztleuov, Y and Bekmukhambetov, Y and Abdelazim, IA and Donayeva, A and Amanzholkyzy, A and Aigul, Z and Aigerim, I and Aslan, Y}, title = {Colorectal cancer and microbiota: systematic review.}, journal = {Przeglad gastroenterologiczny}, volume = {16}, number = {4}, pages = {380-396}, pmid = {39810864}, issn = {1895-5770}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The gut microbiome maintains the mucus membrane barrier's integrity, and it is modulated by the host's immune system.

AIM: To detect the effect of microbiota modulation using probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, and natural changes on colorectal cancers (CRCs).

METHODS: A PubMed search was conducted to retrieve the original and in vivo articles published in English language from 2010 until 2021 containing the following keywords: 1) CRCs, 2) CRCs treatment (i.e. surgical, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or immunotherapy), and 3) microbiota probiotic(s), prebiotic(s), symbiotic(s), dysbiosis and/or nutritional treatment. A total of 198 PubMed records/articles were initially identified. 108 articles were excluded at the initial screening, and another 29 articles were excluded after reviewing the abstracts, and finally 61 studies were analysed for this systematic review.

RESULTS: The gut microbiota metabolites and (SCFAs) short-chain fatty acids (i.e. acetate and butyrate) have a protective effect against CRCs. SCFAs reduce the inflammatory cytokines, inhibit colonocyte proliferation, and promote malignant cell apoptosis. Butyrate maintains the integrity of the mucus membrane barrier and reduces intestinal mucosal inflammation. Reduced butyric acid level and increased inflammatory cytokines were observed after reduced Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides vulgatus species in the colon. Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium decreased in patients with CRCs.

CONCLUSIONS: Prebiotics (i.e. inulin and resistant starch, SCFAs producers) and consumption of unprocessed plant products are useful for developing and maintaining healthy gut microbiota. The pro-, pre- and/or symbiotics may be useful when carefully selected for CRC patients, to restore beneficial gut microbiota and support treatment efficacy.}, } @article {pmid39810455, year = {2025}, author = {Mooney, R and Rodgers, K and Carnicelli, S and Carnevale, ME and Farias, ME and Henriquez, FL}, title = {Isolation of Acanthamoeba Species and Bacterial Symbiont Variability in Puna Salt Plains, Argentina.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology reports}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {e70059}, pmid = {39810455}, issn = {1758-2229}, support = {//Global Challenges Research Fund/ ; //Scottish Funding Council/ ; }, mesh = {Argentina ; *Acanthamoeba/microbiology/genetics/isolation & purification/classification ; *Symbiosis ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Microbiota ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Pseudomonas/genetics/isolation & purification/classification/physiology ; }, abstract = {Acanthamoeba spp. are widespread protists that feed on bacteria via phagocytosis. This predation pressure has led many bacteria to evolve strategies to resist and survive inside these protists. The impact of this is not well understood, but it may limit detection and allow survival in extreme environments. Three sites in the Puna salt plains, Catamarca province, Argentina, were sampled for Acanthamoeba spp., verified using PCR and Sanger sequencing. The intracellular microbiome was analysed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared to the overall site microbiome. Acanthamoeba were found at all locations, and their intracellular microbiome was similar across samples but differed from the overall site microbiome. Pseudomonas spp., a clinically relevant genus, was most abundant in all isolates. This study suggests Acanthamoeba can protect bacteria, aiding their detection avoidance and survival in harsh conditions.}, } @article {pmid39810102, year = {2025}, author = {Manullang, C and Hanahara, N and Tarigan, AI and Abe, Y and Furukawa, M and Morita, M}, title = {Slight thermal stress exerts genetic diversity selection at coral (Acropora digitifera) larval stages.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {26}, number = {1}, pages = {36}, pmid = {39810102}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {17K07414//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/genetics/physiology/growth & development ; *Larva/genetics ; *Genetic Variation ; *Selection, Genetic ; *Heat-Shock Response/genetics ; Coral Reefs ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Rising seawater temperatures increasingly threaten coral reefs. The ability of coral larvae to withstand heat is crucial for maintaining reef ecosystems. Although several studies have investigated coral larvae's genetic responses to thermal stress, most relied on pooled sample sequencing, which provides population-level insights but may mask individual genotype variability. This study uses individual larval sequencing to investigate genotype-specific responses to heat stress and the selective pressures shaping their genomes, offering finer resolution and deeper insights.

RESULTS: This study investigates the larval response to heat stress before acquiring symbiotic algae, aiming to elucidate the relationship between coral genetic diversity and heat stress. Larvae sourced from eight Acropora digitifera colonies were subjected to ambient temperature (28 °C) and heat conditions (31 °C). The impact of heat stress on larval genetic diversity was assessed through sequencing. While overall genetic diversity, represented by π, did not significantly differ between the control and heat-exposed groups, Tajima's D differed, indicating different selective pressures in each group. The genomic regions under higher and lower Tajima's D were not broadly shared among control and head conditions, implying that selective pressures operated in distinctive manners. Many larval protein-coding sequences were identified in this genomic region, and the codon evolution of many of these genes showed signs of positive selection. These results highlight the complex selective pressures on coral larvae under different temperatures. The genes showing signs of positive selection in response to heat stress may have also been influenced by historical temperature fluctuations, as suggested by their association with loci identified during Acroporid speciation. These loci under codon-level positive selection during speciation highlight the potential role of genetic diversity in shaping adaptation to environmental changes over evolutionary timescales.

CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the significance of genetic diversity in coral reproduction for maintaining reef ecosystems. They also indicate that even minor heat stress can exert significant selective pressure, potentially leading to profound implications for coral reef ecosystems. This research is crucial for understanding the impact of rising seawater temperatures on coral reefs.}, } @article {pmid39810029, year = {2025}, author = {de Freitas Neto, LL and Santos, RFB and da Silva, MA and de Souza Bezerra, R and Saldanha-Corrêa, F and Espósito, BP}, title = {Zinc speciation promotes distinct effects on dinoflagellate growth and coral trypsin-like enzyme activity.}, journal = {Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39810029}, issn = {1572-8773}, support = {2021/07153-3//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2021/10894-5//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 372742/2022-0//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; }, abstract = {Zinc is an essential metal to living organisms, including corals and their symbiotic microalgae (Symbiodiniaceae). Both Zn(II) deprivation and overload are capable of leading to dysfunctional metabolism, coral bleaching, and even organism death. The present work investigated the effects of chemically defined Zn species (free Zn, ZnO nanoparticles, and the complexes Zn-histidinate and Zn-EDTA) over the growth of the dinoflagellates Symbiodinium microadriaticum, Breviolum minutum, and Effrenium voratum, and on the trypsin-like proteolytic activity of the hydrocoral Millepora alcicornis. B. minutum was the most sensitive strain to any form of added Zn. For the other strains, the complex [Zn(His)2] better translated metal load into growth. This complex was the only tested compound that did not interfere with the trypsin-like activity of Millepora alcicornis extracts. Also, histidine was able to recover the activity of the enzyme inhibited by zinc. [Zn(His)2] is a potential biocarrier of zinc for microalgae or coral cultivation. These findings suggest that the control of chemical speciation of an essential metal could lead to useful compounds that assist autotrophy, while not affecting heterotrophy, in the coral holobiont.}, } @article {pmid39810012, year = {2025}, author = {Cahyaningtyas, HAA and Renaldi, G and Fibriana, F and Mulyani, WE}, title = {Cost-effective production of kombucha bacterial cellulose by evaluating nutrient sources, quality assessment, and dyeing methods.}, journal = {Environmental science and pollution research international}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39810012}, issn = {1614-7499}, abstract = {Kombucha is a popular fermented beverage that involves fermentation using a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) and produces bacterial cellulose (BC). Carbon and nitrogen sources are essential in kombucha processing and BC production. However, studies on cost-effective BC production as an alternative source of leather have remained scarce. This study aimed to assess the effects of various nitrogen and carbon sources on the production of kombucha BC, investigate the qualities, and dye the product using natural colorant. Different nitrogen sources (such as black tea, white tea, and green tea) and carbon sources (honey, sugar cane, palm sugar, and brown sugar) were used to produce kombucha BC, as well as to appraise the product qualities, which were dyed using three distinct natural dyes (coffee, ginger, and sappan wood). The results revealed that different nitrogen and carbon sources produced different BC with different properties. Green tea (N-source) and palm sugar (C-source) containing medium produced a BC thickness of 0.194 ± 0.04 mm with the highest tensile strength (24.42 ± 3.90 g). Different dyes also result in the fabric having different colors: brownish yellow (coffee), yellowish orange (ginger), and red (sappan wood). All BC products showed color stability after 8 months of storing at room temperature. In conclusion, effective BC production could use green tea and palm sugar as the best nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively. Dyed BC showed good visual quality and is promising for its eco-friendly and sustainable application in fashion products.}, } @article {pmid39809323, year = {2025}, author = {Boast, AP and Wood, JR and Cooper, J and Bolstridge, N and Perry, GLW and Wilmshurst, JM}, title = {DNA and spores from coprolites reveal that colourful truffle-like fungi endemic to New Zealand were consumed by extinct moa (Dinornithiformes).}, journal = {Biology letters}, volume = {21}, number = {1}, pages = {20240440}, pmid = {39809323}, issn = {1744-957X}, support = {//University of Auckland/ ; //Linnean Society of NSW/ ; //Ornithological Society of New Zealand/ ; //Royal Society Te Apārangi/ ; //New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Science and Innovation Group/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; New Zealand ; *Spores, Fungal ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Extinction, Biological ; Feces/microbiology ; Ascomycota/genetics/physiology ; }, abstract = {Mycovores (animals that consume fungi) are important for fungal spore dispersal, including ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi symbiotic with forest-forming trees. As such, fungi and their symbionts may be impacted by mycovore extinction. New Zealand (NZ) has a diversity of unusual, colourful, endemic sequestrate (truffle-like) fungi, most of which are ECM. As NZ lacks native land mammals (except bats), and sequestrate fungi are typically drab and mammal-dispersed, NZ's sequestrate fungi are hypothesized to be adapted for bird dispersal. However, there is little direct evidence for this hypothesis, as 41% of NZ's native land bird species became extinct since initial human settlement in the thirteenth century. Here, we report ancient DNA and spores from the inside of two coprolites of NZ's extinct, endemic upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) that reveal consumption and likely dispersal of ECM fungi, including at least one colourful sequestrate species. Contemporary data from NZ show that birds rarely consume fungi and that the introduced mammals preferentially consume exotic fungi. NZ's endemic sequestrate fungi could therefore be dispersal limited compared with fungi that co-evolved with mammalian dispersers. NZ's fungal communities may thus be undergoing a gradual species turnover following avian mycovore extinction and the establishment of mammalian mycovores, potentially affecting forest resilience and facilitating invasion by exotic tree taxa.}, } @article {pmid39807089, year = {2025}, author = {Iqbal, N and Brien, C and Jewell, N and Berger, B and Zhou, Y and Denison, RF and Denton, MD}, title = {Chickpea displays a temporal growth response to Mesorhizobium strains under well-watered and drought conditions.}, journal = {Physiologia plantarum}, volume = {177}, number = {1}, pages = {e70041}, pmid = {39807089}, issn = {1399-3054}, mesh = {*Cicer/microbiology/growth & development/physiology/genetics ; *Mesorhizobium/physiology ; *Droughts ; *Water/metabolism ; Biomass ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/growth & development ; Plant Shoots/growth & development ; Nitrogen/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation/physiology ; }, abstract = {The relative performance of rhizobial strains could depend on their resource allocation, environmental conditions, and host genotype. Here, we used a high-throughput shoot phenotyping to investigate the effects of Mesorhizobium strain on the growth dynamics, nodulation and bacteroid traits with four chickpea (Cicer arietinum) varieties grown under different water regimes in an experiment including four nitrogen sources (two Mesorhizobium strains, and two uninoculated controls: nitrogen fertilised and unfertilised) under well-watered and drought conditions. We asked three questions. Does the impact of rhizobial strains on chickpea growth change with well-watered versus drought conditions? Do Mesorhizobium strains differ in their ability to influence biomass and nodule traits of chickpea varieties under well-watered and drought conditions? Are bacteroid size and amount of polyhydroxybutyrate modified by Mesorhizobium strain, chickpea variety, water availability and their interactions? Under well-watered conditions, chickpea inoculated with CC1192 showed higher shoot growth rates than M075 and accumulated high plant biomass at harvest. Under drought conditions, however, the shoot growth rate was comparable between CC1192 and M075, with no significant difference in plant biomass and symbiotic effectiveness at harvest. Across sources of variation, plant biomass varied 3.0-fold, nodules per plant 3.9-fold, nodule dry weight 3.0-fold, symbiotic effectiveness 1.5-fold, bacteroid size 1.4-fold and bacteroid polyhydroxybutyrate 1.4-fold. Plant biomass was negatively correlated with both bacteroid size and allocation to polyhydroxybutyrate under well-watered conditions, suggesting a trade-off between plant and rhizobial fitness. This study demonstrates the need to reassess rhizobial strain effectiveness across diverse environments, recognising the dynamic nature of their interaction with host plants.}, } @article {pmid39806046, year = {2025}, author = {Sun, L and Liu, X and Zhou, L and Wang, H and Lian, C and Zhong, Z and Wang, M and Chen, H and Li, C}, title = {Shallow-water mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) adapt to deep-sea environment through transcriptomic and metagenomic insights.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {46}, pmid = {39806046}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {42276153, 42106134, 42106100, 42030407//National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Mytilus/microbiology/genetics/immunology ; *Transcriptome ; *Microbiota ; Metagenomics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Adaptation, Physiological/genetics ; Seawater/microbiology ; Metagenome ; }, abstract = {Recent studies have unveiled the deep sea as a rich biosphere, populated by species descended from shallow-water ancestors post-mass extinctions. Research on genomic evolution and microbial symbiosis has shed light on how these species thrive in extreme deep-sea conditions. However, early adaptation stages, particularly the roles of conserved genes and symbiotic microbes, remain inadequately understood. This study examined transcriptomic and microbiome changes in shallow-water mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to deep-sea conditions at the Site-F cold seep in the South China Sea. Results reveal complex gene expression adjustments in stress response, immune defense, homeostasis, and energy metabolism pathways during adaptation. After 10 days of deep-sea exposure, shallow-water mussels and their microbial communities closely resembled those of native deep-sea mussels, demonstrating host and microbiome convergence in response to adaptive shifts. Notably, methanotrophic bacteria, key symbionts in native deep-sea mussels, emerged as a dominant group in the exposed mussels. Host genes involved in immune recognition and endocytosis correlated significantly with the abundance of these bacteria. Overall, our analyses provide insights into adaptive transcriptional regulation and microbiome dynamics of mussels in deep-sea environments, highlighting the roles of conserved genes and microbial community shifts in adapting to extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid39805197, year = {2025}, author = {Chen, G and Huang, T and Dai, Y and Huo, X and Xu, X}, title = {Effects of POPs-induced SIRT6 alteration on intestinal mucosal barrier function: A comprehensive review.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {289}, number = {}, pages = {117705}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.117705}, pmid = {39805197}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are pervasive organic chemicals with significant environmental and ecological ramifications, extending to adverse human health effects due to their toxicity and persistence. The intestinal mucosal barrier, a sophisticated defense mechanism comprising the epithelial layer, mucosal chemistry, and cellular immunity, shields the host from external threats and fosters a symbiotic relationship with intestinal bacteria. Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), a sirtuin family member, is pivotal in genome and telomere stability, inflammation regulation, and metabolic processes. Result shows POPs have been implicated in the intestinal diseases, particularly in intestinal barrier dysfunction, through mechanisms such as cellular damage, epigenetic alterations, inflammation, microbiota changes, and metabolic disruptions. While the impact of SIRT6 expression changes on intestinal barrier functions has been reviewed, the mechanisms linking POPs to SIRT6 remain elusive. This review summarized the latest research results on the effects of POPs on intestinal barrier, discussed the role of SIRT6 from multiple mechanism perspectives, proposed new research directions on POPs, SIRT6 and intestinal health, and explored the therapeutic potential of SIRT6.}, } @article {pmid39805025, year = {2025}, author = {Galvão Ferrarini, M and Ribeiro Lopes, M and Rebollo, R}, title = {Cooperation between symbiotic partners through protein trafficking.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {122}, number = {3}, pages = {e2424789122}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2424789122}, pmid = {39805025}, issn = {1091-6490}, } @article {pmid39803554, year = {2025}, author = {Forti, AM and Jones, MA and Elbeyli, DN and Butler, ND and Kunjapur, AM}, title = {Design of an exclusive obligate symbiosis for organism-based biological containment.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2025.01.05.631398}, pmid = {39803554}, issn = {2692-8205}, abstract = {Biological containment is a critical safeguard for genetically engineered microbes prior to their environmental release to prevent proliferation in unintended regions. However, few biocontainment strategies can support the longer-term microbial survival that may be desired in a target environment without repeated human intervention. Here, we introduce the concept of an orthogonal obligate commensalism for the autonomous creation of environments that are permissive for survival of a biocontained microbe. We engineer one microbe to produce a non-standard amino acid (nsAA), and we engineer synthetic auxotrophy in a second microbe via reliance on this nsAA for growth. We show that this obligate commensalism is highly effective, with the survival of our commensal organism during co-culture dependent on the presence of our producer strain. We also show that this commensalism is orthogonal to a small microbial consortium isolated from maize roots, with survival of the synthetic auxotroph conditional upon the presence of the nsAA-producing strain in the consortium. Overall, our study demonstrates a transition from a chemical to a biological dependence for biocontained organisms that could lay the groundwork for biocontained synthetic ecologies.}, } @article {pmid39803200, year = {2025}, author = {Olivares-Cordero, D and Timmons, C and Kenkel, CD and Quigley, KM}, title = {Symbiont Community Changes Confer Fitness Benefits for Larvae in a Vertically Transmitting Coral.}, journal = {Ecology and evolution}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {e70839}, pmid = {39803200}, issn = {2045-7758}, abstract = {Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by increasing ocean temperatures because of the sensitivity of the coral-algal symbiosis to thermal stress. Reef-building corals form symbiotic relationships with dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae), including those species which acquire their initial symbiont complement predominately from their parents. Changes in the composition of symbiont communities, through the mechanisms of symbiont shuffling or switching, can modulate the host's thermal limits. However, the role of shuffling in coral acclimatization to heat is understudied in coral offspring and to date has largely focused on the adults. To quantify potential fitness benefits and consequences of changes in symbiont communities under a simulated heatwave in coral early life-history stages, we exposed larvae and juveniles of the widespread, vertically transmitting coral, Montipora digitata, to heat stress (32°C) and tracked changes in their growth, survival, photosynthetic efficiency, and symbiont community composition over time relative to controls. We found negative impacts from warming in all fitness-related traits, which varied significantly among larval families and across life-history stages. Larvae that survived heat exposure exhibited changes in symbiont communities that favored symbionts that are canonically more stress tolerant. Compared to larvae, juveniles showed more rapid mortality under heat stress and their symbiont communities were largely fixed regardless of temperature treatment, suggesting an inability to alter their symbiont community as an acclimatory response to heat stress. Taken together, these findings suggest that capacity for symbiont shuffling may be modified through ontogeny, and that the juvenile life stage may be less flexible and more at risk from climate warming in this species.}, } @article {pmid39800293, year = {2025}, author = {Xie, YX and Cheng, WC and Xue, ZF and Wang, L and Rahman, MM}, title = {Degradation of naphthalene in aqueous solution using a microbial symbiotic system founded by degrading and ureolytic bacteria.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {120800}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.120800}, pmid = {39800293}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Although single bacteria have been applied to the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) remediation, its efficacy is severely restricted by long degradation periods and low efficacy. A microbial symbiotic system founded by two or more bacterial strains may be an alternative to traditional remediation approaches. Its construction is, however, hampered by antagonistic interactions and remains challenging. The present work proposed a microbial symbiotic system consisting of the naphthalene degrading bacteria and the non-PAHs degrading bacteria and improved their interspecies interactions by using sequential inoculation. The non-PAHs degrading bacteria were inoculated after the inoculation of the naphthalene degrading bacteria. The sequential inoculation not only promoted the non-PAHs degrading bacteria to use the metabolites of the naphthalene degrading bacteria as an energy source but developed a resistance of the two bacterial strains to naphthalene. Vaterite and aragonite were identified following urea hydrolysis by the non-PAHs degrading bacteria. The faster precipitation rate in naphthalene degradation by the symbiotic system elevated the proportion of vaterite, allowing more naphthalene and its metabolites to be wrapped in or attached to minerals with the bacteria through the physisorption (Van der Waals force) and chemisorption (Ca-π interaction with aromatic rings) and promoting the formation of aggregates. The formation of aggregates further reduced the mobility of naphthalene. Results indicate that 40% of naphthalene in the non-inoculated sterile control group was quickly released into the atmosphere, causing serious public concerns regarding health safety. According to the thermogravimetry-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TG-GC/MS) analysis, no trace of naphthalene was found in the samples, indicating that the degrading bacteria fully degraded naphthalene after its adsorption. As a result, the degradation efficiency of 100% was attained using the symbiotic system even at 200 mg/L naphthalene. The findings underscore the relative merits of the symbiotic system applied to the remediation of naphthalene in an aqueous solution.}, } @article {pmid39797518, year = {2025}, author = {Castelli, M and Gammuto, L and Podushkina, D and Vecchi, M and Altiero, T and Clementi, E and Guidetti, R and Rebecchi, L and Sassera, D}, title = {Hepatincolaceae (Alphaproteobacteria) are Distinct From Holosporales and Independently Evolved to Associate With Ecdysozoa.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {e70028}, pmid = {39797518}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {Italian NRPP Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4//European Union-NextGenerationEU/ ; }, mesh = {*Phylogeny ; *Genome, Bacterial ; Animals ; Arthropods/microbiology/classification ; Symbiosis ; Evolution, Molecular ; Biological Evolution ; }, abstract = {The Hepatincolaceae (Alphaproteobacteria) are a group of bacteria that inhabit the gut of arthropods and other ecdysozoans, associating extracellularly with microvilli. Previous phylogenetic studies, primarily single-gene analyses, suggested their relationship to the Holosporales, which includes intracellular bacteria in protist hosts. However, the genomics of Hepatincolaceae is still in its early stages. In this study, the number of available Hepatincolaceae genomes was increased to examine their evolutionary and functional characteristics. It was found that the previous phylogenetic grouping with Holosporales was incorrect due to sequence compositional biases and that Hepatincolaceae form an independent branch within the Hepatincolaceae. This led to a reinterpretation of their features, proposing a new evolutionary scenario that involves an independent adaptation to host association compared to the Holosporales, with distinct specificities. The Hepatincolaceae exhibit greater nutritional flexibility, utilising various molecules available in the host gut and thriving in anaerobic conditions. However, they have a less complex mechanism for modulating host interactions, which are likely less direct than those of intracellular bacteria. In addition, representatives of Hepatincolaceae show several lineage-specific traits related to differences in host species and life conditions.}, } @article {pmid39796496, year = {2024}, author = {Czerwińska-Ledwig, O and Nowak-Zaleska, A and Żychowska, M and Meyza, K and Pałka, T and Dzidek, A and Szlachetka, A and Jurczyszyn, A and Piotrowska, A}, title = {The Positive Effects of Training and Time-Restricted Eating in Gut Microbiota Biodiversity in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39796496}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {022/RID/2018/19//Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland)/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Multiple Myeloma/microbiology ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; *Biodiversity ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Walking ; Bacteria/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Feces/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The physical activity of different groups of individuals results in the rearrangement of microbiota composition toward a symbiotic microbiota profile. This applies to both healthy and diseased individuals. Multiple myeloma (MM), one of the more common hematological malignancies, predominantly affects older adults. Identifying an appropriate form of physical activity for this patient group remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a 6-week Nordic walking (NW) training program combined with a 10/14 time-restricted eating regimen on the gut microbiota composition of multiple myeloma patients.

METHODS: This study included healthy individuals as the control group (n = 16; mean age: 62.19 ± 5.4) and patients with multiple myeloma in remission (MM group; n = 16; mean age: 65.00 ± 5.13; mean disease duration: 57 months). The training intervention was applied to the patient group and consisted of three moderate-intensity sessions per week, individually tailored to the estimated physical capacity of each participant. The taxonomic composition was determined via 16S rRNA sequencing (V3-V9 regions). The microbiota composition was compared between the patient group and the control group.

RESULTS: The alpha and beta diversity metrics for species and genus levels differed significantly between the control and patient groups before the implementation of the NW program. In contrast, no differences were observed between the control and patient groups after the training cycle, indicating that the patients' microbiota changed toward the pattern of the control group. This is confirmed by the lowest values of average dissimilarity between the MMB groups and the control at all taxonomic levels, as well as the highest one between the control group and the MMA patient group. The gut microbiota of the patients was predominantly represented by the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes.

CONCLUSIONS: The training, combined with time-restricted eating, stimulated an increase in the biodiversity and taxonomic rearrangement of the gut microbiota species.}, } @article {pmid39795275, year = {2024}, author = {Preisler, AC and do Carmo, GC and da Silva, RC and Simões, ALO and Izidoro, JC and Pieretti, JC and Dos Reis, RA and Jacob, ALF and Seabra, AB and Oliveira, HC}, title = {Improving Soybean Germination and Nodule Development with Nitric Oxide-Releasing Polymeric Nanoparticles.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39795275}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {001//Coordenação de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; 2024/12112-2, 2020/03646-2, 2022/03914-2, 2023/16363-7//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 313117/2019-5, 405908/2022-9, 308382/2023-4//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; CNPq 405924/2022-4, CAPES, FAPESP//INCT Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture/ ; }, abstract = {Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional signaling molecule in plants, playing key roles in germination, microbial symbiosis, and nodule formation. However, its instability requires innovative approaches, such as using nanoencapsulated NO donors, to prolong its effects. This study evaluated the impact of treating soybean (Glycine max) seeds with the NO donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles, on the germination, nodulation, and plant growth. Seeds were treated with free GSNO, chitosan nanoparticles with/without NO (NP CS-GSNO/NP CS-GSH, where GSH is glutathione, the NO donor precursor), and alginate nanoparticles with/without NO (NP Al-GSNO/NP Al-GSH). Chitosan nanoparticles (positive zeta potential) were smaller and released NO faster compared with alginate nanoparticles (negative zeta potential). The seed treatment with NP CS-GSNO (1 mM, related to GSNO concentration) significantly improved germination percentage, root length, number of secondary roots, and dry root mass of soybean compared with the control. Conversely, NP CS-GSH resulted in decreased root and shoot length. NP Al-GSNO enhanced shoot dry mass and increased the number of secondary roots by approximately threefold at the highest concentrations. NP CS-GSNO, NP Al-GSNO, and NP Al-GSH increased S-nitrosothiol levels in the roots by approximately fourfold compared with the control. However, NP CS-GSNO was the only treatment that increased the nodule dry mass of soybean plants. Therefore, our results indicate the potential of chitosan nanoparticles to improve the application of NO donors in soybean seeds.}, } @article {pmid39795246, year = {2025}, author = {Sorita, GD and Caicedo Chacon, WD and Strieder, MM and Rodriguez-García, C and Fritz, AM and Verruck, S and Ayala Valencia, G and Mendiola, JA}, title = {Biorefining Brazilian Green Propolis: An Eco-Friendly Approach Based on a Sequential High-Pressure Extraction for Recovering High-Added-Value Compounds.}, journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {30}, number = {1}, pages = {}, pmid = {39795246}, issn = {1420-3049}, support = {PID2020-113050RB-I00//Agencia Estatal de Investigación/ ; CP 48/2021, FAPESC, Brazil//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação de Santa Catarina/ ; 88887.877048/2023-00 and 88887.877143/2023-00, CAPES PRINT, Brazil//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; 2023/05722-6//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP/ ; Red de cooperación Biorrefinerías desde la docencia, la extensión y la investigación (BioR-DEI), code Hermes 57909//Universidad Nacional de Colombia/ ; }, mesh = {*Propolis/chemistry ; Brazil ; *Antioxidants/chemistry/pharmacology/isolation & purification ; *Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid/methods ; Phenols/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Pressure ; Green Chemistry Technology ; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors/pharmacology/chemistry/isolation & purification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; }, abstract = {Propolis is a valuable natural resource for extracting various beneficial compounds. This study explores a sustainable extraction approach for Brazilian green propolis. First, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process parameters were optimized (co-solvent: 21.11% v/v CPME, and temperature: 60 °C) to maximize yield, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, and LOX (lipoxygenase) inhibitory activity. GC-MS analysis identified 40 metabolites in SFE extracts, including fatty acids, terpenoids, phenolics, and sterols. After selecting the optimum SFE process parameters, a sequential high-pressure extraction (HPE) approach was developed, comprising SFE, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with EtOH/H2O, and subcritical water extraction (SWE). This process was compared to a similar sequential extraction using low-pressure extractions (LPE) with a Soxhlet extractor. The HPE process achieved a significantly higher overall yield (80.86%) than LPE (71.43%). SFE showed higher selectivity, resulting in a lower carbohydrate content in the non-polar fraction, and PLE extracted nearly twice the protein amount of LPE-2. Despite the HPE selectivity, LPE extracts exhibited better acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and LOX inhibition, demonstrating that the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts may be associated with a symbiosis of a set of compounds. Finally, a comprehensive greenness assessment revealed that the HPE process proved more sustainable and aligned with green chemistry principles than the LPE method.}, } @article {pmid39792271, year = {2025}, author = {Harzli, I and Özdener Kömpe, Y}, title = {Impact of Fungal Symbionts of Co-occurring Orchids on the Seed Germination of Serapias orientalis and Spiranthes spiralis.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {2}, pages = {79}, pmid = {39792271}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Orchidaceae/microbiology/growth & development ; *Seeds/microbiology/growth & development ; *Germination ; *Symbiosis ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Phylogeny ; Basidiomycota/physiology/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Interactions with mycorrhizal fungi are increasingly recognized as crucial ecological factors influencing orchids' distribution and local abundance. While some orchid species interact with multiple fungal partners, others show selectivity in their mycorrhizal associations. Additionally, orchids that share the same habitat often form relationships with different fungal partners, possibly to reduce competition and ensure stable coexistence. However, the direct impact of variations in mycorrhizal partners on seed germination remains largely unknown. We examined how fungal associates' specific identity and origin affect seed germination in Spiranthes spiralis and Serapias orientalis through in situ symbiotic germination experiments. A total of four fungal isolates, Tulasnellaceae and Ceratobasidiaceae were successfully isolated and cultured from S. spiralis and S. orientalis and two additional orchid species found in the same habitat: Neotinea tridentata and Orchis provincialis. While all fungal strains facilitated the swelling of seed embryos, only the fungal associate, a member of the Ceratobasidiaceae family isolated from N. tridentata, (NT2) was capable of inducing protocorm formation and subsequent seedling growth of S. spiralis seeds. Another fungal associate belonging to the Tulasnellaceae family and isolated from O. provincialis (OP3) supported seed germination up to the seedling stage of S. orientalis seeds. However, the remaining two fungal strains did not support seed germination. We conclude that fungal associates of co-occurring orchids can promote seed germination and seedling growth in S. spiralis and S. orientalis.}, } @article {pmid39791884, year = {2025}, author = {Sterrett, JD and Quinn, KD and Doenges, KA and Nusbacher, NM and Levens, CL and Armstrong, ML and Reisdorph, RM and Smith, H and Saba, LM and Kuhn, KA and Lozupone, CA and Reisdorph, NA}, title = {Appearance of green tea compounds in plasma following acute green tea consumption is modulated by the gut microbiome in mice.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0179924}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01799-24}, pmid = {39791884}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Studies have suggested that phytochemicals in green tea have systemic anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, the mechanisms behind these effects are poorly understood, possibly due to the differential metabolism of phytochemicals resulting from variations in gut microbiome composition. To unravel this complex relationship, our team utilized a novel combined microbiome analysis and metabolomics approach applied to low complexity microbiome (LCM) and human colonized (HU) gnotobiotic mice treated with an acute dose of powdered matcha green tea. A total of 20 LCM mice received 10 distinct human fecal slurries for an n = 2 mice per human gut microbiome; 9 LCM mice remained un-colonized with human slurries throughout the experiment. We performed untargeted metabolomics on green tea and plasma to identify green tea compounds that were found in the plasma of LCM and HU mice that had consumed green tea. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was performed on feces of all mice at study end to assess microbiome composition. We found multiple green tea compounds in plasma associated with microbiome presence and diversity (including acetylagmatine, lactiflorin, and aspartic acid negatively associated with diversity). Additionally, we detected strong associations between bioactive green tea compounds in plasma and specific gut bacteria, including associations between spiramycin and Gemmiger and between wildforlide and Anaerorhabdus. Notably, some of the physiologically relevant green tea compounds are likely derived from plant-associated microbes, highlighting the importance of considering foods and food products as meta-organisms. Overall, we describe a novel workflow for discovering relationships between individual food compounds and the composition of the gut microbiome.

IMPORTANCE: Foods contain thousands of unique and biologically important compounds beyond the macro- and micro-nutrients listed on nutrition facts labels. In mammals, many of these compounds are metabolized or co-metabolized by the community of microbes in the colon. These microbes may impact the thousands of biologically important compounds we consume; therefore, understanding microbial metabolism of food compounds will be important for understanding how foods impact health. We used metabolomics to track green tea compounds in plasma of mice with and without complex microbiomes. From this, we can start to recognize certain groups of green tea-derived compounds that are impacted by mammalian microbiomes. This research presents a novel technique for understanding microbial metabolism of food-derived compounds in the gut, which can be applied to other foods.}, } @article {pmid39791879, year = {2025}, author = {Kohlmeier, MG and O'Hara, GW and Ramsay, JP and Terpolilli, JJ}, title = {Closed genomes of commercial inoculant rhizobia provide a blueprint for management of legume inoculation.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0221324}, doi = {10.1128/aem.02213-24}, pmid = {39791879}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Rhizobia are soil bacteria capable of establishing symbiosis within legume root nodules, where they reduce atmospheric N2 into ammonia and supply it to the plant for growth. Australian soils often lack rhizobia compatible with introduced agricultural legumes, so inoculation with exotic strains has become a common practice for over 50 years. While extensive research has assessed the N2-fixing capabilities of these inoculants, their genomics, taxonomy, and core and accessory gene phylogeny are poorly characterized. Furthermore, in some cases, inoculant strains have been developed from isolations made in Australia. It is unknown whether these strains represent naturalized exotic organisms, native rhizobia with a capacity to nodulate introduced legumes, or recombinant strains arising from horizontal transfer between introduced and native bacteria. Here, we describe the complete, closed genome sequences of 42 Australian commercial rhizobia. These strains span the genera, Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Methylobacterium, Rhizobium, and Sinorhizobium, and only 23 strains were identified to species level. Within inoculant strain genomes, replicon structure and location of symbiosis genes were consistent with those of model strains for each genus, except for Rhizobium sp. SRDI969, where the symbiosis genes are chromosomally encoded. Genomic analysis of the strains isolated from Australia showed they were related to exotic strains, suggesting that they may have colonized Australian soils following undocumented introductions. These genome sequences provide the basis for accurate strain identification to manage inoculation and identify the prevalence and impact of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) on legume productivity.

IMPORTANCE: Inoculation of cultivated legumes with exotic rhizobia is integral to Australian agriculture in soils lacking compatible rhizobia. The Australian inoculant program supplies phenotypically characterized high-performing strains for farmers but in most cases, little is known about the genomes of these rhizobia. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of symbiosis genes from inoculant strains to native non-symbiotic rhizobia frequently occurs in Australian soils and can impact the long-term stability and efficacy of legume inoculation. Here, we present the analysis of reference-quality genomes for 42 Australian commercial rhizobial inoculants. We verify and classify the genetics, genome architecture, and taxonomy of these organisms. Importantly, these genome sequences will facilitate the accurate strain identification and monitoring of inoculants in soils and plant nodules, as well as enable detection of horizontal gene transfer to native rhizobia, thus ensuring the efficacy and integrity of Australia's legume inoculation program.}, } @article {pmid39791180, year = {2025}, author = {Shakya, R and Sivakumar, PM and Prabhakar, PK}, title = {Gut Microbiota and Diabetes: Pioneering New Treatment Frontiers.}, journal = {Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2174/0118715303342579241119155225}, pmid = {39791180}, issn = {2212-3873}, abstract = {Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and poses significant global health challenges. Conventional treatments, such as insulin therapy and lifestyle modifications, have shown limited efficacy in addressing the multifactorial nature of DM. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota, a diverse community of microorganisms critical for metabolism and immune function, plays a pivotal role in metabolic health. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, has been linked to insulin resistance, obesity, and DM. Gut microbiota influences glucose metabolism through mechanisms, including short-chain fatty acid production, gut permeability regulation, and immune system interactions, indicating a bidirectional relationship between microbial health and metabolism. Clinical and experimental studies demonstrate that modulating gut microbiota through dietary interventions (prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics) improves glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in DM patients. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) has also shown promise in restoring healthy gut microbiota and alleviating DM-related metabolic disturbances. However, challenges remain, including the need for personalized treatments due to individual microbiota variability and the unknown long-term effects of these interventions. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influences metabolism and refining personalized approaches to enhance DM management.}, } @article {pmid39791000, year = {2024}, author = {Gairin, E and Miura, S and Takamiyagi, H and Herrera, M and Laudet, V}, title = {The genome of the sapphire damselfish Chrysiptera cyanea: a new resource to support further investigation of the evolution of Pomacentrids.}, journal = {GigaByte (Hong Kong, China)}, volume = {2024}, number = {}, pages = {gigabyte144}, pmid = {39791000}, issn = {2709-4715}, abstract = {The number of high-quality genomes is rapidly increasing across taxa. However, it remains limited for coral reef fish of the Pomacentrid family, with most research focused on anemonefish. Here, we present the first assembly for a Pomacentrid of the genus Chrysiptera. Using PacBio long-read sequencing with 94.5× coverage, the genome of the Sapphire Devil, Chrysiptera cyanea, was assembled and annotated. The final assembly comprises 896 Mb pairs across 91 contigs, with a BUSCO completeness of 97.6%, and 28,173 genes. Comparative analyses with chromosome-scale assemblies of related species identified contig-chromosome correspondences. This genome will be useful as a comparison to study specific adaptations linked to the symbiotic life of closely related anemonefish. Furthermore, C. cyanea is found in most tropical coastal areas of the Indo-West Pacific and could become a model for environmental monitoring. This work will expand coral reef research efforts, highlighting the power of long-read assemblies to retrieve high quality genomes.}, } @article {pmid39789791, year = {2025}, author = {Zhou, M and Wang, J and Yang, R and Xu, X and Lian, D and Xu, Y and Shen, H and Zhang, H and Xu, J and Liang, M}, title = {Stenotrophomonas sp. SI-NJAU-1 and Its Mutant Strain with Excretion-Ammonium Capability Promote Plant Growth through Biological Nitrogen Fixation.}, journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.4c08697}, pmid = {39789791}, issn = {1520-5118}, abstract = {Legumes are well-known for symbiotic nitrogen fixation, whereas associative nitrogen fixation for nonlegume plants needs more attention. Most associative nitrogen-fixing bacteria are applied in their original plant species and need further study for broad adaptation. Additionally, if isolated nitrogen-fixing bacteria could function under fertilizer conditions, it is often ignored. Here, among 21 nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolated from barrenness-tolerance Jerusalem artichoke (JA), Stenotrophomonas sp. SI-NJAU-1 excelled in nitrogen fixation and boosted the growth of JA, wheat, barley, and rice. Additionally, SI-NJAU-1 was proven to decrease the application of compound fertilizers by 30%. To further promote plant growth, Gln K and gln B of SI-NJAU-1, which are crucial for bacterial ammonium assimilation, were mutated. Deletion of gln K but not gln B in SI-NJAU-1 reduced the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and the unadenylylated GS and the content of glutamine, which led to ammonium secretion outside and significantly increased the biomass of barley. This work expands the scope of associative nitrogen-fixing endophytes, affirming their potential for plant growth promotion.}, } @article {pmid39789691, year = {2025}, author = {Lin, Y and He, C and Li, Z and Sun, Y and Tong, L and Chen, X and Zeng, R and Su, Z and Song, Y}, title = {sly-miR408b Targets a Plastocyanin-Like Protein to Regulate Mycorrhizal Symbiosis in Tomato.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.15363}, pmid = {39789691}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {//The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U2005208, 32170350, 32271617, and 32371588) and Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (20210302122005)./ ; }, abstract = {Symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plants plays a crucial role in nutrient acquisition and stress resistance for terrestrial plants. microRNAs have been reported to participate in the regulation of mycorrhizal symbiosis by controlling the expression of their target genes. Herein, we found that sly-miR408b was significantly downregulated in response to mycorrhizal colonisation. Overexpression of sly-miR408b compromised mycorrhizal colonisation by Rhizophagus irregularis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots. A basic blue protein gene (SlBBP) was then identified as the new target gene of miR408b in tomato. The expression of membrane-located SlBBP was induced in a copper-dependent manner. Importantly, the loss function of SlBBP decreased the root mycorrhizal colonisation. Overexpression of SlBBP decreased SOD activity, which may interfere with the process of scavenging excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mutation of RBOH1, which encodes ROS-producing enzymes NADPH oxidases, obviously reduced the arbuscule abundance in the mutant roots. Overall, our results provide evidence that sly-miR408b and its target gene SlBBP regulate mycorrhizal symbiosis in tomato through mediating ROS production.}, } @article {pmid39788854, year = {2025}, author = {Yu, YH and Crosbie, DB and Marín Arancibia, M}, title = {Pseudomonas in the spotlight: emerging roles in the nodule microbiome.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2024.12.002}, pmid = {39788854}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {While rhizobia have long been recognised as the primary colonisers of legume nodules, microbiome studies have revealed the presence of other bacteria in these organs. This opinion delves into the factors shaping the nodule microbiome and explores the potential roles of non-rhizobial endophytes, focusing particularly on Pseudomonas as prominent players. We explore the mechanisms by which Pseudomonas colonise nodules, their interactions with rhizobia, and their remarkable potential to promote plant growth and protect against pathogens. Furthermore, we discuss the promising prospects of using Pseudomonas as inoculants alongside rhizobia to enhance crop growth and promote sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid39788097, year = {2025}, author = {Jia, D and Chen, S}, title = {Commensal fungi, a force to be reckoned with.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {33}, number = {1}, pages = {6-8}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2024.12.012}, pmid = {39788097}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; Mice ; *Homeostasis ; Hypocreales/physiology/pathogenicity ; Humans ; Fungi/immunology/pathogenicity/physiology ; Mucus/microbiology/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Fungal symbionts play a key role in maintaining host homeostasis. In a recent issue of Nature, Liao et al. show that Kazachstania pintolopesii, a symbiotic fungus in mice, is shielded from the host immune system during homeostasis but induces type 2 immunity during mucus fluctuations.}, } @article {pmid39787926, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, M and Sun, X and Ye, D and Duan, Y and Li, D and Guo, Y and Wang, M and Huang, Y and Chen, F and Feng, H and Dong, X and Cheng, S and Yu, Y and Xu, S and Zhu, Z}, title = {Glycine betaine enhances heavy metal phytoremediation via rhizosphere modulation and nitrogen metabolism in king grass-Serratia marcescens strain S27 symbiosis.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {487}, number = {}, pages = {137153}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137153}, pmid = {39787926}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Microbe-Assisted Phytoremediation (MAP) is an eco-friendly method for remediating soil contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr). This study demonstrates the potential of a king grass-Serratia marcescens strain S27 (KS) co-symbiotic system to enhance heavy metal remediation. The KS symbiosis increased the biomass of king grass by 48 % and enhanced the accumulation of Cd and Cr in the whole plant by 2.75-fold and 1.82-fold, respectively. Root exudates like γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine betaine (GB), and allantoin (Alla) were tested for enhancing the KS symbiotic, with 0.75 mM GB (GB3X-KS) showing the highest removal efficiencies at 15.1 % for Cd and 14.2 % for Cr. Correlation analysis indicated a link between this enhancement and increased soil nitrogen content. Mechanistic studies revealed GB treatment altered the rhizosphere microbial community, promoting denitrifying bacteria and upregulating nitrogen transformation genes (nrfA) by over 7-fold. GB also enhanced nitrogen assimilation enzymes and antioxidant defenses in king grass, facilitating Cd and Cr transport and sequestration. X-ray fluorescence imaging and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy showed GB promoted Cd and Cr accumulation in the xylem and phloem of king grass, with phenols and alcohols as key functional groups. The study highlights the potential of the GB-KS symbiotic system for effective soil remediation.}, } @article {pmid39786593, year = {2025}, author = {Xu, Y and Liang, J and Qin, L and Niu, T and Liang, Z and Li, Z and Chen, B and Zhou, J and Yu, K}, title = {The Dynamics of Symbiodiniaceae and Photosynthetic Bacteria Under High-Temperature Conditions.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {169}, pmid = {39786593}, issn = {1432-184X}, support = {42090041//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42090041//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42090041//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42090041//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42090041//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42090041//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42090041//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2018GXNSFAA281328//Guangxi scientific projects/ ; 2018GXNSFAA281328//Guangxi scientific projects/ ; 2018GXNSFAA281328//Guangxi scientific projects/ ; 2018GXNSFAA281328//Guangxi scientific projects/ ; 2018GXNSFAA281328//Guangxi scientific projects/ ; 2018GXNSFAA281328//Guangxi scientific projects/ ; }, mesh = {*Photosynthesis ; *Symbiosis ; *Anthozoa/microbiology/physiology ; China ; *Hot Temperature ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology ; Animals ; *Seasons ; Bacteria/classification/metabolism/genetics ; Cyanobacteria/physiology ; Chlorophyll A/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Coral thermal tolerance is intimately linked to their symbiotic relationships with photosynthetic microorganisms. However, the potential compensatory role of symbiotic photosynthetic bacteria in supporting Symbiodiniaceae photosynthesis under extreme summer temperatures remains largely unexplored. Here, we examined the seasonal variations in Symbiodiniaceae and photosynthetic bacterial community structures in Pavona decussata corals from Weizhou Island, Beibu Gulf, China, with particular emphasis on the role of photosynthetic bacteria under elevated temperature conditions. Our results revealed that Symbiodiniaceae density and Chlorophyll a concentration were lowest during the summer and highest in the winter. Notably, the summer bacterial community was predominately composed of the proteorhodopsin bacterium BD 1-7 _clade, alongside a significant increase in Cyanobacteria, particularly Synechococcus_CC9902 and Cyanobium_PCC-6307, which represented 61.85% and 31.48% of the total Cyanobacterial community, respectively. In vitro experiments demonstrated that Cyanobacteria significantly enhanced Symbiodiniaceae photosynthetic efficiency under high-temperature conditions. These findings suggest that the increased abundance of photosynthetic bacteria during summer may mitigate the adverse physiological effects of reduced Symbiodiniaceae density, thereby contributing to coral stability. Our study highlights a potential synergistic interaction between Symbiodiniaceae and photosynthetic bacteria, emphasizing the importance of understanding these dynamic interactions in sustaining coral resilience against environmental stress, although further research is necessary to establish their role in preventing coral bleaching.}, } @article {pmid39781500, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, H and Han, J and Hayes, RD and LaButti, K and Shabalov, I and Lipzen, A and Barry, K and Grigoriev, IV and Zhang, Q and Cao, Q and Li, H and Martin, FM}, title = {Draft genomes and assemblies of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes Scleroderma citrinum hr and S. yunnanense jo associated with chestnut trees.}, journal = {Journal of genomics}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {6-9}, pmid = {39781500}, issn = {1839-9940}, abstract = {The earthball Scleroderma, an ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete belonging to the Sclerodermataceae family, serves as a significant mutualistic tree symbiont globally. Originally, two genetically sequenced strains of this genus were obtained from fruiting bodies collected under chestnut trees (Castanea mollissima). These strains were utilized to establish in vitro ectomycorrhizal roots of chestnut seedlings. The genome sequences of these strains share characteristics with those of other ectomycorrhizal species in Boletales order, including a restricted set of genes encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes. The genome sequences presented here will aid in further exploring the factors contributing to the establishment of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in chestnut trees.}, } @article {pmid39779143, year = {2025}, author = {Liang, J and Wang, Y and Wang, T and Chu, C and Yi, J and Liu, Z}, title = {Enhancing fermented vegetable flavor with Lactobacillus plantarum and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {200}, number = {}, pages = {115500}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115500}, pmid = {39779143}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {*Lactobacillus plantarum/metabolism/genetics ; *Rhodotorula/metabolism/genetics ; *Fermentation ; *Brassica/microbiology ; Taste ; Vegetables/microbiology ; Food Microbiology ; Fermented Foods/microbiology ; Lactic Acid/metabolism ; Flavoring Agents/metabolism ; Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {The formation of flavor in fermented vegetables is directly associated with the interactions among the resident microbial strains. This study explored the cooperative dynamics between Lactobacillus plantarum and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa in a simulated cabbage juice system. The obtained results indicated that the co-cultivation of these strains accelerated fermentation kinetics and enhanced lactic acid production. The strains achieved a balanced consumption of substrates within the co-fermentation system through the exchange of metabolites. Additionally, co-fermentation facilitated the synthesis of characteristic flavor compounds while reducing the levels of undesirable flavors. Growth monitoring and transcriptomic analysis revealed that L. plantarum, as the dominant strain, perceived the surrounding environment through quorum sensing signals and upregulated genes related to the synthesizing of key compounds, enhancing product yields and forming biofilms to adapt to the symbiotic environment. Conversely, R. mucilaginosa responded to the stress induced by L. plantarum via upregulating transporters of metabolites, genes related to antioxidant stress, and longevity regulating, ultimately achieving coexistence with L. plantarum. This research provides a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between microbial strains in modulating fermentation processes and flavor profiles in vegetable fermentation.}, } @article {pmid39778056, year = {2025}, author = {Silva, JK and Hervé, V and Mies, US and Platt, K and Brune, A}, title = {A Novel Lineage of Endosymbiotic Actinomycetales: Genome Reduction and Acquisition of New Functions in Bifidobacteriaceae Associated With Termite Gut Flagellates.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {27}, number = {1}, pages = {e70010}, pmid = {39778056}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {//Max-Planck-Gesellschaft/ ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Isoptera/microbiology ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Actinomycetales/genetics/metabolism ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology/parasitology ; Metagenome ; }, abstract = {Cellulolytic flagellates are essential for the symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in the gut of lower termites. Most species are associated with host-specific consortia of bacterial symbionts from various phyla. 16S rRNA-based diversity studies and taxon-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a termite-specific clade of Actinomycetales that colonise the cytoplasm of Trichonympha spp. and other gut flagellates, representing the only known case of intracellular Actinomycetota in protists. Comparative analysis of eleven metagenome-assembled genomes from lower termites allowed us to describe them as new genera of Bifidobacteriaceae. Like the previously investigated Candidatus Ancillula trichonymphae, they ferment sugars via the bifidobacterium shunt but, unlike their free-living relatives, experienced significant genome erosion. Additionally, they acquired new functions by horizontal gene transfer from other gut bacteria, including the capacity to produce hydrogen. Members of the genus Ancillula (average genome size 1.56 ± 0.2 Mbp) retained most pathways for the synthesis of amino acids, including a threonine/serine exporter, providing concrete evidence for the basis of the mutualistic relationship with their host. By contrast, Opitulatrix species (1.23 ± 0.1 Mbp) lost most of their biosynthetic capacities, indicating that an originally mutualistic symbiosis is on the decline.}, } @article {pmid39777245, year = {2025}, author = {Shahid, Y and Emman, B and Abid, S}, title = {Liver parasites: A global endemic and journey from infestation to intervention.}, journal = {World journal of gastroenterology}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {101360}, pmid = {39777245}, issn = {2219-2840}, mesh = {Humans ; Animals ; *Liver Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/diagnosis/therapy ; Liver/parasitology ; Endemic Diseases/statistics & numerical data/prevention & control ; Global Health ; }, abstract = {Parasites have coexisted with humans throughout history, forming either symbiotic relationships or causing significant morbidity and mortality. The liver is particularly vulnerable to parasitic infections, which can reside in, pass through, or be transported to the liver, leading to severe damage. This editorial explores various parasites that infect the liver, their clinical implications, and diagnostic considerations, as discussed in the article "Parasites of the liver: A global problem?". Parasites reach the liver primarily through oral ingestion, mucosal penetration, or the bloodstream, with some larvae even penetrating the skin. Hepatic parasites such as cestodes (Echinococcus), trematodes (Clonorchis, Opisthorchis), nematodes (Ascaris), and protozoa (Entamoeba histolytica) can also cause systemic infections like visceral leishmaniasis, malaria, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplasmosis. Chronic infections like clonorchiasis and opisthorchiasis are linked to persistent hepatobiliary inflammation, potentially progressing to cholangiocarcinoma, a fatal bile duct cancer, particularly prevalent in Southeast Asia. The global nature of liver parasite infestations is alarming, with hundreds of millions affected worldwide. However, control over treatment quality remains suboptimal. Given the significant public health threat posed by these parasites, international medical organizations must prioritize improved diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures. Strengthening educational efforts and enhancing healthcare provider training are critical steps toward mitigating the global impact of parasitic liver diseases.}, } @article {pmid39774486, year = {2025}, author = {Escobedo, C and Brolo, AG}, title = {Synergizing microfluidics and plasmonics: advances, applications, and future directions.}, journal = {Lab on a chip}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d4lc00572d}, pmid = {39774486}, issn = {1473-0189}, abstract = {In the past decade, interest in nanoplasmonic structures has experienced significant growth, owing to rapid advancements in materials science and the evolution of novel nanofabrication techniques. The activities in the area are not only leading to remarkable progress in specific applications in photonics, but also permeating to and synergizing with other fields. This review delves into the symbiosis between nanoplasmonics and microfluidics, elucidating fundamental principles on nanophotonics centered on surface plasmon-polaritons, and key achievements arising from the intricate interplay between light and fluids at small scales. This review underscores the unparalleled capabilities of subwavelength plasmonic structures to manipulate light beyond the diffraction limit, concurrently serving as fluidic entities or synergistically combining with micro- and nanofluidic structures. Noteworthy phenomena, techniques and applications arising from this synergy are explored, including the manipulation of fluids at nanoscopic dimensions, the trapping of individual nanoscopic entities like molecules or nanoparticles, and the harnessing of light within a fluidic environment. Additionally, it discusses light-driven fabrication methodologies for microfluidic platforms and, contrariwise, the use of microfluidics in the fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures. Pondering future prospects, this review offers insights into potential future developments, particularly focusing on the integration of two-dimensional materials endowed with exceptional optical, structural and electrical properties, such as goldene and borophene, which enable higher carrier densities and higher plasmonic frequencies. Such advancements could catalyze innovations in diverse applications, including energy harvesting, advanced photothermal cancer therapies, and catalytic processes for hydrogen generation and CO2 conversion.}, } @article {pmid39773047, year = {2025}, author = {Wang, Z and Wang, P and He, G and Cheng, L and Li, T and Wang, Y and Li, H}, title = {Identification of the Metabolic Characteristic of Organ Fibrosis Using Microbial Analysis on RNA-seq Data.}, journal = {Current gene therapy}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.2174/0115665232257596231011110813}, pmid = {39773047}, issn = {1875-5631}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fibrosis refers to abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, which leads to organ dysfunction. Metabolic alterations, especially enhanced glycolysis and suppressed fatty acid oxidation, are recognized as an essential pathogenic process of fibrosis. Recently, several reports indicate that the changes in microbiota composition are associated with metabolic disorders, suggesting microbes may contribute to organ fibrosis by regulating metabolic processes.

METHOD: In this study, microbial reannotation was carried out on the RNA-seq data of fibrotic organs. Then, the microbial composition differences among healthy and fibrotic organ samples were determined by alpha and beta diversity analysis. Common and specific microbial markers of fibrosis were also identified by LEfSe. After that, the correlation analysis of the characteristic microbe-- gene-functional pathway was conducted to confirm the effects of microbes on host metabolism.

RESULT: The results showed that the microbial composition significantly differed between healthy and diseased organs. Besides, the common characteristic microbes interacted closely with each other and contributed to fibrosis through symbiosis or inhibition. The largest proportion in fibrosis organs was Proteobacteria, which was the main source of pathogenic microbes.

CONCLUSION: Further study found that the metabolic alteration driven by common and special characteristic microbes in fibrotic organs focused on the processes related to glycolysis and fatty acid metabolism.}, } @article {pmid39772785, year = {2025}, author = {Huang, Y and He, J and Wang, Y and Li, L and Lin, S}, title = {Nitrogen source type modulates heat stress response in coral symbiont (Cladocopium goreaui).}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0059124}, doi = {10.1128/aem.00591-24}, pmid = {39772785}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Ocean warming due to climate change endangers coral reefs, and regional nitrogen overloading exacerbates the vulnerability of reef-building corals as the dual stress disrupts coral-Symbiodiniaceae mutualism. Different forms of nitrogen may create different interactive effects with thermal stress, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. To address the gap, we measured and compared the physiological and transcriptional responses of the Symbiodiniaceae Cladocopium goreaui to heat stress (31°C) when supplied with different types of nitrogen (nitrate, ammonium, or urea). Under heat stress (HS), cell proliferation and photosynthesis of C. goreaui declined, while cell size, lipid storage, and total antioxidant capacity increased, both to varied extents depending on the nitrogen type. Nitrate-cultured cells exhibited the most robust acclimation to HS, as evidenced by the fewest differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and less ROS accumulation, possibly due to activated nitrate reduction and enhanced ascorbate biogenesis. Ammonium-grown cultures exhibited higher algal proliferation and ROS scavenging capacity due to enhanced carotenoid and ascorbate quenching, but potentially reduced host recognizability due to the downregulation of N-glycan biosynthesis genes. Urea utilization led to the greatest ROS accumulation as genes involved in photorespiration, plant respiratory burst oxidase (RBOH), and protein refolding were markedly upregulated, but the greatest cutdown in photosynthate potentially available to corals as evidenced by photoinhibition and selfish lipid storage, indicating detrimental effects of urea overloading. The differential warming nitrogen-type interactive effects documented here has significant implication in coral-Symbiodiniaceae mutualism, which requires further research.IMPORTANCERegional nitrogen pollution exacerbates coral vulnerability to globally rising sea-surface temperature, with different nitrogen types exerting different interactive effects. How this occurs is poorly understood and understudied. This study explored the underlying mechanism by comparing physiological and transcriptional responses of a coral symbiont to heat stress under different nitrogen supplies (nitrate, ammonium, and urea). The results showed some common, significant responses to heat stress as well as some unique, N-source dependent responses. These findings underscore that nitrogen eutrophication is not all the same, the form of nitrogen pollution should be considered in coral conservation, and special attention should be given to urea pollution.}, } @article {pmid39772705, year = {2025}, author = {Zhou, J and Liu, Z and Wang, S and Li, J and Zhang, L and Liao, Z}, title = {A novel framework unveiling the importance of heterogeneous selection and drift on the community structure of symbiotic microbial indicator taxa across altitudinal gradients in amphibians.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0419223}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.04192-23}, pmid = {39772705}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Existing analytical frameworks for community assembly have a noticeable knowledge gap, lacking a comprehensive assessment of the relative contributions of individual or grouped microbial distinct sampling units (DSUs) and distinct taxonomic units (DTUs) to each mechanism. Here, we propose a comprehensive framework for identifying DTUs/DSUs that remarkably contribute to the various mechanisms sustaining microbial community structure. Amphibian symbiotic microbes along an altitudinal gradient from Sichuan Province, China, were employed to examine the proposed statistical framework. In different altitude groups, we found that heterogeneous selection governed the community structure of symbiotic microbes across DSUs, while stochastic processes tended to increase with altitude. For DTUs at phylum and family levels, drift emerged as the dominant mechanism driving the community structure in the most symbiotic microbial taxa, while heterogeneous selection governs the most dominant or indicator taxa. Notably, the relative contribution of heterogeneous selection was significantly positively correlated with the relative abundance and niche breadth of taxa, and negatively correlated with drift. We also detected that community assembly processes remarkably regulate the structure of symbiotic microbial communities and their correlation with environmental variables. Altogether, our modeling framework is a robust and valuable tool that further enlarges our insight into microbiota community assembly.

IMPORTANCE: Distinguishing the drivers regulating microbial community assembly is essential in microbial ecology. We propose a novel modeling framework to partition the relative contributions of each individual or group of microbial DSUs and DTUs into different underpinning mechanisms. An empirical study on amphibian symbiotic microbes notably enlarges insight into community assembly patterns in the herpetological symbiotic ecosystem and demonstrates that the proposed statistical framework is an informative and sturdy tool to quantify microbial assembly processes at both levels of DSUs and DTUs. More importantly, our proposed modeling framework can provide in-depth insights into microbiota community assembly within the intricate tripartite host-environment-microbe relationship.}, } @article {pmid39770907, year = {2024}, author = {Pedrosa, LF and de Vos, P and Fabi, JP}, title = {From Structure to Function: How Prebiotic Diversity Shapes Gut Integrity and Immune Balance.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {16}, number = {24}, pages = {}, pmid = {39770907}, issn = {2072-6643}, support = {2020/08063-5 2022/12253-0 2013/07914-8 2022/12834-2//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 307842/2022-3//National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/ ; }, mesh = {*Prebiotics ; Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Dysbiosis ; Inflammation ; Intestinal Mucosa/immunology/metabolism ; Animals ; Homeostasis ; }, abstract = {The microbiota stability, diversity, and composition are pillars for an efficient and beneficial symbiotic relationship between its host and itself. Microbial dysbiosis, a condition where a homeostatic bacterial community is disturbed by acute or chronic events, is a predisposition for many diseases, including local and systemic inflammation that leads to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and some types of cancers. Classical dysbiosis occurs in the large intestine. During this period, pathogenic strains can multiply, taking advantage of the compromised environment. This overgrowth triggers an exaggerated inflammatory response from the human immune system due to the weakened integrity of the intestinal barrier. Such inflammation can also directly influence higher polyp formation and/or tumorigenesis. Prebiotics can be instrumental in preventing or correcting dysbiosis. Prebiotics are molecules capable of serving as substrates for fermentation processes by gut microorganisms. This can promote returning the intestinal environment to homeostasis. Effective prebiotics are generally specific oligo- and polysaccharides, such as FOS or inulin. However, the direct effects of prebiotics on intestinal epithelial and immune cells must also be taken into consideration. This interaction happens with diverse prebiotic nondigestible carbohydrates, and they can inhibit or decrease the inflammatory response. The present work aims to elucidate and describe the different types of prebiotics, their influence, and their functionalities for health, primarily focusing on their ability to reduce and control inflammation in the intestinal epithelial barrier, gut, and systemic environments.}, } @article {pmid39770790, year = {2024}, author = {Lugo, MA and Negritto, MA and Crespo, EM and Iriarte, HJ and Núñez, S and Espinosa, LF and Pagano, MC}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism for the Establishment of a Neotropical Halophytic Fern in Saline Soils.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {39770790}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Acrostichum aureum is a halophytic pantropical invasive fern growing in mangroves and swamps. Its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been reported in Asia. AMF and their symbiosis (AM) commonly colonise the absorption organs of terrestrial plants worldwide. Furthermore, AMF/AM are well known for their capacity to bioaccumulate toxic elements and to alleviate biotic and abiotic stress (e.g., salinity stress) in their hosts. However, the mechanisms underlying AMF involvement in the halophytism of A. aureum and the structures where NaCl accumulates remain unknown. This study shows that A. aureum forms AM in margins of natural thermal ponds in Neotropical wetlands. All mature sporophytes were colonised by AMF, with high percentages for root length (ca. 57%), arbuscules (23), and hyphae (25) and low values for vesicles (2%). In A. aureum-AMF symbiosis, NaCl accumulated in AMF vesicles, and CaSO4 precipitated in colonised roots. Therefore, AM can contribute to the halophytic nature of this fern, allowing it to thrive in saline and thermal environments by capturing NaCl from fern tissues, compartmentalising it inside its vesicles, and precipitating CaSO4.}, } @article {pmid39770740, year = {2024}, author = {Kodama, Y and Fujishima, M}, title = {Effects of the Symbiotic Chlorella variabilis on the Host Ciliate Paramecium bursaria Phenotypes.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {39770740}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {20K06768//Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 23H02529//Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; SDGs Research Project//Shimane University/ ; }, abstract = {Paramecium bursaria, a ciliated protist, forms a symbiotic relationship with the green alga Chlorella variabilis. This endosymbiotic association is a model system for studying the establishment of secondary symbiosis and interactions between the symbiont and its host organisms. Symbiotic algae reside in specialized compartments called perialgal vacuoles (PVs) within the host cytoplasm, which protect them from digestion by host lysosomal fusion. The relationship between P. bursaria and symbiotic Chlorella spp. is characterized by mutualism, in which both organisms benefit from this association. Furthermore, symbiotic algae also influence their host phenotypes, and algae-free P. bursaria can be obtained through various methods and reassociated with symbiotic algae, making it a valuable tool for studying secondary endosymbiosis. Recent advancements in genomic and transcriptomic studies on both hosts and symbionts have further enhanced the utility of this model system. This review summarizes the infection process of the symbiotic alga C. variabilis and its effects on the algal infection on number of host trichocysts, mitochondria, cytoplasmic crystals, total protein amount, stress responses, photoaccumulation, and circadian rhythms of the host P. bursaria.}, } @article {pmid39770729, year = {2024}, author = {García, G and Soto, J and Netherland, M and Hasan, NA and Buchaca, E and Martínez, D and Carlin, M and de Jesus Cano, R}, title = {Evaluating the Effects of Sugar Shift[®] Symbiotic on Microbiome Composition and LPS Regulation: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {39770729}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {No Grant Number//The BioCollective Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {(1) Background: This study evaluated the effects of BiotiQuest[®] Sugar Shift[®], a novel probiotic formulation, for its impact on gut microbiome composition and metabolic health in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). T2D is characterized by chronic inflammation and gut microbiome imbalances, yet the therapeutic potential of targeted probiotics remains underexplored. (2) Methods: In a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 64 adults with T2D received either Sugar Shift or placebo capsules twice daily. Each dose provided 18 billion CFU of eight GRAS-certified bacterial strains and prebiotics. Clinical samples were analyzed for metabolic markers, and microbiome changes were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics. (3) Results: Sugar Shift significantly reduced serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, improved insulin sensitivity (lower HOMA-IR scores), and increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera, including Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, Fusicatenibacter, and Roseburia. Pro-inflammatory taxa like Enterobacteriaceae decreased, with reduced LPS biosynthesis genes and increased SCFA production genes. The Lachnospiraceae:Enterobactericeae ratio emerged as a biomarker of reduced inflammation. (4) Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the potential of Sugar Shift to restore gut homeostasis, reduce inflammation, and improve metabolic health in T2D. Further studies are warranted to explore its long-term efficacy and broader application in metabolic disease management.}, } @article {pmid39770695, year = {2024}, author = {You, M and Yang, W}, title = {Environmental Changes Driving Shifts in the Structure and Functional Properties of the Symbiotic Microbiota of Daphnia.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12122492}, pmid = {39770695}, issn = {2076-2607}, abstract = {Symbiotic microbiota significantly influence the development, physiology, and behavior of their hosts, and therefore, they are widely studied. However, very few studies have investigated the changes in symbiotic microbiota across generations. Daphnia magna originating from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were cultured through seven generations in our laboratory, and the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna were sequenced using a 16S rRNA amplicon to analyze changes in the structure and functional properties of the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna from a harsh environment to an ideal environment. We detected substantial changes in the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna across generations. For example, the genus Nevskia, a member of the gamma-subclass Proteobacteria, had the highest abundance in the first generation (G1), followed by a decrease in abundance in the fourth (G4) and seventh (G7) generations. The gene functions of the microbiota in different generations of D. magna also changed significantly. The fourth generation was mainly rich in fatty acyl-CoA synthase, acetyl-CoA acyltransferase, phosphoglycerol phosphatase, etc. The seventh generation was mainly rich in osmotic enzyme protein and ATP-binding protein of the ABC transport system. This study confirms that the alterations in the structure and functional properties of the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna under changing environments are typical responses of D. magna to environmental changes.}, } @article {pmid39770691, year = {2024}, author = {Quinteros-Urquieta, C and Francois, JP and Aguilar-Muñoz, P and Molina, V}, title = {Soil Microbial Communities Changes Along Depth and Contrasting Facing Slopes at the Parque Nacional La Campana, Chile.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12122487}, pmid = {39770691}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {11170566//FONDECYT/ ; 1211977//FONDECYT/ ; 21221130//Beca Doctorado Nacional ANID 2022/ ; }, abstract = {The Parque Nacional La Campana (PNLC) was recently recognized for its high soil surface microbial richness. Here, we explored the microbial community structure in soil profiles from contrasting facing slopes where sclerophyllous forest (SF) and xerophytic shrubland (XS) develop. Soil physicochemical conditions (dry density, pH, and organic matter C and N isotopic soil signatures) were determined at three depths (5, 10, and 15 cm depths). Amplicon sequencing (16S rRNA and ITS1-5F) and specific quantification (qPCR bacteria, archaea and ammonia-oxidizing archaea, fungi) were used to profile the microbial community. Our results indicate that opposite slopes, with different vegetation types and soil conditions studied potentially explained the spatial variability of the microbial community composition, especially between sites than through soil depth. Discriminative taxa were observed to vary between sites, such as, C. nitrososphaera (ammonia-oxidizing archaea) and Sphingomonas, and bacteria associated with Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes were predominant in SF and XS, respectively. Fungi affiliated with Humicola and Preussia were more abundant in SF, while Cladosporium and Alternaria were in XS. Higher ASV richness was observed in SF compared to XS, for both prokaryotes and fungi. Furthermore, SF showed a higher number of shared ASVs, while XS showed a decrease in unique ASVs in deeper soil layers. In XS, the genus DA101 (Verrucomicrobia) increases with soil depth, reaching higher levels in SF, while Kaistobacter shows the opposite trend. PNLC soils were a reservoir of redundant microbial functions related to biogeochemical cycles, including symbiotic and phytopathogenic fungi. In conclusion, as with the predominant vegetation, the structure and potential function of microbial life in soil profiles were associated with the contrasting the effect of facing slopes as toposequence effects.}, } @article {pmid39770651, year = {2024}, author = {Nie, W and He, Q and Guo, H and Zhang, W and Ma, L and Li, J and Wen, D}, title = {Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Boosting Crop Resilience to Environmental Stresses.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12122448}, pmid = {39770651}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {2019BHLC005//the Shandong Province "Bohai Grain Silo" Science and Technology Demon-stration Project/ ; }, abstract = {Amid escalating challenges from global climate change and increasing environmental degradation, agricultural systems worldwide face a multitude of abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, elevated temperatures, heavy metal pollution, and flooding. These factors critically impair crop productivity and yield. Simultaneously, biotic pressures such as pathogen invasions intensify the vulnerability of agricultural outputs. At the heart of mitigating these challenges, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AM fungi) form a crucial symbiotic relationship with most terrestrial plants, significantly enhancing their stress resilience. AM fungi improve nutrient uptake, particularly that of nitrogen and phosphorus, through their extensive mycelial networks. Additionally, they enhance soil structure, increase water use efficiency, and strengthen antioxidant defense mechanisms, particularly in environments stressed by drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal contamination, and flooding. Beyond mitigating abiotic stress, AM fungi bolster plant defenses against pathogens and pests by competing for colonization sites and enhancing plant immune responses. They also facilitate plant adaptation to extreme environmental conditions by altering root morphology, modulating gene expression, and promoting the accumulation of osmotic adjustment compounds. This review discusses the role of AM fungi in enhancing plant growth and performance under environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid39770631, year = {2024}, author = {Coban, HS and Olgun, D and Temur, İ and Durak, MZ}, title = {Determination of Technological Properties and CRISPR Profiles of Streptococcus thermophilus Isolates Obtained from Local Yogurt Samples.}, journal = {Microorganisms}, volume = {12}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12122428}, pmid = {39770631}, issn = {2076-2607}, support = {Project No: FDK-2022-4649//This research was financially supported by Research Fund of the Yıldız Teknik University/ ; }, abstract = {The aim of this study was to obtain data on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) profiles of Streptococcus thermophilus (S. thermophilus) isolates resulting from acquired immune memory in addition to their technological starter properties for the selection of potential starter cultures from local yogurt samples. A total of 24 S. thermophilus isolates were collected from six local yogurt samples including Afyon/Dinar, Uşak, Konya/Karapınar, and Tokat provinces of Türkiye. Strain-specific CRISPR I-II-III and IV primers were used to determine the CRISPR profiles of the isolates. The isolates commonly had CRISPR II and IV profiles, while only one isolate had a CRISPR III profile. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based and culture-based analyses were also carried out to obtain data on the technological properties of the isolates. The PCR analyses were performed for the prtS gene for protease activity, the ureC gene for urease enzyme, the gdh gene for glutamate dehydrogenase, the cox gene for competence frequency, the csp gene involved in heat-shock stress resistance of the isolates with specific primers. Culture-based analyses including antimicrobial activity and acid-production ability of the isolates were completed, and proteolytic and lipolytic properties were also screened. Native spacer sequences resulting from acquired immune memory were obtained for CRISPR IV profiles of yogurt samples from the Konya-Karapınar and Tokat provinces and CRISPR III profiles of yogurt samples from the Uşak province. In conclusion, our study results suggest that it is possible to select the isolates with the desired level of technological characteristics, prioritizing the ones with the most diverse CRISPR profiles and with native spacers for potential industrial application as starter cultures. We believe that this study provides data for further biological studies on the impact of centuries of human domestication on evolutionary adaptations and how these microorganisms manage survival and symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid39769075, year = {2024}, author = {Meng, Y and Wang, N and Wang, X and Qiu, Z and Kuang, H and Guan, Y}, title = {GmbZIP4a/b Positively Regulate Nodule Number by Affecting Cytokinin Biosynthesis in Glycine max.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {24}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/ijms252413311}, pmid = {39769075}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {2024A03J0010//Guangzhou Science Grant/ ; 32300213//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {*Cytokinins/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/genetics/microbiology ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Glycine max/genetics/metabolism/microbiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Mutation ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes have the capability to form nodules that facilitate symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) with rhizobia. Given the substantial energy consumption during the process of SNF, legumes need to optimize nodule number in response to everchanging environmental scenarios. The TGACG BINDING FACTOR1/4 (TGA1/4) are key players in the basal immune response of plants. In this study, both β-glucuronidase staining and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) demonstrated that both GmbZIP4a and GmbZIP4b are inducible upon rhizobial inoculation. To investigate their roles further, we constructed gmbzip4a/b double mutants using CRISPR/Cas9 system. Nodulation assessments revealed that these double mutants displayed a reduction in the number of infection threads, which subsequently resulted in a decreased nodule number. However, the processes associated with nodule development including nodule fresh weight, structural characteristics, and nitrogenase activity, remained unaffected in the double mutants. Subsequent transcriptome analyses revealed that zeatin biosynthesis was downregulated in gmbzip4a/b mutants post rhizobial inoculation. Supporting these findings, genes associated with cytokinin (CTK) signaling pathway were upregulated in Williams 82 (Wm82), but this upregulation was not observed in the double mutants after rhizobial treatment. These results suggest that GmbZIP4a/b positively influences nodule formation by promoting the activation of the CTK signaling pathway during the early stages of nodule formation.}, } @article {pmid39765881, year = {2024}, author = {González, MC and Roitsch, T and Pandey, C}, title = {Antioxidant Responses and Redox Regulation Within Plant-Beneficial Microbe Interaction.}, journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/antiox13121553}, pmid = {39765881}, issn = {2076-3921}, abstract = {The increase in extreme climate events associated with global warming is a great menace to crop productivity nowadays. In addition to abiotic stresses, warmer conditions favor the spread of infectious diseases affecting plant performance. Within this context, beneficial microbes constitute a sustainable alternative for the mitigation of the effects of climate change on plant growth and productivity. Used as biostimulants to improve plant growth, they also increase plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses through the generation of a primed status in the plant, leading to a better and faster response to stress. In this review, we have focused on the importance of a balanced redox status for the adequate performance of the plant and revisited the different antioxidant mechanisms supporting the biocontrol effect of beneficial microbes through the adjustment of the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the different tools for the analysis of antioxidant responses and redox regulation have been evaluated. The importance of redox regulation in the activation of the immune responses through different mechanisms, such as transcriptional regulation, retrograde signaling, and post-translational modification of proteins, emerges as an important research goal for understanding the biocontrol activity of the beneficial microbes.}, } @article {pmid39765711, year = {2024}, author = {El Amrani, B}, title = {Insights into the Biotic Factors Shaping Ectomycorrhizal Associations.}, journal = {Biology}, volume = {13}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.3390/biology13121044}, pmid = {39765711}, issn = {2079-7737}, abstract = {Ectomycorrhizal (EM) associations are essential symbiotic relationships that contribute significantly to the health and functioning of forest ecosystems. This review examines the biotic factors that influence EM associations, focusing on plant and fungal diversity, host specificity, and microbial interactions. Firstly, the diversity of host plants and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) is discussed, highlighting how the richness of these organisms affects the formation and success of EM symbioses. Next, host specificity is explored, with a focus on the complex relationships between EMF and their host plants. Microbial interactions are examined in depth, with sections on both positive and negative influences of bacteria and different fungal groups on EM formation. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the biotic factors that shape EM associations, offering insights into the mechanisms that underpin these critical ecological interactions and their broader implications for ecosystem management and restoration.}, } @article {pmid39764960, year = {2025}, author = {Yan, Z and Cao, X and Su, H and Li, C and Lin, J and Tang, K and Zhang, J and Fan, H and Chen, Q and Tang, J and Zhou, Z}, title = {Coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiotic associations under antibiotic stress: Accumulation patterns and potential physiological effects in a natural reef.}, journal = {Journal of hazardous materials}, volume = {486}, number = {}, pages = {137039}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.137039}, pmid = {39764960}, issn = {1873-3336}, abstract = {Antibiotics threaten scleractinian corals, but their accumulation patterns and physiological effects on corals in natural reefs remain unclear. This study investigated antibiotic occurrence in seawater and two coral species, Galaxea fascicularis and Pocillopora damicornis, and explored the physiological effects of bioaccumulated antibiotics in a fringing reef of the South China Sea. Nineteen antibiotic components were detected in seawater, with total antibiotic concentrations (ΣABs) ranging from 17.69 to 44.22 ng L[-1] . Eleven antibiotic components were accumulated in the coral hosts, and five components were observed in their algal symbionts. Higher ΣABs were significantly associated with increased total antioxidant capacity in the coral hosts of P. damicornis, while G. fascicularis exhibited a significant increase in algal symbiont density. Furthermore, ofloxacin was linked to increased algal symbiont density of G. fascicularis, while several antibiotic components, including tilmicosin, sulfapyridine, ofloxacin, and lincomycin hydrochloride, were observed to reduce antioxidant levels in the algal symbionts of G. fascicularis. No significant correlations between antibiotic components and physiological activities were detected in P. damicornis. These results highlight species-specific bioaccumulation patterns and physiological responses to antibiotics, suggesting that prolonged contaminations could destabilize coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis. The findings improve understanding of the ecological risks of antibiotic pollution in reefs.}, } @article {pmid39764484, year = {2025}, author = {Rejili, M and Bouznif, B and Adam, NI}, title = {The alien Acacia salicina invasive does not infiltrate the native soil rhizobial symbiosis networks.}, journal = {Communicative & integrative biology}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {2443644}, pmid = {39764484}, issn = {1942-0889}, abstract = {Using Lotus creticus-rhizobia-A. salicina interaction networks, we address first the soil invasion success of A. salicina, and second, we report either A. salicina-rhizobia partnership should form an isolated module within the symbiosis interaction network. Different indexes were used to determine A. salicina model invasion success and the network topology. Our results indicated that A. salicina invasion decreased soil microbial biomass, basal respiration, and enzymatic activities. Housekeeping gene-based phylogeny showed that the invasive A. salicina is exclusively associated with a novel putative nodulating Paraburkholderia sp. not considered, up to now, as a natural symbiont of this species, and the native legume L. creticus nodulating strains, belonged to three new putative undescribed distinct chromosomal lineages within the Rhizobium, Allomesorhizobium, and Mesorhizobium genera. Analysis using nodC gene identified one symbiovar for A. salicina Paraburkholderia symbiont (sv. tropicalis) and three symbiovars for L. creticus endosynbionts (sv. viciae, sv hedysari and sv. loti). Moreover, L. creticus-rhizobia-A. salicina interaction networks are significantly modular with high levels of specialization. Network topology remained consistent over the invasion gradient, whereas native legume-associated rhizobia underwent significant change as acacias took over more the landscape. The absence of mutual overlapping networks emphasizes the importance of the simultaneous invasion of rhizobia-acacia species complexes in successful acacia invasion, suggesting unique interactions that often arise and evolve.}, } @article {pmid39764008, year = {2024}, author = {Zarate, D and Isenberg, RY and Pavelsky, M and Speare, L and Jackson, A and Mandel, MJ and Septer, AN}, title = {The conserved global regulator H-NS has a strain-specific impact on biofilm formation in Vibrio fischeri symbionts.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.12.19.629378}, pmid = {39764008}, issn = {2692-8205}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Strain-level variation among host-associated bacteria often determines host range and the extent to which colonization is beneficial, benign, or pathogenic. Vibrio fischeri is a beneficial symbiont of the light organs of fish and squid with known strain-specific differences that impact host specificity, colonization efficiency, and interbacterial competition. Here, we describe how the conserved global regulator, H-NS, has a strain-specific impact on a critical colonization behavior: biofilm formation. We isolated a mutant of the fish symbiont V. fischeri MJ11 with a transposon insertion in the hns gene. This mutant formed sticky, moderately wrinkled colonies on LBS plates, a condition not known to induce biofilm in this species. A reconstructed hns mutant displayed the same wrinkled colony, which became smooth when hns was complemented in trans , indicating the hns disruption is causal for biofilm formation in MJ11. Transcriptomes revealed differential expression for the syp biofilm locus in the hns mutant, relative to the parent, suggesting biofilm may in part involve SYP polysaccharide. However, enhanced biofilm in the MJ11 hns mutant was not sufficient to allow colonization of a non-native squid host. Finally, moving the hns mutation into other V. fischeri strains, including the squid symbionts ES114 and ES401, and seawater isolate PP3, revealed strain-specific biofilm phenotypes: ES114 and ES401 hns mutants displayed minimal biofilm phenotypes while PP3 hns mutant colonies were more wrinkled than the MJ11 hns mutant. These findings together define H-NS as a novel regulator of V. fischeri symbiotic biofilm and demonstrate key strain specificity in that role.

IMPORTANCE: This work, which shows how H-NS has strain-specific impacts on biofilm in Vibrio fischeri , underscores the importance of studying multiple strains, even when examining highly conserved genes and functions. Our observation that knocking out a conserved regulator can result in a wide range of biofilm phenotypes, depending on the isolate, serves as a powerful reminder that strain-level variation is common and worthy of exploration. Indeed, uncovering the mechanisms of strain-specific phenotypic differences is essential to understand drivers of niche differentiation and bacterial evolution. Thus, it is important to carefully match the number and type of strains used in a study with the research question to accurately interpret and extrapolate the results beyond a single genotype. The additional work required for multi-strain studies is often worth the investment of time and resources, as it provides a broader view of the complexity of within-species diversity in microbial systems.}, } @article {pmid39763704, year = {2025}, author = {Kruse, E and Brown, KT and Barott, KL}, title = {Coral histology reveals consistent declines in tissue integrity during a marine heatwave despite differences in bleaching severity.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {e18654}, pmid = {39763704}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {Animals ; *Anthozoa/physiology ; Hawaii ; *Coral Reefs ; Extreme Heat/adverse effects ; }, abstract = {Marine heatwaves are starting to occur several times a decade, yet we do not understand the effect this has on corals across biological scales. This study combines tissue-, organism-, and community-level analyses to investigate the effects of a marine heatwave on reef-building corals. Adjacent conspecific pairs of coral colonies of Montipora capitata and Porites compressa that showed contrasting phenotypic responses (i.e., bleached vs. not bleached) were first identified during a marine heatwave that occurred in 2015 in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawai' i. These conspecific pairs of bleaching-resistant and bleaching-susceptible colonies were sampled for histology and photographed before, during, and after a subsequent marine heatwave that occurred in 2019. Histology samples were quantified for: (i) abundance of mesenterial filaments, (ii) tissue structural integrity, (iii) clarity of epidermis, and (iv) cellular integrity (lack of necrosis/granulation) on a 1-5 scale and averaged for an overall tissue integrity score. Tissue integrity scores revealed a significant decline in overall tissue health during the 2019 heatwave relative to the months prior to the heatwave for individuals of both species, regardless of past bleaching history in 2015 or bleaching severity during the 2019 heatwave. Coral tissue integrity scores were then compared to concurrent colony bleaching severity, which revealed that tissue integrity was significantly correlated with colony bleaching severity and suggests that the stability of the symbiosis is related to host tissue health. Colony partial mortality was also quantified as the cumulative proportion of each colony that appeared dead 2.5 years following the 2019 bleaching event, and tissue integrity during the heatwave was found to be strongly predictive of the extent of partial mortality following the heatwave for M. capitata but not P. compressa, the latter of which suffered little to no mortality. Surprisingly, bleaching severity and partial mortality were not significantly correlated for either species, suggesting that tissue integrity was a better predictor of mortality than bleaching severity in M. capitata. Despite negative effects of heat stress at the tissue- and colony-level, no significant changes in coral cover were detected, indicating resilience at the community level. However, declines in tissue integrity in response to heat stress that are not accompanied by a visible bleaching response may still have long-term consequences for fitness, and this is an important area of future investigation as heat stress is commonly associated with long-term decreases in coral fecundity and growth. Our results suggest that histology is a valuable tool for revealing the harmful effects of marine heatwaves on corals before they are visually evident as bleaching, and may thus improve the predictability of ecosystem changes following climate change-driven heat stress by providing a more comprehensive assessment of coral health.}, } @article {pmid39762949, year = {2025}, author = {Ferreira, C and Burgsdorf, I and Perez, T and Ramírez, G and Lalzar, M and Huchon, D and Steindler, L}, title = {Comparative genomics analyses of Actinobacteriota identify Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GPP34) as a widespread ancient protein family associated with sponge symbiosis.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {13}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {39762949}, issn = {2049-2618}, support = {GBMF9352//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; 933/23//Israel Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Porifera/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; Animals ; *Genomics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/genetics ; Multigene Family ; Genome, Bacterial ; Actinobacteria/genetics/classification ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Sponges harbor microbial communities that play crucial roles in host health and ecology. However, the genetic adaptations that enable these symbiotic microorganisms to thrive within the sponge environment are still being elucidated. To understand these genetic adaptations, we conducted a comparative genomics analysis on 350 genomes of Actinobacteriota, a phylum commonly associated with sponges.

RESULTS: Our analysis uncovered several differences between symbiotic and free-living bacteria, including an increased abundance of genes encoding prokaryotic defense systems (PDSs) and eukaryotic-like proteins (ELPs) in symbionts. Furthermore, we identified GPP34 as a novel symbiosis-related gene family, found in two symbiotic Actinobacteriota clades, but not in their closely related free-living relatives. Analyses of a broader set of microbes showed that members of the GPP34 family are also found in sponge symbionts across 16 additional bacterial phyla. While GPP34 proteins were thought to be restricted to eukaryotes, our phylogenetic analysis shows that the GPP34 domain is found in all three domains of life, suggesting its ancient origin. We also show that the GPP34 family includes genes with two main structures: a short form that includes only the GPP34 domain and a long form that encompasses a GPP34 domain coupled with a cytochrome P450 domain, which is exclusive to sponge symbiotic bacteria.

CONCLUSIONS: Given previous studies showing that GPP34 is a phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P)-binding protein in eukaryotes and that other PI4P-binding proteins from bacterial pathogens can interfere with phagolysosome maturation, we propose that symbionts employ GPP34 to modulate phagocytosis to colonize and persist within sponge hosts. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid39762613, year = {2025}, author = {Li, Y and Chen, H and Kong, X and Yin, Y and Li, J and Wu, K and Zeng, S and Fang, L}, title = {Excessive accumulation of auxin inhibits protocorm development during germination of Paphiopedilum spicerianum.}, journal = {Plant cell reports}, volume = {44}, number = {1}, pages = {23}, pmid = {39762613}, issn = {1432-203X}, support = {2024A1515012952//Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {*Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; *Germination/drug effects ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/drug effects ; Meristem/genetics/drug effects ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism/pharmacology ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Seedlings/growth & development/genetics/drug effects ; }, abstract = {Excessive auxin accumulation inhibits protocorm development during germination of Paphiopedilum spicerianum, delaying shoot meristem formation by downregulating boundary genes (CUC1, CUC2, CLV3) and promoting fungal colonization, essential for seedling establishment. Paphiopedilum, possess high horticultural and conservational value. Asymbiotic germination is a common propagation method, but high rates of protocorm developmental arrest hinder seedling establishment. Our study found that the key difference between normally developing protocorm (NDP) and arrested developmental protocorm (ADP) is their capability for continuous cell differentiation. In ADP, cells divide without differentiating, with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels being 20 times higher than that in NDP. This suggests that auxin level plays a role in protocorm cell fate determination. Exogenous application of NAA demonstrated that elevated auxin level can delay the formation of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) inside the protocorm. Gene expression analysis revealed that elevated auxin can inhibit or even halt the SAM formation through down-regulation of SAM-related genes such as CLV3, CUC1 and CUC2. High auxin levels also led to reduced cell wall rigidity by up-regulation of cell wall expanding protein (EXPB15), thereby creating ideal conditions for fungi entry. Inoculation with a compatible orchid mycorrhizal fungus (OMF) resulted in successful cell differentiation of ADP and eventually triggered the conversion of ADP to NDP. Since the protocorm is a distinct structure that facilitates the establishment of symbiotic associations with compatible OMF, we propose that the excessive auxin accumulation inside Paphiopedilum protocorm can pause the further development of protocorm and soften the cell wall. This strategy likely serves to enhance the attraction and colonization by OMFs in the native habitat of Paphiopedilum, facilitating essential symbiotic relationships necessary for their survival and growth.}, } @article {pmid39762597, year = {2025}, author = {Amirian, V and Russel, M and Yusof, ZNB and Chen, JE and Movafeghi, A and Kosari-Nasab, M and Zhang, D and Szpyrka, E}, title = {Algae- and bacteria-based biodegradation of phthalic acid esters towards the sustainable green solution.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {41}, number = {2}, pages = {24}, pmid = {39762597}, issn = {1573-0972}, mesh = {*Bacteria/genetics/metabolism ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Coculture Techniques ; Dibutyl Phthalate/metabolism ; Esters/metabolism/chemistry ; *Phthalic Acids/metabolism ; Plasticizers/metabolism ; Wastewater/microbiology/chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Phthalic acid esters are widely used worldwide as plasticizers. The high consumption of phthalates in China makes it the world's largest plasticizer market. The lack of phthalic acid ester's chemical bonding with the polymer matrix facilitates their detachment from plastic products and subsequent release into the environment and causes serious threats to the health of living organisms. Thus, environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions for their removal are urgently needed. In this context, both natural and engineered bacterial and algal communities have played a crucial role in the degradation of various phthalic acid esters present in water and soil. When algae-bacteria co-culture is compared to a singular algae or bacteria system, this symbiotic system shows superior performance in the removal of dibutyl phthalates and diethyl phthalates from synthetic wastewater. This review provides an optimistic outlook for co-culture systems by in-depth examining single microorganisms, namely bacteria and algae, as well as algae-bacterial consortiums for phthalates degradation, which will draw attention to species co-existence for the removal of various pollutants from the environment. In addition, further development and research, particularly on the mechanisms, genes involved in the degradation of phthalic acid esters, and interactions between bacterial and algal species, will lead to the discovery of more adaptable species as well as the production of targeted species to address the environmental pollution crisis and provide a green, efficient, and sustainable approach to environmental protection. Discrepancies in knowledge and potential avenues for exploration will enhance the existing body of literature, enabling researchers to investigate this field more comprehensively.}, } @article {pmid39762364, year = {2025}, author = {Liu-Xu, L and Vicedo, B and Papadopoulou, KK and Camañes, G and Llorens, E}, title = {Isolation and characterization of a new Leptobacillium species promoting tomato plant growth.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {930}, pmid = {39762364}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {FPU18/02891//Spanish Ministry of Universities/ ; GV/2019/028//Generalitat Valenciana/ ; UJI-B2022-30//Universitat Jaume I/ ; }, mesh = {*Solanum lycopersicum/microbiology/growth & development ; Symbiosis ; Endophytes/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth & development ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Genotype ; Lycopene/metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Fruit/microbiology/growth & development ; }, abstract = {Endophytes can be a promising alternative for sustainable agronomic practices. In this study, we report for the first time a root-colonizing fungal strain (Sl27) of the genus Leptobacillium as a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) endophyte, with no clear homology to any known species. Performed analyses and assays, including morphological and physiological characterization of the fungal isolate, provided insights into the ecological niche and potential agronomical and industrial applications of the fungal isolate. The ability of Sl27 to establish a symbiotic relationship with the host plant was assessed through experiments under controlled conditions in the growth chamber and greenhouse. Seed-inoculation showed no detrimental effects in the three tomato genotypes studied (TH-30, ADX2, MO-10). The influence of Sl27 on growth parameters of the host plant was dependent on the tomato genotype, with TH-30 showing the most prominent improved phenotype. Moreover, chlorophyll and lycopene content in fruits were enhanced. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the potential application of this new isolate for improving crop performance.}, } @article {pmid39760657, year = {2025}, author = {Singhal, A and Zhao, X and Wall, P and So, E and Calderini, G and Partin, A and Koussa, N and Vasanthakumari, P and Narykov, O and Zhu, Y and Jones, SE and Abbas-Aghababazadeh, F and Kadambat Nair, S and Bélisle-Pipon, JC and Jayaram, A and Parker, BA and Yeung, KT and Griffiths, JI and Weil, R and Nath, A and Haibe-Kains, B and Ideker, T}, title = {The Hallmarks of Predictive Oncology.}, journal = {Cancer discovery}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {OF1-OF15}, doi = {10.1158/2159-8290.CD-24-0760}, pmid = {39760657}, issn = {2159-8290}, support = {CA274502//National Cancer Institute (NCI)/ ; //Schmidt Family Foundation (SFF)/ ; 75N91019F00134//Cancer Moonshot (Misión contra el Cáncer)/ ; 75N91019D00024/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States ; DE-AC02-06-CH11357//Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)/ ; IRG-19-230-48//American Cancer Society (ACS)/ ; OD032742/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {As the field of artificial intelligence evolves rapidly, these hallmarks are intended to capture fundamental, complementary concepts necessary for the progress and timely adoption of predictive modeling in precision oncology. Through these hallmarks, we hope to establish standards and guidelines that enable the symbiotic development of artificial intelligence and precision oncology.}, } @article {pmid39759402, year = {2025}, author = {Steinberg, M and Zhang, L and Mukherjee, R}, title = {Platform capitalisms and platform cultures.}, journal = {International journal of cultural studies}, volume = {28}, number = {1}, pages = {21-29}, pmid = {39759402}, issn = {1460-356X}, abstract = {This article argues for a pluralization of the "platform capitalism" framework, suggesting we should think instead in terms of "platform capitalisms." This pluralization opens the way to a better account of how platforms work in different geocultural contexts, with our focus being on China, India and Japan. The article first outlines several roles the state has taken on in mediating platform capitalisms. We then signal three main axes around which to consider the implications of platform capitalisms for cultural production: state-platform symbiosis; platform precarity; and the informal-formal relation in cultural production. This short provocation, we hope, will help foreground the crucial role of the state in platform capitalisms, such that the state-culture-capitalism nexus might be better acknowledged in research on platforms and cultural production now and into the future. This is particularly important as states themselves increasingly become platform operators.}, } @article {pmid39759309, year = {2024}, author = {Leng, Q and Sun, Y and Cao, J and Li, D and Geng, M and Guo, Z and Cao, W and Zhu, Q}, title = {Split application of phosphorus fertilizer in Chinese milk vetch-rice rotation enhanced rice yield by reshaping soil diazotrophic community.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {24}, pages = {e41060}, pmid = {39759309}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Chinese milk vetch (CMV) is widely recognized as the leading leguminous green manure utilized in the rice-green manure rotation system throughout southern China. While bacteria that form symbiotic relationships with CMV are responsible for fixing a significant portion of nitrogen (N) within agroecosystems. diazotrophic organisms play an essential role in the N cycle and enhance the pool of N readily accessible to plants. The goals of the current study were to investigate the effects of shifting partial phosphorus (P) fertilizer application from the rice season to the CMV season within a CMV-rice rotation system on soil nutrient levels, activity of soil enzymes and stoichiometric ratios, as well as diazotrophic community structure. The treatments consisted of a control group, a winter fallow-rice rotation without fertilizer application, and the treatments P0, P1, P2, and P3, representing 0, 1/3, 2/3, and the full dose, respectively, of phosphorus fertilizer (60 kg ha[-1] P2O5) added in a single rotation system during the CMV season, while combined with 60 % of regular N application rate during the rice season. In comparison to P0, the application of treatments P1, P2, and P3 resulted in higher CMV dry biomass and rice production across the seasons from 2018 to 2021 and the P2 treatment significantly increased the contents of total N (TN), soil organic matter (OM), and available P (AP) by 49 %, 48 %, and 110 %, respectively. The activities of alkaline phosphatase and L-leucine aminopeptidase showed a significant decrease when subjected to the P1 and P2 treatments. The P2 treatment enhanced the relative abundance of Frankia and Skermanella by 2.6 % and 1.6 %, respectively, comparing with P0 treatment. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between Skermanella and Mesorhizobium with the contents of TN, OM, AP, ammonium-N, and nitrate-N. In conclusion, the application of 1/3 to 2/3 of the full dose P fertilizer in CMV season reshaped soil diazotrophic community, improved soil N content, and thereby increased rice yield with 40 % N fertilizer reduction.}, } @article {pmid39759284, year = {2024}, author = {Al Shammari, L}, title = {Phytochemical diversity, therapeutic potential, and ecological roles of the Cecropia genus.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {24}, pages = {e40375}, pmid = {39759284}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {The genus Cecropia, a pivotal component of Neotropical flora, is renowned for its integration of traditional medicinal uses with significant ecological functions. This review aims to highlight the phytochemical diversity and pharmacological activities of the Cecropia genus, with a particular focus on well-documented species such as C. angustifolia, C. glaziovii, and C. pachystachya. Through a comprehensive review of the literature and current studies, this review identifies critical phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, and correlates these compounds with biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant effects. Notably, the review delves into the pharmacological potential of less than ten out of the sixty-six accepted Cecropia species, revealing a significant research opportunity within the genus. The findings advocate for intensified drug discovery initiatives involving advanced phytochemical analyses, bioactivity assessments, and the integration of conservation strategies. These efforts are crucial for the sustainable utilization of new therapeutic agents for Cecropia species. Additionally, this review discusses the ecological roles of Cecropia, particularly its contributions to forest regeneration and its symbiotic relationships with ants and proposes future research directions aimed at bridging current knowledge gaps and enhancing conservation measures for this valuable genus.}, } @article {pmid39759225, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, P and Wang, J and Chen, P and Fu, Z and Luo, K and Li, Y and Pu, T and Wang, X and Yong, T and Yang, W}, title = {Relay intercropped soybean promotes nodules development and nitrogen fixation by root exudates deposition.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1447447}, pmid = {39759225}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Legumes, in the initial event of symbiosis, secrete flavonoids into the rhizosphere to attract rhizobia. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between crop root exudates and soybean nodule development under intercropping patterns.

METHOD: A two years field experiments was carried out and combined with pot experiments to quantify the effects of planting mode, i.e., relay intercropping and monocropping, and genotypes, i.e., supernodulating NTS1007(NTS), Nandou-12(ND) and Guixia-3(GX) on root exudates, rhizobium community structure, nodule development and nitrogen fixation ability.

RESULT: The result demonstrated that, maize-soybean relay strip intercropping not only promoted daidzein and genistein exudates of soybean root to soil but also reshaped the community structure and diversity of nodule endophytic rhizobia. Compared with monocropping, the nodule number significantly decreased in relay strip intercropping soybean, and NTS achieved 97% at soybean five trifoliolate stage. At soybean full bloom stage, despite the nodulation capacity of relay strip intercropping soybean was unrestored, the nodule number, nodule dry weight, nodule diameter and root dry weight were the highest in ND under relay strip intercropping. Compared with monocropping, the nodule average diameters of ND and GX in relay strip intercropping significantly increased 26.30% and 21.11%, respectively, the single nodule nitrogenase activity and nifH gene was increased up to the higher level of 3.16-fold and 1.96-fold, 70.8% and 107.6%, respectively. Combined with pot experiments, the nodule number of ND and NTS in maize root maize root exudates (RE) treatment increased with growth period, the GX reached its maximum at full bloom stage. And the nodule diameter of ND under RE treatment showed the best response. At R2 stage, compared with distilled water (DW) treatment, the nodule average diameter of ND and GX in RE treatment was significantly higher, and the GmEXPB2 gene was significantly up-regulated 3.99-fold and 1.02-fold, respectively.

CONCLUSION: In brief, the maize-soybean relay strip intercropping enhanced the soybean root exudates nodulation signaling molecules, meanwhile, maize root exudates caused increased nodule diameter, and enhanced nodule nitrogen fixation, but had little effect on supernodulation varieties.}, } @article {pmid39758348, year = {2024}, author = {Tu, W and Xu, F and Li, J and Tian, X and Cao, L and Wang, L and Qu, Y}, title = {Studying targeted oxidation in diabetic cognitive dysfunction based on scientometrics analysis: research progress of natural product approaches.}, journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1445750}, pmid = {39758348}, issn = {1664-2392}, mesh = {Humans ; *Cognitive Dysfunction/drug therapy/metabolism ; *Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; *Biological Products/therapeutic use/pharmacology ; *Antioxidants/therapeutic use/pharmacology ; Bibliometrics ; Diabetes Complications/drug therapy/metabolism ; Animals ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE: The aim is to provide new insights for researchers studying the pathogenesis of diabetic cognitive dysfunction and promoting the wider use of natural products in their treatment.

METHOD: First, the Web of Science Core Collection was selected as the data source for a computerized literature search on oxidative stress and diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD). Next, Biblimetrix and VOSviewer performed statistical analysis focusing on publication countries, institutions, authors, research hotspots, and emerging directions in the field. Then, through the analysis of keywords and key articles, the forefront of the field is identified. Finally, we discussed the pathogenesis of DCD, the influence of oxidative stress on DCD and the antioxidant effect of natural products on DCD.

RESULT: 293 valid papers were obtained. Bibliometrics showed that oxidative stress, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease (AD), cognitive decline, insulin resistance and quercetin were the key words of the symbiotic network.

CONCLUSION: The antioxidant effects of natural products in improving DCD have been extensively studied in preclinical studies, providing potential for their treatment in DCD, but their evaluation in clinical trials is currently uncommon.}, } @article {pmid39755777, year = {2025}, author = {Li, R and Leiva, C and Lemer, S and Kirkendale, L and Li, J}, title = {Photosymbiosis shaped animal genome architecture and gene evolution as revealed in giant clams.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {8}, number = {1}, pages = {7}, pmid = {39755777}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Bivalvia/genetics ; *Genome ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Dinoflagellida/genetics/physiology ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {Symbioses are major drivers of organismal diversification and phenotypic innovation. However, how long-term symbioses shape whole genome evolution in metazoans is still underexplored. Here, we use a giant clam (Tridacna maxima) genome to demonstrate how symbiosis has left complex signatures in an animal's genome. Giant clams thrive in oligotrophic waters by forming a remarkable association with photosymbiotic dinoflagellate algae. Genome-based demographic inferences uncover a tight correlation between T. maxima global population change and major paleoclimate and habitat shifts, revealing how abiotic and biotic factors may dictate T. maxima microevolution. Comparative analyses reveal genomic features that may be symbiosis-driven, including expansion and contraction of immunity-related gene families and a large proportion of lineage-specific genes. Strikingly, about 70% of the genome is composed of repetitive elements, especially transposable elements, most likely resulting from a symbiosis-adapted immune system. This work greatly enhances our understanding of genomic drivers of symbiosis that underlie metazoan evolution and diversification.}, } @article {pmid39755198, year = {2025}, author = {Liang, J and Niu, T and Zhang, L and Yang, Y and Li, Z and Liang, Z and Yu, K and Gong, S}, title = {Polystyrene microplastics exhibit toxic effects on the widespread coral symbiotic Cladocopium goreaui.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {120750}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2025.120750}, pmid = {39755198}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Within the coral reef habitat, members of the Symbiodiniaceae family stand as pivotal symbionts for reef-building corals. However, the physiological response of Symbiodiniaceae on microplastics are still poorly understood. Research conducted in this investigation assessed the harmful impact of polystyrene microparticles (PS-MPs) on Cladocopium goreaui, a Symbiodiniaceae species with a broad distribution. The results showed that micrometre-sized PS-MPs had a greater toxic effect on C. goreaui than nanometre-sized PS-MPs, and the growth inhibition rate of a concentration of 20 mg/L with 10 μm-sized PS-MPs on C. goreaui was as high as 62.9%-86%, which almost completely inhibited cell proliferation. Exposure to 10 μm PS-MPs significantly increased cell damage, for instance, the concentration of extracellular polymeric substance and malondialdehyde have increased by 161.6%-184.4% and 261.8%-896% on days 10 to 20 respectively. Furthermore, When PS-MPs inhibited the photosynthesis of C. goreaui, it could ensure their typical photosynthetic activity maintained by increasing their chlorophyll levels, and the increase in chlorophyll concentration is proportional to the level of inhibition experienced. However, Exposure to 10 μm PS-MPs could damage the chloroplasts of C. goreaui, leading to a decrease in the ability to synthesize photosynthetic pigments and subsequently resulting in a reduction in photosynthetic capacity. The morphology and genetic activity of C. goreaui suggest that PS-MPs primarily induce cellular shrinkage and distortion, as well as the disintegration and impairment of nuclear and chloroplastic structures, concurrently eliciting a greater number of suppressed genes, predominantly those associated with the function of succinate dehydrogenase, the attachment to tetrapyrroles, the binding of haem, and the handling of iron ions, including activities related to oxidoreduction. The investigation examined the adverse impacts of PS-MPs on a crucial coral symbiont (Symbiodiniaceae) and the beneficial reaction of these algal organisms, enhancing comprehension of how microplastic pollution affects the coral reef ecosystem.}, } @article {pmid39755179, year = {2025}, author = {Eivazian Kary, N and Sharifi Azar, Z and Mohammadi, D}, title = {Comparative pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes symbiotic bacteria- distinct intra- and inter-species variation.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {199}, number = {}, pages = {107276}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107276}, pmid = {39755179}, issn = {1096-1208}, abstract = {This study aimed to achieve two main objectives: first, to determine whether the virulence factors of symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) against insect hosts are cell-associated or secreted, and to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of pathogenicity; and second, to identify and evaluate the standalone pathogenicity of symbiotic bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes against Tenebrio molitor. Three bacterial species, Xenorhabdus nematophila (A41, SC, A18 and SF), Photorhabdus kayaii, and P. thracensis, were isolated and characterized via phylogenetic analysis of 16S-rRNA and gyrB genes. Bioassays involved injecting T. molitor larvae with bacterial suspensions, cell-free supernatants, immersing them in bacterial suspensions, and incorporating various bacterial treatments into their diet. Lethal concentrations (LC50) and lethal times (LT50) were determined based on observed mortality trends within specified periods. No mortality was recorded in T. molitor larvae when they were immersed in bacterial suspensions or fed diets incorporating various bacterial treatments. Among injection-based trials, X. nematophila strains A41, SC, and SF demonstrated remarkable virulence through low LC50 values in bacterial suspension tests, whereas X. nematophila A18 stood out in intracellular suspension trials. Interestingly, P. thracensis triggered mortality exclusively during extracellular suspension testing. However, no discernible effects emerged when employing non-invasive techniques such as soaking or spiking the insect's diet. Overall, our investigation highlights significant intra-species/inter-species variation in the pathogenicity profiles of nematode-associated bacteria towards T. molitor across diverse application modes, emphasizing the importance of tailored implementation approaches in utilizing microbials as effective biocontrol agents. The variation in susceptibility of host to cell suspension, cellular extract, and cell-free suspension of the studied bacteria indicates that the existence of living bacteria or intercellular secretions may be essential for certain isolates to establish a successful infection. In order to optimize the use of symbiotic bacteria as a biocontrol agent, it is important for future research to focus on identifying genes that encode for intercellularly secreted proteins and exploring alternate delivery methods. This will help in realizing the full potential of these beneficial bacteria in IPM programs.}, } @article {pmid39754326, year = {2025}, author = {Pozzi, ACM and Shaw, RG and May, G}, title = {The geographic scale of population-level variation in growth and nodulation differs for two species of prairie clover.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e16450}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.16450}, pmid = {39754326}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {PREMISE: Prairies are among the most threatened biomes due to changing patterns of climate and land use, yet information on genetic variation in key species that would inform conservation is often limited. We assessed evidence for the geographic scale of population-level variation in growth of two species of prairie clover and of their symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

METHODS: Seed representing two species, Dalea candida and D. purpurea, from the same five source populations were planted into an experimental site in Minnesota. We assessed variation within and among source populations in plant growth and in numbers of nodules and evaluated the relationship of growth and nodulation levels.

RESULTS: Plant growth varied among source populations, with greater differences among populations of D. purpurea than of D. candida. We did not detect a relationship between plant growth and distance of source populations from the experimental site. Populations of both species were equally likely to develop nodules at the experimental site, but the numbers of nodules were lowest for the most distantly sourced populations. Plant growth was positively correlated with the number of nodules, and this relationship varied considerably within and among populations.

CONCLUSIONS: Environmental heterogeneity at local and regional scales maintains substantial levels of genetic variation in plant populations within remnant prairie preserves. Further, association with rhizobia at a restoration site can improve growth of widely sourced plant populations. The in situ maintenance of plant genetic variation and species diversity provides resources for conservation and maintenance of prairie biomes.}, } @article {pmid39754287, year = {2025}, author = {Epstein, HE and Brown, T and Akinrinade, AO and McMinds, R and Pollock, FJ and Sonett, D and Smith, S and Bourne, DG and Carpenter, CS and Knight, R and Willis, BL and Medina, M and Lamb, JB and Thurber, RV and Zaneveld, JR}, title = {Evidence for microbially-mediated tradeoffs between growth and defense throughout coral evolution.}, journal = {Animal microbiome}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {39754287}, issn = {2524-4671}, support = {2006244//National Science Foundation/ ; 1442306//National Science Foundation/ ; 1942647//National Science Foundation/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Evolutionary tradeoffs between life-history strategies are important in animal evolution. Because microbes can influence multiple aspects of host physiology, including growth rate and susceptibility to disease or stress, changes in animal-microbial symbioses have the potential to mediate life-history tradeoffs. Scleractinian corals provide a biodiverse, data-rich, and ecologically-relevant host system to explore this idea.

RESULTS: Using a comparative approach, we tested if coral microbiomes correlate with disease susceptibility across 425 million years of coral evolution by conducting a cross-species coral microbiome survey (the "Global Coral Microbiome Project") and combining the results with long-term global disease prevalence and coral trait data. Interpreting these data in their phylogenetic context, we show that microbial dominance predicts disease susceptibility, and traced this dominance-disease association to a single putatively beneficial symbiont genus, Endozoicomonas. Endozoicomonas relative abundance in coral tissue explained 30% of variation in disease susceptibility and 60% of variation in microbiome dominance across 40 coral genera, while also correlating strongly with high growth rates.

CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the evolution of Endozoicomonas symbiosis in corals correlates with both disease prevalence and growth rate, and suggest a mediating role. Exploration of the mechanistic basis for these findings will be important for our understanding of how microbial symbioses influence animal life-history tradeoffs.}, } @article {pmid39754061, year = {2025}, author = {Xu, L and Li, Y and Dai, X and Jin, X and Zhao, Q and Tian, B and Zhou, Y}, title = {Symbiotic fungal inoculation promotes the growth of Pinus tabuliformis seedlings in relation to the applied nitrogen form.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {10}, pmid = {39754061}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {32001112//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; C2023204238//Science Foundation of Hebei Province/ ; ZD201728//the Starting Scientific Research Foundation for the introduced talents of Hebei Agricultural University/ ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Nitrogen/metabolism ; *Seedlings/growth & development/microbiology ; *Pinus/microbiology/growth & development/metabolism ; Plant Roots/microbiology/growth & development/metabolism ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Nitrogen (N) deposition has become a major driving factor affecting the balance of terrestrial ecosystems, changing the soil environment, element balance and species coexistence relationships, driving changes in biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. Human-induced nitrogen input leads to a high NH4[+]/ NO3[-] ratio in soil. However, relatively few studies have investigated the effects of different nitrogen sources on forest plant-microbial symbionts. In this study, the effects of four nitrogen sources, N free, NH4Cl, L-glutamic acid, and Na(NO3)2 (N-, NH4[+]-N, Org-N, and NO3[-]-N) on four fungal species, Suillus granulatus (Sg), Pisolithus tinctorius (Pt), Pleotrichocladium opacum (Po), and Pseudopyrenochaeta sp. (Ps), which were isolated from the roots of Pinus tabulaeformis, were studied in vitro. The effects of inoculation with the four fungi on the growth performance, nutrient uptake and nitrogen metabolism-related enzymes of Pinus tabuliformis under different nitrogen source conditions were subsequently studied.

RESULTS: The biomass and N concentration of the Sg and Po strains were the highest under the NO3[-]-N treatment, while the biomass and N concentration of the Pt and Ps strains were significantly greater under the NH4[+]-N and NO3[-]-N treatments than under the Org-N and N- treatments. All four fungi could effectively colonize the roots of P. tabuliformis and formed a symbiotic relationship with it. Under all nitrogen conditions, the inoculation of the four fungi had positive effects on the growth, root development and nutrient concentration of the P. tabuliformis seedlings. Under the Org-N and NO3[-]-N treatments, the nitrate reductase (NR) activity of the inoculated plants was significantly greater than that of the noninoculated control (CK) plants. Under all nitrogen conditions, the glutamine synthetase (GS) activity of the inoculated plants was significantly greater than that of the CK plants.

CONCLUSIONS: The four fungi can establish good symbiotic relationships with P. tabuliformis seedlings and promote their growth and development under different nitrogen source treatments.}, } @article {pmid39754034, year = {2025}, author = {Wen, Z and Manninen, MJ and Asiegbu, FO}, title = {Beneficial mutualistic fungus Suillus luteus provided excellent buffering insurance in Scots pine defense responses under pathogen challenge at transcriptome level.}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {12}, pmid = {39754034}, issn = {1471-2229}, support = {353365//Research Council of Finland/ ; 353365//Research Council of Finland/ ; 353365//Research Council of Finland/ ; 4400T-2002//Maa- ja MetsätalousministeriÖ/ ; 4400T-2002//Maa- ja MetsätalousministeriÖ/ ; 4400T-2002//Maa- ja MetsätalousministeriÖ/ ; }, mesh = {*Pinus sylvestris/microbiology/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology/genetics/immunology ; *Transcriptome ; *Basidiomycota/physiology ; *Disease Resistance/genetics ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Gene Expression Profiling ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mutualistic mycorrhiza fungi that live in symbiosis with plants facilitates nutrient and water acquisition, improving tree growth and performance. In this study, we evaluated the potential of mutualistic fungal inoculation to improve the growth and disease resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) against the forest pathogen Heterobasidion annosum.

RESULTS: In co-inoculation experiment, Scots pine seedlings were pre-inoculated with mutualistic beneficial fungus (Suillus luteus) prior to H. annosum infection. The result revealed that inoculation with beneficial fungus promoted plant root growth. Transcriptome analyses revealed that co-inoculated plants and plants inoculated with beneficial fungus shared some similarities in defense gene responses. However, pathogen infection alone had unique sets of genes encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, phenylpropanoid pathway/lignin biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, chalcone/stilbene biosynthesis, ethylene signaling pathway, JA signaling pathway, cell remodeling and growth, transporters, and fungal recognition. On the other hand, beneficial fungus inoculation repressed the expression of PR proteins, and other defense-related genes such as laccases, chalcone/stilbene synthases, terpene synthases, cytochrome P450s. The co-inoculated plants did not equally enhance the induction of PR genes, chalcone/stilbene biosynthesis, however genes related to cell wall growth, water and nutrient transporters, phenylpropanoid/lignin biosynthesis/flavonoid biosynthesis, and hormone signaling were induced.

CONCLUSION: S. luteus promoted mutualistic interaction by suppressing plant defense responses. Pre-inoculation of Scots pine seedlings with beneficial fungus S. luteus prior to pathogen challenge promoted primary root growth, as well as had a balancing buffering role in plant defense responses and cell growth at transcriptome level.}, } @article {pmid39752954, year = {2025}, author = {Liu, X and Kong, L and Tong, L and Zackariah, GSK and Zhu, R and Li, Z and Lv, Y}, title = {Inoculation with effective microorganisms agent enhanced fungal diversity in the secondary fermentation process.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {373}, number = {}, pages = {123985}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123985}, pmid = {39752954}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Microbial inoculations have emerged as a key approach to address the low natural microbial activity of traditional composting technologies. It is crucial for successfully promoting manure composting to understand the influences of microbial inoculations on fungal communities and its mechanisms. To investigate the effects of microbial inoculation on diversity characteristics, tropic mode, and co-occurrence network of fungal communities during composting, an aerobic composting experiment of chicken manure inoculated with microbial agents was performed. The results showed that microbial inoculations enhanced fungal richness and diversity during the secondary fermentation, promoted beneficial fungi, and restrained pathogenic microbes. Microbial inoculation facilitated saprophytic fungi and symbiotic fungi, augmented fungal network complexity and cooperation during the first fermentation, concurrently impeding fungal network complexity and cooperation during the secondary fermentation. These results provide technical guidance for composting process optimization and compost product quality improving, which was beneficial to promote soil quality and mitigating agricultural non-point source pollution.}, } @article {pmid39752923, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, K and Cao, J and Gu, J and Cai, T and Liang, Y and Zhou, H and Peng, J and Na, P and Huang, W and Dang, Z and Yang, C}, title = {The community dynamic alterations mechanisms of traveling plastics in the Pearl River estuary with the salinity influence.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {274}, number = {}, pages = {123057}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2024.123057}, pmid = {39752923}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Most ocean plastics originate from terrestrial emissions, and the plastisphere on the plastics would alter during the traveling due to the significant differences in biological communities between freshwater and marine ecosystems. Microorganisms are influenced by the increasing salinity during traveling. To understand the contribution of plastic on the alteration in biological communities of plastisphere during traveling, this study investigated the alterations in microbial communities on plastics during the migration from freshwater to brackish water and saltwater. The results revealed that the migrated plastics can form unique microhabitats with high bacterial and eukaryotic diversity. Compared with the natural carrier (stone), the communities in plastisphere had fewer variations with salinity, indicating that plastisphere can offer stronger protection for freshwater organisms. The hydrophobicity of plastics promoted algal colonization, providing a stable nutrient source for the community during salinity fluctuations. This reduced material exchange between the plastisphere and the surrounding high-salinity environment, facilitating greater community stability. Additionally, the abundant Ochrophyta and Bryozoa of eukaryotes on migrated plastics can facilitate further colonization and promote species diversity. Plastisphere microbial networks revealed that the reduction of salt-intolerant organisms during traveling had fewer effects on the abundance of associated organisms. A more stable community on migrated plastics led to the proliferation of pathogens and carbon cycle-degrading microorganisms. And the increasing relative abundance of carbon cycling functions indicated that the traveling plastics could pose higher environmental risks and exhibit enhanced carbon metabolic capabilities. The study highlighted the biofilms on migrated plastics as a unique ecological niche in estuarine environments, offering a crucial reference for evaluating the ecological risks linked to plastic travel from rivers to the ocean.}, } @article {pmid39752916, year = {2025}, author = {Kuang, Q and Wu, Y and Gao, Y and An, T and Liu, S and Liang, L and Xu, B and Zhang, S and Yu, M and Shabala, S and Chen, Y}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi mitigate cadmium stress in maize.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {289}, number = {}, pages = {117600}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117600}, pmid = {39752916}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Soil cadmium (Cd) pollution poses a significant environmental threat, impacting global food security and human health. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to protect crops from various heavy metal stresses, including Cd toxicity. To elucidate the tolerance mechanisms of maize in response to Cd toxicity under AM symbiosis, this study used two maize genotypes with contrasting Cd tolerance: Zhengdan958 (Cd-tolerant) and Zhongke11 (Cd-sensitive). Rhizobox experiments were conducted with and without AM inoculation, alongside Cd treatment. The results revealed that Cd stress severely impaired growth and root development in both genotypes. However, AM symbiosis significantly improved plant height, stem diameter, biomass, root morphology, photosynthetic capacity, nutrient uptake, antioxidant enzyme activity, root Cd content, and concentration, while also reducing lipid peroxidation and shoot Cd accumulation in both genotypes. Notably, AM symbiosis had a more pronounced effect on stem diameter (increased 55 %), root dry weight (118 %), root superoxide dismutase (42 %), and peroxidase activity (209 %), as well as shoot translocation factor (77 %) in Zhongke11 compared to Zhengdan958. Overall, AM symbiosis alleviated Cd toxicity in maize through multiple mechanisms, including enhanced photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, antioxidant defenses, and modulation of Cd transport and accumulation. This study provides valuable insights into the potential application of Cd-tolerant maize genotypes and AM symbiosis for managing Cd-contaminated soils.}, } @article {pmid39751936, year = {2025}, author = {Moon, YL and Kim, KH and Park, JS}, title = {Correction: Chengkuizengella axinellae sp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium isolated from a marine sponge of the genus Axinella.}, journal = {Antonie van Leeuwenhoek}, volume = {118}, number = {2}, pages = {48}, doi = {10.1007/s10482-024-02058-5}, pmid = {39751936}, issn = {1572-9699}, } @article {pmid39748826, year = {2024}, author = {Taheri, P and Dastogeer, KMG and Ratu, STN and Agyekum, DVA and Yasuda, M and Fujii, Y and Okazaki, S}, title = {Diversity and plant growth promotion potential of endophytic fungi isolated from hairy vetch in Japan.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1476200}, pmid = {39748826}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), a leguminous plant with nitrogen-fixing ability, is used as a cover crop and has the potential to suppress weeds and plant diseases. The microbial composition, particularly fungal endophytes, which may be related to the beneficial functions of this crop, has not been previously studied. In this study, we analyzed the diversity and function of culturable fungal endophytes associated with hairy vetch from eight locations across Japan. Using the fungal culture method, a total of 2,186 isolates were recovered and assigned to 80 distinct internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genotypes, spanning 28 genera. The results demonstrated that geographic location and soil physicochemical properties significantly influence the community composition of the hairy vetch fungal endophytes. Soil pH showed a significant positive correlation with the abundance of Penicillium, which was the most dominant genus in all the sampling locations and tissues. The majority of the isolates promoted plant growth and colonized hairy vetch and soybean roots, significantly promoting the growth of hairy vetch and/or soybean plants. Among the isolates, Penicillium griseofulvum AKL25 and Trichoderma koningii AKR15 significantly enhanced both hairy vetch and soybean growth, respectively. Meanwhile, Alternaria alternata OGL80 significantly increased soybean growth, but it did not affect hairy vetch growth, indicating host specificity of the fungal endophytes. In conclusion, this study showed that soil properties and geographic location play a critical role in shaping the community composition and structure of endophytic fungi associated with hairy vetch. Additionally, the isolated fungi promoted hairy vetch and soybean growth, with a host preference. Furthermore, this study revealed that a novel endophytic fungus, P. griseofulvum AKL25, which has high growth-promoting activity, can be utilized as a microbial inoculant to promote hairy vetch and soybean growth in sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid39748268, year = {2025}, author = {Gorgia, P and Tsikou, D}, title = {Tripartite Symbiosis Between Legumes, Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Nitrogen Fixing Rhizobia: Interactions and Regulation.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.15341}, pmid = {39748268}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {//The research project is implemented in the framework of H.F.R.I call "Basic research Financing (Horizontal support of all Sciences)" under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan "Greece 2.0" funded by the European Union -NextGenerationEU (H.F.R.I. Project Number: 16231). The publication of the article in OA mode was financially supported by HEAL-Link./ ; }, abstract = {Legume plants can interact with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) simultaneously, forming a tripartite symbiotic association. Co-inoculation studies performed on a variety of legumes have shown that rhizobia and AMF influence each other when they co-occur in tripartite association and affect host plant nutrition and performance. Although single plant-microbe interactions have been extensively studied, our understanding in the field of tripartite interactions is insufficient and current knowledge cannot predict the symbiotic outcome, which appears to depend on many parameters. In this review we examine the current state of research on the legume-rhizobium-AMF tripartite symbiosis. We investigate the dynamic interaction between the two microsymbionts and the effect of one microbe on the other, both at the physiological and the molecular levels, and the result of dual inoculation on host plant growth, fitness and response to stresses. Rhizobia and AMF interact both extraradically and intraradically, effects on microbe and host plant gene expression levels are observed, AMF positively regulates nodulation, while rhizobia can affect AMF root colonisation either positively or negatively. Factors observed to regulate the establishment and function of the tripartite symbiosis, such as the rhizobia-AMF combination, host plant identity and environmental conditions are discussed.}, } @article {pmid39748068, year = {2025}, author = {Li, S and Ma, X and Mei, H and Chang, X and He, P and Sun, L and Xiao, H and Wang, S and Li, R}, title = {Association between gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in children with obesity.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {483}, pmid = {39748068}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {2019ZYYD051//the Special Projects for the Central Government to Guide the Development of Local Science and Technology/ ; }, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Child ; Male ; *Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism/blood ; Female ; Adolescent ; *Pediatric Obesity/microbiology/metabolism/blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Feces/microbiology ; Metabolome ; Metagenomics/methods ; Body Mass Index ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiome and its metabolites may be important role in regulating the pathogenesis of obesity. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolome in obese children. This case-control study recruited children aged 7‒14 years and divided them into a normal group (NG) and an obese group (OG) based on their body mass index. Whole-genome shotgun metagenomic analysis was performed on fecal samples from the OG and NG groups to characterize the signatures and functional potential of the gut microbiota. Serum metabolite profiles were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 26) and R software were used for data analysis. A total of 99 children were recruited, with 49 in the OG and 50 in the NG. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria were significantly more abundant in children in the OG than those in the NG. At the genus level, Oscillibacter and Alistipes were significantly lower in children in the OG than those in the NG. Caproate levels significantly increased, whereas butyrate and isobutyrate levels decreased in children in the OG than those in the NG. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) functional analysis revealed 28 enriched KEGG pathways, of which/with the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and enhanced biofilm formation by Escherichia coli were particularly significant in the OG. Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that the genus Oscillibacter and species Clostridium_sp._CAG:302 connect serum metabolites and the gut microbiota in childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is correlated with the symbiotic status of the gut microbiota. The microbiota influences human metabolism via specific pathways, particularly butyrate, caproate, and the genus Oscillibacter, all closely associated with obesity.}, } @article {pmid39747267, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, X and Yu, X and Hu, X}, title = {Evaluating the impact of smart city construction on sewage treatment in China from a synergistic perspective.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {260}, pmid = {39747267}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {22CZZ024//National Social Science Foundation of China/ ; GD23YGL32//Social Science Foundation of Guangdong province/ ; }, abstract = {Urbanization exacerbates the prevalence of urban diseases such as water pollution. Smart city construction (SCC), a prevailing global trend in urban development, has the potential to catalyze the symbiotic development of the urban economy, society, and environment. This study utilized a difference-in-differences (DID) model with panel data from 150 prefecture-level cities in China during the period of 2011-2017 to evaluate the impact of SCC on urban sewage treatment. The results revealed a statistically significant increase in the sewage treatment level, which remained robust even after rigorous tests were performed. The mechanism analysis revealed that SCC can improve the level of sewage treatment through increasing the fiscal self-sufficiency rate (FSR) and industrial upgrading (IU). Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis revealed that in cities with a high level of financial development and public environmental attention (PEA), coupled with a low level of environmental attention from higher-level government, the advancement of the sewage treatment level can be more effectively facilitated through SCC. In conclusion, the promotional effect of SCC on the sewage treatment level is influenced by a combination of technological, economic, political, and social factors. Therefore, SCC should prioritize the synergistic integration of technological innovations and non-technological factors.}, } @article {pmid39747016, year = {2025}, author = {Rüttiger, AS and Ryan, D and Spiga, L and Lamm-Schmidt, V and Prezza, G and Reichardt, S and Langford, M and Barquist, L and Faber, F and Zhu, W and Westermann, AJ}, title = {The global RNA-binding protein RbpB is a regulator of polysaccharide utilization in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {208}, pmid = {39747016}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {We6689/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)/ ; #101040214//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 Priority Excellent Science | H2020 European Research Council (H2020 Excellent Science - European Research Council)/ ; }, mesh = {*Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron/metabolism/genetics ; *RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Animals ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mice ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; RNA, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Small Untranslated/metabolism/genetics ; }, abstract = {Paramount to human health, symbiotic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract rely on the breakdown of complex polysaccharides to thrive in this sugar-deprived environment. Gut Bacteroides are metabolic generalists and deploy dozens of polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) to forage diverse dietary and host-derived glycans. The expression of the multi-protein PUL complexes is tightly regulated at the transcriptional level. However, how PULs are orchestrated at translational level in response to the fluctuating levels of their cognate substrates is unknown. Here, we identify the RNA-binding protein RbpB and a family of noncoding RNAs as key players in post-transcriptional PUL regulation. We demonstrate that RbpB interacts with numerous cellular transcripts, including a paralogous noncoding RNA family comprised of 14 members, the FopS (family of paralogous sRNAs). Through a series of in-vitro and in-vivo assays, we reveal that FopS sRNAs repress the translation of SusC-like glycan transporters when substrates are limited-an effect antagonized by RbpB. Ablation of RbpB in Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron compromises colonization in the mouse gut in a diet-dependent manner. Together, this study adds to our understanding of RNA-coordinated metabolic control as an important factor contributing to the in-vivo fitness of predominant microbiota species in dynamic nutrient landscapes.}, } @article {pmid39746718, year = {2025}, author = {Stimson, CE}, title = {Exploring cultural imaginaries of robots with children with brittle bone disease: a participatory design study.}, journal = {Medical humanities}, volume = {50}, number = {4}, pages = {705-714}, doi = {10.1136/medhum-2024-013039}, pmid = {39746718}, issn = {1473-4265}, mesh = {Humans ; *Robotics ; Child ; *Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; Female ; Imagination ; Self-Help Devices ; Male ; Narration ; Culture ; Empowerment ; Research Design ; }, abstract = {A symbiotic relationship exists between narrative imaginaries of and real-life advancements in technology. Such cultural imaginings have a powerful influence on our understanding of the potential that technology has to affect our lives; as a result, narrative-based approaches to participatory design (PD) of technology are an active area of investigation.In this ongoing study, the following research questions are addressed: how can PD be optimised for the fields of robotics and assistive technology, particularly with regard to fostering empowerment and eliciting how people imagine the role of technology in their own futures? How can the symbiotic relationship between (popular) cultural imaginaries and real-life technological advancements be acknowledged within the PD process?The study synthesises fictional inquiry and science fiction prototyping methodologies and processes over multiple workshops. Its aim is to explore and develop conceptions of robotics and assistive technology of children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI, commonly known as brittle bone disease) and their families, as these populations are under-represented in collaborative research and stand to benefit from future robotics development. Narrative-based approaches are complemented by participants' direct interaction with contemporary robots during each workshop and a 'robot home visit' to unite experiential understandings of robots and their current capabilities with possible futures, as well as foster mutual learning between stakeholders and designers. The study deploys a mixed methods research design with a critical posthumanist theoretical lens.This inclusive co-designed methodology should establish a rich, nuanced picture of how people currently imagine robots in their future and facilitate all involved to deepen these conceptions. It is anticipated that everyone taking part will empower themselves to imagine fully the range of possibilities in their own personal futures in our increasingly technologised world.}, } @article {pmid39745522, year = {2025}, author = {Sabaneyeva, E and Kursacheva, E and Vizichkanich, G and Lebedev, D and Lebedeva, N}, title = {Rhodotorula mucilaginosa: a new potential human pathogen found in the ciliate Paramecium bursaria.}, journal = {Protoplasma}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39745522}, issn = {1615-6102}, support = {103972122//Saint Petersburg State University/ ; }, abstract = {Ciliates often form symbiotic associations with other microorganisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic. We are now starting to rediscover the symbiotic systems recorded before molecular analysis became available. Here, we provide a morphological and molecular characterization of a symbiotic association between the ciliate Paramecium tritobursaria and the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (syn. Rhodotorula rubra) isolated from a natural population. This symbiotic system demonstrates certain similarities with the symbiotic system formed by P. bursaria and its conventional endosymbionts, the zoochlorellae. Experimental infections of the endosymbiont-free P. tritobursaria and Paramecium deuterobursaria cell lines with R. mucilaginosa demonstrated that the yeast infectivity is concentration-dependent, with ciliates digesting part of the yeast cells. The endosymbiotic yeast may serve as a food reserve, providing starvation stress tolerance to the host. Since R. mucilaginosa is currently regarded as a pathogen causing opportunistic infections in immunocompromised humans, our finding gives further support to the vision that ciliates can harbor potential human pathogens and can be a vector for their dissemination.}, } @article {pmid39745096, year = {2025}, author = {Zhang, YC and Hou, M and Liu, HX and Cao, H and Deng, L and Zhu, YF and Li, YJ and Wang, ZB and Xiao, Y}, title = {Phase evolutions of sodium layered oxide cathodes during thermal fluctuations.}, journal = {Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d4cc05901h}, pmid = {39745096}, issn = {1364-548X}, abstract = {Layered transition metal oxide (NaxTMO2) cathodes are considered highly appropriate for the practical applications of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to their facile synthesis and high theoretical capacity. Generally, the phase evolution behaviors of NaxTMO2 during solid-state reactions at high temperature closely related to their carbon footprint, prime cost, and the eventual electrochemical properties, while the thermal stability in various desodiated states associated with wide temperature fluctuations are extremely prominent to the electrochemical properties and safety of SIB devices. Therefore, in this review, the influences of sintering conditions such as pyrolysis temperature, soaking time, and cooling rates on the phase formation patterns of NaxTMO2 are summarized. The competition between thermodynamics and kinetics during phase growth is extensively discussed. An overview on thermal stability enhancement strategies, such as elemental composition modulations, surface reconstructions, and polyphase symbiosis reported in previous works is provided. Furthermore, phase transition behaviors together with alterations in battery system temperatures under various electro-/chemical environments are discussed. Finally, we prospect the highly efficient preparations and high-heat-resistance designs of NaxTMO2 layered oxides.}, } @article {pmid39744910, year = {2024}, author = {de Moura Barbosa Leite, D and de Paula, TS and Hajdu, E}, title = {The complete mitochondrial genome of the deep-sea methanotrophic sponges Hymedesmia methanophila and Iophon methanophila: leveraging 'waste' in metagenomic data.}, journal = {Journal of genetics}, volume = {103}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39744910}, issn = {0973-7731}, mesh = {*Genome, Mitochondrial ; Animals ; *Porifera/microbiology/genetics ; *Phylogeny ; *Metagenomics/methods ; Methane/metabolism ; Metagenome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics ; RNA, Transfer/genetics ; }, abstract = {A significant proportion of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data ends up not being used since they comprise information out-of-scope of the primary studies. This 'waste' of potential can be harnessed to explore organellar genomes, such as the mitochondrial DNA, and be used for evolutionary, conservation and biodiversity research. We present the complete mitochondrial genomes of the deep-sea methanotrophic sponges Hymedesmia methanophila and Iophon methanophila (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida) retrieved from previously published whole metagenome sequencing data. The predicted mitogenome of H. methanophila (18,657 bp) and I. methanophila (18,718 bp) present the characteristic arrangement observed among Poecilosclerida sponges. These mtDNAs encode the usual set of 14 proteins, two ribosomal RNA, and 24 or 23 transfer RNA genes, respectively, with intergenic regions amounting ~5% of their total length. The overall similarity of these mitogenomes to those of phylogenetic relatives, both in organization and divergence, suggests that neither their extremophilic habitat in asphalt seeps within the deep sea nor their symbiotic association with methaneoxidizing bacteria imposed a major influence on the evolution of their mitochondrial genome. This research shows how metagenomic data can be leveraged to extract additional genetic knowledge from primary metagenome sources, and by exploiting previously unexplored sequencing data, valuable information can be unlocked to shed light on the evolutionary dynamics of diverse organisms inhabiting extreme environments.}, } @article {pmid39744476, year = {2025}, author = {Aboulmira, A and Hrimech, H and Lachgar, M and Hanine, M and Garcia, CO and Mezquita, GM and Ashraf, I}, title = {Hybrid Model with Wavelet Decomposition and EfficientNet for Accurate Skin Cancer Classification.}, journal = {Journal of Cancer}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, pages = {506-520}, pmid = {39744476}, issn = {1837-9664}, abstract = {Faced with anomalies in medical images, Deep learning is facing major challenges in detecting, diagnosing, and classifying the various pathologies that can be treated via medical imaging. The main challenges encountered are mainly due to the imbalance and variability of the data, as well as its complexity. The detection and classification of skin diseases is one such challenge that researchers are trying to overcome, as these anomalies present great variability in terms of appearance, texture, color, and localization, which sometimes makes them difficult to identify accurately and quickly, particularly by doctors, or by the various Deep Learning techniques on offer. In this study, an innovative and robust hybrid architecture is unveiled, underscoring the symbiotic potential of wavelet decomposition in conjunction with EfficientNet models. This approach integrates wavelet transformations with an EfficientNet backbone and incorporates advanced data augmentation, loss function, and optimization strategies. The model tested on the publicly accessible HAM10000 and ISIC2017 datasets has achieved an accuracy rate of 94.7%, and 92.2% respectively.}, } @article {pmid39744153, year = {2024}, author = {Dinda, SK and Hazra, S and De, A and Datta, A and Das, L and Pattanayak, S and Kumar, K and Dey, MD and Basu, A and Manna, D}, title = {Amoebae: beyond pathogens- exploring their benefits and future potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology}, volume = {14}, number = {}, pages = {1518925}, pmid = {39744153}, issn = {2235-2988}, mesh = {Humans ; *Amoeba/physiology ; Amebiasis/parasitology ; Animals ; Naegleria fowleri/pathogenicity/physiology ; Balamuthia mandrillaris/pathogenicity/physiology ; Entamoeba histolytica/pathogenicity/physiology ; }, abstract = {Amoebae, fascinatingly diverse protists, showcase a dual nature that positions them as both friends and foes in our world. These organisms, defined by their distinctive pseudopodia, span a spectrum from harmful to helpful. On the darker side, species like Entamoeba histolytica pose serious health risks, causing intestinal and liver diseases, while the infamous "brain-eating" Naegleria fowleri leads to fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), with a daunting 97% mortality rate. Other free-living amoebae, including Acanthamoeba castellanii and Balamuthia mandrillaris, also threaten the human central nervous system. Yet, beyond these dangers, amoebae play critical ecological roles. They function as nature's recyclers, decomposing organic material and nourishing aquatic ecosystems, while also serving as food for various organisms. Moreover, certain amoebae help control plant pathogens and offer insight into human disease, proving valuable as model organisms in biomedical research. This review sheds light on the complex, multifaceted world of amoebae, highlighting their dual role as pathogens and as key contributors to vital ecological processes, as well as their significant impact on research and their promising potential for enhancing human well-being.}, } @article {pmid39742806, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, X and Luo, Z and Marand, AP and Yan, H and Jang, H and Bang, S and Mendieta, JP and Minow, MAA and Schmitz, RJ}, title = {A spatially resolved multi-omic single-cell atlas of soybean development.}, journal = {Cell}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.050}, pmid = {39742806}, issn = {1097-4172}, abstract = {Cis-regulatory elements (CREs) precisely control spatiotemporal gene expression in cells. Using a spatially resolved single-cell atlas of gene expression with chromatin accessibility across ten soybean tissues, we identified 103 distinct cell types and 303,199 accessible chromatin regions (ACRs). Nearly 40% of the ACRs showed cell-type-specific patterns and were enriched for transcription factor (TF) motifs defining diverse cell identities. We identified de novo enriched TF motifs and explored the conservation of gene regulatory networks underpinning legume symbiotic nitrogen fixation. With comprehensive developmental trajectories for endosperm and embryo, we uncovered the functional transition of the three sub-cell types of endosperm, identified 13 sucrose transporters sharing the DNA binding with one finger 11 (DOF11) motif that were co-upregulated in late peripheral endosperm, and identified key embryo cell-type specification regulators during embryogenesis, including a homeobox TF that promotes cotyledon parenchyma identity. This resource provides a valuable foundation for analyzing gene regulatory programs in soybean cell types across tissues and life stages.}, } @article {pmid39742771, year = {2024}, author = {Zhou, J and Wang, P and Wei, L and Zhang, J and Li, X and Huang, N and Liu, G and Zou, K and Fan, R and Liu, L and Ma, X and Huang, T and Sun, F}, title = {Grazing increases the complexity of networks and ecological stochastic processes of mycorrhizal fungi.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {373}, number = {}, pages = {123933}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123933}, pmid = {39742771}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form extensive symbiotic relationships with plants, which are critical for plant-driven biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions. Grazing and mowing, which are common grassland utilization patterns globally, significantly alter plant community characteristics as well as soil nutrients and structure, thereby potentially influencing AMF communities. However, the effects of these grassland managements on AMF community structure and ecological processes remain unclear. Here, we investigated AMF communities in cattle grazing, sheep grazing, and mowing grasslands. We examined AMF community diversity, composition, assembly processes, and network interactions. Our results revealed distinct AMF compositions across different grassland managements. In cattle and sheep grazing grasslands, the AMF community assembly processes were determined by dispersal limitation and drift, with increased importance of stochasticity. Although AMF abundance did not alter by grassland managements, AMF diversity decreased under sheep grazing, associated with reduced pH levels compared to cattle grazing or mowing. AMF formed more complex (higher average degree and graph density) and integrated (lower modularity) networks in grazing grasslands than mowing grasslands. The AMF network in cattle grazing grasslands showed the highest stability, associated with a broader habitat niche, balanced interspecies competition, and higher soil AP and MBN. Meanwhile, some species with high adaptability to grazing became key nodes in the AMF network, such as Funneliformis. Our findings highlight significant AMF responses to grazing, including increased network complexity and ecological stochasticity, providing new insights into how grassland managements influence the composition and assembly patterns of soil symbiotic microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid39742388, year = {2025}, author = {Wendlandt, CE and Basu, S and Montoya, AP and Roberts, P and Stewart, JD and Coffin, AB and Crowder, DW and Kiers, ET and Porter, SS}, title = {Managing Friends and Foes: Sanctioning Mutualists in Mixed-Infection Nodules Trades off With Defense Against Antagonists.}, journal = {Evolutionary applications}, volume = {18}, number = {1}, pages = {e70064}, pmid = {39742388}, issn = {1752-4571}, abstract = {Successful plant growth requires plants to minimize harm from antagonists and maximize benefit from mutualists. However, these outcomes may be difficult to achieve simultaneously, since plant defenses activated in response to antagonists can compromise mutualism function, and plant resources allocated to defense may trade off with resources allocated to managing mutualists. Here, we investigate how antagonist attack affects plant ability to manage mutualists with sanctions, in which a plant rewards cooperative mutualists and/or punishes uncooperative mutualists. We studied interactions among wild and domesticated pea plants, pea aphids, an aphid-vectored virus (Pea Enation Mosaic Virus, PEMV), and mutualistic rhizobial bacteria that fix nitrogen in root nodules. Using isogenic rhizobial strains that differ in their ability to fix nitrogen and express contrasting fluorescent proteins, we found that peas demonstrated sanctions in both singly-infected nodules and mixed-infection nodules containing both strains. However, the plant's ability to manage mutualists in mixed-infection nodules traded off with its ability to defend against antagonists: when plants were attacked by aphids, they stopped sanctioning within mixed-infection nodules, and plants that exerted stricter sanctions within nodules during aphid attack accumulated higher levels of the aphid-vectored virus, PEMV. Our findings suggest that plants engaged in defense against antagonists suffer a reduced ability to select for the most beneficial symbionts in mixed-infection tissues. Mixed-infection tissues may be relatively common in this mutualism, and reduced plant sanctions in these tissues could provide a refuge for uncooperative mutualists and compromise the benefit that plants obtain from mutualistic symbionts during antagonist attack. Understanding the conflicting selective pressures plants face in complex biotic environments will be crucial for breeding crop varieties that can maximize benefits from mutualists even when they encounter antagonists.}, } @article {pmid39741673, year = {2024}, author = {Alquichire-Rojas, S and Escobar, E and Bascuñán-Godoy, L and González-Teuber, M}, title = {Corrigendum: Root symbiotic fungi improve nitrogen transfer and morpho-physiological performance in Chenopodium quinoa.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1513724}, doi = {10.3389/fpls.2024.1513724}, pmid = {39741673}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1386234.].}, } @article {pmid39741417, year = {2024}, author = {Ye, Q and Zhou, C and Lin, H and Luo, D and Jain, D and Chai, M and Lu, Z and Liu, Z and Roy, S and Dong, J and Wang, ZY and Wang, T}, title = {Medicago2035: Genomes, Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding.}, journal = {Molecular plant}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2024.12.015}, pmid = {39741417}, issn = {1752-9867}, abstract = {Medicago, a member of the Leguminosae or Fabaceae family, encompasses the most significant forage crops globally, notably alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Its close diploid relative, Medicago truncatula, serves as an exemplary model plant for investigating leguminous growth and development, as well as its symbiosis with rhizobia. Over the past decade, advancements in Medicago genomics have significantly progressed our understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying various traits. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the progress made in the fields of genomics research, growth and development (comprising compound leaf development, shoot branching, flowering time regulation, inflorescence development, floral organ development, and seed dormancy), resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, symbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobia, as well as molecular breeding. Furthermore, we propose avenues for future research endeavors in Medicago molecular biology for the upcoming decade, highlighting those areas that have yet to be untapped or remain ambiguous.}, } @article {pmid39740726, year = {2024}, author = {Bhattacharyya, J and Roelke, DL}, title = {Wolbachia-Based Mosquito Control: Environmental Perspectives on Population Suppression and Replacement Strategies.}, journal = {Acta tropica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {107517}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107517}, pmid = {39740726}, issn = {1873-6254}, abstract = {Mosquito-borne diseases pose a significant threat to global health, and traditional mosquito control methods often fall short of effectiveness. A promising alternative is the biological control strategy of transinfecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia, a bacterium capable of outcompeting harmful pathogens and reducing the ability of mosquitoes to transmit diseases. However, Wolbachia infections are sensitive to abiotic environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, which can affect their densities in mosquitoes and, consequently, their ability to block pathogens. This review evaluates the effectiveness of different Wolbachia strains transinfected into mosquitoes in reducing mosquito-borne diseases. It explores how Wolbachia contributes to mosquito population control and pathogen interference, highlighting the importance of mathematical models in understanding Wolbachia transmission dynamics. Additionally, the review addresses the potential impact on arboviral transmission and the challenges posed by environmental fluctuations in mosquito control programs.}, } @article {pmid39740723, year = {2024}, author = {Duan, Q and Zhang, Y and Li, Z and Xu, Y and Xu, Y and Yang, D and Yang, Y}, title = {Targeted elimination of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans biofilms via Cu,Fe-doped chitosan nanozyme.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {292}, number = {}, pages = {139352}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139352}, pmid = {39740723}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Human dental caries is an intractable biofilm-associated disease caused by the symbiotic cariogenic bacteria, but how to target effectively eliminate cariogenic bacterial and their biofilms without affecting normal bacteria still remains great challenges. To address this issue, we reported Cu,Fe-doped chitosan-based nanozyme (i.e. CS@Cu,Fe) that exhibits well peroxidase-like activity at acidic environment of caries, and kill S. mutans and S. sanguinis without impacting the normal S. oralis. The synergistic interaction between Cu and Fe could effectively enhance the efficiency of electron transfer, promoting the production of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxide radical (·O2[-]) to selectively destroy the biofilm of S. mutans. Compared to curcumin and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) (control), the chitosan on the surface of CS@Cu,Fe not only showed the synergistic antibacterial activity, but also enabled the selectively eradication of S. mutans biofilm without affecting S. sanguinis and S. oralis biofilms. Furthermore, CS@Cu,Fe also exhibited excellent selective anti-symbiotic caries bacteria and targeted anti-biofilm properties to hybrid biofilm model of these co-existing bacteria under the same oral environment. Therefore, the CS@Cu,Fe nanozyme not only has potential for the treatment of dental biofilms, but also can offer new insights for the design of highly selective antibacterial and antibiofilm nanozyme.}, } @article {pmid39740085, year = {2024}, author = {Imhof, D and Vaidya, SM and Rathod, DC and Ramoji, A and Neugebauer, U}, title = {MOLECULAR INSIGHTS INTO THE HEME-BINDING POTENTIAL OF PLANT NCR247-DERIVED PEPTIDES.}, journal = {Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e202400920}, doi = {10.1002/cbic.202400920}, pmid = {39740085}, issn = {1439-7633}, abstract = {Heme is involved in many critical processes in pathogenic bacteria as iron acquisition by these microorganisms is achieved by either direct uptake of heme or use of heme-binding proteins called hemophores. Exploring the underlying mechanisms on a molecular level can open new avenues in understanding the host-pathogen interactions. Any imbalance of the heme concentration has a direct impact on the bacterial growth and survival. Thus, heme-regulated proteins that are involved in heme homeostasis poise to be promising targets for research. Similarly, naturally occurring compounds, including cysteine-rich peptides from either plant secondary metabolites or venom toxins from vertebrates and invertebrates, have been studied for their therapeutic potential. NCR247 is such a cysteine-rich peptide, known to be crucial for nitrogenase activity in M. truncatula and its symbiotic relation with S. meliloti. NCR247-derived peptides were suggested to serve as high-affinity heme-binding molecules with remarkable heme-capturing properties. A comprehensive biochemical and computational analysis of NCR247-derived peptides, however, redefines their heme-binding capacity and consequently their potential therapeutic role.}, } @article {pmid39739802, year = {2025}, author = {Vernié, T and Rich, M and Pellen, T and Teyssier, E and Garrigues, V and Chauderon, L and Medioni, L and van Beveren, F and Libourel, C and Keller, J and Girou, C and Lefort, C and Le Ru, A and Martinez, Y and Reinhardt, D and Kodama, K and Shimazaki, S and Morel, P and Kyozuka, J and Mbengue, M and Vandenbussche, M and Delaux, PM}, title = {Conservation of symbiotic signaling since the most recent common ancestor of land plants.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {122}, number = {1}, pages = {e2408539121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2408539121}, pmid = {39739802}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {101001675//EC | European Research Council (ERC)/ ; ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; ANR-18-EURE-0019//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)/ ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Mycorrhizae/genetics/physiology ; *Marchantia/genetics ; Signal Transduction/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Embryophyta/genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Transcriptome ; Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Plants have colonized lands 450 million years ago. This terrestrialization was facilitated by developmental and functional innovations. Recent evo-devo approaches have demonstrated that one of these innovations was the mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS). The genetic pathways that have been involved in the establishment and functioning of AMS since its evolution remain poorly described. Here, we found that intracellular colonization by AM fungi induces a transcriptional reporter of the common symbiosis pathway, well-described in angiosperms, in the liverwort Marchantia paleacea. Mutants of either of the three main genes of this pathway, SYMRK, CCaMK, and CYCLOPS, disrupt the ability of M. paleacea to associate with AM fungi. Finally, overexpressing gain-of-function CCaMK or CYCLOPS leads to convergent transcriptomic signatures that partially overlap with AMS. Altogether, our data indicate that plants have maintained three genes of the common symbiotic pathway to support symbiotic interactions since their most recent common ancestor.}, } @article {pmid39739329, year = {2024}, author = {Nguyen, VT and Le, TN and Huynh, DD and Le, VA and Do, QH and Vo, TD}, title = {Maximizing nutrient removal: unveiling the influence of biomass retention time in revolving algae biofilm reactor.}, journal = {Environmental technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-11}, doi = {10.1080/09593330.2024.2445325}, pmid = {39739329}, issn = {1479-487X}, abstract = {This study introduces a novel Revolving Algae Biofilm reactor for synthetic wastewater treatment, examining the influence of various biomass retention times (BRTs) on nutrient removal performance. The study reveals complex interactions between microalgae and bacteria, emphasizing their symbiotic functions in oxygen provision, nutrient absorption, and floc creation. This research contributes to the advancement of sustainable wastewater treatment methods, showing promise for large-scale nutrient removal in industrial settings. The biomass retention time of 3 days (BRT-3) emerges as the most suitable condition for efficient nutrient removal. Specifically, in the BRT-3 period, the reactor can remove up to 97% of NH4-N, 94% of total phosphorus, and 92% of COD. NH4-N was also effectively assimilated to NO2-N and NO3-N, underscoring the efficiency of the nitrification process. While BRT-7 exhibits a noteworthy algae growth rate when it reaches the maximum rate of 3 mg/L.day. Continual investigation into the interplay between microalgae and bacteria is essential for enhancing system efficiency in future wastewater treatment applications.}, } @article {pmid39739081, year = {2024}, author = {Pramparo, RDP and Vezza, ME and Wevar Oller, AL and Talano, MA and Agostini, E}, title = {Assessing the impact of arsenic on symbiotic and free-living PGPB: plant growth promoting traits, bacterial compatibility and adhesion on soybean seed.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {20}, pmid = {39739081}, issn = {1573-0972}, support = {PICT 2143/17//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; PICT 2143/17//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; PICT 2143/17//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; PICT 2143/17//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; PICT 2143/17//Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica/ ; }, mesh = {*Glycine max/microbiology/growth & development ; *Arsenic/metabolism ; *Seeds/microbiology/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; *Bradyrhizobium/physiology/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; *Soil Microbiology ; Bacillus/physiology/metabolism ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Pseudomonas ; Soil Pollutants/metabolism ; Argentina ; Phosphates/metabolism ; Indoleacetic Acids/metabolism ; Plant Root Nodulation ; }, abstract = {Arsenic (As) contamination in agricultural groundwater and soil is a significant economic and health problem worldwide. It inhibits soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation in symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109 (E109), a commonly used rhizobial strain for commercial biofertiliser formulation in Argentina. In the context of sustainable and climate-smart agriculture promoted by FAO, co-inoculating legumes with As-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is suggested as a superior alternative to single inoculation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of As on plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits -siderophore and indole acetic acid production, phosphate solubilisation, diazotrophic activity and hydrolytic enzymes activity- in E109 and three other PGPB strains: Pseudomonas sp. AW4 (AW4), Bacillus pumilus SF5 (SF5) and Bacillus toyonensis SFC 500-1E (Bt). In addition, bacterial compatibility and adhesion on soybean seed were evaluated. Arsenic significantly reduced PGP traits of E109 even at low concentrations, AW4's traits remained unchanged, while those of SF5 and Bt traits were affected (positively or negatively) only at the highest concentrations tested (500 µM arsenate, 250 µM arsenite). All PGPB strains were compatible with E109 under both control and As-stress conditions. Soybean seed adhesion was reduced for E109, only under As stress. Findings suggest that the effect of As on PGP traits is highly strain-dependent and influenced by As concentration and speciation. AW4, SF5, and Bt strains show promise for co-inoculation with E109 in soybean cultivation.}, } @article {pmid39738700, year = {2024}, author = {Rejili, M and Bouznif, B and Benabderrahim, MA and Mars, M}, title = {Multilocus sequencing analysis of the rhizobial symbionts isolated from Acacia salicina (Lindl.) grown in different regions in Tunisia reveals putative novel Bradyrhizobium species.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {22}, pmid = {39738700}, issn = {1573-0972}, support = {IMSIU-RP23006//Deanship of Scientific Research at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University/ ; }, mesh = {*Acacia/microbiology ; *Bradyrhizobium/genetics/classification/isolation & purification ; *Phylogeny ; *Symbiosis ; Tunisia ; *Multilocus Sequence Typing ; *DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Genes, Essential/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; }, abstract = {In this study, we investigated various chromosomal and symbiotic markers in 40 bacterial strains that nodulate an invasive alien plant, Acacia salicina Lindl. in Tunisia. Our findings showed that the native rhizobia associated to A. salicina are grouped into eight distinct RAPD electrophoretic types (RETs) (genotypes). Sequence analyses of rrs gene and three housekeeping genes (recA, rpoB and glnII) assigned sixteen isolates to three putative new lineages within the genus Bradyrhizobium. Seven strains clustered with B. rifense CTAW71[T] with a 91% bootstrap support, five strains grouped with B. niftali CNPSo3448[T] with a very low bootstrap support (60%), and four strains formed a group phylogenetically related with B. shewense ERR11[T] and B. centrosematis A9[T]. Based on nodC phylogeny and cross inoculation tests, the 16 strains are clustered within symbiovar retamae (six strains) and cyanophyllae (ten strains). Moreover, we showed by the first time in this work that the type strains B. diversitatis CNPSo4019[T] and B. xenonodulans 14AB[T], which nodulated soybean and A. dealbata respectively, belong to the symbiovar cyanophyllae according to the results of the nodC gene analysis.}, } @article {pmid39738473, year = {2024}, author = {Lem, M and Rh, H and Dg, B and Barkhouse, A and Miller, DW and Raun, N and Sa, A}, title = {The caterpillar Manduca sexta brain shows changes in gene expression and protein abundance correlating with parasitic manipulation of behaviour.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {31773}, pmid = {39738473}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {RGPIN-2024-03847//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2024-03847//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2024-03847//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2024-03847//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2024-03847//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; RGPIN-2024-03847//Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Manduca/virology ; *Wasps/virology/physiology ; *Brain/metabolism/virology ; Female ; Behavior, Animal ; Host-Parasite Interactions/genetics ; Insect Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Polydnaviridae/genetics/metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Proteomics/methods ; Gene Expression Regulation ; }, abstract = {The parasitic wasp, Cotesia congregata, manipulates the behaviour of its host, the caterpillar Manduca sexta. The female wasp injects her eggs and a symbiotic virus (i.e. bracovirus, CcBV) into the body of its host. The host's behaviour remains unchanged until the wasps exit the caterpillar, and then the caterpillar becomes a non-feeding "bodyguard" for the wasp cocoons. Using proteomic, transcriptomic and qPCR studies, we discovered an increase in antimicrobial peptide gene expression and protein abundance in the host central nervous system at the time of wasp emergence, correlating with the change in host behaviour. These results support the hypothesis that the wasps hyperactivate an immune-neural connection to help create the change in behaviour. At the time of wasp emergence, there was also an increase in bracoviral gene expression and proteins in the host brain, suggesting that the bracovirus may also be involved in altering host behaviour. Other changes in gene expression and protein abundance suggest that synaptic transmission may be altered after wasp emergence, and a reduction in descending neural activity from the host's brain provides indirect support for this hypothesis.}, } @article {pmid39738179, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, X and Rao, Z and Han, R and Jin, L and Cao, L}, title = {Genes involved in DMSO-mediated yield increase of entomopathogenic nematodes.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {31670}, pmid = {39738179}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {2020B020224002//Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province;/ ; 2020B020224002//Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province;/ ; 2020B020224002//Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province;/ ; 202206010120//Guangzhou Science and Technology Project/ ; 202206010120//Guangzhou Science and Technology Project/ ; 202206010120//Guangzhou Science and Technology Project/ ; (2022GDASZH-2022010101//GDAS Special Project of Science and Technology Development/ ; (2022GDASZH-2022010101//GDAS Special Project of Science and Technology Development/ ; (2022GDASZH-2022010101//GDAS Special Project of Science and Technology Development/ ; 110202001034 (LS-03)//Science & Technology Project of Yunnan Tobacco Company/ ; 110202001034 (LS-03)//Science & Technology Project of Yunnan Tobacco Company/ ; 2020530000241010//China Tobacco (Yunnan) Company Limited/ ; 2020530000241010//China Tobacco (Yunnan) Company Limited/ ; Qiankehezhongyindi [2024] 007//the Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Fund Projects/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Dimethyl Sulfoxide/pharmacology ; RNA Interference ; Transcriptome ; Rhabditoidea/genetics ; Helminth Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Rhabditida/genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; }, abstract = {Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) associated with their symbiotic bacteria can effectively kill insect pests, in agriculture, forestry and floriculture. Industrial-scale production techniques for EPNs have been established, including solid and liquid monoculture systems. It is found that supplement of 0.01% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to the culture medium significantly enhances the recovery and infective juvenile yield of these nematodes. However, the specific nematode genes responding to DMSO is not yet clear. This study identified differentially expressed genes and associated enriched pathways by analyzing the transcriptomic response of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora H06 in the liquid medium containing 0.01% DMSO, and validated the function of the selected genes using RNA interference (RNAi). 11 upregulated and 295 downregulated genes were detected in the hermaphrodites of H. bacteriophora H06 at 3 days beforee egg formation, following DMSO treatment. The biological processes involved included regulation of biological processes, metabolism, binding, signal transduction, post-transcriptional modifications, metabolism, and protein folding. By using RNAi, knockdown of three genes, Hint module, PAN domain protein, and Dpy-13, significantly regulated the egg load (at least a 17% increase in eggs per hermaphroditic adult) and the yield of infective juveniles (at least a 48% increase), in an optimized 96-well plates containing the medium with 1.6% nutrient broth, 1% corn oil and 1.2% agar, without DMSO. qRT-PCR results confirmed that the expression levels of the knockdown genes decreased significantly, compared to the control. These results demonstrate that DMSO regulates nematode gravidity by suppressing at least three selected genes, thereby enhancing IJ yield, providing molecular cues for understanding how DMSO regulates the EPN yield, and a new technology for enhancing nematode commercial production.}, } @article {pmid39738126, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, S and Song, W and Marinos, G and Waschina, S and Zimmermann, J and Kaleta, C and Thomas, T}, title = {Genome-scale metabolic modelling reveals interactions and key roles of symbiont clades in a sponge holobiont.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {10858}, pmid = {39738126}, issn = {2041-1723}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Porifera/microbiology/metabolism ; Animals ; *Microbiota/genetics ; *Metabolic Networks and Pathways/genetics ; Bacteria/metabolism/genetics/classification ; Phylogeny ; Genome ; Genome, Bacterial ; Models, Biological ; Metagenomics/methods ; }, abstract = {Sponges harbour complex microbiomes and as ancient metazoans and important ecosystem players are emerging as powerful models to understand the evolution and ecology of symbiotic interactions. Metagenomic studies have previously described the functional features of sponge symbionts, however, little is known about the metabolic interactions and processes that occur under different environmental conditions. To address this issue, we construct here constraint-based, genome-scale metabolic networks for the microbiome of the sponge Stylissa sp. Our models define the importance of sponge-derived nutrients for microbiome stability and discover how different organic inputs can result in net heterotrophy or autotrophy of the symbiont community. The analysis further reveals the key role that a newly discovered bacterial taxon has in cross-feeding activities and how it dynamically adjusts with nutrient inputs. Our study reveals insights into the functioning of a sponge microbiome and provides a framework to further explore and define metabolic interactions in holobionts.}, } @article {pmid39738104, year = {2024}, author = {Aphaiso, B and Piromyou, P and Boonchuen, P and Songwattana, P and Wongdee, J and Greetatorn, T and Teamtisong, K and Camuel, A and Tittabutr, P and Boonkerd, N and Giraud, E and Teaumroong, N}, title = {A new type III effector from Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 encoding a putative SUMO-protease blocks nodulation in Arachis hypogaea L.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {31646}, pmid = {39738104}, issn = {2045-2322}, support = {N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; N11A670769//JSPS-NRCT by National Research Council of Thailand/ ; B16F640113//The NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation/ ; B16F640113//The NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation/ ; B16F640113//The NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation/ ; B16F640113//The NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation/ ; B16F640113//The NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation/ ; B16F640113//The NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//French National Research Agency/ ; ANR-20-CE20-0012//French National Research Agency/ ; }, mesh = {*Bradyrhizobium/metabolism/physiology/genetics ; *Arachis/microbiology/metabolism ; *Symbiosis ; *Plant Root Nodulation ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Type III Secretion Systems/metabolism/genetics ; Oxylipins/metabolism ; Cyclopentanes/metabolism ; Mutation ; }, abstract = {Effector proteins secreted via the type III secretion system (T3SS) of nitrogen-fixing rhizobia are key determinants of symbiotic compatibility in legumes. Previous report revealed that the T3SS of Bradyrhizobium sp. DOA9 plays negative effects on Arachis hypogaea symbiosis. In this study, we characterized the symbiotic role of 4 effector proteins (p0490, p0871, SkP48, and p0903) containing the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) protease domain identified in DOA9 during symbiosis. While the DOA9 strain and the two mutants of SUMO-proteases, p0490 and p0871, induced inefficient nodulation in A. hypogaea, the mutation of SUMO-proteases SkP48 or p0903 promoted efficient symbiosis comparable to the type strain Bradyrhizobium arachidis CCBAU051107. Complementation study of ∆p0903 with various mutated forms of p0903 highlighted importance of ubiquitin-like protein (ULP) domain in restriction of nodulation in A. hypogaea. We observed the accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA) and upregulation of several defence genes involved in the JA/ethylene (ET) signalling pathway at the early stage of infection in roots inoculated with DOA9 strain compared with those inoculated with the DOA9-∆p0903 strain. Our data highlight the importance of SUMO-protease effectors during the symbiotic interaction between bradyrhizobia and A. hypogaea, which could be useful for the development of high-performance inocula to improve its growth.}, } @article {pmid39736847, year = {2024}, author = {Sher, AW and Tournay, RJ and Gomez-Rivas, E and Doty, SL}, title = {Bacterial synergies amplify nitrogenase activity in diverse systems.}, journal = {ISME communications}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {ycae158}, pmid = {39736847}, issn = {2730-6151}, abstract = {Endophytes are microbes living within plant tissue, with some having the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen in both a free-living state and within their plant host. They are part of a diverse microbial community whose interactions sometimes result in a more productive symbiosis with the host plant. Here, we report the co-isolation of diazotrophic endophytes with synergistic partners sourced from two separate nutrient-limited sites. In the presence of these synergistic strains, the nitrogen-fixing activity of the diazotroph is amplified. One such partnership was co-isolated from extracts of plants from a nutrient-limited Hawaiian lava field and another from the roots of Populus trees on a nutrient-limited gravel bar in the Pacific Northwest. The synergistic strains were capable of increasing the nitrogenase activity of different diazotrophic species from other environments, perhaps indicating that these endophytic microbial interactions are common to environments where nutrients are particularly limited. Multiple overlapping mechanisms seem to be involved in this interaction. Though synergistic strains are likely capable of protecting nitrogenase from oxygen, another mechanism seems evident in both environments. The synergies do not depend exclusively on physical contact, indicating a secreted compound may be involved. This work offers insights into beneficial microbial interactions, providing potential avenues for optimizing inocula for use in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid39736489, year = {2024}, author = {Agathokleous, E and Calabrese, EJ and Veresoglou, SD}, title = {The microbiome orchestrates contaminant low-dose phytostimulation.}, journal = {Trends in plant science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tplants.2024.11.019}, pmid = {39736489}, issn = {1878-4372}, abstract = {Our understanding of the physiological mechanisms of the plant hormetic response to countless environmental contaminants is rapidly advancing. However, the microbiome is a critical determinant of plant responses to stressors, thus possibly influencing hormetic responses. Here, we review the otherwise neglected role of microbes in shaping plant stimulation by subtoxic concentrations of contaminants and vice versa. Numerous contaminants at subtoxic levels enhance microorganisms and proliferate symbionts, such as mycorrhizae and other plant beneficial microbes, leading to both direct and indirect improvements in plant physiological performance. Microbial symbiosis facilitates nutrient uptake by plants, indicating an important contribution of symbionts to phytostimulation under subtoxic contamination. We also discuss the mechanisms and implications of the stimulation of plant-microbe systems by subtoxic contaminants.}, } @article {pmid39736427, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, J and Yang, B and Chen, X and Zhang, T and Zhang, H and Du, Y and Zhao, Q and Zhang, Z and Cai, D and Liu, J and Chen, H and Zhao, L}, title = {ZmL75 is required for colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and for saline-alkali tolerance in maize.}, journal = {Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.jgg.2024.12.015}, pmid = {39736427}, issn = {1673-8527}, abstract = {Saline-alkali soil severely reduces the productivity of crops, including maize (Zea mays). Although several genes associated with saline-alkali tolerance have been identified in maize, the underlying regulatory mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report a direct link between colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and saline-alkali tolerance in maize. We identify s75, a natural maize mutant that cannot survive under moderate saline-alkali soil conditions or establish AM symbioses. The saline-alkali hypersensitive phenotype of s75 is caused by a 1,340-bp deletion in Zm00001d033915, designated as ZmL75. This gene encodes a glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is responsible for AMF colonization. ZmL75 expression levels in roots correspond with the root length colonization (RLC) rate during early vegetative development. Notably, the s75 mutant line shows a complete loss of AMF colonization, along with alterations in the diversity and structure of its root fungal microbiota. Conversely, overexpression of ZmL75 increases the RLC rate and enhances tolerance to saline-alkali soil conditions. These results suggest that ZmL75 is required for symbiosis with AMF, which directly improves saline-alkali tolerance. Our findings provide insights into maize-AMF interactions and offer a potential strategy for maize improvement.}, } @article {pmid39735190, year = {2024}, author = {Gao, M and Yuan, X and Ji, Z and Yang, B and Li, H and Zhang, B}, title = {Great diverse rhizobial community nodulating Astragalus mongholicus in the northeastern region of China.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1507637}, pmid = {39735190}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Astragalus mongholicus Bunge is an important medicinal legume species widely cultivated in northeastern China (NEC) and northwestern China (NWC) and can establish a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains. However, there are limited reports comparing the genetic diversity, differentiation, and gene flow of rhizobial strains associated with this plant in different geographic regions.

METHODS: We used multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) to investigate the phylogeny and genetic diversity of rhizobia and to estimate their intra- and inter-regional gene flow and genetic differentiation based on the analysis of concatenated core genes (recA, atpD, and glnII) and the critical symbiotic gene nodC.

RESULTS: We isolated eight known and three novel genospecies representing four genera, among which Rhizobium yanglingense was the most predominant microsymbiont. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a highly diverse rhizobial community nodulating Astragalus mongholicus in NEC, consisting of the four genera Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Sinorhizobium, and Mesorhizobium. This community differed markedly from the rhizobial community found in NWC. Various rhizobial genospecies with different symbiotic gene nodC sequences were capable of nodulating A. mongholicus in NEC. Therefore, A. mongholicus exhibits promiscuity in its association with symbionts in the natural environment, showing no strong preference for either the species-defining core genes or the symbiotic genes of rhizobia. We also found that the Glyco_tranf_GTA_type superfamily (Glycosyltransferase family A) is the most highly conserved and essential domain in the NodC protein, which is encoded by the symbiotic nodC gene, across nodulating rhizobia. In addition, we found independent genetic differentiation among rhizobial communities geographically, and the frequency of gene flow among microsymbionts between NEC and NWC was low. We speculate that the formation of the highly diverse rhizobial community in NEC resulted from the independent evolution of each ancestral lineage. This diversity likely arose from intraregional genetic differentiation driven by mutations rather than recombination.

CONCLUSION: Ecogeographical isolation between NEC and NWC restricted inter-regional genetic drift and gene flow. Therefore, intraregional genetic differentiation is the major evolutionary force underlying the genetic diversity of rhizobia.}, } @article {pmid39735181, year = {2024}, author = {Trefault, N}, title = {Editorial: Impact of anthropogenic stressors on marine sponge holobiomes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1533416}, pmid = {39735181}, issn = {1664-302X}, } @article {pmid39734744, year = {2024}, author = {Li, M and Li, W and Wang, C and Ji, L and Han, K and Gong, J and Dong, S and Wang, H and Zhu, X and Du, B and Liu, K and Jiang, J and Wang, C}, title = {Growth-promoting effects of self-selected microbial community on wheat seedlings in saline-alkali soil environments.}, journal = {Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {1464195}, pmid = {39734744}, issn = {2296-4185}, abstract = {Saline-alkali land is a type of soil environment that causes poor crop growth and low yields. Its management and utilization are, therefore of great significance for increasing arable land resources, ensuring food security, and enhancing agricultural production capacity. The application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an effective way to promote the establishment of symbiotic relationships between plants and the rhizosphere microenvironment, plant growth and development, and plant resistance to saline-alkali stress. In this study, multiple saline-alkali-resistant bacteria were screened from a saline-alkali land environment and some of them were found to have significantly promotive effects on the growth of wheat seedlings under saline-alkali stress. Using these PGPR, a compound microbial community was selectively obtained from the root-zone soil environment of wheat seedlings, and the metagenomic sequencing analysis of wheat root-zone soil microbiomes was performed. As a result, a compound microbial agent with a Kocuria dechangensis 5-33:Rossellomorea aquimaris S-3:Bacillus subtilis BJYX:Bacillus velezensis G51-1 ratio of 275:63:5:1 was obtained through the self-selection of wheat seedlings. The synthetic compound microbial agent significantly improved the growth of wheat seedlings in saline-alkali soil, as the physiological plant height, aboveground and underground fresh weights, and aboveground and underground dry weights of 21-day-old wheat seedlings were increased by 27.39% (p < 0.01), 147.33% (p < 0.01), 282.98% (p < 0.01), 194.86% (p < 0.01), and 218.60% (p < 0.01), respectively. The promoting effect of this compound microbial agent was also greater than that of each strain on the growth of wheat seedlings. This microbial agent could also regulate some enzyme activities of wheat seedlings and the saline-alkali soil, thereby, promoting the growth of these seedlings. In this study, we analyze an efficient microbial agent and the theoretical basis for promoting the growth of wheat seedlings under saline-alkali stress, thereby, suggesting an important solution for the management and utilization of saline-alkali land.}, } @article {pmid39733528, year = {2024}, author = {Su, Y and Gao, L and Xu, EG and Peng, L and Diao, X and Zhang, Y and Bao, R}, title = {When microplastics meet microalgae: Unveiling the dynamic formation of aggregates and their impact on toxicity and environmental health.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {273}, number = {}, pages = {123008}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2024.123008}, pmid = {39733528}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Microplastics (MPs) commonly coexist with microalgae in aquatic environments, can heteroaggregate during their interaction, and potentially affect the migration and impacts of MPs in aquatic environments. The hetero-aggregation may also influence the fate of other pollutants through MPs' adsorption or alter their aquatic toxicity. Here, we explored the hetero-aggregation process and its key driving mechanism that occurred between green microalga Chlorella vulgaris (with a cell size of 2-10 μm) and two types of MPs (polystyrene and polylactide, 613 μm). Furthermore, we investigated the environmental impacts of the microplastics-microalgae aggregates (MPs-microalgae aggregates) by comparing their adsorption of Cu(II) with that of pristine MPs and evaluating the effects of hetero-aggregation on MPs aging and their toxicity to microalgae. Our results indicated that microalgal colonization occurred on the surface of MPs, possibly through electrostatic interactions, hole-filling, hydrophilic interactions, and algae-bacteria symbiosis. The hetero-aggregation led to a stronger Cu(II) adsorption by MPs-microalgae aggregates than pristine MPs due to electrostatic interactions, coordination, complexation, and ion exchange. Exposure to either MPs (pristine or aged) or Cu(II) inhibited the cell growth of C. vulgaris, while the integrated biomarker response (IBR) showed more pronounced inhibitory effects resulting from aged MPs compared to pristine MPs and an antagonistic effect on microalgae was caused by the co-exposure to MPs and Cu(II). These findings suggest that the hetero-aggregation of MPs and microalgae may alter their environmental fates and co-pollutant toxicity.}, } @article {pmid39733447, year = {2024}, author = {Schütz, JT and Kleyböcker, A and Larsen, SB and Kristensen, M and Remy, C and Miehe, U}, title = {Modelling and set-point definition for the development of a joint control system of two interconnected wastewater treatment plants and its application in practice.}, journal = {Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research}, volume = {90}, number = {12}, pages = {3149-3165}, pmid = {39733447}, issn = {0273-1223}, mesh = {*Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Models, Theoretical ; Wastewater ; Sewage ; Water Purification/methods ; Nitrogen ; }, abstract = {The use of activated sludge models (ASMs) is a common way in the field of wastewater engineering in terms of plant design, development, optimization, and testing of stand-alone treatment plants. The focus of this study was the development of a joint control system (JCS) for a municipal wastewater treatment plant (mWWTP) and an upstream industrial wastewater treatment plant (iWWTP) to create synergies for saving aeration energy. Therefore, an ASM3 + BioP model of the mWWTP was developed to test different scenarios and to find the best set-points for the novel JCS. A predictive equation for the total nitrogen load (TN) coming from the iWWTP was developed based on real-time data. The predictive TN equation together with an optimized aeration strategy, based on the modelling results, was implemented as JCS. First results of the implementation of the JCS in the real environment showed an increase in energy efficiency for TN removal.}, } @article {pmid39732694, year = {2024}, author = {Zalzala, SHA and Al-Hashimi, BAS and Zalzala, ZHA and Fahad, KS}, title = {Effects of specific symbiotic supplements on anthropometric measurements, glycaemic control, and lipid profiles among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus in two teaching hospitals in Baghdad/Iraq: a double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial.}, journal = {BMC nutrition}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {165}, pmid = {39732694}, issn = {2055-0928}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical studies have suggested that symbiotics might effectively manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by modulating the intestinal microbiota. However, these studies' limited sources, small sample sizes, and varied study designs have led to inconsistent outcomes regarding glycaemic control. This study aimed to investigate the effects of symbiotics on the anthropometric measures, glycaemic control, and lipid profiles of patients with T2DM.

METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel clinical trial was conducted at two diabetes outpatient clinics. The main researcher and participants were blinded to the capsule content throughout the study. Sixty-six patients with T2DM aged 30-75 years were randomly allocated, using even and odd numbers, into two equal groups. These groups received either symbiotic capsules containing 200 million colony-forming units plus fructo-oligosaccharide or a placebo for 12 weeks. The primary objective was a decrement in glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c]. The patients' anthropometric measures, fasting blood sugar, high-density lipoprotein [HDL], low-density lipoprotein [LDL], total serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels were also assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS: Within-group analysis revealed significant decreases in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (P = 0.005 and 0.023, respectively) and a significant increase in HDL levels in the symbiotic group (P = 0.04). HbA1c levels significantly increased in the placebo group (P = 0.016) but were not significantly reduced in the symbiotic group. The between-group analysis revealed significantly lower fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels in the symbiotic group, and higher in the placebo group (P = 0.02). No significant changes existed in total serum cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels in either the symbiotic or placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS: Symbiotics improve BMI, waist circumference, HDL, and FBS levels and prevent the worsening of HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM. Our preliminary results indicate the potential benefits of symbiotics in patients with T2DM, which may lead to better diabetes control. However, this evidence requires further assessment in larger trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered retrospectively at the International Standard Registered Clinical/Social Study Number Registry (ISRCTN34652973) on 05/01/2024.}, } @article {pmid39732661, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, B and Yu, T and Ren, R and Wu, N and Xing, N and Wang, J and Wu, W and Cao, X and Zhang, J}, title = {Onco-mNGS facilitates rapid and precise identification of the etiology of fever of unknown origin: a single-centre prospective study in North China.}, journal = {BMC infectious diseases}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {1475}, pmid = {39732661}, issn = {1471-2334}, mesh = {Humans ; *Fever of Unknown Origin/etiology/diagnosis ; Prospective Studies ; Female ; Male ; China/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Neoplasms/complications/genetics ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Delayed diagnosis of patients with Fever of Unknown Origin has long been a daunting clinical challenge. Onco-mNGS, which can accurately diagnose infectious agents and identify suspected tumor signatures by analyzing host chromosome copy number changes, has been widely used to assist identifying complex etiologies. However, the application of Onco-mNGS to improve FUO etiological screening has never been studied before.

METHODS: In this single-centre prospective study, we included 65 patients with classic FUO, who were randomly divided into control group (sample cultivation) and mNGS group (cultivation + Onco-mNGS). We analyzed the infectious agents and symbiotic microbiological, tumor and clinical data of both groups.

RESULTS: Infection-related pathogenic detection efficiency rose from 25% (control group) to 48.48% (experimental group). Seven patients with chromosome copy number changes had later been confirmed tumors, indicating a 100% of clinical concordance rate of Onco-mNGS for tumors. In addition, the time frame for diagnosing or ruling out infection/tumor with Onco-mNGS had greatly reduced to approximately 2 days, which was 7.34 days earlier than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: Onco-mNGS is an ideal rapid diagnostic aid to assist improving the early diagnostic efficiency of FUO-associated diseases.}, } @article {pmid39732435, year = {2024}, author = {Costa, MAC and Silva Duarte, VD and Fraiz, GM and Cardoso, RR and da Silva, A and Martino, HSD and Santos D'Almeida, CTD and Ferreira, MSL and Corich, V and Hamaker, BR and Giacomini, A and Bressan, J and Barros, FAR}, title = {Regular Consumption of Black Tea Kombucha Modulates the Gut Microbiota in Individuals with and Without Obesity.}, journal = {The Journal of nutrition}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tjnut.2024.12.013}, pmid = {39732435}, issn = {1541-6100}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Kombucha, a fermented beverage obtained from a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY), has shown potential in modulating gut microbiota, although no clinical trials have been done.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of regular black tea kombucha consumption on intestinal health in individuals with and without obesity.

METHODS: A pre-post clinical intervention study was conducted lasting eight weeks. Forty-six participants were allocated into two groups: normal weight + black tea kombucha (n=23); and obese + black tea kombucha (n=23). Blood, urine, and stool samples were collected at baseline (T0) and after 8 weeks of intervention (T8).

RESULTS: A total of 145 phenolic compounds were identified in the kombucha, primarily flavonoids (81%) and phenolic acids (19%). Kombucha favored commensal bacteria such as Bacteroidota and Akkermanciaceae, especially in the obese group. Subdoligranulum, a butyrate producer, also increased in the obese group after kombucha consumption (p=0.031). Obesity-associated genera Ruminococcus and Dorea were elevated in the obese group at baseline (p<0.05) and reduced after kombucha consumption, becoming similar to the normal weight group (Ruminococcus: obese T8 x normal weight T8: p=0.27; Dorea: obese T8 x normal weight T0: p=0.57; obese T8 x normal weight T8: p=0.32). Fungal diversity increased, with a greater abundance of Saccharomyces in both groups and reductions in Exophiala and Rhodotorula, particularly in the obese group. Pichia and Dekkera, key microorganisms in kombucha, were identified as biomarkers after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS: Regular kombucha consumption positively influenced gut microbiota in both normal and obese groups, with more pronounced effects in the obese group, suggesting that it may be especially beneficial for those individuals.

REGISTRATION ID AND URL: This study is registered on the Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry - ReBEC (UTN code U1111-1263-9550); available at .

CLINICAL TRIAL STATEMENT: This study was conducted according to the guidelines established in the Declaration of Helsinki and the procedures were approved by the National Research Ethics Committee - CONEP/Brazil (registration no. 3.948.033). Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. This study is registered on the Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry (ReBEC), available at (UTN code U1111-1263-9550).}, } @article {pmid39731654, year = {2024}, author = {Rahimlou, S and Hosseyni Moghadam, MS and Gazis, R and Karlsen-Ayala, E and Bahram, M and James, TY and Tedersoo, L}, title = {Unveiling root nodulation in Tribulus terrestris and Roystonea regia via metagenomics analysis.}, journal = {Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG}, volume = {300}, number = {1}, pages = {9}, pmid = {39731654}, issn = {1617-4623}, support = {1399PUT//Estonian Research Council/ ; 635PRG//Estonian Research Council/ ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Metagenomics/methods ; *Phylogeny ; *Tribulus/genetics ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/genetics ; Metagenome/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology/genetics ; Endophytes/genetics/isolation & purification ; Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification ; }, abstract = {Root nodule symbiosis is traditionally recognized in the Fabales, Fagales, Cucurbitales, and Rosales orders within the Rosid I clade of angiosperms. However, ambiguous root nodule formation has been reported in Zygophyllaceae and Roystonea regia (Arecaceae), although a detailed analysis has yet to be conducted. We aimed to perform morphological analyses of root structures in these plants and utilize metagenomic techniques to identify and characterize the bacterial populations within the nodule-like structures. We collected root samples of Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae) and Roystonea regia from West Asia and the Caribbean, respectively. We conducted detailed morphological analyses of nodule-like structures, isolated and genome-sequenced the endophytes, and employed metagenomic techniques to identify the bacterial populations within these formations. We observed nodule-like structures in both plant species. Symbiosomes, which are hallmark structures of nodulating plants, were not detected. Metagenome sequence data analysis revealed potential nodulating and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the nodule-like structures of both species. Canonical nodulation and nitrogen-fixation genes were identified in microbes associated with the nodules. However, the phylogenomic analysis showed that the bacteria isolated from T. terrestris and R. regia are within Gammaproteobacteria and Bacilli, which are not typically known as nodulating bacteria. The observed structures differ significantly from traditional nodules found in legumes and actinorhizal plants, suggesting unique characteristics with hosting nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Although bacteria identified through in silico analysis or culture are well-known nitrogen-fixers, their specific role in root nodule formation remains to be investigated.}, } @article {pmid39730742, year = {2024}, author = {Bellés-Sancho, P and Golaz, D and Paszti, S and Vitale, A and Liu, Y and Bailly, A and Eberl, L and James, EK and Pessi, G}, title = {Tn-seq profiling reveals that NodS of the beta-rhizobium Paraburkholderia phymatum is detrimental for nodulating soybean.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1706}, pmid = {39730742}, issn = {2399-3642}, mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Rhizobium/genetics/physiology ; Phaseolus/microbiology/genetics ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The beta-rhizobial strain Paraburkholderia phymatum STM815[T] is noteworthy for its wide host range in nodulating legumes, primarily mimosoids (over 50 different species) but also some papilionoids. It cannot, however, nodulate soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), one of the world's most important crops. Here, we constructed a highly saturated genome-wide transposon library of a P. phymatum strain and employed a transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) approach to investigate the underlying genetic mechanisms of symbiotic incompatibility between P. phymatum and soybean. Soybean seedlings inoculated with the P. phymatum Tn-seq library display nodules on the roots that are mainly occupied by different mutants in a gene, nodS, coding for a methyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of nodulation factors. The construction of a nodS deletion strain and a complemented mutant confirms that nodS is responsible for the nodulation-incompatibility of P. phymatum with soybean. Moreover, infection tests with different host plants reveal that NodS is necessary for optimal nodulation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), but it is not required for nodulation of its natural host Mimosa pudica. In conclusion, our results suggest that NodS is involved in determining nodulation specificity of P. phymatum.}, } @article {pmid39729906, year = {2024}, author = {Abdelghany, S and Simancas-Giraldo, SM and Zayed, A and Farag, MA}, title = {How does the coral microbiome mediate its natural host fitness under climate stress conditions? Physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {106920}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106920}, pmid = {39729906}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Although the symbiotic partnership between corals and algal endosymbionts has been extensively explored, interactions between corals, their algal endosymbionts and microbial associates are still less understood. Screening the response of natural microbial consortiums inside corals can aid in exploiting them as markers for dysbiosis interactions inside the coral holobiont. The coral microbiome includes archaea, bacteria, fungi, and viruses hypothesized to play a pivotal vital role in coral health and tolerance to heat stress condition via different physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. The dynamic behaviour of microbial associates could denote their potential role in coral adaptation to future climate change, with microbiome shifts occurring independently as a response to thermal stress or as a response to host stress response. Associated adaptations include regulation of coral-algal-microbial interactions, expression of heat shock proteins, microbial composition changes, and accumulation of secondary metabolites to aid in sustaining the coral's overall homeostasis under ocean warming scenarios.}, } @article {pmid39729158, year = {2024}, author = {Nogueira, PTS and Freitas, EFS and Silva, JAR and Kasuya, MCM and Pereira, OL}, title = {Efficiency of mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination and protocorms development of commercial Cattleya species (Orchidaceae).}, journal = {Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39729158}, issn = {1678-4405}, support = {Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais/ ; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior//Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior/ ; }, abstract = {Orchidaceae is one of the largest plant families and stands out for its wide variety of flowers with ornamental and environmental importance. Cattleya is one of the main commercial genera, presenting a great diversity of species and hybrids that attract the attention of collectors, orchid enthusiasts, and consumers. In their natural environment, orchids associate with mycorrhizal fungi, which are responsible for providing carbon and other nutrients during seed germination. This study investigated the potential of mycorrhizal fungi isolated from the genus Cattleya for in vitro symbiotic germination of seeds from three contrasting Cattleya species, comparing them with non-symbiotic germination in a commercially used culture medium for orchid propagation. The isolated fungi were molecularly identified through phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences using the ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) region. Three isolates obtained were identified as Tulasnella amonilioides, and through microscopic evaluations, the formation of monilioid cells was observed, a morphological characteristic previously unknown for this species. The T. amonilioides isolates were efficient in promoting seed germination of Cattleya bicolor, Cattleya walkeriana and Cattleya jongheana and accelerated the germination process when compared with the non-symbiotic commercial medium, showing to be promised for commercial seed production of these orchids species.}, } @article {pmid39728385, year = {2024}, author = {Wei, C and Liu, M and Meng, G and Wang, M and Zhou, X and Xu, J and Hu, J and Zhang, L and Dong, C}, title = {Characterization of Endofungal Bacteria and Their Role in the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Helvella bachu.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {39728385}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {2022xjkk0200//the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program/ ; TDBSCX202110//the Project for Scientific Research and Innovation for Postgraduates at Tarim University/ ; }, abstract = {Helvella bachu, an ectomycorrhizal fungus, forms a symbiotic relationship with Populus euphratica, a rare and endangered species crucial to desert riparian ecosystems. In this study, endofungal bacteria (EFBs) within the fruiting bodies of H. bachu were confirmed by a polyphasic approach, including genomic sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene, full-length and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA gene, and culture methods. The genera Stenotrophomonas, Variovorax, Acidovorax, and Pedobacter were abundant in the EFBs of fruiting bodies associated with three Populus hosts and were consistently present across different developmental stages. Notably, S. maltophilia and V. paradoxus were detected in high abundance, as revealed by full-length 16S rRNA sequencing, with S. maltophilia also isolated by culture methods. KO-pathway analysis indicated that pathways related to primary, secondary, and energy metabolism were predominantly enriched, suggesting these bacteria may promote H. bachu growth by producing essential compounds, including sugars, proteins, and vitamins, and secondary metabolites. This study confirmed the presence of EFBs in H. bachu and provided the first comprehensive overview of their structure, functional potential, and dynamic changes throughout fruiting body maturation, offering valuable insights for advancing the artificial domestication of this species.}, } @article {pmid39728365, year = {2024}, author = {Rissi, DV and Ijaz, M and Baschien, C}, title = {Comparative Genomics of Different Lifestyle Fungi in Helotiales (Leotiomycetes) Reveals Temperature and Ecosystem Adaptations.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {39728365}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {447009466/BA 3924//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, abstract = {Helotiales, a diverse fungal order within Leotiomycetes (Ascomycota), comprises over 6000 species occupying varied ecological niches, from plant pathogens to saprobes and symbionts. Despite their importance, their genetic adaptations to temperature and environmental conditions are understudied. This study investigates temperature adaptations in infection genes and substrate degradation genes through a comparative genomics analysis of 129 Helotiales species, using the newly sequenced genomes of Gyoerffyella rotula and Anguillospora crassa. Key gene families such as cytochrome P450 enzymes, virulence factors, effector proteins, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were analyzed to understand their roles in temperature and lifestyle adaptations, uncovering possible alternative lifestyle mechanisms. Our findings reveal that Helotiales fungi possess genes associated with nutrient acquisition, pathogenicity, and symbiotic relationships strongly adapted to cold environments that might be impacted by global warming. On the other hand, some species demonstrate potential for adaptation to warmer climates, suggesting increased activity in response to global warming. This study reveals the adaptive mechanisms enabling Helotiales fungi to thrive in both cold and warm environments. These findings provide valuable insights into their ecological success and evolutionary resilience, which may facilitate their ability to transition between pathogenic, symbiotic, and saprobic phases in response to changing environmental conditions.}, } @article {pmid39728329, year = {2024}, author = {Yu, M and Chen, S and Shi, J and Chen, W and Qiu, Y and Lan, J and Qu, S and Feng, J and Wang, R and Lin, F and Huang, G and Zheng, C}, title = {Structures and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites from Daldinia spp.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {39728329}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {Nos. 32160108 and 2217702//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {The genus Daldinia have long been recognized as a source of structural novel, pharmaceutically relevant natural products. We reviewed the structures and activities of secondary metabolites isolated from the genus of Daldinia from January 1995 to June 2024, and 280 compounds, including six major categories-terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, polyphenols, steroids, and other classes-are presented in this review. Among these metabolites, 196 were identified as new structures. Remarkably, 112 compounds exhibited a range of biological activities, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anti-virus, and enzyme-inhibitory activities. This review highlights the bioactive metabolites discovered in the past three decades from the genus of Daldinia while also exploring the potential of these symbiotic fungi as rich sources of novel and diverse natural products. The varying bioactivities of these metabolites offer a vast array of promising lead compounds and also could significantly contribute to the development of new medicines.}, } @article {pmid39728318, year = {2024}, author = {Wu, N and Li, Z and Wu, F and Tan, J}, title = {Effects of ECMF Isolated from Mining Areas on Water Status, Photosynthesis Capacity, and Lead Ion Transport of Populus alba Under Pb Stress.}, journal = {Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, pmid = {39728318}, issn = {2309-608X}, support = {20210302124247//Basic Research Program of Shanxi Province/ ; 2021L373//Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of Shanxi Province/ ; 2021L376//Scientific and Technological Innovation Project of Shanxi Province/ ; 31901227//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Native ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECMF) are generally more effective than non-native ECMF in facilitating the phytoremediation of heavy metal (HM) ions from contaminated soils. This study aimed to investigate the contributions of four ECMF species-Suillus luteus, Suillus flavidus, Suillus variegatus, and Gomphidius glutinosus-that were isolated from mining areas to the growth, water status, photosynthesis, and metallothionein gene expression of Populus alba exposed to varying concentrations of lead (Pb). The experiment lasted two months and involved P. alba cuttings subjected to Pb concentrations of 0, 200, and 400 mg kg[-1], representing no Pb stress, moderate Pb stress, and severe Pb stress, respectively. Results indicated that S. flavidus significantly enhanced the growth, water status, photosynthesis parameters, and metallothionein gene expression of P. alba under Pb stress, whereas S. luteus only exhibited positive effects under severe Pb stress. S. variegatus negatively affected the growth, water status, photosynthesis, and metallothionein gene expression of P. alba under Pb stress, while no significant difference was observed between the control treatment and G. glutinosus symbiosis. Therefore, S. flavidus and S. luteus are promising ECMF species for ecological restoration in mining areas, especially in P. alba woodlands.}, } @article {pmid39713442, year = {2024}, author = {Njogu, AK and Logozzo, F and Conner, WR and Shropshire, JD}, title = {Counting rare Wolbachia endosymbionts using digital droplet PCR.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39713442}, issn = {2692-8205}, abstract = {Wolbachia is the most widespread animal-associated intracellular microbe, living within the cells of over half of insect species. Since they can suppress pathogen replication and spread rapidly through insect populations, Wolbachia is at the vanguard of public health initiatives to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia's abilities to block pathogens and spread quickly are closely linked to their abundance in host tissues. The most common method for counting Wolbachia is quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), yet qPCR can be insufficient to count rare Wolbachia, necessitating tissue pooling and consequently compromising individual-level resolution of Wolbachia dynamics. Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) offers superior sensitivity, enabling the detection of rare targets and eliminating the need for sample pooling. Here, we report three ddPCR assays to measure total Wolbachia abundance, Wolbachia abundance adjusted for DNA extraction efficiency, and Wolbachia density relative to host genome copies. Using Drosophila melanogaster with wMel Wolbachia as a model, we show these ddPCR assays can reliably detect as few as 7 to 12 Wolbachia gene copies in a 20 μL reaction. The designed oligos are homologous to sequences from at least 106 Wolbachia strains across Supergroup A and 53 host species from the Drosophila, Scaptomyza, and Zaprionus genera, suggesting broad utility. These highly sensitive ddPCR assays are expected to significantly advance Wolbachia-host interactions research by enabling the collection of molecular data from individual insect tissues. Their ability to detect rare Wolbachia will be especially valuable in applied and natural field settings where pooling samples could obscure important variation.}, } @article {pmid39726965, year = {2024}, author = {Contarini, PE and Emboule, E and Jean-Louis, P and Woyke, T and Date, SV and Gros, O and Volland, JM}, title = {A novel open-source cultivation system helps establish the first full cycle chemosynthetic symbiosis model system involving the giant ciliate Zoothamnium niveum.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1491485}, pmid = {39726965}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Symbiotic interactions drive species evolution, with nutritional symbioses playing vital roles across ecosystems. Chemosynthetic symbioses are globally distributed and ecologically significant, yet the lack of model systems has hindered research progress. The giant ciliate Zoothamnium niveum and its sulfur-oxidizing symbionts represent the only known chemosynthetic symbiosis with a short life span that has been transiently cultivated in the laboratory. While it is experimentally tractable and presents a promising model system, it currently lacks an open-source, simple, and standardized cultivation setup. Following the FABricated Ecosystems (EcoFABs) model, we leveraged 3D printing and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) casting to develop simple flow-through cultivation chambers that can be produced and adopted by any laboratory. The streamlined manufacturing process reduces production time by 86% and cuts cost by tenfold compared to the previous system. Benchmarking using previously established optimal growth conditions, the new open-source cultivation system proves stable, efficient, more autonomous, and promotes a more prolific growth of the symbiosis. For the first time, starting from single cells, we successfully cultivated the symbiosis in flow-through chambers for 20 days, spanning multiple generations of colonies that remained symbiotic. They were transferred from chamber to chamber enabling long-term cultivation and eliminating the need for continuous field sampling. The chambers, optimized for live imaging, allowed detailed observation of the synchronized growth between the host and symbiont. Highlighting the benefit of this new system, we here describe a new step in the first hours of development where the host pauses growth, expels a coat, before resuming growth, hinting at a putative symbiont selection mechanism early in the colony life cycle. With this simple, open-source, cultivation setup, Z. niveum holds promises for comparative studies, standardization of research and wide adoption by the symbiosis research community.}, } @article {pmid39726956, year = {2024}, author = {Nazir, A and Puthuveettil, AR and Hussain, FHN and Hamed, KE and Munawar, N}, title = {Endophytic fungi: nature's solution for antimicrobial resistance and sustainable agriculture.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1461504}, pmid = {39726956}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has underlined the need for a sustained supply of novel antimicrobial agents. Endophyte microorganism that reside within plant tissues as symbionts have been the source of potential antimicrobial substances. However, many novel and potent antimicrobials are yet to be discovered from these endophytes. The present study investigates the potential of endophytic fungi as a source of novel bioactive chemicals with antibacterial capabilities. These fungi synthesize secondary metabolites such as polyketides and peptides via polyketide synthase (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) pathways. Notable substances, like prenylated indole alkaloids and fumaric acid, have shown promising antibacterial and antifungal properties against multidrug-resistant infectious agents. This review also emphasizes the symbiotic link between endophytes and their host plants, which is critical for secondary metabolite production. The study focuses on the significance of isolation methods for endophytes and proposes their use in for sustainable agriculture, bioremediation, and medicine. Future research combining endophytic biodiversity analysis with next-generation sequencing (NGS) and nanotechnology could provide novel techniques for combating AMR and contributing to sustainability across multiple industries.}, } @article {pmid39724811, year = {2024}, author = {Rodrigues, DADS and da Cunha, CCRF and Pereira, AR and Espírito Santo, DRD and Silva, SQ and Starling, MCVM and Santiago, ADF and Afonso, RJCF}, title = {Biodegradation of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole in secondary effluent by microalgae-bacteria consortium.}, journal = {International journal of hygiene and environmental health}, volume = {264}, number = {}, pages = {114517}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114517}, pmid = {39724811}, issn = {1618-131X}, abstract = {Trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) are bacteriostatic agents, which are co-administered to patients during infection treatment due to their synergetic effects. Once consumed, TMP and SMX end up in wastewater and are directed to municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) which fail to remove these contaminants from municipal wastewater. The discharge of WWTP effluents containing antibiotics in the environment is a major concern for public health as it contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Improving treatment applied in WWTPs is one of the measures to tackle this issue. In this study, a natural microalgae-bacteria consortium cultivated under low intensity LED irradiation was used as a quaternary treatment to assess the removal of TMP alone (50 μg L[-1]) and also mixed with SMX (TMP/SMX; 50 μg L[-1] of each) from real WWTP secondary effluents from anaerobic treatment systems. The removal of the sulfonamide resistance gene, sul1, was also evaluated. This is the first study assessed the removal of TMP alone and TMP associated with SMX in real effluent using microalgae-bacteria consortium without nutrient enrichment. Biodegradation experiments were conducted for 7 days, residual amount of antibiotics were assessed by low-temperature partitioning extraction (LTPE) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and sul1 was analyzed by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). Results showed that SMX removal (48.34%) was higher than TMP (24.58%) in the mixture. The presence of both antibiotics at 50 μg L[-1] did not inhibit microalgae-bacteria consortium growth. After 7 days, there was a slight increase in the absolute abundance of sul1 and 16S rRNA. The main removal mechanism for both antibiotics might be attributed to symbiotic biodegradation as bioadsorption, bioaccumulation and abiotic factors were very low or insignificant. While the application of a microalgae-bacteria consortium as a quaternary treatment seems to be a promising alternative, further research to improve degradation rate aiming at a global removal >80% as required in the Swiss and European directives is encouraged.}, } @article {pmid39724798, year = {2024}, author = {Simon, SA and Aschmann, V and Behrendt, A and Hügler, M and Engl, LM and Pohlner, M and Rolfes, S and Brinkhoff, T and Engelen, B and Könneke, M and Rodriguez-R, LM and Bornemann, TLV and Nuy, JK and Rothe, L and Stach, TL and Beblo-Vranesevic, K and Leuko, S and Runzheimer, K and Möller, R and Conrady, M and Huth, M and Trabold, T and Herkendell, K and Probst, AJ}, title = {Earth's most needed uncultivated aquatic prokaryotes.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {273}, number = {}, pages = {122928}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2024.122928}, pmid = {39724798}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Aquatic ecosystems house a significant fraction of Earth's biosphere, yet most prokaryotes inhabiting these environments remain uncultivated. While recently developed genome-resolved metagenomics and single-cell genomics techniques have underscored the immense genetic breadth and metabolic potential residing in uncultivated Bacteria and Archaea, cultivation of these microorganisms is required to study their physiology via genetic systems, confirm predicted biochemical pathways, exploit biotechnological potential, and accurately appraise nutrient turnover. Over the past two decades, the limitations of culture-independent investigations highlighted the importance of cultivation in bridging this vast knowledge gap. Here, we collected more than 80 highly sought-after uncultivated lineages of aquatic Bacteria and Archaea with global ecological impact. In addition to fulfilling critical roles in global carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling, many of these organisms are thought to partake in key symbiotic relationships. This review highlights the vital contributions of uncultured microbes in aquatic ecosystems, from lakes and groundwater to the surfaces and depths of the oceans and will guide current and future initiatives tasked with cultivating our planet's most elusive, yet highly consequential aquatic microflora.}, } @article {pmid39723137, year = {2024}, author = {Ramos-Alvelo, M and Molinero-Rosales, N and Tamayo-Navarrete, MI and Ćavar Zeljković, S and Tarkowski, P and García-Garrido, JM and Ho-Plágaro, T}, title = {The SlDLK2 receptor, involved in the control of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, regulates hormonal balance in roots.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1472449}, pmid = {39723137}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) represents a symbiotic mutualistic association between most land plants and Glomeromycota fungi. AM fungi develops specialized intraradical and highly branched structures, called arbuscules, where bidirectional exchange of nutrients between plant and fungi partners occurs, improving plant growth and fitness. Transcriptional reprogramming and hormonal regulation are necessary for the formation of the arbuscules. SlDLK2, a member of the third clade from the DWARF14 family of α, β-hydrolases closely related to the strigolactone receptor D14, is a negative regulator of arbuscule branching in tomato, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We explored the possible role of SlDLK2 on the regulation of hormonal balance. RNA-seq analysis was performed on roots from composite tomato plants overexpressing SlDLK2 and in control plants transformed with the empty vector. Analysis of transcriptomic data predicted that significantly repressed genes were enriched for genes related to hormone biosynthesis pathways, with a special relevance of carotenoid/apocarotenoid biosynthesis genes. Stable transgenic SlDLK2 overexpressing (OE) tomato lines were obtained, and hormone contents were analyzed in their roots and leaves. Interesting significant hormonal changes were found in roots of SlDLK2 OE lines with respect to the control lines, with a strong decrease on jasmonic acid and ABA. In addition, SlDLK2 OE roots showed a slight reduction in auxin contents and in one of the major strigolactones in tomato, solanacol. Overall, our results suggest that the negative regulation of AM symbiosis by SlDLK2 is associated with the repression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of AM-promoting hormones.}, } @article {pmid39722877, year = {2024}, author = {Chaulagain, D and Schnabel, E and Kappes, M and Lin, EX and Müller, LM and Frugoli, JA}, title = {TML1 and TML2 synergistically regulate nodulation and affect arbuscular mycorrhiza in Medicago truncatula.}, journal = {Frontiers in plant science}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1504404}, pmid = {39722877}, issn = {1664-462X}, abstract = {Two symbiotic processes, nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza, are primarily controlled by the plant's need for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), respectively. Autoregulation of nodulation (AON) and autoregulation of mycorrhizal symbiosis (AOM) both negatively regulate their respective processes and share multiple components-plants that make too many nodules usually have higher arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungal root colonization. The protein TML (TOO MUCH LOVE) was shown to function in roots to maintain susceptibly to rhizobial infection under low N conditions and control nodule number through AON in Lotus japonicus. Medicago truncatula has two sequence homologs: MtTML1 and MtTML2. We report the generation of stable single and double mutants harboring multiple allelic variations in MtTML1 and MtTML2 using CRISPR-Cas9 targeted mutagenesis and screening of a transposon mutagenesis library. Plants containing single mutations in MtTML1 or MtTML2 produced two to three times the nodules of wild-type plants, whereas plants containing mutations in both genes displayed a synergistic effect, forming 20× more nodules compared to wild-type plants. Examination of expression and heterozygote effects suggests that genetic compensation may play a role in the observed synergy. Plants with mutations in both TMLs only showed mild increases in AM fungal root colonization at later timepoints in our experiments, suggesting that these genes may also play a minor role in AM symbiosis regulation. The mutants created will be useful tools to dissect the mechanism of synergistic action of MtTML1 and MtTML2 in M. truncatula symbiosis with beneficial microbes.}, } @article {pmid39722864, year = {2024}, author = {Rezaei, F and Burg, V and Pfister, S and Hellweg, S and Roshandel, R}, title = {Spatial optimization of industrial symbiosis for heat supply of agricultural greenhouses.}, journal = {Journal of industrial ecology}, volume = {28}, number = {6}, pages = {1507-1523}, pmid = {39722864}, issn = {1088-1980}, abstract = {Despite the many benefits of greenhouses, it is challenging to meet their heating demand, as greenhouses belong to the most energy-intensive production systems in the agriculture sector. Industrial symbiosis can bring an effective solution by utilizing waste heat from other industries to meet the greenhouse heat demand. This study proposes an optimization framework by which optimum symbiotic relationships can be identified. For this aim, the spatial analysis is integrated into an optimization model, in which geographical, technical, and economic parameters are considered simultaneously to identify the optimal location for developing new agricultural greenhouses. The objective function is to minimize the heating costs, that is, the investment cost of piping and electricity cost for pumping heat-carrying fluid from supplier to demand. The model is applied to the case study of Switzerland, and currently existing municipal solid waste incinerators, cement production plants, and biogas plants are considered potential waste heat sources. Results show that the import of tomato, cucumber, and lettuce to Switzerland can theoretically be replaced by vegetable production in new waste-heat supplied greenhouses (zero import scenarios). Accounting for the economy of scale for pipeline investment costs leads to selecting large-scale greenhouses with a cost reduction of 37%. The optimization results suggest that 10% of the greenhouses needed to satisfy the total domestic demand for lettuce, tomato, and cucumber could be placed on a suitable land plot in the direct vicinity of a waste heat source, with low costs of waste heat supply.}, } @article {pmid39722237, year = {2024}, author = {Hdedeh, O and Mercier, C and Poitout, A and Martinière, A and Zelazny, E}, title = {Membrane nanodomains to shape plant cellular functions and signaling.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.20367}, pmid = {39722237}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {//I-Site Montpellier University/ ; ANR-19-CE20-0008-01//Agence Nationale de Recherches/ ; ANR-23-CE20-0022//Agence Nationale de Recherches/ ; }, abstract = {Plasma membrane (PM) nanodomains have emerged as pivotal elements in the regulation of plant cellular functions and signal transduction. These nanoscale membrane regions, enriched in specific lipids and proteins, behave as regulatory/signaling hubs spatially and temporally coordinating critical cellular functions. In this review, we first examine the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of PM nanodomains in plant cells, highlighting the roles of PM lipid composition, protein oligomerization and interactions with cytoskeletal and cell wall components. Then, we discuss how nanodomains act as organizing centers by mediating protein-protein interactions that orchestrate essential processes such as symbiosis, defense against pathogens, ion transport or hormonal and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling. Finally, we introduce the concept of nanoenvironments, where localized physicochemical variations are generated in the very close proximity of PM nanodomains, in response to stimuli. After decoding by a dedicated machinery likely localized in the vicinity of nanodomains, this enrichment of secondary messengers, such as ROS or Ca[2+], would allow specific downstream cellular responses. This review provides insights into the dynamic nature of nanodomains and proposes future research to better understand their contribution to the intricate signaling networks that govern plant development and stress responses.}, } @article {pmid39721982, year = {2024}, author = {Nasfi, S and Shahbazi, S and Bitterlich, K and Šečić, E and Kogel, KH and Steinbrenner, J}, title = {A pipeline for validation of Serendipita indica effector-like sRNA suggests cross-kingdom communication in the symbiosis with Arabidopsis.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erae515}, pmid = {39721982}, issn = {1460-2431}, abstract = {Bidirectional communication between pathogenic microbes and their plant hosts via small (s)RNA-mediated cross-kingdom RNA interference (ckRNAi) is a key element for successful host colonisation. Whether mutualistic fungi of the Serendipitaceae family, known for their extremely broad host range, use sRNAs to colonize plant roots is still under debate. To address this question, we developed a pipeline to validate the accumulation, translocation, and activity of fungal sRNAs in post-transcriptional silencing of Arabidopsis thaliana genes. Using stem-loop RT-qPCR, we detected the expression of a specific set of Serendipita indica (Si)sRNAs, targeting host genes involved in cell wall organization, hormonal signalling regulation, immunity, and gene regulation. To confirm the gene silencing activity of these sRNAs in plant cells, SisRNAs were transiently expressed in protoplasts. Stem-loop PCR confirmed sRNAs expression and accumulation, while qPCR validated post-transcriptional gene silencing of their predicted target genes. Furthermore, Arabidopsis ARGONAUTE 1 immunoprecipitation (AtAGO1-IP) revealed the loading of fungal SisRNAs into the plant RNAi machinery, suggesting the translocation of SisRNA from the fungus into root cells. In conclusion, this study provides a blueprint for rapid selection and analysis of sRNA effectors and further supports the model of cross-kingdom communication in the Sebacinoid symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid39721427, year = {2024}, author = {Zhu, Y and Wu, Y and Li, X and Li, Y and Zheng, Z and Gao, Q and Ding, W and He, H and Qiu, L and Li, Y}, title = {Cadmium exposure increases insecticide sensitivity of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) by decrease the diversity of symbiotic bacteria.}, journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety}, volume = {290}, number = {}, pages = {117597}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117597}, pmid = {39721427}, issn = {1090-2414}, abstract = {Cadmium (Cd) is a prevalent environmental pollutant in agricultural ecosystems, particularly within paddy ecosystems, is readily absorbed by rice and enter herbivorous insects through the food chain, thereby influencing the implementation of integrated pest management strategies. However, the effect and mechanisms of Cd exposure on the sensitivity of pests in paddy to insecticides remain unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of Cd exposure on the fitness, insecticide sensitivity and symbiotic bacteria of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (white-backed planthopper, WBPH). Cd exposure did not affect the population growth of WBPH but significantly increased the sensitivity to three insecticides, nitenpyram, dinotefuran and etofenprox. Furthermore, Cd exposure reduced the diversity of symbiotic bacteria in WBPH, particularly decreasing the relative abundance of Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, Chryseobacterium and Pantoea, which were positively correlated with the survival rate of WBPH after Cd exposure and pesticide treatment. This indicates that Cd exposure may enhance insecticide sensitivity by disrupting the symbiotic bacteria equilibrium within WBPH. This study provides new insights into the symbiotic bacteria mediated increase in insecticide sensitivity due to heavy metal exposure, providing a foundation for utilizing compounds that disturb symbiotic bacteria balance in pest for pest control.}, } @article {pmid39720994, year = {2024}, author = {Khoso, AG and Li, Y and Liu, D}, title = {The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Claroideoglomus etunicatum (Glomerales: Claroideoglomeraceae) inoculated wheat plants mediated responses of Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to water deficit.}, journal = {Journal of economic entomology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jee/toae293}, pmid = {39720994}, issn = {1938-291X}, support = {31971431//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may promote growth and stress resilience of plants, particularly under water-deficit conditions. However, interactions among mycorrhizal fungi, wheat plants, and aphids like the English grain aphid Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under water-deficit stress are still not well understood. Here, we examined the colonization of the fungus Claroideoglomus etunicatum (Glomerales: Claroideoglomeraceae) on wheat, and its effects on development and behavior of S. avenae under different water regimes. The symbiosis between C. etunicatum and wheat tended to increase the total developmental times of S. avenae nymphs under water deficit, but decreased adult lifespans. Irrespective of water conditions or wheat cultivars (Xinong-979 and Chang-6794), this symbiosis tended to cause higher adult weights and fecundities of S. avenae. These findings suggested that inoculation of this fungus could induce some life history trait trade-offs for S. avenae. Inoculation of C. etunicatum caused significant increases in contents of total amino acids in Xinong-979, and contents of some individual amino acids (e.g., glutamine) in both cultivars. This aphid preferred settling on symbiotic plants, with alate individuals attracted to well-watered Xinong-979 from 4 and Chang-6794 from 24 h postrelease. Increased phloem feeding and reduced pathway phase time for S. avenae were found in symbiotic plants. The fungus C. etunicatum also significantly enhanced wheat growth, especially under water deficit, and increased contents of nonessential and essential amino acids in Xinong-979. Our results highlight complex interactions among fungus symbiosis, wheat cultivars, and water conditions, emphasizing the potential to boost wheat crop resilience in the context of global climate change.}, } @article {pmid39720072, year = {2024}, author = {Kedves, A and Yavuz, Ç and Kedves, O and Haspel, H and Kónya, Z}, title = {The response to shock loads of Ni-MOF and NiO NPs on aerobic granular sludge and algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {24}, pages = {e40796}, pmid = {39720072}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Currently, the increasing use of nickel metal-organic frameworks (Ni-MOF) and nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) has raised concerns regarding their potential environmental impact on wastewater treatment systems. Herein, the responses of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) and algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AB-AGS) to Ni-MOF and NiO NPs were investigated. The results showed that Ni-MOF concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/L significantly reduced nutrient removal in both systems, particularly affecting ammonia, nitrite, and phosphorus removal, while denitrification processes remained stable. AB-AGS exhibited greater tolerance to nickel than AGS, likely due to its higher content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), in which the algae were embedded, indicating a robust bacterial-algal symbiotic system. Conversely, NiO NPs had no adverse effects on bioreactor performance, likely due to their insolubility and integration into the sludge matrix. This research provides valuable insights into the potential future applications of AGS and AB-AGS technologies for treating wastewater contaminated with nickel and other heavy metals, highlighting the superior resilience of AB-AGS to nickel exposure.}, } @article {pmid39719775, year = {2024}, author = {Routray, D and Petijová, L and Sabovljević, M and Lang, I and Afjehi-Sadat, L and Demko, V and Goga, M}, title = {Allelopathic influence of usnic acid on Physcomitrium patens: A proteomics approach.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {109400}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109400}, pmid = {39719775}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Allelopathy, the chemical interaction of plants by their secondary metabolites with surrounding organisms, profoundly influences their functional features. Lichens, symbiotic associations of fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria, produce diverse secondary metabolites, among other usnic acid, which express to have potent biological activities. Mosses, i.e. Physcomitrium patens, share the habitat with other organisms including lichens, experiencing the allelopathic effects of their metabolites. In this study, we investigated the interference of usnic acid on P. patens as inferred by proteomics, shedding light on the physiological response of this moss. Our results revealed spreading inhibition of of P. patens, under usnic acid treatment (reduction of protonemal patches and enhanced gametophore growth), along with significant alterations in the moss proteome. The results showed that structural proteins and those involved in vital life function are stable or even increased under the treatments. Thus, proteins associated with photosynthesis, stress response, and defense mechanisms were up-regulated, while those involved in energy metabolism and protein biosynthesis were down-regulated. These findings enhance our understanding of moss responses to allelopathic stress and lay the groundwork for future investigations into the functional significance of specific proteins in moss adaptation to environmental challenges.}, } @article {pmid39718283, year = {2024}, author = {Shang, P and Zheng, R and Li, Y and Han, S and Tang, S and Wu, J and Duan, T}, title = {Effect of AM fungi on the growth and powdery mildew development of Astragalus sinicus L. under water stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {109422}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109422}, pmid = {39718283}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widely existing soil microorganisms that form symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plants. They are important for enhancing adversity resistance, including resistance to disease and water stresses. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether the benefits can be maintained in regulating the occurrence of plant diseases under drought, flooding stress and during water restoration. In this study, we investigated the effect of AM fungus (Glomus versiforme) on the development of powdery mildew in Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus) under drought, flooding, and water recovery. The results showed that AM fungal symbiosis promoted the growth of Chinese milk vetch under water stress conditions. It increased the accumulation of ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA), enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and decreased the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) obtained from transcriptome sequencing under each stress were subjected to weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and a total of 12 gene co-expression modules were obtained. The analysis of the relationship between the co-expressed genes in the 12 modules and plant physiological traits showed that the magent, grey60 and darkturquoise modules were significantly associated with ET, SA, JA, ABA, plant defence enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 content. Water stress and disease were related with the up-regulated expression of genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation, plant hormone signal transduction and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Importantly, inoculation with AM fungus reduced the incidence of powdery mildew under drought stress by 16.54%. In summary, the results of this study showed that inoculation with AM had a positive effect on powdery mildew development tolerance in Chinese milk vetch under drought and flooding stresses and stress recovery. This provides a good basis for field management and sustainable growth of green manure crop Chinese milk vetch.}, } @article {pmid39717715, year = {2024}, author = {Lai, CT and Hsiao, YT and Wu, LH}, title = {Evidence of horizontal transmission of Wolbachia wCcep in rice moths parasitized by Trichogramma chilonis and its persistence across generations.}, journal = {Frontiers in insect science}, volume = {4}, number = {}, pages = {1519986}, pmid = {39717715}, issn = {2673-8600}, abstract = {The horizontal transmission of endosymbionts between hosts and parasitoids plays a crucial role in biological control, yet its mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigates the dynamics of horizontal transfer of Wolbachia (wCcep) from the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica, to its parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis. Through PCR detection and phylogenetic analysis, we demonstrated the presence of identical wCcep strains in both host and parasitoid populations, providing evidence for natural horizontal transmission. To investigate thoroughly, Wolbachia-free colonies were acquired through tetracycline treatment, and the initial density of wCcep in host eggs significantly influences transmission efficiency. High-density wCcep infections led to rapid transmission, with F1 parasitoid titers increasing by as much as 100-fold, while low-density infections exhibited more gradual increases. Additionally, without continuous exposure to infected hosts, wCcep density in T. chilonis diminished over generations. These findings enhance our understanding of Wolbachia's transfer dynamics and have important implications for developing effective and sustainable biological control strategies using parasitoid wasps, particularly in managing Wolbachia-related pest populations in agricultural systems.}, } @article {pmid39716953, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, Y and Chen, C and Chen, W and Liu, H and Xiao, R and Ji, H and Li, X}, title = {A Comprehensive Transcriptome Atlas Reveals the Crucial Role of LncRNAs in Maintaining Nodulation Homeostasis in Soybean.}, journal = {Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2412104}, doi = {10.1002/advs.202412104}, pmid = {39716953}, issn = {2198-3844}, support = {2021YFF1001201//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2023YFD12006000//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 32330078//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) provides nitrogen for soybean. A primary challenge in enhancing yield through efficient SNF lies in striking a balance between its high energy consumption and plant growth. However, the systemic transcriptional reprogramming during nodulation remains limited. Here, this work conducts a comprehensive RNA-seq of the roots, cotyledons and leaves of inoculated-soybean. This work finds 88,814 mRNAs and 6,156 noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) across various organs. Notably, this work identifies 6,679 nodulation-regulated mRNAs (NR-mRNAs), 1,681 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) (NR-lncRNAs), and 59 miRNAs (NR-miRNAs). The majority of these NR-RNAs are associated with plant-microbial interaction and exhibit high organ specificity. Roots display the highest abundance of NR-ncRNAs and the most dynamic crosstalk between NR-lncRNAs and NR-miRNAs in a GmNARK-dependent manner. This indicates that while each tissue responds uniquely, GmNARK serves as a primary regulator of the transcriptional control of nodulated-plants. Furthermore, this work proves that lnc-NNR6788 and lnc-NNR7059 promote nodulation by regulating their target genes. This work also shows that the nodulation- and GmNARK-regulated (NNR) lnc-NNR4481 negatively regulates nodulation through miR172c within a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. The spatial organ-type transcriptomic atlas establishes a benchmark and provides a valuable resource for integrative analyses of the mechanism underlying of nodulation and plant growth balance.}, } @article {pmid39716839, year = {2024}, author = {Alberts, J and Ahlqvist-Björkroth, S and Lehtonen, L and Montirosso, R}, title = {Interventions to foster connections and interactions.}, journal = {Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/apa.17553}, pmid = {39716839}, issn = {1651-2227}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The Special Issue articles describe six systems of parental interventions and developmental care several differences among each of the approaches. Nevertheless, on a deeper level there are profound similarities shared across the six systems. These similarities are at the heart of developmental care in general and parental interventions in particular.

AIM: The aim of this paper is to highlight the commonalities of these systems of developmental processes and parental interventions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We discuss the concept of symbiosis as a theoretical framework for entering into a new understanding of mother-infant and family systems biology based on perspectives that share themes of interconnection and mutualism.

RESULTS: There are many rigorous, empirical studies of co-regulation, mutualism and interdependence in the human parent-offspring system that is moving us forward into this new territory. Perspectives that emphasize interconnection and interpenetration, reciprocity and mutualism, and integration over reduction are expanding to fill the spaces needed to answer today's questions.

DISCUSSION: Recent contributions of perspectives on neurocognitive development have buttressed the symbiosis view with constructs of prenatal origins, such as 'co-embodiment' and 'co-homeostasis', that illuminate maternal-fetal reciprocities seen to underlie initiation and maintenance of developmental trajectories essential to support fetuses born prematurely into a NICU environment.

CONCLUSION: The six systems of parental intervention and developmental care presented in this Special Issue represent foundational approaches to developmental care for prematurely born infants. All these approaches recognize forms of reciprocity and mutualism on many levels, always including the infants as active parts of multiple regulatory systems.}, } @article {pmid39716505, year = {2024}, author = {Jia, X and Li, Y and Chen, L and Xiao, Y and Yang, N and Luo, H and Guan, J and Xu, D}, title = {Identification and comparative genomic analysis of endophytic fungi in Bletilla striata and its potential for promoting militarine bioaccumulation.}, journal = {Fitoterapia}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {106356}, doi = {10.1016/j.fitote.2024.106356}, pmid = {39716505}, issn = {1873-6971}, abstract = {Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f is renowned for its traditional medicinal applications and a spectrum of pharmacological activities, which is intricately linked to militarine. Addressing sustainable production of B. striata and militarine necessitates innovative strategies. Endophytic fungi, residing within plant tissues and establishing symbiotic relationships, act as secondary genomes of plants, co-regulating plant growth and secondary metabolite synthesis. Despite their potential, the genetic and metabolic diversity, functional activity, and regulatory interactions of endophytic fungi with B. striata remain unexplored. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating endophytic fungi that could enhance B. striata growth and militarine biosynthesis. The study revealed that endophytic fungi from pseudobulbs, roots, and stems were co-cultured with callus tissue of B. striata, and it was discovered that Serendipita indica from the Serendipita genus can enhance militarine accumulation. Subsequently, key genes, core enzymes, and regulatory factors related to militarine biosynthesis in the S. indica genome were analyzed. By employing advanced biotechnological and comparative genomic approaches, we elucidated the composition and distribution of regulatory factors across different endophytic fungal genomes associated with B. striata. This research not only advances our understanding of the symbiotic relationship between B. striata and its endophytic fungi but also provides a foundational blueprint for the sustainable exploitation and enhancement of militarine production.}, } @article {pmid39715861, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, Y and Cai, C and Li, L}, title = {Research on perceived brand characteristics of marathon participants.}, journal = {Scientific reports}, volume = {14}, number = {1}, pages = {30621}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-024-81564-y}, pmid = {39715861}, issn = {2045-2322}, mesh = {Humans ; *Marathon Running/physiology ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Perception ; Cities ; Running/psychology ; Young Adult ; }, abstract = {Leveraging sporting events to drive urban development has been proven effective. However, the influence of city image on the perceived experience of branded marathon events, as an embodied practice within urban spaces, remains underexplored. This study considers marathon races as significant activities integrated into urban environments and specifically investigates how city image affects the perceived experience of branded marathon events. The objective of the research is to evaluate how city functions, governance, characteristics, and event culture and services influence marathon participants' perceptions of branded events. An empirical analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted with a sample of 422 participants from the 2022 Xiamen International Marathon to examine the relationships among these variables. This investigation aims to explore and quantify the impact of city characteristics on participants' perceptions, providing actionable insights for enhancing city branding through sporting events. The findings indicate that: (1) City functions are essential foundational conditions influencing participants' perceptions of branded marathon events. (2) City governance significantly impacts participants' perceptions of these events. (3) City characteristics are important sources that shape participants' perceptions of branded marathon events. (4) Event culture and services are decisive factors influencing participants' perceptions of branded marathon events. The results highlight the critical interplay between urban management and the successful development of branded marathon events, enhancing the understanding of the symbiotic relationship between city governance and event success, and offering strategic guidance for event organizers and urban planners.}, } @article {pmid39714211, year = {2024}, author = {Facimoto, CT and Clements, KD and White, WL and Handley, KM}, title = {Hindguts of Kyphosus sydneyanus harbor phylogenetically and genomically distinct Alistipes capable of degrading algal polysaccharides and diazotrophy.}, journal = {mSystems}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0100724}, doi = {10.1128/msystems.01007-24}, pmid = {39714211}, issn = {2379-5077}, abstract = {The genus Alistipes (Bacteroidota) is most often associated with human clinical samples and livestock. However, Alistipes are also prevalent in the hindgut of the marine herbivorous fish Kyphosus sydneyanus (Silver Drummer), and analysis of their carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) encoding gene repertoires suggests Alistipes degrade macroalgal biomass to support fish nutrition. To further explore host-associated traits unique to K. sydneyanus-derived Alistipes, we compared 445 high-quality genomes of Alistipes available in public databases (e.g., human and ruminant associated) with 99 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the K. sydneyanus gut. Analyses showed that Alistipes from K. sydneyanus are phylogenetically distinct from other hosts and comprise 26 species based on genomic average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses. Ruminant- and fish-derived Alistipes had significantly smaller genomes than human-derived strains, and lower GC contents, possibly reflecting a symbiotic relationship with their hosts. The fish-derived Alistipes were further delineated by their genetic capacity to fix nitrogen, biosynthesize cobalamin (vitamin B12), and utilize marine polysaccharides (e.g., alginate and carrageenan). The distribution of CAZymes encoded by Alistipes from K. sydneyanus was not phylogenetically conserved. Distinct CAZyme gene compositions were observed between closely related species. Conversely, CAZyme gene clusters (operons) targeting the same substrates were found across diverse species. Nonetheless, transcriptional data suggest that closely related Alistipes target specific groups of substrates within the fish hindgut. Results highlight host-specific adaptations among Alistipes in the fish hindgut that likely contribute to K. sydneyanus digesting their seaweed diet, and diverse and redundant carbohydrate-degrading capabilities across these Alistipes species.IMPORTANCEDespite numerous reports of the Alistipes genus in humans and ruminants, its diversity and function remain understudied, and there is no clear consensus on whether it positively or negatively impacts host health. Given the symbiotic role of gut communities in the Kyphosus sydneyanus hindgut, where Alistipes are prevalent, and the diversity of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) encoded that likely contribute to the breakdown of important substrates in the host diet, it is likely that this genus provides essential services to the fish host. Therefore, considering its metabolism in various contexts and hosts is crucial for understanding the ecology of the genus. Our study highlights the distinct genetic traits of Alistipes based on host association, and the potential of fish-associated Alistipes to transform macroalgae biomass into nutraceuticals (alginate oligosaccharides, β-glucans, sulfated galactans, and sulfated fucans).}, } @article {pmid39714151, year = {2024}, author = {Domingo-Serrano, L and Sanchis-López, C and Alejandre, C and Soldek, J and Palacios, JM and Albareda, M}, title = {A microaerobically induced small heat shock protein contributes to Rhizobium leguminosarum/Pisum sativum symbiosis and interacts with a wide range of bacteroid proteins.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0138524}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01385-24}, pmid = {39714151}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {During the establishment of the symbiosis with legume plants, rhizobia are exposed to hostile physical and chemical microenvironments to which adaptations are required. Stress response proteins including small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) were previously shown to be differentially regulated in bacteroids induced by Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae UPM791 in different hosts. In this work, we undertook a functional analysis of the host-dependent sHSP RLV_1399. A rlv_1399-deleted mutant strain was impaired in the symbiotic performance with peas but not with lentil plants. Expression of rlv_1399 gene was induced under microaerobic conditions in a FnrN-dependent manner consistent with the presence of an anaerobox in its regulatory region. Overexpression of this sHSP improves the viability of bacterial cultures following exposure to hydrogen peroxide and to cationic nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) antimicrobial peptides. Co-purification experiments have identified proteins related to nitrogenase synthesis, stress response, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and to other relevant cellular functions as potential substrates for RLV_1399 in pea bacteroids. These results, along with the presence of unusually high number of copies of shsp genes in rhizobial genomes, indicate that sHSPs might play a relevant role in the adaptation of the bacteria against stress conditions inside their host.IMPORTANCEThe identification and analysis of the mechanisms involved in host-dependent bacterial stress response is important to develop optimal Rhizobium/legume combinations to maximize nitrogen fixation for inoculant development and might have also applications to extend nitrogen fixation to other crops. The data presented in this work indicate that sHSP RLV_1399 is part of the bacterial stress response to face specific stress conditions offered by each legume host. The identification of a wide diversity of sHSP potential targets reveals the potential of this protein to protect essential bacteroid functions. The finding that nitrogenase is the most abundant RLV_1399 substrate suggests that this protein is required to obtain an optimal nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid39713446, year = {2024}, author = {Gaddy, KE and Septer, AN and Mruk, K and Milton, ME}, title = {A mutualistic model bacterium is lethal to non-symbiotic hosts via the type VI secretion system.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.12.13.628426}, pmid = {39713446}, issn = {2692-8205}, abstract = {What makes a bacterium pathogenic? Since the early days of germ theory, researchers have categorized bacteria as pathogens or non-pathogens, those that cause harm and those that do not, but this binary view is not always accurate. Vibrio fischeri is an exclusive mutualistic symbiont found within the light organs of Hawaiian bobtail squid. This symbiotic interaction requires V. fischeri to utilize a range of behaviors and produce molecules that are often associated with pathogenicity. This juxtaposition of employing "pathogenic" behaviors for a symbiotic relationship led the field to focus on how V. fischeri establishes a beneficial association with its host. In this study, we observe that V. fischeri induces mortality in zebrafish embryos and Artemia nauplii. Non-lethal doses of V. fischeri leads to zebrafish growth delays and phenotypes indicative of disease. Our data also provide evidence that the conserved type VI secretion system on chromosome I (T6SS1) plays a role in the V. fischeri -induced mortality of zebrafish embryos and Artemia nauplii. These results support the hypothesis that the V. fischeri T6SS1 is involved in eukaryotic cell interactions. Despite its traditional view as a beneficial symbiont, we provide evidence that V. fischeri is capable of harming aquatic organisms, indicating its potential to be pathogenic toward non-symbiotic hosts.}, } @article {pmid39713146, year = {2024}, author = {He, S and Gao, L and Zhang, Z and Ming, Z and Gao, F and Ma, S and Zou, M}, title = {Diversity analysis of microorganisms on the surface of four summer fruit varieties in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e18752}, pmid = {39713146}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Fruit/microbiology ; China ; *RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Microbiota/genetics ; Malus/microbiology ; Prunus domestica/microbiology ; Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification ; Fungi/classification/genetics/isolation & purification ; Proteobacteria/genetics/isolation & purification ; Firmicutes/genetics/isolation & purification ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Bacteroidetes/genetics/isolation & purification/classification ; Biodiversity ; }, abstract = {Improper storage of post-harvest fruits leads to significant losses, especially due to microbial-induced decay. Understanding the naturally occurring microbial communities on fruit surfaces and their functions is the first step in the development of new strategies for controlling post-harvest fruit decay. These new strategies could generate significant economic value by improving fruit preservation and extending the shelf-life of fruit. In the present study, 16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing technologies were used to analyze the diversity and composition of microorganisms on the surfaces of four different fruit varieties: three plum varieties and one apple variety, all from the same orchard in Donghe District, Baotou City, China. The results displayed no notable difference in bacterial diversity on the surfaces of the four varieties of fruits (P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in fungal diversity (P < 0.05). The most abundant bacterial phyla detected on the fruit surfaces were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes; the most abundant fungal phyla were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. Though microbial compositions on the fruit surfaces differed between the fruits, the surface microbial community structure of the three plum varieties exhibited higher similarity, indicating that fruit type is a key factor influencing the composition of surface microorganisms. There were also differences in the epidermal microbial community composition between the fruits involved in this study and fruits of the same species reported from other regions, suggesting that geographical factors also play a critical role in microbial composition. The correlation analysis revealed significant associations between the microorganisms with the highest abundance on the surface of the fruits, suggesting the existence of symbiotic and mutualistic relationships between these microorganisms, but the specific mechanisms behind these relationships need to be further explored. This study provides a basis for the establishment of post-harvest fruit preservation strategies.}, } @article {pmid39713078, year = {2024}, author = {Maiti, A and Mondal, S and Choudhury, S and Bandopadhyay, A and Mukherjee, S and Sikdar, N}, title = {Oncometabolites in pancreatic cancer: Strategies and its implications.}, journal = {World journal of experimental medicine}, volume = {14}, number = {4}, pages = {96005}, pmid = {39713078}, issn = {2220-315X}, abstract = {Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is a catastrophic disease, being third lethal in both the genders around the globe. The possible reasons are extreme disease invasiveness, highly fibrotic and desmoplastic stroma, dearth of confirmatory diagnostic approaches and resistance to chemotherapeutics. This inimitable tumor microenvironment (TME) or desmoplasia with excessive extracellular matrix accumulation, create an extremely hypovascular, hypoxic and nutrient-deficient zone inside the tumor. To survive, grow and proliferate in such tough TME, pancreatic tumor and stromal cells transform their metabolism. Transformed glucose, glutamine, fat, nucleotide metabolism and inter-metabolite communication between tumor and TME in synergism, impart therapy resistance, and immunosuppression in PanCa. Thus, a finer knowledge of altered metabolism would uncover its metabolic susceptibilities. These unique metabolic targets may help to device novel diagnostic/prognostic markers and therapeutic strategies for better management of PanCa. In this review, we sum up reshaped metabolic pathways in PanCa to formulate detection and remedial strategies of this devastating disease.}, } @article {pmid39712641, year = {2024}, author = {Shalini, TS and Prathiviraj, R and Senthilraja, P}, title = {Metagenomic analysis and bioactive profiling of kombucha fermentation: antioxidant, antibacterial activities, and molecular docking insights into gastric cancer therapeutics.}, journal = {Toxicology research}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {tfae224}, pmid = {39712641}, issn = {2045-452X}, abstract = {Kombucha is fermented and produced with a biofilm called a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, which is drunk all over the world for its beneficial effects on human health and energy levels. The metagenomic study of kombucha frequently detected microorganisms in proteobacteria, firmicutes, and actinobacteria. And also, yeast and fungi are Ascomycota and Basidiomycota is present in green leaf and sugarcane juice fermented kombucha. The kombucha extracts' biological activities were assessed using pH, total phenolic content, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activity. Fermentation may enhance biological activity and the generation of bioactive substances. These results showed the pH -3.1 ± 0.2 and TPC -0.721 μg/mL of gallic acid equivalent. The antioxidant radicals scavenging activity of kombucha was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, H2O2 and TAC. The bioactive chemicals identified by FT-IR and HR-LC/MS analysis of Kombucha totaled 45 components. The identified compounds were further move on to perform molecular docking study against gastric cancer target proteins 4H9M, 2DQ7 and 1TVO are binding with Nequinate compounds showing best LibDock scores 105.12, 114.49, and 108.97. So, this study suggests that knowledge can potentially active bioactive compounds are present in kombucha and it's stimulated the mechanism of gastrointestinal transit. Additionally, the metagenomic analysis gives strength to understand the bacterial and fungal distribution and its molecular mechanism from Kombucha.}, } @article {pmid39710945, year = {2025}, author = {Keller, V and Calchera, A and Otte, J and Schmitt, I}, title = {Genomic features of lichen-associated black fungi.}, journal = {IUBMB life}, volume = {77}, number = {1}, pages = {e2934}, pmid = {39710945}, issn = {1521-6551}, mesh = {*Lichens/genetics/microbiology ; *Genome, Fungal ; *Phylogeny ; *Ascomycota/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Genomics ; }, abstract = {Lichens are mutualistic associations consisting of a primary fungal host, and one to few primary phototrophic symbiont(s), usually a green alga and/or a cyanobacterium. They form complex thallus structures, which provide unique and stable habitats for many other microorganisms. Frequently isolated from lichens are the so-called black fungi, or black yeasts, which are mainly characterized by melanized cell walls and extremophilic lifestyles. It is presently unclear in which ways these fungi interact with other members of the lichen symbiosis. Genomic resources of lichen-associated black fungi are needed to better understand the physiological potential of these fungi and shed light on the complexity of the lichen consortium. Here, we present high-quality genomes of 14 black fungal lineages, isolated from lichens of the rock-dwelling genus Umbilicaria. Nine of the lineages belong to the Eurotiomycetes (Chaetothyriales), four to the Dothideomycetes, and one to the Arthoniomycetes, representing the first genome of a black fungus in this class. The PacBio-based assemblies are highly contiguous (5-42 contigs per genome, mean coverage of 79-502, N50 of 1.0-7.3 mega-base-pair (Mb), Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) completeness generally ≥95.4%). Most contigs are flanked by a telomere sequence, suggesting we achieved near chromosome-level assemblies. Genome sizes range between 26 and 44 Mb. Transcriptome-based annotations yielded ~11,000-18,000 genes per genome. We analyzed genome content with respect to repetitive elements, biosynthetic genes, and effector genes. Each genome contained a polyketide synthase gene related to the dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin pathway. This research provides insights into genome content and metabolic potential of these relatively unknown, but frequently encountered lichen associates.}, } @article {pmid39710701, year = {2024}, author = {Ardpairin, J and Subkrasae, C and Dumidae, A and Pansri, S and Homkaew, C and Meesil, W and Kumchantuek, T and Phoungpetchara, I and Dillman, AR and Pavesi, C and Bode, HB and Tandhavanant, S and Thanwisai, A and Vitta, A}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes showed molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria glabrata, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni.}, journal = {Parasites & vectors}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {529}, pmid = {39710701}, issn = {1756-3305}, support = {PHD / 0086/2561//the National Research Council of Thailand/ ; R2567B034//Naresuan University (NU) and the National Science, Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Biomphalaria/microbiology/parasitology ; *Molluscacides/pharmacology ; *Symbiosis ; Photorhabdus/genetics/physiology ; Xenorhabdus/genetics/physiology ; Schistosoma mansoni/physiology/drug effects ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Biomphalaria glabrata acts as the intermediate host of schistosomes that causes human schistosomiasis. Symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus associated with Steinernema and Heterorhabditis, produce secondary metabolites with several biological activities. Controlling B. glabrata is a potential strategy to limit the transmission of schistosomiasis. The aims of this study were to identify Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria based on recA sequencing and evaluate their molluscicidal activity against B. glabrata snail.

RESULTS: A total of 31 bacterial isolates belonging to Xenorhabdus (n = 19) and Photorhabdus (n = 12) (X. ehlersii, X. stockiae, X. indica, X. griffinae, P. luminescens, P. akhurstii, and P. laumondii subsp. laumondii were molecularly identified based on recA sequencing. Five isolates of bacterial extracts showed potential molluscicide, with 100% snail mortality. P. laumondii subsp. laumondii (bALN19.5_TH) showed the highest effectiveness with lethal concentration (LC) values of 54.52 µg/mL and 89.58 µg/mL for LC50 and LC90, respectively. Histopathological changes of the snail were observed in the head-foot region, which showed ruptures of the epithelium covering the foot and deformation of the muscle fiber. A hemocyte of the treated snails was observed in the digestive tubules of the digestive glands. The hermaphrodite glands of treated snails showed a reduction in the number of spermatozoa, degeneration of oocytes, and deformation and destruction in the hermaphrodite gland. In addition, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of three symbiotic bacteria contained compounds such as GameXPeptide, Xenofuranone, and Rhabdopeptide.

CONCLUSIONS: Five bacterial extracts showed good activity against B. glabrata, especially P. laumondii subsp. laumondii and X. stockiae, which produced virulent secondary metabolites resulting in the death of the snails. They also caused histopathological alterations in the foot, digestive glands, and hermaphrodite glands of the snails. This study suggests that extracts from these bacteria show promise as molluscicides for the control of B. glabrata.}, } @article {pmid39710632, year = {2024}, author = {Krueger, CB and Costa Netto, JR and Arifuzzaman, M and Fritschi, FB}, title = {Characterization of genetic diversity and identification of genetic loci associated with carbon allocation in N2 fixing soybean.}, journal = {BMC genomics}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {1233}, pmid = {39710632}, issn = {1471-2164}, support = {2120-172-0142 and 2220-172-0149//United Soybean Board/ ; 2120-172-0142 and 2220-172-0149//United Soybean Board/ ; 2120-172-0142 and 2220-172-0149//United Soybean Board/ ; 2120-172-0142 and 2220-172-0149//United Soybean Board/ ; }, mesh = {*Glycine max/genetics/metabolism/growth & development ; *Quantitative Trait Loci ; *Genetic Variation ; *Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; *Carbon/metabolism ; Phenotype ; Genotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Plant Roots/genetics/metabolism/growth & development ; Biomass ; Chromosome Mapping ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Efficient capture and use of resources is critical for optimal plant growth and productivity. Both shoot and root growth are essential for resource acquisition, namely light and CO2 by the shoot and water and mineral nutrients by roots. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], one of the most valuable crops world-wide, uses an additional strategy, symbiotic N fixation (SNF), for N acquisition. SNF relies on development of specialized root organs known as nodules, which represent a distinct C sink. The genetic diversity of C partitioning in N fixing soybean to shoots, roots, and nodules has not been previously investigated but is valuable to better understand consequences of differential C allocation and to develop genetic resources, including identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs).

RESULTS: A diversity panel of 402 soybean genotypes was phenotyped outdoors in a deep-tube system without addition of mineral N to measure allocation of biomass to the shoot, root, and nodules, as well as to determine nodule number, mean nodule biomass, and total shoot N accumulation. Wide ranges in phenotypes were observed for each of these traits, demonstrating extensive natural diversity in C partitioning and SNF in soybean. Using a set of 35,647 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, we identified 121 SNPs tagging 103 QTLs that include both 84 novel and 19 previously identified QTLs for the eight examined traits. A candidate gene search identified 79 promising gene models in the vicinity of these QTLs. Favorable alleles of QTLs identified here may be used in breeding programs to develop elite cultivars with altered C partitioning.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel insights into the diversity of biomass allocation in soybean and illustrates that the traits measured here are heritable and quantitative. QTLs identified in this study can be used in genomic prediction models as well as for further investigation of candidate genes and their roles in determining partitioning of fixed C. Enhancing our understanding of C partitioning in plants may lead to elite cultivars with optimized resource use efficiencies.}, } @article {pmid39709880, year = {2024}, author = {Jiang, S and Lu, H and Xie, Y and Zhou, T and Dai, Z and Sun, R and He, L and Li, C}, title = {Toxicity of microplastics and nano-plastics to coral-symbiotic alga (Dinophyceae Symbiodinium): Evidence from alga physiology, ultrastructure, OJIP kinetics and multi-omics.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {273}, number = {}, pages = {123002}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2024.123002}, pmid = {39709880}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Corals are representative of typical symbiotic organisms. The coral-algal (Symbiodinium spp.) symbiosis drives the productivity of entire coral reefs. In recent years, microplastics (MPs) and nano-plastics (NPs) have been shown to disrupt this symbiosis, leading to coral bleaching. However, how MPs/NPs affect the Symbiodinium spp. is less thoroughly explored. In this work, Dinophyceae Symbiodinium was employed as a model to study the toxicity effects of MPs and NPs with different concentrations (covering environment-related concentration) toward algae in terms of cellular responses, ultrastructure, OJIP kinetics curve and multi-omics. MPs and NPs caused adverse effects on algae growth throughout whole growing phase, with only slight differences observed in the maximal inhibition ratio. In addition to cell surface shrinkage, holes and plate sutures shedding of algae, the presence of distorted thylakoids, plasmolysis and expanded vesicle volume were observed due to the oxidative stress and physical damage caused by MPs/NPs. The results of OJIP kinetics and JIP-test revealed that MPs/NPs-induced deactivation of oxygen-releasing complex (OEC) centers, reduced electron transfer (photosystem II, PSII), and inefficient energy conversion of antenna proteins were the primary factors for photosynthesis reduction. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) showed that the impairment of photosynthesis further induces metabolic disturbances, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and nucleotide metabolism dysregulation, thereby exacerbating DNA damage in the algae. Proteomics further validate the accuracy of our results and underscore the significance of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) signaling system in algae responding to MP/NPs acclimation. Collectively, our findings provide comprehensive insights into the ecotoxicity of NPs/MPs on symbiotic algae.}, } @article {pmid39709662, year = {2024}, author = {Cao, L and Wang, L and Qi, Y and Yang, S and Gao, J and Liu, Q and Song, L and Hu, R and Wang, Z and Zhang, H}, title = {Enhanced effect of ferrous sulfate on nitrogen retention and PBAT degradation during co-composting by combing with biochar-loaded FN1 bacterial composites.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {373}, number = {}, pages = {123749}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123749}, pmid = {39709662}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {The treatment of biodegradable plastics through composting has garnered increasing attention. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Biochar FN1 bacteria and ferrous sulfate on nitrogen retention, greenhouse gas emissions, and degradable plastics during composting and to elucidate their synergistic mechanisms on microbial communities. Compared with the control, applying biochar-loaded FN1 bacteria composites combined with Ferrous sulfate (SGC) markedly accelerated organic matter degradation and reduced cumulative CO2 and NH3 emissions. The synergistic interaction between the composites and Ferrous sulfate significantly enhanced NH4[+]-N levels in the thermophilic phase and NO3[-]-N levels in the cooling phase, ultimately decreasing nitrogen loss by 14.9% (P < 0.05) and increasing the seed germination index (GI) by 22.5% (P < 0.05). Additionally, PBAT plastic degradation was improved by 31.6% (P < 0.05). The SGC treatment also altered the richness and diversity of the bacterial community in both the compost and the PBAT plastic sphere, particularly affecting Sphingobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium at the genus level. Symbiotic network analysis and Redundancy Analysis revealed that these functional degradation bacteria were significantly positively correlated with NO3[-]-N levels and PBAT degradation. Furthermore, structural equation modelling indicated a positive relationship between PBAT degradation rate and composting temperature (r = 0.69, p < 0.05). The findings suggested that Fe[2+] not only enhanced the FN1 activity but also promoted PBAT degradation by increasing ·OH content on the PBAT plastic sphere. Overall, the combined use of biochar-loaded FN1 bacteria and Ferrous sulfate effectively supports nitrogen retention and plastic degradation during composting.}, } @article {pmid39709489, year = {2024}, author = {Chen, S and Qi, H and Zhu, X and Liu, T and Fan, Y and Su, Q and Gong, Q and Jia, C and Liu, T}, title = {Screening and identification of antimicrobial peptides from the gut microbiome of cockroach Blattella germanica.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {272}, pmid = {39709489}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *Antimicrobial Peptides/pharmacology ; Mice ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Bacteria/drug effects/classification/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Blattellidae/microbiology ; Cockroaches/microbiology ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The overuse of antibiotics has led to lethal multi-antibiotic-resistant microorganisms around the globe, with restricted availability of novel antibiotics. Compared to conventional antibiotics, evolutionarily originated antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising alternatives to address these issues. The gut microbiome of Blattella germanica represents a previously untapped resource of naturally evolving AMPs for developing antimicrobial agents.

RESULTS: Using the in-house designed tool "AMPidentifier," AMP candidates were mined from the gut microbiome of B. germanica, and their activities were validated both in vitro and in vivo. Among filtered candidates, AMP1, derived from the symbiotic microorganism Blattabacterium cuenoti, demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, low cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells, and a lack of hemolytic effects. Mechanistic studies revealed that AMP1 rapidly permeates the bacterial cell and accumulates intracellularly, resulting in a gradual and mild depolarization of the cell membrane during the initial incubation period, suggesting minimal direct impact on membrane integrity. Furthermore, observations from fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicated abnormalities in bacterial binary fission and compromised cell structure. These findings led to the hypothesis that AMP1 may inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis. Furthermore, AMP1 showed potent antibacterial and wound healing effects in mice, with comparable performances of vancomycin.

CONCLUSIONS: This study exemplifies an interdisciplinary approach to screening safe and effective AMPs from natural biological tissues, and our identified AMP 1 holds promising potential for clinical application.}, } @article {pmid39709001, year = {2024}, author = {Mao, B and Wang, YY and Li, SY and Fu, Y and Xiao, YL and Wang, YF}, title = {A potential role for the interaction of Wolbachia surface proteins with the Drosophila microtubulin in maintenance of endosymbiosis and affecting spermiogenesis.}, journal = {Journal of insect physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {104743}, doi = {10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104743}, pmid = {39709001}, issn = {1879-1611}, abstract = {Wolbachia, as a widely infected intracellular symbiotic bacterium in Arthropoda, is able to manipulate the reproduction of insect hosts for facilitating their own transmission. Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is the most common phenotype that Wolbachia induced in insect hosts where they resulted in the failure of uninfected egg hatch when fertilized with the sperm derived from Wolbachia-infected males, suggesting that the sperm are modified by Wolbachia during spermatogenesis. Although the molecular mechanisms of CI are beginning to be understood, the effects of Wolbachia on the symbiotic relationship and the proper dynamics of spermatogenesis have not yet been fully investigated. We report here that Wolbachia infection induced a significant upregulation of betaTub85D in the testis of Drosophila melanogaster. Knockdown of betaTub85D in fly testes resulted in significant decrease in the copy number of Wolbachia surface protein gene (wsp), indicating a notable reduction of Wolbachia density. Pull-down analyses revealed that WSP interacted with the betaTub85D of D. melanogaster. Wolbachia infection altered the interactome between betaTub85D and other proteins in the testes, and may thus change the protein synthesis and metabolic pathways. Wolbachia infection induced not only an interaction of betaTub85D with Mst77F but also increase in phosphorylated Mst77F. These results suggest that Wolbachia WSP protein might play important roles in anchoring the endosymbiont to the host's cytoskeleton and consequently interfere the interactions among key proteins involved in spermatogenesis in the insect host testes, resulting in modified sperm.}, } @article {pmid39708146, year = {2024}, author = {Zhao, L and Zhang, S and Li, J and Zhang, C and Xiao, R and Bai, X and Xu, H and Zhang, F}, title = {Unveiling Diversity and Function: Venom-Associated Microbes in Two Spiders, Heteropoda venatoria and Chilobrachys guangxiensis.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {156}, pmid = {39708146}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {Animals ; *Spiders/microbiology/physiology ; *Spider Venoms ; *Bacteria/genetics/classification/drug effects/isolation & purification ; Apoptosis ; Symbiosis ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology ; }, abstract = {Spiders are natural predators of agricultural pests, primarily due to the potent venom in their venom glands. Spider venom is compositionally complex and holds research value. This study analyzes the diversity of symbiotic bacteria in spider venom glands and venom, as well as the biological activity of culturable symbiotic bacteria. Focusing on the venom glands and venom of Heteropoda venatoria and Chilobrachys guangxiensis, we identified a diverse array of microorganisms. High-throughput sequencing detected 2151 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), spanning 31 phyla, 75 classes, and 617 genera. A total of 125 strains of cultivable bacteria were isolated. Using the Oxford cup method, crude extracts from 46 of these strains exhibited inhibitory effects against at least one indicator bacterium. MTT (Thiazolyl blue) assays revealed that the crude extracts from 43 strains had inhibitory effects on tumor cell line MGC-803 growth. Additionally, DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2'-phenylindole) staining and flow cytometry were employed to detect cell apoptosis. The anti-inflammatory activity of nine bacterial strains was assessed using a NO assay kit and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study further investigated the biological activity of venom, exploring the relationship between the venom and the functional activity of venom-associated bacteria.}, } @article {pmid39707587, year = {2024}, author = {Corrêa, JD and Carlos, PPS and Faria, GA and Pacheco, LCR and da Costa, VS and Mendes, IRR and de Oliveira, AB and Colombo, APV}, title = {The Healthy Oral Microbiome: A Changing Ecosystem throughout the Human Lifespan.}, journal = {Journal of dental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {220345241297583}, doi = {10.1177/00220345241297583}, pmid = {39707587}, issn = {1544-0591}, abstract = {Microorganisms have co-evolved with a variety of plants and animals, developing complex symbiotic relationships with their hosts and the environment. The diversity of symbionts acquired over time help their hosts to adapt, survive, and evolve more rapidly and efficiently, improving fitness across the lifespan. Understanding these synergistic relationships between humans and their endogenous microbiota may provide valuable information on human physiology and on potential mechanisms associated with the onset of diseases. This review summarizes current data on the composition and functionality of the predominant taxa of the healthy oral microbiome across different ages and habitats within the oral cavity, critically pointing out the inconsistency of methodologies for microbiological analysis and what still needs to be validated. We discuss how early acquisition and establishment of the oral microbiome are influenced by factors such as delivery type and feeding practices, and how adolescence marks a phase of significant shifts in the oral taxa due to hormonal and behavioral transitions. During adulthood, the healthy oral microbiome may acquire multistable signatures, shaped by genetic and environmental factors, while minor changes in core microorganisms are observed in the healthy aging populations. Overall, evidence shows that the oral microbiome is a complex ecosystem, continuously modulated by several factors, since its early acquisition through adulthood and into old age. Fluctuations do happen, but a resilient core community will persist over time in most humans to maintain homeostasis. Future challenges of microbiome research will rely on our ability to define multiple age-related healthy oral microbiomes across populations, so that oral dysbiosis can be detected and managed in advance. In this context, standardization of data acquisition and analysis, as well as improvements in multidisciplinary clinical diagnosis of oral health, must be pursued for a better comprehension of the balanced host-microbiome interaction.}, } @article {pmid39707568, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, X and Yuan, R and Yang, S and Dai, Z and Di, N and Yang, H and He, Z and Wei, M}, title = {A salt-tolerant growth-promoting phyllosphere microbial combination from mangrove plants and its mechanism for promoting salt tolerance in rice.}, journal = {Microbiome}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, pages = {270}, pmid = {39707568}, issn = {2049-2618}, mesh = {*Oryza/microbiology/growth & development ; *Salt Tolerance ; *Plant Leaves/microbiology ; Microbiota ; Rhizosphere ; Pantoea/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Bacillus/genetics/isolation & purification/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/classification/isolation & purification ; Wetlands ; Rhizophoraceae/microbiology ; Quorum Sensing ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Mangrove plants growing in the high salt environment of coastal intertidal zones colonize a variety of microorganisms in the phyllosphere, which have potential salt-tolerant and growth-promoting effects. However, the characteristics of microbial communities in the phyllosphere of mangrove species with and without salt glands and the differences between them remain unknown, and the exploration and the agricultural utilization of functional microbial resources from the leaves of mangrove plants are insufficient.

RESULTS: In this study, we examined six typical mangrove species to unravel the differences in the diversity and structure of phyllosphere microbial communities between mangrove species with or without salt glands. Our results showed that a combination of salt-tolerant growth-promoting strains of Pantoea stewartii A and Bacillus marisflavi Y25 (A + Y25) was constructed from the phyllosphere of mangrove plants, which demonstrated an ability to modulate osmotic substances in rice and regulate the expression of salt-resistance-associated genes. Further metagenomic analysis revealed that exogenous inoculation with A + Y25 increased the rice rhizosphere's specific microbial taxon Chloroflexi, thereby elevating microbial community quorum sensing and ultimately enhancing ionic balance and overall microbial community function to aid salt resistance in rice.

CONCLUSIONS: This study advances our understanding of the mutualistic and symbiotic relationships between mangrove species and their phyllosphere microbial communities. It offers a paradigm for exploring agricultural beneficial microbial resources from mangrove leaves and providing the potential for applying the salt-tolerant bacterial consortium to enhance crop adaptability in saline-alkaline land. Video Abstract.}, } @article {pmid39706716, year = {2024}, author = {Elizondo, A and Williams, R and Anderson, S and Cresswell, K}, title = {Implementing integrated care infrastructure: A longitudinal study on the interplay of policies, interorganizational arrangements and interoperability in NHS England.}, journal = {Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {105237}, doi = {10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105237}, pmid = {39706716}, issn = {1872-6054}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: New models of care that integrate health and social care provision around the patient require a supportive infrastructure, including interorganizational arrangements and information systems. While public policies have been designed to facilitate visions of integrated care, these often neglect the implementation of effective and efficient delivery mechanisms.

METHOD: This study examines a decade of attempts to move from fragmented health and care delivery to integrated care at scale in NHS England by developing and implementing a support infrastructure. We undertook a longitudinal qualitative investigation -encompassing interviews and documentary analysis- of the implementation of interorganizational and digital interoperability infrastructures intended to support integrated care policies.

FINDINGS: Our findings underscore the long-term symbiotic relationship between institutional interorganizational frameworks and the construction of interoperability infrastructures, emphasizing how they mutually reinforce each other to support their ongoing evolution. Iterative, flexible, and experimental approaches to implementation provide opportunities to adapt to local realities while learning in the making.

CONCLUSION: This study underlines the importance of adaptable, locally-informed implementation strategies in supporting the vision of integrated care, and the need to understand such development as a long-term, ongoing process of construction and learning.}, } @article {pmid39706307, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, B and Liu, J and Cai, C and Zhou, Y}, title = {Membrane photobioreactor for biogas capture and conversion - Enhanced microbial interaction in biofilm.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {418}, number = {}, pages = {131999}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131999}, pmid = {39706307}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {The urgency to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions has driven interest in sustainable biogas utilization. This study investigates a 1 L enclosed membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) using a microalgae-methanotroph coculture for biogas capture. Operating with a hydraulic and solid retention time of 7 days and a biogas loading rate of 2.7 L /day, the introduction of gas membrane module increased CO2-C and CH4-C uptake rates by 12 % and 50 %, respectively. Biofilm formation on the membrane surface enhanced system performance, with imaging analyses revealing methanotroph predominantly located near the membrane surface and photosynthetic microorganisms distributed throughout. Metagenomic analysis showed shifts in key metabolic pathways, including increased abundance of soluble methane monooxygenase genes and enhanced vitamin B synthesis in the biofilm. These findings highlight the spatial organization and metabolic interactions in methanotroph-microalgae coculture system, providing insights into the role of membrane-induced biofilms in improving MPBR performance for sustainable biogas utilization.}, } @article {pmid39703707, year = {2024}, author = {Ma, M and Xue, H and Zhu, X and Wang, L and Niu, L and Luo, J and Cui, J and Gao, X}, title = {Symbiotic microbial population composition of Apolygus lucorum under temperature and pesticide pressures.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1485708}, pmid = {39703707}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Insect population control using pesticides faces new challenges as global temperatures change. Symbiotic bacteria of insects play a key role in insect resistance to pesticides, and these symbiotic bacteria themselves are sensitive to the effects of temperature changes. Apolygus lucorum, a sucking pest, survives in a wide range of temperatures (15°C-35°C), and is presently controlled predominantly using the pesticide imidacloprid. Here, we investigated the effects of temperature and imidacloprid on A. lucorum microbial population composition using 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that the application of imidacloprid in high-temperature environments led to an increase in the species diversity of bacteria in the body of A. lucorum. High temperatures may disrupt the symbiotic relationship between certain bacteria and A. lucorum, such as Cedecea neteri. High temperatures led to a decrease in the abundance of Cedecea neteri. Agathobaculum butyriciproducens, Advenella migardefenensis, and Akkermansia muciniphila were very sensitive to temperature and were strongly affected by temperature changes. Microorganisms that were greatly affected by the concentration of imidacloprid in the community include Aeromonas caviae and Akkermansia muciniphila. The aim of this study is to reveal the dynamics and diversity of symbiotic bacteria of A. lucorum treated with imidacloprid at a range of temperatures. These results provide insight into new strategies for pest control in a changing climate.}, } @article {pmid39702992, year = {2024}, author = {Gamba, AG and Oakley, CA and Ashley, IA and Grossman, AR and Weis, VM and Suggett, DJ and Davy, SK}, title = {Oxylipin Receptors and Their Role in Inter-Partner Signalling in a Model Cnidarian-Dinoflagellate Symbiosis.}, journal = {Environmental microbiology}, volume = {26}, number = {12}, pages = {e70015}, doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.70015}, pmid = {39702992}, issn = {1462-2920}, support = {19-VUW-086//Marsden Fund of the Royal Society Te Apārangi/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Sea Anemones/physiology ; *Signal Transduction ; *Dinoflagellida/physiology/metabolism ; *Oxylipins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Oxylipin signalling is central in biology, mediating processes such as cellular homeostasis, inflammation and molecular signalling. It may also facilitate inter-partner communication in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, though this aspect remains understudied. In this study, four oxylipin receptors were characterised using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana ('Aiptasia'): Prostaglandin E2 receptor 2 (EP2) and 4 (EP4), Transient Receptor Potential cation channel A1 (TRPA1) and Glutamate Receptor Ionotropic, Kainate 2 (GRIK2). Receptor abundance and localisation were compared between aposymbiotic anemones and symbiotic anemones hosting either native Breviolum minutum or non-native Durusdinium trenchii. All receptors were localised to the putative symbiosome of freshly isolated symbionts, suggesting a role in host-symbiont crosstalk. EP2, EP4 and TRPA1 abundance decreased in the gastrodermis of anemones hosting B. minutum, indicating potential downregulation of pathways mediated by these receptors. In contrast, GRIK2 abundance increased in anemones hosting D. trenchii in both the epidermis and gastrodermis; GRIK2 acts as a chemosensor of potential pathogens in other systems and could play a similar role here given D. trenchii's reputation as a sub-optimal partner for Aiptasia. This study contributes to the understanding of oxylipin signalling in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis and supports further exploration of host-symbiont molecular signalling.}, } @article {pmid39702246, year = {2024}, author = {Song, X and Ju, Y and Chen, L and Zhang, W}, title = {Strategies and tools to construct stable and efficient artificial coculture systems as biosynthetic platforms for biomass conversion.}, journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels and bioproducts}, volume = {17}, number = {1}, pages = {148}, pmid = {39702246}, issn = {2731-3654}, support = {2019YFA0904600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2019YFA0904600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2019YFA0904600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 2019YFA0904600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; }, abstract = {Inspired by the natural symbiotic relationships between diverse microbial members, researchers recently focused on modifying microbial chassis to create artificial coculture systems using synthetic biology tools. An increasing number of scientists are now exploring these systems as innovative biosynthetic platforms for biomass conversion. While significant advancements have been achieved, challenges remain in maintaining the stability and productivity of these systems. Sustaining an optimal population ratio over a long time period and balancing anabolism and catabolism during cultivation have proven difficult. Key issues, such as competitive or antagonistic relationships between microbial members, as well as metabolic imbalances and maladaptation, are critical factors affecting the stability and productivity of artificial coculture systems. In this article, we critically review current strategies and methods for improving the stability and productivity of these systems, with a focus on recent progress in biomass conversion. We also provide insights into future research directions, laying the groundwork for further development of artificial coculture biosynthetic platforms.}, } @article {pmid39699583, year = {2024}, author = {Galanti, D and Jung, JH and Müller, C and Bossdorf, O}, title = {Discarded sequencing reads uncover natural variation in pest resistance in Thlaspi arvense.}, journal = {eLife}, volume = {13}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39699583}, issn = {2050-084X}, support = {764965//Horizon 2020 Framework Programme/ ; 401829393//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aphids/genetics ; *Plant Diseases/genetics/parasitology/microbiology ; Disease Resistance/genetics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genetic Variation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Genome, Plant/genetics ; }, abstract = {Understanding the genomic basis of natural variation in plant pest resistance is an important goal in plant science, but it usually requires large and labor-intensive phenotyping experiments. Here, we explored the possibility that non-target reads from plant DNA sequencing can serve as phenotyping proxies for addressing such questions. We used data from a whole-genome and -epigenome sequencing study of 207 natural lines of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) that were grown in a common environment and spontaneously colonized by aphids, mildew, and other microbes. We found that the numbers of non-target reads assigned to the pest species differed between populations, had significant SNP-based heritability, and were associated with climate of origin and baseline glucosinolate contents. Specifically, pennycress lines from cold and thermally fluctuating habitats, presumably less favorable to aphids, showed higher aphid DNA load, i.e., decreased aphid resistance. Genome-wide association analyses identified genetic variants at known defense genes but also novel genomic regions associated with variation in aphid and mildew DNA load. Moreover, we found several differentially methylated regions associated with pathogen loads, in particular differential methylation at transposons and hypomethylation in the promoter of a gene involved in stomatal closure, likely induced by pathogens. Our study provides first insights into the defense mechanisms of Thlaspi arvense, a rising crop and model species, and demonstrates that non-target whole-genome sequencing reads, usually discarded, can be leveraged to estimate intensities of plant biotic interactions. With rapidly increasing numbers of large sequencing datasets worldwide, this approach should have broad application in fundamental and applied research.}, } @article {pmid39699123, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, S and Wang, T and Gao, L and Du, H and Wang, D and Ma, M and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Iron addition promotes mercury removal from soil by Robinia pseudoacacia-rhizobia symbiosis.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpae166}, pmid = {39699123}, issn = {1758-4469}, abstract = {Iron plaques on the root surface can promote or inhibit the absorption and accumulation of heavy metals by plants. However, the mechanism by which iron regulates the response of Robinia pseudoacacia to mercury (Hg) have not been elucidated which hinders its application in divalent Hg (Hg2+) removal from Hg-contaminated soil. In this study, association analyses between transcriptome and metabolome were used to investigate effects of iron on the rhizosphere microenvironment and performance of R. pseudoacacia to assess its potential for Hg2+ removal. The results showed that the addition of 10 mg kg-1 iron significantly increased the development of iron plaques on root surface, and reduced the secretion of low-molecular-weight organic acids by roots, thereby changing rhizosphere soil characteristics and decreasing total Hg in roots. In addition, the secretion of choline supported signal transduction and enhanced the interaction between R. pseudoacacia and rhizobia, thereby inducing resistance to Hg2+. Anti-oxidative enzyme activities were increased and Hg2+ exposure of plants was reduced. Enhanced Hg2+ resistance was indicated by improved photosynthesis and growth despite promoted xylem loading and transport of Hg2+, resulting in its accumulation in aboveground tissues that is essential for Hg2+ removal. These results indicate that iron addition has a great potential to improve the growth of R. pseudoacacia in Hg-contaminated soil and promote the accumulation of Hg2+ in aboveground tissues for phytoremediation approaches.}, } @article {pmid39697845, year = {2024}, author = {Singkronart, K and Sun, JA and Shamsuddin, SR and Lee, KY}, title = {Upgrading Mixed Plastic Waste through Industrial Symbiosis: Pseudoductile Regenerated Cellulose Fiber-Reinforced Shredder Residue Composites.}, journal = {ACS applied polymer materials}, volume = {6}, number = {23}, pages = {14598-14607}, pmid = {39697845}, issn = {2637-6105}, abstract = {The mechanical performance of mixed plastic waste from shredder residue is hindered by brittleness and catastrophic failure, limiting its potential applications. In this study, the mechanical properties of mixed plastic is enhanced by reinforcement with rayon fibers through a wet powder impregnation process to leverage the fiber's ductility and entanglement. However, mixed plastic remains poorly dispersed in water during the composite manufacturing, resulting in poorly consolidated composite, which further deteriorates the mechanical properties of mixed plastic from 1.5% strain-at-break to 0.7%. To address this issue, the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant is explored, where the optimal concentration is found beyond the critical micelle concentration at 10 mM. Lowering the surface tension of water and the adsorption of the SDS on the mixed plastic powder surface facilitated homogeneous dispersion of mixed plastic particles, resulting in well-consolidated rayon fiber-reinforced composites. The 30 wt % rayon fiber-reinforced mixed plastic composite prepared with SDS demonstrated a progressive failure behavior, exhibiting a strain-at-break of 8% and a remarkable 350% increase in impact strength compared to unreinforced mixed plastic. This approach provides a platform to overcome the inherent limitations of mixed plastic waste, offering waste-derived plastic alternatives and reducing the need for fossil-derived virgin materials for a wide range of noncritical applications.}, } @article {pmid39695619, year = {2024}, author = {Cao, J and Zhou, Y and Tian, T and Ji, J and Deng, Y and Guan, Y and Qi, Y and Wang, L and Wang, L and Huang, Y and Fan, Q and Duanmu, D}, title = {Type-B response regulator RRB12 regulates nodule formation in Lotus japonicus.}, journal = {BMC biology}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, pages = {293}, pmid = {39695619}, issn = {1741-7007}, support = {31870220//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {*Lotus/genetics/microbiology ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology/metabolism/growth & development/genetics ; *Cytokinins/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Symbiosis ; Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The mutualistic beneficial relationship between legume plants and rhizobia enables the growth of plants in nitrogen-limiting conditions. Rhizobia infect legumes through root hairs and trigger nodule organogenesis in the cortex. The plant hormone cytokinin plays a pivotal role in regulating both rhizobial infection and the initiation of nodule development. However, the mechanism used by the cytokinin output module to control symbiosis remains poorly documented.

RESULTS: In this study, we identified a cytokinin signaling output component encoded by the Type-B RESPONSE REGULATOR (RRB) gene, LjRRB12, which is expressed in Lotus japonicus nodule primordia and young nodules. Disruption of LjRRB12 leads to a reduction in nodulation and to an increase in the number of infection threads. Overexpression of LjRRB12[D76E], an active form of the LjRRB12 protein, induces nodule-like structures in wild type and hit1 (hyperinfected 1/lotus histidine kinase 1) mutants but not in nin2 (nodule inception 2) mutants. Additionally, we utilized nCUT&Tag and EMSA to demonstrate that LjRRB12 can bind a CE (cytokinin response element) from the LjNIN promoter.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide a deeper understanding of nodule organogenesis by establishing a link between the cytokinin signal and the transcriptional regulation of LjNIN.}, } @article {pmid39695182, year = {2024}, author = {Bell, CJ and Sena, JA and Fajardo, DA and Lavelle, EM and Costa, MA and Herman, B and Davin, LB and Lewis, NG and Berry, AM}, title = {A root nodule microbiome sequencing data set from red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.).}, journal = {Scientific data}, volume = {11}, number = {1}, pages = {1343}, pmid = {39695182}, issn = {2052-4463}, support = {1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; 1547842//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, mesh = {*Microbiota ; *Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; *Alnus/microbiology ; *High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Symbiosis ; Frankia/genetics ; }, abstract = {There have been frequent reports of more than one strain of the nitrogen-fixing symbiont, Frankia, in the same root nodule of plants in the genus Alnus, but quantitative assessments of their relative contributions have not been made to date. Neither has the diversity of other microbes, having potential functional roles in symbiosis, been systematically evaluated. Alnus rubra root nodule microbiota were studied using Illumina short read sequencing and kmer-based read classification. Single end 76 bp sequencing was done to a median depth of 96 million reads per sample. Reads were assigned to taxa using KrakenUniq, with taxon abundances being estimated using its companion program Bracken. This was the first high resolution study of Alnus root nodules using next generation sequencing (NGS), quantifying multiple Cluster 1 A Frankia strains in single nodules, and in some cases, a Cluster 4 strain. Root nodules were found to contain diverse bacteria, including several genera containing species known to have growth-promoting effects. Evidence was found for partitioning of some bacterial strains in older versus younger lobes.}, } @article {pmid39695176, year = {2024}, author = {Hargadon, AC and Viliunas, JW and Koehler, S and Thies, AB and Chen, GY and Ladinsky, MS and Kuwabara, J and Avila-Magana, V and Ruby, EG and Tresguerres, M and McFall-Ngai, MJ}, title = {An acidic microenvironment produced by the V-type ATPase of Euprymna scolopes promotes specificity during Vibrio fischeri recruitment.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1642}, pmid = {39695176}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {R37 AI50661//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; R37-AI50661//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/ ; R01 GM135254/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; R01-GM135254//U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)/ ; GRFP 1842402//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; GRFP//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; }, mesh = {*Aliivibrio fischeri/genetics/physiology/enzymology ; Animals ; *Decapodiformes/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism/genetics ; }, abstract = {Animals often acquire their microbial symbionts from the environment, but the mechanisms underlying how specificity of the association is achieved are poorly understood. We demonstrate that the conserved proton pump, V-type ATPase (VHA), plays a key role in the establishment of the model light-organ symbiosis between the squid Euprymna scolopes and its bacterial partner, Vibrio fischeri. Recruitment of V. fischeri from the surrounding seawater is mediated by juvenile-specific ciliated fields on the organ's surface. These epithelia produce acidic mucus containing antimicrobials with low-pH optima, creating a chemical environment fostering specific recruitment of V. fischeri. We provide evidence that this critical acidic landscape is created by activity of VHA. VHA inhibition abolished epithelial-cell acidity, resulting in increased mucus pH and inefficient symbiont colonization. Thus, VHA provides a mechanistic link between host modulation of microenvironmental acidity, immune function, and selection of microbial symbionts, a strategy for specificity that may govern other symbioses.}, } @article {pmid39693975, year = {2024}, author = {Bharti, S and Raj, A and Saratale, GD and Romanholo Ferreira, LF and Lucena de Souza, R and Mulla, SI and Bharagava, RN}, title = {A critical review on the symbiotic effect of bacteria and microalgae on treatment of sewage with biofertilizer production.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {373}, number = {}, pages = {123704}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123704}, pmid = {39693975}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Wastes like sewage, kitchen and industrial are the major sources of environmental pollution and health hazards. Sewage contains 99.9% water and 0.1% solid waste including urinal waste and faecal matter alongwith large amounts of nitrate, nitrite, ammonium and phosphate ions. Sewage may also contain a variety of harmful contaminants like analgesics, antihypertensive drugs, antibiotics, dioxin, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides, chlorine derivatives and plasticizers etc. making it more harmfull to environment and public health. Hence, sewage must be adequately treated by an effective process before its final discharge into the environment. Biological treatment of sewage is an emerging idea in recent years, which has diverse economic and environmental advantages. Sewage treatment by bacteria and microalgae has numerous advantages as it removes various excessive nutrients from waste with large biomass production and also prevents the utilization of toxic chemicals in conventional treatment process. Microalgae-bacterial biomass have potential to be used as biofertilizers, bio-stimulants and bio-seed primers in agricultural field as these contain various biologically active substances like polysaccharides, carotenoids, free fatty acids, phenols, and terpenoids. This review paper mainly discussing the sewage characteristics and different kinds of organic and inorganic pollutants it contained alongwith its harmfull impacts on environment and public health. It also deals the different conventional as well as emerging treatment technologies and different factors affecting the treatment efficiency. In addition, the utilization of developed microalgal and bacterial biomass as biofertilizer and its effects on crop plant alongwith future prospects has been also discussed in detail.}, } @article {pmid39691195, year = {2024}, author = {Banda, MF and Matabane, DL and Munyengabe, A}, title = {A phytoremediation approach for the restoration of coal fly ash polluted sites: A review.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {23}, pages = {e40741}, pmid = {39691195}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Coal fly ash (CFA) is a predominant waste by-product of coal combustion which is disposed of in open ash dams that utilize large pieces of land. This waste material is classified as a hazardous substance in South Africa as well as in other countries due to its fine particles that are easily blown to the atmosphere and the unacceptable levels of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. Contaminants in CFA can pollute surface and ground water, agricultural sites, soil and therefore pose risks to the health of humans and the environment. More than 500 million tons of CFA is produced yearly and over 200 million tons remain unused globally. The production will continue due to high consumer energy demands, especially in countries with heavy reliance on coal for power generation. Despite a significant progress made on the application of phytoremediation approach for decontamination of polluted sites, there is very limited evidence for its potential in the rehabilitation of CFA dumps. Low organic carbon, microbial activities and availability of nutrients including nitrogen contribute to restricted plant growth in CFA, and therefore converting ash dumps to barren lands devoid of vegetation. Leguminous plant species can fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic association with bacteria. Therefore, their intercropping mixture development can improve the chemistry of the substrate and facilitate nutrients availability to the companion plants. This approach can enhance the performance of phytoremediation and promote sustainable practices. The paper provides an overview of the ongoing burden of CFA disposal and discusses the ecological and economic benefits of using legumes, aromatic and bioenergy plants. We identify knowledge gaps to establishing vegetation in ash dumping sites, and provide insights to encourage continued research that will enhance the applicability of phytoremediation in restoration programs.}, } @article {pmid39690891, year = {2024}, author = {Fan, W and Liu, K and Xu, Y and Chi, Z}, title = {Solid-state fermentation of corn wet distiller grains and wheat bran with Trichoderma reesei and Candida utilis for improving feed value.}, journal = {Journal of the science of food and agriculture}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/jsfa.14079}, pmid = {39690891}, issn = {1097-0010}, support = {41861124004//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; LJ212410152036//Basic Scientific Research Project of Colleges and Universities of Liaoning Provincial Department of Education/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Solid-state fermentation is one of the most effective methods for the high-value utilization of agro-industrial by-products. Co-fermentation of wet distiller grains and agricultural waste is an effective way to mitigate the feed shortage caused by corn consumption for bioethanol. It is still challenging to convert wet distiller grains and wheat bran to easily accessible carbon sources and adjust the balanced proportion of amino acids together by fermentation.

RESULTS: Fermentation time, strain ratio, and the addition of ammonium sulfate have been verified to be the important factors influencing the symbiosis of Trichoderma reesei (T. reesei) and Candida utilis (C. utilis) in a mixed system of wet distiller grains and wheat bran. The optimum conditions were fermentation for 8 days, 2:1 (T. reesei: C. utilis) strain ratio, and addition of 4% ammonium sulfate. After fermentation, the cellulose degradation proportion reached 39.1%, and the hemicellulose degradation proportion was 13.1%. The protein content improved by 29.6%. The lysine content increased by 126%, reaching 11.3 g·kg[-1]. The threonine content increased from 6.10 to 10.3 g·kg[-1]. The phytate content was decreased to 3.97 g·kg[-1]. The in vitro digestibility of dry matter and protein increased to 62.8% and 76.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated the feasibility of improving the feeding value of wet distiller grains and wheat bran by the symbiosis of T. reesei and C. utilis. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid39690548, year = {2024}, author = {Rusakova, MI and Manzhurova, MI and Zakaryan, AN and Lopatina, SL and Frolova, EF and Raevskiy, KP}, title = {[The gut microbiota in bipolar disorder].}, journal = {Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova}, volume = {124}, number = {11}, pages = {28-33}, doi = {10.17116/jnevro202412411128}, pmid = {39690548}, issn = {1997-7298}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Bipolar Disorder/microbiology ; *Brain-Gut Axis/physiology ; Brain/microbiology ; Gastrointestinal Tract/microbiology ; Probiotics/therapeutic use ; }, abstract = {The gut microbiota is a community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract of living beings and form bidirectional symbiotic relationships with them. It is known that gut bacteria play an important role in maintaining the functioning of the host organism, and disruption in the normal composition of the gut microbiota can contribute to the development of many diseases. The study of microbiota has been gaining popularity in recent years, and its influence on the course of various pathological conditions is becoming more and more undeniable. Due to the growing evidence supporting the connection between the gastrointestinal tract, microbiota and brain, the term «microbiota-gut-brain axis» has appeared. It regulates the functions of the central nervous system, affecting the mood, behavior of the host and, therefore, is involved in the pathogenesis of various mental disorders. Bipolar disorder, a long-known affective mental illness of an endogenous origin, is no exception. The review analyzes the evidence on the relationship between gut microbiota and bipolar disorder, as well as an overview of additional treatments for this disease that affect the microflora of the human body.}, } @article {pmid39690524, year = {2024}, author = {Groover, A and Holbrook, NM and Polle, A and Sala, A and Medlyn, B and Brodersen, C and Pittermann, J and Gersony, J and Sokołowska, K and Bogar, L and McDowell, N and Spicer, R and David-Schwartz, R and Keller, S and Tschaplinski, TJ and Preisler, Y}, title = {Tree drought physiology: critical research questions and strategies for mitigating climate change effects on forests.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.20326}, pmid = {39690524}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {89243022SSC0000//Biological and Environmental Research/ ; //Northern Research Station/ ; 1856450//NSF-IOS/ ; 1029588//USDA NIFA/ ; //New Phytologist Trust/ ; //US Forest Service/ ; //National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment-Tropics/ ; ERKP886//Center for Bioenergy Innovation (CBI), US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research Program/ ; 2222348//NSF ORCC/ ; }, abstract = {Droughts of increasing severity and frequency are a primary cause of forest mortality associated with climate change. Yet, fundamental knowledge gaps regarding the complex physiology of trees limit the development of more effective management strategies to mitigate drought effects on forests. Here, we highlight some of the basic research needed to better understand tree drought physiology and how new technologies and interdisciplinary approaches can be used to address them. Our discussion focuses on how trees change wood development to mitigate water stress, hormonal responses to drought, genetic variation underlying adaptive drought phenotypes, how trees 'remember' prior stress exposure, and how symbiotic soil microbes affect drought response. Next, we identify opportunities for using research findings to enhance or develop new strategies for managing drought effects on forests, ranging from matching genotypes to environments, to enhancing seedling resilience through nursery treatments, to landscape-scale monitoring and predictions. We conclude with a discussion of the need for co-producing research with land managers and extending research to forests in critical ecological regions beyond the temperate zone.}, } @article {pmid39690016, year = {2024}, author = {Guerra-Garcia, FJ and Sankari, S}, title = {NCR peptides in plant-bacterial symbiosis: applications and importance.}, journal = {Trends in microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.tim.2024.11.012}, pmid = {39690016}, issn = {1878-4380}, abstract = {While establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria certain legumes produce nodule-specific cysteine rich peptides. These peptides turn the bacteria into terminally differentiated non-replicative bacteroids. Here, we discuss the properties, essentiality, emerging clinical and agricultural applications, and the need to study the detailed mechanism of action of these peptides.}, } @article {pmid39689471, year = {2024}, author = {Li, M and Chen, H and Wang, M and Zhong, Z and Lian, C and Zhou, L and Zhang, H and Wang, H and Cao, L and Li, C}, title = {Phenotypic plasticity of symbiotic organ highlight deep-sea mussel as model species in monitoring fluid extinction of deep-sea methane hydrate.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {958}, number = {}, pages = {178048}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.178048}, pmid = {39689471}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {Methane hydrates stored in cold seeps are an important source of energy and carbon for both the endemic chemosynthetic community and humanity. However, the methane fluids may cease and even stop naturally or anthropogenically, calling for a thorough evaluation of its potential impact on the endemic species and local chemosynthetic ecosystems. As one dominant megafauna in cold seeps, some of the deep-sea mussels rely on methanotrophic endosymbionts for nutrition and therefore could serve as a promising model in monitoring the dynamic changes of methane hydrate. However, knowledge on the long-term responses of deep-sea mussels to environmental stresses induced by methane reduction and deprivation, is still lacking. Here, we set up a laboratory system and cultivated methanotrophic deep-sea mussel Gigantidas platifrons without methane supply to survey the phenotypic changes after methane deprivation. While the mussels managed to survive for >10 months after the methane deprivation, drastic changes in the metabolism, function, and development of gill tissue, and in the association with methanotrophic symbionts were observed. In detail, the mussel digested all methanotrophic endosymbionts shortly after methane deprivation for nutrition and remodeled the global metabolism of gill to conserve energy. As the methane deprivation continued, the mussel replaced its bacteriocytes with ciliated cells to support filter-feeding, which is an atavistic trait in non-symbiotic mussels. During the long-term methane deprivation assay, the mussel also retained the generation of new cells to support the phenotypic changes of gill and even promoted the activity after being transplanted back to deep-sea, showing the potential resilience after long-term methane deprivation. Evidences further highlighted the participation of symbiont sterol metabolism in regulating these processes. These results collectively show the phenotypic plasticity of deep-sea mussels and their dynamic responses to methane deprivation, providing essential information in assessing the long-term influence of methane hydrate extinction.}, } @article {pmid39688607, year = {2024}, author = {Liapis, CC}, title = {["Pseudoneurotransmission" and gut microbiome - brain communication in neuropsychiatric disorders].}, journal = {Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.22365/jpsych.2024.024}, pmid = {39688607}, issn = {1105-2333}, abstract = {The gut microbiome, which comprises symbiotic bacteria colonizing the human digestive tract, undergoes dynamic changes during the lifespan, as evidenced by the fact that the number of species and the diversity of their composition decrease significantly with age. The aim of this review is to illuminate bilateral neuroimmunological pathways that determine the role of gut microbiome dysbiosis, not only as a cause but also as a byproduct of many neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), but also in the frame of several behavioral and psychiatric pathological conditions such as depressive and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dysbiosis, in particular, reveals a model of "deceptive" mimicry of host molecules that might cause abnormal folding ("misfolding") and pathological aggregation of Aβ-peptide, leading to its dispersion through the gut-brain axis, precipitating microglia cell activation. By controlling myelination at the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a crucial area for multifaceted cognitive behavior, forecasting, and decision-making, the gut/microbiome-brain axis influences mood and social behavior, since major depressive disorder is correlated to white matter disturbance in the PFC, due to disregulations in the expression of myelin-related mRNA in this area. The gut microbiome is altered in psychosis compared to healthy controls, while medication with antipsychotics may result in reduced microbial community diversity. The vagus nerve, as a key element of the parasympathetic nervous system, regulating immune responses, may "detect" gut microbiome metabolites and transfer this intestinal information to the CNS, through its afferents, as in a "pseudo-neurotransmission" process. Scientific interest towards microbiome-based therapies increases as psychobiotics (which are strains of probiotics/prebiotics with specific properties to influence the gut-brain axis) appear to be able to exercise a beneficial effect in many CNS disorders. Lifestyle modifications, such as dietary interventions via psychobiotics intake that might enhance the gut microbiome's ability to produce beneficial metabolites that exert therapeutic effects on intestinal permeability, cognitive function, and immunity, may reveal new research pathways and therapeutic directions leading to a radical change of the "epistemology paradigm" as far as prevention and treatment of major neuro-psychiatric disorders is concerned.}, } @article {pmid39686544, year = {2024}, author = {Stott, C and Diop, A and Raymann, K and Bobay, LM}, title = {Co-evolution and Gene Transfers Drive Speciation Patterns in Host-Associated Bacteria.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msae256}, pmid = {39686544}, issn = {1537-1719}, abstract = {Microbial communities that maintain symbiotic relationships with animals evolve by adapting to the specific environmental niche provided by their host, yet understanding their patterns of speciation remains challenging. Whether bacterial speciation occurs primarily through allopatric or sympatric processes remains an open question. In addition, patterns of DNA transfers, which are pervasive in bacteria, are more constrained in a closed host-gut system. Eusocial bees have co-evolved with their specialized microbiota for over 85 million years, constituting a simple and valuable system to study the complex dynamics of host-associated microbial interactions. Here we studied the patterns of speciation and evolution of seven specialized gut bacteria from three clades of eusocial bee species: western honey bees, eastern honey bees and bumblebees. We conducted genomic analyses to infer species delineation relative to the patterns of homologous recombination (HR), and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). The studied bacteria presented various modes of evolution and speciation relative to their hosts, but some trends were consistent across all of them. We observed a clear interruption of homologous recombination between bacteria inhabiting different bee hosts, which is consistent with a mechanism of allopatric speciation, but we also identified interruptions of homologous recombination within hosts, suggesting recent or ongoing sympatric speciation. In contrast to HR, we observed that HGT events were not constrained by species borders. Overall, our findings show that in host-associated bacterial populations, patterns of HR and HGT have different impacts on speciation patterns, which are driven by both allopatric and sympatric speciation processes.}, } @article {pmid39684904, year = {2024}, author = {Kameli, N and Becker, HEF and Jonkers, DM and Penders, J and Savelkoul, P and Stassen, F}, title = {Investigating the Immunomodulatory Impact of Fecal Bacterial Membrane Vesicles and Their IgA Coating Patterns in Crohn's Disease Patients.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {39684904}, issn = {1422-0067}, mesh = {Humans ; *Crohn Disease/immunology/microbiology/pathology/metabolism ; *Immunoglobulin A/immunology/metabolism ; *Feces/microbiology ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Extracellular Vesicles/immunology/metabolism ; THP-1 Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; Bacteria/immunology ; Middle Aged ; Immunomodulation ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; }, abstract = {The human intestinal tract contains trillions of bacteria that coexist in a symbiotic relationship with human cells. Imbalances in this interaction can lead to disorders such as Crohn's disease (CD). Bacteria membrane vesicles (MVs), which are released by almost all bacteria, have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in bacteria-host interactions. In this study, we assessed the physical characterizations, immunomodulatory effects, and IgA interactions of MVs derived from fecal samples of CD patients and healthy controls (HCs). MVs were isolated from the frozen fecal samples using a combination of ultrafiltration and size-exclusion chromatography. Using nanoparticle tracking analysis, we found that the MVs of the CD patients showed a significantly lower concentration compared to those of the HCs. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy revealed the larger size of the MVs in active CD (Ac-CD) compared to the MVs of remission CD (Re-CD) and HCs. Differentiated monocyte THP-1 cells released more TNF-a when exposed to MVs from the HCs compared to the CD patients. On the other hand, the MVs from the HCs and Re-CD patients but not the Ac-CD patients induced more anti-inflammatory IL-10. Intriguingly, bead-based flow cytometry analysis showed that the MVs of the HCs and Re-CD patients were more coated with IgA compared to those of the Ac-CD patients. These results suggest the potential role of MVs in the immunomodulatory impact on the pathophysiology of CD. Moreover, IgA seems to regulate these effects by direct binding, which was not the case for the Ac-CD patients. Finally, the IgA coating patterns of the MVs could be used as an additional disease biomarker, as they can clearly identify the exacerbation status of CD.}, } @article {pmid39684404, year = {2024}, author = {Kisiel, A and Miller, T and Łobodzińska, A and Rybak, K}, title = {Biosynthesis of Phenolic Compounds of Medicago truncatula After Inoculation with Selected PGPR Strains.}, journal = {International journal of molecular sciences}, volume = {25}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {39684404}, issn = {1422-0067}, support = {RID/SP/0045/2024/01//Minister of Science Poland, "Regional Excellence Initiative"/ ; }, mesh = {*Medicago truncatula/microbiology/metabolism/genetics ; *Phenols/metabolism ; *Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase/metabolism/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Pseudomonas/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/metabolism/microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Plant Leaves/metabolism/microbiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Sinorhizobium meliloti/metabolism/genetics ; }, abstract = {The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway is involved in the response of plants to stress factors, including microorganisms. This paper presents how free-living strains of rhizobacteria Pseudomonas brassicacearum KK5, P. corrugata KK7, Paenibacillus borealis KK4, and the symbiotic strain Sinorhizobium meliloti KK13 affect the expression of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), the activity of this enzyme, and the production of phenolic compounds in Medicago truncatula. Seedlings were inoculated with rhizobacteria, then at T0, T24, T72, and T168 after inoculation, the leaves and roots were analyzed for gene expression, enzyme activity, and the content of phenolic compounds. All bacteria affected PAL gene expression, in particular, MtPAL2, MtPAL3, and MtPAL4. Pseudomonas strains had the greatest impact on gene expression. The inoculation affected PAL activity causing it to increase or decrease. The most stimulating effect on enzyme activity was observed 168 h after inoculation. A varied effect was also observed in the case of the content of phenolic compounds. The greatest changes were observed 24 h after inoculation, especially with the KK7 strain. The influence of the studied rhizobacteria on the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds at the molecular level (expression of MtPAL genes) and biochemical level (PAL activity and content of phenolic compounds) was confirmed. The MtPAL3 gene underwent the most significant changes after inoculation and can be used as a marker to assess the interaction between M. truncatula and rhizobacteria. The Pseudomonas strains had the greatest influence on the biosynthesis pathway of phenolic compounds.}, } @article {pmid39683232, year = {2024}, author = {Gorshkov, AP and Kusakin, PG and Vorobiev, MG and Tsyganova, AV and Tsyganov, VE}, title = {Effect of Insecticides Imidacloprid and Alpha-Cypermethrin on the Development of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Nodules.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {39683232}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {№ 075-15-2022-320 date 20 April 2022//the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation/ ; }, abstract = {Insecticides are used commonly in agricultural production to defend plants, including legumes, from insect pests. It is a known fact that insecticides can have a harmful effect on the legume-rhizobial symbiosis. In this study, the effects of systemic seed treatment insecticide Imidor Pro (imidacloprid) and foliar insecticide Faskord (alpha-cypermethrin) on the structural organization of pea (Pisum sativum L.) nodules and their transcriptomic activity were investigated. The plants were treated as recommended by the manufacturer (10 mg/mL for Imidor Pro and 50 µg/mL for Faskord) and twofold concentrations were used for both insecticides. Insecticides had no visible effect on the growth of pea plants. The nodules also showed no visible changes, except for the variant treated with twofold concentration of Imidor Pro. However, the dry weight of shoots and roots differed significantly in insecticide-treated plants compared to untreated plants in almost all treatments. The number of nodules decreased in variants with Imidor Pro treatment. At the ultrastructural level, both insecticides caused cell wall deformation, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate accumulation in bacteroids, expansion of the peribacteroid space in symbiosomes, and inclusions in vacuoles. Treatment with Faskord caused chromatin condensation in nucleus. Imidor Pro treatment caused hypertrophy of infection droplets by increasing the amount of matrix, as confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis of extensins. Transcriptome analysis revealed upregulation of expression of a number of extensin-like protein-coding genes in nodules after the Imidor Pro treatment. Overall, both insecticides caused some minor changes in the legume-rhizobial system when used at recommended doses, but Faskord, an enteric contact insecticide, has fewer negative effects on symbiotic nodules and legume plants; of these two insecticides, it is preferred in pea agricultural production.}, } @article {pmid39683100, year = {2024}, author = {Luo, Z and Han, H and Yao, H and Yan, G and Bai, J and Shi, L and Pei, X and Li, J and Li, Q}, title = {Effects of Artificially Modified Microbial Communities on the Root Growth and Development of Tall Fescue in Nutrient-Poor Rubble Soil.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {39683100}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {2021YFB2301605-4//Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, National Key R&D Programme/ ; }, abstract = {The granite rubble soil produced through excavation during construction is nutrient-poor and has a simplified microbial community, making it difficult for plants to grow and increasing the challenges of ecological restoration. Recent studies have demonstrated that microbial inoculants significantly promote plant growth and are considered a potential factor influencing root development. Microorganisms influence root development either directly or indirectly, forming beneficial symbiotic relationships with plant roots. However, the mechanisms by which microorganisms affect root development and root anatomy, as well as the dynamics of soil microbial communities following the artificial application of microbial inoculants, remain unclear. This experiment utilized granite rubble soil from construction excavation in a pot trial, implementing five different treatment methods. After the fast-growing grass species tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) was planted, four growth-promoting microbial inoculants-Bacillus subtilis (K), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (JD), Aspergillus niger (H), and Trichoderma harzianum (HC)-were applied to the soil in the pots. These treatments were compared with a control group (CK) that received no microbial inoculant. At 120 days of plant growth, the composition of the soil microbial community, biomass, root structure, and root anatomy were measured for each treatment group. This analysis aimed to explore the effects of different microbial treatments on the microbial communities and root development of Festuca arundinacea root soil. The study found that the addition of microbial inoculants reduced the number of microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of bacteria and fungi in the soil, affecting both the marker species and their abundance at the phylum level. Additionally, microbial inoculants promoted the development of the tall fescue root structure, increasing metrics such as the total root length, root surface area, root volume, and root-to-shoot ratio per plant. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the area ratios of various components in the root anatomy of tall fescue's primary roots, such as the root cortex area, stele area, and the number of lateral roots, were influenced by Proteobacteria. Mortierellomycota was found to affect the root epidermis area.}, } @article {pmid39683068, year = {2024}, author = {Qiu, C and Jin, X and Zhao, Y and Kuai, P and Lou, Y}, title = {A Nucleotide-Binding Domain Leucine-Rich Repeat Gene Regulates Plant Growth and Defense Against Chewing Herbivores.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {39683068}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {2023A0200904//Major Science and Technology project of Xinjiang/ ; }, abstract = {Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptor genes (NLRs) play an important role in plant defenses against pathogens, pathogenic nematodes, and piercing-sucking herbivores. However, little is known about their functions in plant defenses against chewing herbivores. Here, we identified a plasma membrane-localized coiled-coil-type NLR protein, OsPik-2-like, whose transcript levels were induced by the infestation of rice leaf folder (LF, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) larvae, and by treatment with mechanical wounding. Knocking out OsPik-2-like in rice increased the LF-induced levels of jasmonic acid (JA) and jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile), the activity of trypsin protease inhibitors (TrypPIs), and the basal levels of some flavonoids, which in turn decreased the performance of LF larvae. Moreover, knocking out OsPik-2-like reduced plant growth. These findings demonstrate that OsPik-2-like regulates the symbiosis between rice and LF by balancing plant growth and defense.}, } @article {pmid39683062, year = {2024}, author = {Danso Ofori, A and Su, W and Zheng, T and Datsomor, O and Titriku, JK and Xiang, X and Kandhro, AG and Ahmed, MI and Mawuli, EW and Awuah, RT and Zheng, A}, title = {Roles of Phyllosphere Microbes in Rice Health and Productivity.}, journal = {Plants (Basel, Switzerland)}, volume = {13}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {39683062}, issn = {2223-7747}, support = {2019YFN0010, 2020YFH0161, and 22GJHZ0024//Project of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province/ ; 2021-YF05-02326-SN//Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau/ ; }, abstract = {The phyllosphere, comprising the aerial portions of plants, is a vibrant ecosystem teeming with diverse microorganisms crucial for plant health and productivity. This review examines the functional roles of phyllosphere microorganisms in rice (Oryza sativa), focusing on their importance in nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and growth promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions are explored along with their potential applications in enhancing sustainable rice production. The symbiotic relationships between rice plants and their associated microorganisms are highlighted, offering insights into improved agricultural practices. Furthermore, this review addresses the challenges and future developments in translating laboratory findings into practical applications. By synthesizing current research, this comprehensive analysis serves as a valuable resource for leveraging phyllosphere microbes in rice farming and related fields.}, } @article {pmid39682733, year = {2024}, author = {Starke, MD and Kapusta, M and Płachno, BJ and Bohdanowicz, J}, title = {Immunolocalization of Extensin and Pectin Epitopes in Liparis loeselii Protocorm and Protocorm-like Bodies.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {13}, number = {23}, pages = {}, pmid = {39682733}, issn = {2073-4409}, support = {539-D030-B951-22, 531-D230-D847-24, and the Priority Research Area under the Strategic Programme Excellence Initiative at Jagiellonian University.//University of Gdańsk and Jagiellonian University./ ; }, mesh = {*Pectins/metabolism ; *Epitopes/immunology/metabolism ; *Orchidaceae/metabolism/immunology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism ; Cell Wall/metabolism ; Glycoproteins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Liparis loeselii (L.) Rich, an endangered member of the Orchidaceae family, is found in alkaline fens. With the declining populations of L. loeselii, there is a pressing need to reintroduce this species in Central Europe. As in vitro germination is a crucial tool for obtaining plants for introduction into the environment, we looked at the morphological changes occurring during the early stages of L. loeselii development in vitro. As the early stages of orchid development, especially the protocorm stage, are thought to be responsible for SAM formation and the initiation of symbiotic association, we focused on cell wall elements whose epitopes have been found in similar processes in other species: the extensin and pectin rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) side chain epitopes. We addressed the following questions: Does the cell wall of L. loeselii change its composition during the early stages of development, as noted in other species? Are there noticeable similarities in the cell wall to organs of different species whose function is to contact microorganisms? Are there regularities that allow the recognition of individual structures on this basis? Immunolocalization revealed changes in the distribution of certain extensins (JIM11 and JIM20) and RG-I (LM5 and LM6) side chain epitopes. Extensins, a type of cell wall protein, were observed during the initial stages of the formation of PLB and the shoot apical meristem of protocorms and PLBs. RG-I, on the other hand, was found to play a significant role in the development of the protocorm and PLB. In pseudobulbs, which appeared on the protocorms, extensins occurred in their storage part. However, RG-I side chains (1→4)-β-galactans (LM5), and (1→5)-α-L-arabinans (LM6) were not found in pseudobulbs. We revealed that a common feature of protocorms and PLBs was an increased amount of extensins, which were detected with the JIM11 antibody, and pectins, which were detected with the LM5 antibody, that were present together, which may prove helpful in determining the identity of the induced structures and distinguishing them from pseudobulbs. Thus, our study unveiled the role of extensins and RG-I during the growth of protocorms and PLBs. We suggest that PLBs may mimic the wall remodelling that occurs in protocorms, which indicates that using cell wall components is an invitation to be colonised by a fungal partner. However, this needs to be tested in future research. The findings of this research can help interpret future studies on the propagation, acclimatisation, and introduction of L. loeselii into the natural environment.}, } @article {pmid39681770, year = {2024}, author = {Lin, X and Wang, M and Xie, F and Cheng, Y and Yang, L and Gao, J and Li, W and Zhang, X and Tang, T}, title = {Endophytic Bacteria Enterobacter cloacae PN7 Promotes Biosynthesis and Accumulation of Saponins in Panax notoginseng.}, journal = {Current microbiology}, volume = {82}, number = {1}, pages = {41}, pmid = {39681770}, issn = {1432-0991}, mesh = {*Saponins/biosynthesis/metabolism ; *Panax notoginseng/microbiology ; *Endophytes/metabolism/genetics ; *Enterobacter cloacae/metabolism/genetics ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Seedlings/microbiology ; Plant Growth Regulators/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Panax notoginseng is an important Chinese medicinal plant. Saponins are the major bioactive secondary metabolites with a wide range of medicinal and commercial value in P. notoginseng, so it is crucial to develop environmentally friendly methods to increase their production. The symbiotic relationship between endophytic bacteria and host plants offers a sustainable approach to enhance secondary metabolite biosynthesis. In this study, it was reported that the co-cultivation of an endophytic bacterium Enterobacter cloacae PN7, isolated from P. notoginseng and its host plant could greatly promote saponin accumulation in the root of seedlings. After six days of PN7 treatment, the total saponin concentration reached 21.64 mg/g, representing a 2.01-fold increase over the control. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that PN7 induction upregulated key genes in the saponin biosynthetic pathway (including DXS, HMGR, PMK, DS, CYP450, and GTs), modulated 253 plant hormone signaling genes (such as those related to JA, ETH, and ABA), and affected 284 transcription factor genes and 47 ABC transporter genes. Co-expression network analysis identified DEGs related to plant hormone signaling, transcription factors, and ABC transporters in saponin biosynthesis and distribution. The results suggested that JA signaling, mediated by transcription factors, such as bHLH and MYBs, and its interaction with ETH, played crucial roles in saponin biosynthesis. Additionally, potential ABC transporter candidates involved in saponin transport were identified. This study highlights the role of endophytic bacteria in enhancing saponin production in P. notoginseng and opens avenues for further research on microbial-plant interactions in secondary metabolite production.}, } @article {pmid39681734, year = {2024}, author = {Rajendran, D and Vinayagam, S and Sekar, K and Bhowmick, IP and Sattu, K}, title = {Symbiotic Bacteria: Wolbachia, Midgut Microbiota in Mosquitoes and Their Importance for Vector Prevention Strategies.}, journal = {Microbial ecology}, volume = {87}, number = {1}, pages = {154}, pmid = {39681734}, issn = {1432-184X}, mesh = {*Wolbachia/physiology ; Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Mosquito Vectors/microbiology ; Culicidae/microbiology ; Mosquito Control/methods ; }, abstract = {Mosquito-borne illnesses pose a significant threat to eradication under existing vector management measures. Chemo-based vector control strategies (use of insecticides) raise a complication of resistance and environmental pollution. Biological control methods are an alternative approach to overcoming this complication arising from insecticides. The mosquito gut microbiome is essential to supporting the factors that involve metabolic regulation and metamorphic development (from juvenile to adult), as well as the induction of an immune response. The induced immune response includes the JAK-STAT, IMD, and Toll pathways due to the microbial interaction with the midgut cells (MG cells) that prevent disease transmission to humans. The aforementioned sequel to the review provides information about endosymbiont Wolbachia, which contaminates insect cells, including germline and somatic cytoplasm, and inhibits disease-causing pathogen development and transmission by competing for resources within the cell. Moreover, it reduces the host population via cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), feminization, male killing, and parthenogenesis. Furthermore, the Cif factor in Wolbachia is responsible for CI induction that produces inviable cells with the translocating systems and the embryonic defect-causing protein factor, WalE1 (WD0830), which manipulates the host actin. This potential of Wolbachia can be used to design a paratransgenic system to control vectors in the field. An extracellular symbiotic bacterium such as Asaia, which is grown in the growth medium, is used to transfer lethal genes within itself. Besides, the genetically transferred symbiotic bacteria infect the wild mosquito population and are easily manifold. So, it might be suitable for vector control strategies in the future.}, } @article {pmid39680902, year = {2024}, author = {Lipowska, MM and Sadowska, ET and Kohl, KD and Koteja, P}, title = {Experimental Evolution of a Mammalian Holobiont? Genetic and Maternal Effects on the Cecal Microbiome in Bank Voles Selectively Bred for Herbivorous Capability.}, journal = {Ecological and evolutionary physiology}, volume = {97}, number = {5}, pages = {274-291}, doi = {10.1086/732781}, pmid = {39680902}, issn = {2993-7973}, mesh = {Animals ; *Arvicolinae/microbiology/genetics ; *Herbivory ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics ; Female ; Cecum/microbiology ; Biological Evolution ; Maternal Inheritance/genetics ; Selective Breeding/genetics ; Male ; Diet/veterinary ; }, abstract = {AbstractMammalian herbivory represents a complex adaptation requiring evolutionary changes across all levels of biological organization, from molecules to morphology to behavior. Explaining the evolution of such complex traits represents a major challenge in biology, as it is simultaneously muddled and enlightened by a growing awareness of the crucial role of symbiotic associations in shaping organismal adaptations. The concept of hologenomic evolution includes the partnered unit of the holobiont, the host with its microbiome, as a selection unit that may undergo adaptation. Here, we test some of the assumptions underlying the concept of hologenomic evolution using a unique experimental evolution model: lines of the bank vole (Myodes [=Clethrionomys] glareolus) selected for increased ability to cope with a low-quality herbivorous diet and unselected control lines. Results from a complex nature-nurture design, in which we combined cross-fostering between the selected and control lines with dietary treatment, showed that the herbivorous voles harbored a cecal microbiome with altered membership and structure and changed abundances of several phyla and genera regardless of the origin of their foster mothers. Although the differences were small, they were statistically significant and partially robust to changes in diet and housing conditions. Microbial characteristics also correlated with selection-related traits at the level of individual variation. Thus, the results support the hypothesis that selection on a host performance trait leads to genetic changes in the host that promote the maintenance of a beneficial microbiome. Such a result is consistent with some of the assumptions underlying the concept of hologenomic evolution.}, } @article {pmid39680761, year = {2024}, author = {Yang, J and Tan, S and Ge, S and Yang, M and Liu, H and Liu, W and Zhang, K and Zhang, Z and Wang, ZH and Shi, J and Liu, J}, title = {Cyanobacteria-probiotics symbionts for modulation of intestinal inflammation and microbiome dysregulation in colitis.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {52}, pages = {e2403417121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2403417121}, pmid = {39680761}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {Nos. 82172762 82373287 21904119 82073395//| National Natural Science Foundation of China-Henan Joint Fund (-)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Colitis/microbiology/chemically induced/therapy ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Mice ; *Probiotics/pharmacology/therapeutic use/administration & dosage ; *Symbiosis ; Inflammation/metabolism ; Bacillus subtilis ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/microbiology/therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Synechocystis/metabolism ; Cyanobacteria/metabolism ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; }, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is often associated with excessive inflammatory response and highly dysregulated gut microbiota. Traditional treatments utilize drugs to manage inflammation, potentially with probiotic therapy as an adjuvant. However, current standard practices often suffer from detrimental side effects, low bioavailability, and unsatisfactory therapeutic outcomes. Microbial complexes characterized by mutually beneficial symbiosis hold great promise for IBD therapy. Here, we aggregated Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Sp) with Bacillus subtilis (BS) by biomimetic mineralization to form cyanobacteria-probiotics symbionts (ASp@BS), which reshaped a healthy immune system and gut microbiota in a murine model of acute colitis. The symbionts exhibited excellent tolerance to the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract. Importantly, probiotics within the symbionts created a local anaerobic environment to activate the [NiFe]-hydrogenase enzyme of cyanobacteria, facilitating the production of hydrogen gas (H2) to persistently scavenge elevated reactive oxygen species and alleviate inflammatory factors. The resulting reduced inflammation improves the viability of the probiotics to efficiently regulate the gut microbiota and reshape the intestinal barrier functions. Our research elucidates that ASp@BS leverages the synergistic interaction between Sp and BS to create a therapeutic platform that addresses multiple aspects of IBD, offering a promising and comprehensive solution for IBD treatment.}, } @article {pmid39680257, year = {2024}, author = {Alam, A and Gabriel-Neumann, E}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi travel the world with harvested underground crops.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {4}, pmid = {39680257}, issn = {1432-1890}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Crops, Agricultural/microbiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Sorghum/microbiology ; United Arab Emirates ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {In recent years, the dispersal of potentially invasive plants, animals, and pathogens via international trading routes for fresh agricultural goods has been the subject of intensive research and risk assessment. Comparatively little is known about the potential impact of global food trade on the spreading of symbiotic soil microorganisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The present study thus assessed whether internationally traded underground crop harvest products carry AM fungal propagules. Twenty batches of tubers, corms or bulbs originating from eight different countries were sampled and used to inoculate Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench plants grown in a heat-sterilized, sandy dune soil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Results revealed that most of the underground crop harvest products contained AM fungal propagules able to establish AM symbioses in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. Though it is likely that most AM fungal propagules attached to harvest products will ultimately be eliminated in the waste or sewage stream, it is well possible that a certain portion would find its way into agricultural or natural ecosystems, e.g., via organic waste disposal or use of kitchen greywater for irrigation. Given the large volumes of underground crops traded worldwide, their impact on AM fungal dispersal and distribution deserves further investigation and assessment of associated risks of adulteration of soil microbial communities.}, } @article {pmid39680049, year = {2024}, author = {Martinez, K and Stillson, PT and Ravenscraft, A}, title = {Inferior Caballeronia symbiont lacks conserved symbiosis genes.}, journal = {Microbial genomics}, volume = {10}, number = {12}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1099/mgen.0.001333}, pmid = {39680049}, issn = {2057-5858}, mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; Animals ; *Phylogeny ; Heteroptera/microbiology/genetics ; Burkholderiaceae/genetics/classification ; Genome, Bacterial ; Burkholderia/genetics/classification ; }, abstract = {Pentatomomorphan bugs can form symbiotic associations with bacteria belonging to the supergenus Burkholderia sensu lato. This relationship has become a model for understanding environmental symbiont acquisition. Host insects can utilize various symbiont strains from across Burkholderia sensu lato; however, host colonization success and benefits conferred vary by bacterial clade. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis aimed at identifying candidate genes that underpin beneficial symbioses within this system. We scanned the entire Burkholderiaceae family for the presence of 17 colonization-associated genes, as well as 88 candidate genes that are differentially expressed during symbiosis. There was no difference in the distribution of the 17 colonization-associated genes between symbiotic (Caballeronia and insect-associated plant beneficial and environmental clade) and non-symbiotic lineages; however, there was a higher prevalence of the 88 candidate genes in the insect symbiont lineages. We subsequently analysed the genomes of nine symbiotic Caballeronia species that confer varying fitness benefits to their insect hosts. One symbiont species was significantly worse, one was significantly better and the remaining seven were intermediate in terms of conferred host fitness benefits. We found that species possessing a higher number of the candidate genes conferred faster host development time. Furthermore, we identified two candidate genes that were missing in the least beneficial species but present in the other eight, suggesting that these genes may be important in modulating symbiont quality. Our study suggests that the mechanisms required for host colonization are broadly distributed across Burkholderiaceae, but the genes that determine symbiont quality are more prevalent in insect-associated species. This work helps to identify genes that influence this highly specialized yet diverse symbiosis between Pentatomomorphan insects and Burkholderiaceae bacteria.}, } @article {pmid39678913, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, K and Liu, X and Huang, H and Suo, M and Wang, J and Liu, X and Zhang, J and Chen, X and Li, Z}, title = {A new target for treating intervertebral disk degeneration: gut microbes.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1452774}, pmid = {39678913}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is a common clinical spinal disease and one of the main causes of low back pain (LBP). Generally speaking, IDD is considered a natural degenerative process with age. However, with the deepening of research, people have discovered that IDD is not only related to age, but also has many factors that can induce and accelerate its progression. In addition, the pathogenesis of IDD remains unclear, resulting in limited traditional treatment methods that cannot effectively prevent and treat IDD. Conservative treatment may lead to patients' dependence on drugs, and the pain relief effect is not obvious. Similarly, surgical treatment is highly invasive, with a longer recovery time and a higher recurrence rate. With the deepening of exploration, people have discovered that intestinal microorganisms are an important symbiotic microbial community in the human body and are closely related to the occurrence and development of various diseases. Changes in intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites may affect the body's inflammatory response, immune regulation, and metabolic processes, thereby affecting the health of the intervertebral disk. In this context, the gut microbiota has received considerable attention as a potential target for delaying or treating IDD. This article first introduces the impact of gut microbes on common distal organs, and then focuses on three potential mechanisms by which gut microbes and their metabolites influence IDD. Finally, we also summarized the methods of delaying or treating IDD by interfering with intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites. Further understanding of the potential mechanisms between intestinal microorganisms and IDD will help to formulate reasonable IDD treatment strategies to achieve ideal therapeutic effects.}, } @article {pmid39678792, year = {2024}, author = {Cui, JY and Ma, J and Gao, XX and Sheng, ZM and Pan, ZX and Shi, LH and Zhang, BG}, title = {Unraveling the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer.}, journal = {World journal of gastrointestinal oncology}, volume = {16}, number = {12}, pages = {4565-4578}, pmid = {39678792}, issn = {1948-5204}, abstract = {Within the intricate milieu of colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) act as pivotal orchestrators, wielding considerable influence over tumor progression. This review endeavors to dissect the multifaceted functions of CAFs within the realm of CRC, thereby highlighting their indispensability in fostering CRC malignant microenvironment and indicating the development of CAFs-targeted therapeutic interventions. Through a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge, this review delineates insights into CAFs-mediated modulation of cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, immune evasion, and neovascularization, elucidating the intricate web of interactions that sustain the pro-tumor metabolism and secretion of multiple factors. Additionally, recognizing the high level of heterogeneity within CAFs is crucial, as they encompass a range of subtypes, including myofibroblastic CAFs, inflammatory CAFs, antigen-presenting CAFs, and vessel-associated CAFs. Innovatively, the symbiotic relationship between CAFs and the intestinal microbiota is explored, shedding light on a novel dimension of CRC pathogenesis. Despite remarkable progress, the orchestrated dynamic functions of CAFs remain incompletely deciphered, underscoring the need for continued research endeavors for therapeutic advancements in CRC management.}, } @article {pmid39676474, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, H and Wang, Q and Yang, Y and Zhong, W and He, F and Li, J}, title = {The mycobiome as integral part of the gut microbiome: crucial role of symbiotic fungi in health and disease.}, journal = {Gut microbes}, volume = {16}, number = {1}, pages = {2440111}, doi = {10.1080/19490976.2024.2440111}, pmid = {39676474}, issn = {1949-0984}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Mycobiome ; *Fungi/physiology/classification ; *Symbiosis ; Animals ; *Dysbiosis/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/isolation & purification/genetics ; }, abstract = {The gut mycobiome significantly affects host health and immunity. However, most studies have focused on symbiotic bacteria in the gut microbiome, whereas less attention has been given to symbiotic fungi. Although fungi constitute only 0.01%-0.1% of the gut microbiome, their larger size and unique immunoregulatory functions make them significant. Factors like diet, antimicrobials use, and age can disrupt the fungal community, leading to dysbiosis. Fungal-bacterial-host immune interactions are critical in maintaining gut homeostasis, with fungi playing a role in mediating immune responses such as Th17 cell activation. This review highlights methods for studying gut fungi, the composition and influencing factors of the gut mycobiome, and its potential in therapeutic interventions for intestinal and hepatic diseases. We aim to provide new insights into the underexplored role of gut fungi in human health.}, } @article {pmid39675287, year = {2024}, author = {Yan, G and Luo, X and Huang, B and Wang, H and Xing, Y and Wang, Q}, title = {Imbalance in nitrogen and phosphorus allocation between tree roots and leaves induced by nitrogen addition.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {958}, number = {}, pages = {177925}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177925}, pmid = {39675287}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The allocation of limiting elements, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), in plant organs is essential for nutrient cycling between soil and plants (soil-plant nutrient cycling) and functional optimization in plant communities. Unprecedented inputs of anthropogenic N have caused drastic N and P imbalances in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the effects of N addition on the allocation strategies of N and P between plant organs remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a long-term, multilevel N addition experiment to investigate the allocation strategies for N and P in plant leaves and fine roots. We found that N addition significantly increased leaf N concentration, leaf P concentration, and leaf N:P ratios, while significantly decreasing fine root N concentration, fine root P concentration, and fine root N:P ratios. Additionally, we demonstrated a higher proportional increase of N in leaves and a lower proportional decrease of P in fine roots with N addition. Furthermore, our analyses revealed that N addition influenced the allocation of N and P between plant leaves and fine roots through changes in plant growth patterns and nutrient distribution strategies. These changes were driven by a significant increase in soil inorganic N concentration, a decrease in soil N cycling and a reduction in mycorrhizal symbiosis. Our findings suggest that N addition will likely lead to an imbalance between the N and P cycles in temperate forest ecosystems, due to the unequal allocation of N and P between tree roots and leaves. This imbalance may, in turn, have negative implications for the provision of ecosystem services.}, } @article {pmid39674502, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, Y and Han, Q and Zhang, J and Zhang, X and Chen, Y and Li, M and Hao, Y and Hong, Y and Tang, R and Ferguson, BJ and Gresshoff, PM and Kuai, J and Zhou, G and Li, X and Ji, H}, title = {Soybean nodulation shapes the rhizosphere microbiome to increase rapeseed yield.}, journal = {Journal of advanced research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.jare.2024.11.034}, pmid = {39674502}, issn = {2090-1224}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Crop rotation, a crucial agricultural practice that enhances soil health and crop productivity, is widely used in agriculture worldwide. Soybeans play a crucial role in crop rotation owing to their nitrogen-fixing ability, which is facilitated by symbiotic bacteria in their root systems. The soybean-rapeseed rotation is an effective agricultural practice in the Yangtze River Basin of China. However, the mechanism underlying the effectiveness of this system remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to decipher the mechanisms by which previous soybean cultivation enhances the growth of subsequent rapeseed.

METHODS: Soybeans with three distinct nodulation genotypes were rotated with rapeseed, and the impact of previous soybean cultivation on subsequent rapeseed growth was evaluated by examining the soybean root secretome and soil rhizosphere microbiome.

RESULTS: Soybean-rapeseed rotation significantly enhanced subsequent rapeseed growth and yield, especially when supernodulating soybean plants were used, which released the most nitrogen into the soil rhizosphere. The differences in soybean nodulation capability led to variations in root exudation, which in turn influenced the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere. Notably, the supernodulating soybean plants promoted Sphingomonadaceae family of bacteria growth by secreting oleic acid and cis-4-hydroxy-D-proline, and further attracted them through cis-4-hydroxy-D-proline. Furthermore, the exogenous application of Sphingomonadaceae bacteria, either alone or in combination with rhizobia, significantly enhanced the growth of rapeseed.

CONCLUSION: Our data definitively demonstrated the crucial role of previous soybean cultivation in enhancing the yield of rapeseed, with the assistance of Sphingomonadaceae bacteria and rhizobia. This study elucidates the role of soybean nodulation in rhizosphere bacterial dynamics, highlighting its importance in sustainable agricultural practices.}, } @article {pmid39674485, year = {2024}, author = {Ni, Z and Chen, L and Qian, X and Yong, Y and Wu, M and Yihao, L and Li, J and Wang, Y and Li, L and Shao, Y and Chen, A}, title = {Preliminary characterization of Ramaria botrytoides polysaccharide RB-P1-1 and analysis of its hypoglycemic effects by altering the gut microbiota and metabolites in mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {138774}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138774}, pmid = {39674485}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Gut microbiota has a symbiotic relationship with the host and is closely linked to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Polysaccharides are natural bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on T2DM; however, the mechanisms underlying their effects remain unclear. This study investigated the hypoglycemic effects of a purified polysaccharide, RB-P1-1, from Ramaria botrytoides and assessed its association with gut microbiota and metabolite changes using 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. Hypoglycemic effects were evaluated after microbial community restoration via fecal microbiota transplantation. RB-P1-1 significantly improved hyperglycemia profiles and reshaped gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of Alistipes, Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, Odoribacter, Akkermansia, and Turicibacter. RB-P1-1 modulated microbiota metabolites associated with hypoglycemic effects, including pyridoxamine, L-histidine, quercetin, 3-phosphonopropionic acid, oleoylethanolamide, 3-ketocholanic acid, 4-phenylbutyric acid, LysoPC(P-16:0/0:0), LysoPC(18:2), and short-chain fatty acids, and altered various metabolic pathways involved in T2DM development. Gut microbiota that showed altered abundance were correlated with metabolites that showed altered concentration. Gut microbiota isolated from the RB-P1-1-treated group alleviated the symptoms associated with T2DM. These results suggest RB-P1-1 is an effective active ingredient in the treatment of T2DM by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites.}, } @article {pmid39674249, year = {2024}, author = {Bai, X and Li, J and Jiang, H and Cai, R and He, C and Ren, X and Jiang, B}, title = {Effects of multiple temperature variations on nitrogen removal and microbial community structure in tidal flow constructed wetlands.}, journal = {Environmental research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {120616}, doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2024.120616}, pmid = {39674249}, issn = {1096-0953}, abstract = {Tidal-flow constructed wetlands (TFCWs) provide distinct advantages for nitrogen removal by enhancing microbial activity through dynamic water level fluctuations. However, effects of temperature on nitrogen transformation processes and microbial community dynamics in TFCWs remain unclear. We analyzed the effects of TFCWs on nitrogen transformation and microbial community structure under different temperature conditions (23, 16, 12, and 8 °C) through 140 days of temperature-controlled experiments. The nitrogen removal efficiency was considerably enhanced at 23 °C, with transformation rates for ammonia nitrogen (NH4[+]-N) and total nitrogen (TN) reaching 9.28 ± 0.06 g/m[3]/day and 8.35 ± 0.08 g/m[3]/day, respectively. Conversely, at 8 °C, the nitrogen removal efficiency declined, with NH4[+]-N and TN transformation rates decreasing to 7.38 ± 0.05 g/m[3]/day and 6.78 ± 0.05 g/m[3]/day, respectively. Temperature markedly influenced the microbial diversity and community structure, as evidenced by the considerably higher Shannon diversity indices for bacterial communities at 23 °C (5.12 ± 0.21) compared with those at 8 °C (4.52 ± 0.40). Positive microbial interactions were more prevalent at lower temperatures (12 and 8 °C), leading to stronger symbiotic relationships, although the network complexity diminished. The microbial community composition of taxa such as Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Thaumarchaeota exhibited greater resilience at lower temperatures. Changes in dissolved oxygen levels also drove changes in bacterial and archaeal communities. These findings underscore the pivotal role of temperature in regulating ecological function and nitrogen removal efficiency of TFCWs and highlight the importance of accounting for temperature variations in the design and management of wastewater treatment systems.}, } @article {pmid39673195, year = {2024}, author = {Heredia-Velásquez, AM and Sarkar, S and Thomas, FW and Baza, AC and Garcia-Pichel, F}, title = {Urea-based mutualistic transfer of nitrogen in biological soil crusts.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrae246}, pmid = {39673195}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Foundational to establishment and recovery of biocrusts is a mutualistic exchange of carbon for nitrogen between pioneer cyanobacteria, including the widespread Microcoleus vaginatus, and heterotrophic diazotrophs in its "cyanosphere". In other such mutualisms, nitrogen is transferred as amino acids or ammonium, preventing losses through specialized structures, cell apposition or intracellularity. Yet, in the biocrust symbiosis relative proximity achieved through chemotaxis optimizes the exchange. We posited that further partner specificity may stem from using an unusual nitrogen vehicle, urea. We show that representative mutualist M. vaginatus PCC 9802 possesses genes for urea uptake, two ureolytic systems, and the urea cycle, overexpressing only uptake and the rare urea carboxylase/allophanate hydrolase (uc/ah) when in co-culture with mutualist Massilia sp. METH4. In turn, it overexpresses urea biosynthesis, but neither urease nor urea uptake when in co-culture. On nitrogen-free medium, three cyanosphere isolates release urea in co-culture with M. vaginatus but not in monoculture. Conversely, M. vaginatus PCC 9802 grows on urea down to the low micromolar range. In natural biocrusts, urea is at low and stable concentrations that do not support the growth of most local bacteria, but aggregates of mutualists constitute dynamic microscale urea hotspots, and the cyanobacterium responds chemotactically to urea. The coordinated gene co-regulation, physiology of cultured mutualists, distribution of urea pools in nature, and responses of native microbial populations, all suggest that low-concentration urea is likely the main vehicle for interspecies N transfer, helping attain partner specificity, for which the rare high-affinity uc/ah system of Microcoleus. vaginatus is likely central.}, } @article {pmid39672237, year = {2024}, author = {Pham, MD and Bui, XT and Vo, TK and Dao, TS and Le, LT and Vo, TD and Huynh, KP and Nguyen, TB and Lin, C and Visvanathan, C}, title = {Microalgae - bacteria based wastewater treatment systems: Granulation, influence factors and pollutants removal.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {418}, number = {}, pages = {131973}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131973}, pmid = {39672237}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Wastewater treatment based on microalgae and bacteria symbiosis is an environmentally friendly, sustainable technology that has attracted attention recently because of its high efficiency in treating pollutants, saving energy, and short-term biomass recovery. Among them, the granular microalgae and bacteria combination emerges with the advantages of rapid gravity settling, good resistance to adverse environmental conditions, outstanding wastewater treatment performance, and easy biomass recovery. This review aims to clarify the microalgal-bacterial granule (MBG) - based process for wastewater treatment. In particular, MBG characteristics, granulation mechanism, and influence factors on the process are also discussed. The review contributes to the knowledge system related to MBG research in recent years, thereby pointing out research gaps that need to be filled in the future.}, } @article {pmid39671865, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, J and Gao, Y and Liu, Z and Han, Y and Li, W and Lu, X and Dong, K and Zhen, G}, title = {Enhanced propionate degradation and CO2 electromethanogenesis in an up-flow dual-chamber electrocatalytic anaerobic bioreactor (UF-DC-EAB): Leveraging DIET-mediated syntrophy for microbial stability.}, journal = {Water research}, volume = {272}, number = {}, pages = {122927}, doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2024.122927}, pmid = {39671865}, issn = {1879-2448}, abstract = {Anaerobic digestion faces numerous challenges, including high CO2 content in biogas and volatile fatty acids (such as propionate) accumulation in digestate. To address these issues, an up-flow dual-chamber electrocatalytic anaerobic bioreactor (UF-DC-EAB) was developed to enhance propionate degradation through microbial symbiosis while improving biogas quality via CO2 electromethanogenesis. Under the extreme conditions with propionate as the primary carbon source at 6-h HRT, the UF-DC-EAB achieved a propionate removal efficiency of 72.1 ± 9.4 % and a faradaic efficiency of 25.5 ± 5.1 %. Microbial community analysis revealed an enrichment of acetoclastic methanogens (Methanosarcinales, 5.4 %) and syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacteria (Syntrophobacterales, 13.9 %) in the anode, which facilitated propionate degradation. In the cathode, hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanobacterium, 13.6 %) and electroactive bacteria (Geobacter, 6.2 %) were predominant, further promoting CO2 electromethanogenesis and biogas upgrading. Co-occurrence network and structural equation modeling indicated that the electrocatalytic regulation roused the intrinsic capability of the microbial community to oxidize propionate and provoked the occurrence of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) among the enriched functional microorganisms, by regulating the synthesis of key molecules like F420 and cytochrome c in response to propionate-induced changes. The DIET-mediated syntropy increased the net energy output by 212.5 %. This study presents a novel electrochemical system combining CO2 electromethanogenesis with propionate-rich digestate degradation, offering an efficient approach for anaerobic post-treatment.}, } @article {pmid39671445, year = {2024}, author = {Ndeko, AB and Diedhiou, AG and Founoune-Mboup, H and Chuma, GB and Mugumaarhahama, Y and Diouf, D and Fall, S and Mushagalusa, GN and Kane, A}, title = {Site climate more than soil properties and topography shape the natural arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in maize and spore density within rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) cropland in the eastern DR Congo.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {e0312581}, pmid = {39671445}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {*Zea mays/microbiology/growth & development ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Spores, Fungal ; *Symbiosis ; Climate ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Democratic Republic of the Congo ; Crops, Agricultural/microbiology/growth & development ; Rhizosphere ; }, abstract = {Rhizosphere microorganisms, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), play a vital role in enhancing sustainable maize production. However, uncertainty persist regarding the influence of climate variables and soil properties on mycorrhizal colonization (MC) of maize and the abundance of AM fungal spores in the field. This study aimed to explore the environmental factors such as site climate variables, soil physicochemical properties and topography and vegetation variable, affecting the natural MC of maize and the density of AMF spores. The study hypothesizes that natural maize mycorrhizal colonization and AMF spore density vary significantly across different sites and agroecological zones. It further posits that climatic and edaphic variables predominantly explain the observed variation in mycorrhizal parameters. To assess the impact of these factors, a field study was conducted in 32 sites across three territories in the province of South Kivu, namely Kabare, Walungu, and Uvira. Rhizospheric soil and maize roots were collected from different sites. Maize MC varied significantly among sites, with Kabare and Walungu showing high colonization rates (52.1% and 44.7%, respectively) compared to Uvira (26.40%). Meanwhile, spore density was significantly higher in Uvira (1331.7 spores g-1 soil) than in Kabare (518.9 spores g-1 soil) and Walungu (468.58 spores g-1 soil). Correlation analysis indicated that maize MC was influenced by site climate and soil properties. The PLS-SEM model demonstrated that 76.5% (R2) of the total variance in maize root MC was explained by climatic variables and soil chemical properties. Compared to soil chemical properties, climate characteristics had a more pronounced impact on maize MC. Maize MC was inversely correlated with temperature, C and available P content, while being directly and positively correlated with altitude, rainfall, and base saturation rate. Furthermore, 68.5% (R2) of the spore density variability of AMF was explained by climatic variables and soil physical properties. Spore density was inversely correlated with sand and clay content, field capacity, rainfall, and altitude, while being positively correlated with temperature. The results of this study indicate that climatic conditions exert a more pronounced influence on the mycorrhizal colonization of maize and the density of AMF spores than soil characteristics.}, } @article {pmid39671023, year = {2024}, author = {Yan, H and Wang, E and Xu, X and Wei, GS and Zhang, B}, title = {Dissemination patterns and functional role of a symbiotic bacteria Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in Phytoseiulus persimilis.}, journal = {Experimental & applied acarology}, volume = {94}, number = {1}, pages = {11}, pmid = {39671023}, issn = {1572-9702}, support = {Grant No. 6222052//Beijing Natural Science Foundation/ ; Grant No. 32070402//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, mesh = {*Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/physiology ; Animals ; *Mites/physiology/microbiology ; *Symbiosis ; Female ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological ; Predatory Behavior ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic bacteria play a crucial role in various facets of host biology and physiology. The development and utilization of symbiotic bacteria in insects show promising potential for enhancing their reproduction, temperature tolerance, resistances to pathogens and insecticides. However, limited research has been conducted on symbiotic bacteria in predatory mites. In Phytoseiulus persimilis, we successfully cultivated a strain of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which has been noted for its significant contributions to pathogen control, pesticide and toxin resistance, and nutrition provision in some insect species. To explore the effect of S. maltophilia and its potential application on predatory mites, we fed S. maltophilia to P. persimilis and evaluated the transmission dynamics within mite generations. We examined its impacts on predator fitness and resistances to pesticides, pathogens, and starvation. The results showed that the S. maltophilia content in the offspring increased by 12.91 times when gravid mites were fed with the bacterial solution. P. persimilis that consumed prey treated with S. maltophilia showed a 25.20-fold increase in microbial content. Mating with treated males did not affect microbial levels in females. Moreover, S. maltophilia did not cause any discernible effect on the fitness of P. persimilis, including survival, developmental duration, fecundity, and longevity. Notably, it was found to improve P. persimilis survival following exposure to the pathogen Acaricomes phytoseiuli, resulting in a reduction of mortality by 20% compared to the control. This study serves as a foundational step for further utilization of beneficial microbes to improve the efficacy of predatory mite biological control.}, } @article {pmid39671006, year = {2024}, author = {Hakalehto, E and Jääskeläinen, A}, title = {Production of Novel Energy Gases in Bioprocesses Using Undefined Mixed Cultures.}, journal = {Advances in biochemical engineering/biotechnology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39671006}, issn = {0724-6145}, abstract = {Three phases of matter intermingle in various environments. The phenomena behind these fluctuations provide microbial cultures with beneficial interphase on the borderlines. Correspondingly, a bioreactor broth usually consists of a liquid phase but also contains solid particles, gas bubbles, technical surfaces, and other niches, both on a visible scale and microscopically. The diffusion limitation in the suspension is a remarkable hindrance to the reaction sequence during production. It must be overcome technically. Gas flow into the reactor could serve this purpose, and the outgoing stream or bubbling contains volatile products. The various mixing elements or gas flows should be moderated if shear forces disturb the cell growth, biochemical production, enzymatic activity, or any other crucial biological or physicochemical parameters. The focus is to optimize energy production in the form of liberated gases or their mixtures. Many combustible flows need to get purified, depending on their purpose, for example, for various engines. They provide novel sources for traffic in the air, streets, roads, and waterways, not forgetting space technology dimensions.On the other hand, industrial fuels are often used as mixtures of gases or gases with other substances. This approach may facilitate the utilization of side streams. Also, municipal energy needs can be fulfilled by microbial gases. Microbial mixed cultures could play an essential role in the big picture of sustainable industries, living and agriculture, exhibiting an excessive total effect on societies' multifactorial development. The gas phase is the key to realizing their potential.Gaseous emissions are inherent part of all forms of microbial metabolism, both aerobic and anoxic ones. Carbon dioxide is liberated both in respiration and fermentation, but the microbiota also binds volatile carbon compounds. CO2 is also a raw material for plant cultivation, e.g., in greenhouses or in algal pools which both represent the first steps of food chains. Additionally, they produce biomass to produce energy, biochemicals, nutrition, and soil improvement. Gaseous products of the mixed microbial cultures are valuable sources for energy production as purified gases (e.g., biomethane, biohydrogen) or as mixtures (e.g., bio-hythane, volatiles). These relatively simple molecules also serve as supplies for other hydrocarbons (e.g., methanol). Also, many microbial metabolites serve as fuel sources (e.g., bio-oil) and substrates for further biosynthesis. This versatility of potential technological options in energy making and for industrial processes could offer huge opportunities for green energies and sustainable industries, transportation, or municipalities. In the agriculture sector, the complete recycling also includes the consideration of gas phase. This aspect provides increasing sources for clean food production. Moreover, the chemoautotrophic bacteria, including the archaeal strains, could emanate novel streams of biobased products for human use.The bioprocess always consists of a biological component and a reactor or vessel solution, plus its control and adjustment means. Some project examples are taken up introducing the combinations of these two technological mainstreams, which should be in "symbiosis" for the best results. This novel approach could lead the human activities in industries, agriculture, and municipalities into "no waste" situations. At the same time, new global resources for economically feasible and sustainable raw material sources and processes thereof will emerge. In this novel technological ecosystem, connectivity to biosphere will return and remain our societies on healthy foundations, thanks to the microbes and their communities. This chapter introduces some of the potentials.}, } @article {pmid39670798, year = {2024}, author = {Baur, P and Comba, P}, title = {Copper coordination chemistry of the patellamides - cyanobactins in the ascidian-Prochloron symbiosis.}, journal = {Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d4dt03002h}, pmid = {39670798}, issn = {1477-9234}, abstract = {Prochloron didemni, an obligate symbiont of certain ascidians (sea squirts found in tropical areas), produces various cyclic pseudo-octapeptides in large quantities. These secondary metabolites have attracted the attention of medicinal chemists and, due to their four azol(in)e and four amide donor groups, coordination chemists have become interested in these molecules. The structures of the metal-free macrocycles and their dinuclear copper(II) complexes are known, and solution equilibria, spectroscopic properties and a range of biologically relevant reactions have been studied in detail. However, until recently, the properties of the patellamides and structures of the copper(II) complexes in living systems have not been known unambiguously. These are reviewed in the present Perspective and, as a result, it now is possible to discuss possible biological functions of these species.}, } @article {pmid39670408, year = {2025}, author = {Arighi, C and Kim, JD and Lu, Z and Rinaldi, F}, title = {Opportunities and Pitfalls with Large Language Models for Biomedical Annotation.}, journal = {Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing. Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing}, volume = {30}, number = {}, pages = {706-710}, pmid = {39670408}, issn = {2335-6936}, mesh = {*Computational Biology ; Humans ; Data Curation/statistics & numerical data ; Natural Language Processing ; Programming Languages ; Biomedical Research/statistics & numerical data ; }, abstract = {Large language models (LLMs) and biomedical annotations have a symbiotic relationship. LLMs rely on high-quality annotations for training and/or fine-tuning for specific biomedical tasks. These annotations are traditionally generated through expensive and time-consuming human curation. Meanwhile LLMs can also be used to accelerate the process of curation, thus simplifying the process, and potentially creating a virtuous feedback loop. However, their use also introduces new limitations and risks, which are as important to consider as the opportunities they offer. In this workshop, we will review the process that has led to the current rise of LLMs in several fields, and in particular in biomedicine, and discuss specifically the opportunities and pitfalls when they are applied to biomedical annotation and curation.}, } @article {pmid39669778, year = {2024}, author = {Niaz, K and Rauf, M and Arif, M and Hamayun, M and Gul, H and Hashem, A and Abd Allah, EF and Wu, QS}, title = {Drought-tolerant fungal microbes, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus fumigatus, elevate physiohormonal and antioxidant responses of maize under drought stress.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1488639}, pmid = {39669778}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Temporary and extended drought stress accelerates phytohormones and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants, however, the fate of the plants under stress is mostly determined by the metabolic and molecular reprogramming, which can be modulated by the application of habitat-adapted fungi that triggers resistance to stress upon symbiotic association.

METHODS: The present research exhibited the exploitation of the newly isolated, drought habitat-adapted fungal endophytic consortium of SAB (Aspergillus oryzae) and CBW (Aspergillus fumigatus), on maize under drought stress. SAB and CBW primarily hosted the root tissues of Conyza bonariensis L., which have not been reported earlier, and sufficiently produced growth-promoting metabolites and antioxidants.

RESULTS: SAB and CBW adeptly inhabited the maize roots. They promoted biomass, primary metabolites, osmolytes (protein, sugar, lipids, proline, phenolics, flavonoids), and IAA production while reducing tannins, ABA, and H2O2 contents and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. In addition, the enhanced adventitious root development at the root/stem interface, and elongated main root development optimum stomatal activity of SAB- and CBW-inoculated maize plants were observed under drought stress. SAB and CBW modulated the expression of the ZmBSK1, ZmAPX, and ZmCAT1 genes in the maize shoot and root tissues under drought stress vs. control, signifying an essential regulatory function for SAB/CBW-induced drought stress tolerance via phytohormonal signaling pathway leading to the antioxidant upregulation.

DISCUSSION: These findings imply that the exogenous administration of the SAB/CBW consortium might be a rather efficient strategy that contributes to optimizing the physio-hormonal attributes and antioxidant potential to alleviate the drought stress in maize.}, } @article {pmid39669148, year = {2024}, author = {Olanrewaju, OS and Glick, BR and Babalola, OO}, title = {Beyond correlation: Understanding the causal link between microbiome and plant health.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {23}, pages = {e40517}, pmid = {39669148}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {Understanding the causal link between the microbiome and plant health is crucial for the future of crop production. Established studies have shown a symbiotic relationship between microbes and plants, reshaping our knowledge of plant microbiomes' role in health and disease. Addressing confounding factors in microbiome study is essential, as standardization enables precise identification of microbiome features that influence outcomes. The microbiome significantly impacts plant development, necessitating holistic investigation for maintaining plant health. Mechanistic studies have deepened our understanding of microbiome structure and function related to plant health, though much research still needs to be carried out. This review, therefore, discusses current challenges and proposes advancing studies from correlation to causation and translation. We explore current knowledge on the microbiome and plant health, emphasizing multi-omics approaches and hypothesis-driven research. Future studies should focus on developing translational research for producing probiotics and prebiotics from biomarkers that regulate the microbiome-plant health connection, promoting sustainable crop production through microbiome applications.}, } @article {pmid39656753, year = {2024}, author = {Mykhailenko, A and Zieliński, P and Bednarz, A and Schlyter, F and Andersson, MN and Antunes, B and Borowski, Z and Krokene, P and Melin, M and Morales-García, J and Müller, J and Nowak, Z and Schebeck, M and Stauffer, C and Viiri, H and Zaborowska, J and Babik, W and Nadachowska-Brzyska, K}, title = {Complex genomic landscape of inversion polymorphism in Europe's most destructive forest pest.}, journal = {Genome biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/gbe/evae263}, pmid = {39656753}, issn = {1759-6653}, abstract = {In many species, polymorphic genomic inversions underlie complex phenotypic polymorphisms and facilitate local adaptation in the face of gene flow. Multiple polymorphic inversions can co-occur in a genome, but the prevalence, evolutionary significance, and limits to complexity of genomic inversion landscapes remain poorly understood. Here, we examine genome-wide genetic variation in one of Europe's most destructive forest pests, the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus, scan for polymorphic inversions, and test whether inversions are associated with key traits in this species. We analyzed 240 individuals from 18 populations across the species' European range and, using a whole-genome resequencing approach, identified 27 polymorphic inversions covering approximately 28% of the genome. The inversions vary in size and in levels of intra-inversion recombination, are highly polymorphic across the species range, and often overlap, forming a complex genomic architecture. We found no support for mechanisms such as directional selection, overdominance and associative overdominance that are often invoked to explain the presence of large inversion polymorphisms in the genome. This suggests that inversions are either neutral or maintained by the combined action of multiple evolutionary forces. We also found that inversions are enriched in odorant receptor genes encoding elements of recognition pathways for host plants, mates, and symbiotic fungi. Our results indicate that the genome of this major forest pest of growing social, political, and economic importance harbors one of the most complex inversion landscapes described to date and raise questions about the limits of intraspecific genomic architecture complexity.}, } @article {pmid39656643, year = {2024}, author = {Yanagibashi, T and Ikutani, M and Nagai, T and Arita, M and Watanabe, Y and Nagai, Y and Takatsu, K}, title = {IL-5-producing group 2 innate lymphoid cells promote T cell-independent IgA production in cooperation with eosinophils.}, journal = {International immunology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/intimm/dxae070}, pmid = {39656643}, issn = {1460-2377}, abstract = {Intestinal bacteria play a critical role in the regulation of the host immune system and an imbalance in intestinal bacterial composition induces various host diseases. Therefore, maintaining a balance in the intestinal bacterial composition is crucial for health. Immunoglobulin A (IgA), produced through T cell-dependent and T cell-independent (TI) pathways, is essential for host defense against pathogen invasion and maintaining the balance of intestinal symbiotic bacteria. Interleukin (IL)-5 is constitutively produced by group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and plays a critical role in the survival and proliferation of B cells and eosinophils. Here, we show that the role of IL-5-producing ILC2s in intestinal TI IgA production at steady state using TCRα deficient mice. In this mouse model, ILC2s increased fecal TI IgA levels in a non-inflammatory state in an IL-5-dependent manner. The administration of recombinant IL-33 (rIL-33) increased the amount of TI IgA production, accompanied by an increase in the number of IL-5-producing ILC2s in the large intestine. In addition, rIL-33 treatment increased IL-5-dependent IgA+ cells in isolated lymphoid follicles, the site of TI IgA production. Furthermore, eosinophils recruited by ILC2s were required for the maximal production of IgA in the TI pathway. Moreover, IL-5 increased the frequency of TI IgA-binding intestinal bacteria and was involved in the maintenance of intestinal bacterial composition. These findings indicate that IL-5-producing ILC2s together with eosinophils contribute to TI IgA production. In addition to their role in TI IgA production, IL-5-producing ILC2s may contribute to the homeostasis of intestinal commensal bacteria.}, } @article {pmid39657034, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, Z and Zhang, S and Liang, J and Chen, H and Jiang, Z and Hu, W and Tang, M}, title = {Rhizophagus irregularis regulates RiCPSI and RiCARI expression to influence plant drought tolerance.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiae645}, pmid = {39657034}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can transfer inorganic nitrogen (N) from the soil to host plants to cope with drought stress, with arginine synthesis and NH4+ transport being pivotal processes. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying these processes remains unclear. Here, we found that drought stress upregulated expression of genes involved in the N transfer pathway and putrescine and glutathione synthesis in the mycorrhizal structures of Rhizophagus irregularis within alfalfa (Medicago sativa) roots, i.e., carbamoyl-phosphate synthase (RiCPSI), arginase (RiCARI), urease (RiURE), ornithine decarboxylase (RiODC), and glutamate-cysteine ligase (RiGCL). Furthermore, we confirmed that RiCPSI is a carbamoyl phosphate synthase. Silencing RiCARI via host-induced gene silencing inhibited arbuscule formation, suppressed putrescine and glutathione synthesis, and altered arginine metabolism within R. irregularis-plant symbiosis, leading to a substantial reduction in the drought tolerance of M. sativa. Conversely, silencing RiCPSI decreased arginine, putrescine, and glutathione synthesis in R. irregularis but did not adversely affect NH4+ transfer from fungi to the host plant and drought tolerance of M. sativa. Interestingly, overexpressing RiCPSI via our host-induced gene overexpressing system enhanced arginine, putrescine, and glutathione synthesis in R. irregularis, reduced arbuscule abundance, and improved drought tolerance of M. sativa. Our findings demonstrate that, under drought stress, R. irregularis-plant symbiosis facilitates improved NH4+ transfer from AMF to the host plant. This is accompanied by increased arginine, putrescine, and glutathione synthesis within R. irregularis, driven by the upregulation of RiCPSI and RiCARI expression in mycorrhizal structures within the roots. These molecular adjustments collectively contribute to enhanced drought tolerance in R. irregularis-plant symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid39656674, year = {2024}, author = {Reid, TE and Gifford, ML}, title = {Trichoderma gets by with a little help from Streptomyces: fungal-bacterial symbiosis in plant growth promotion.}, journal = {Journal of experimental botany}, volume = {75}, number = {22}, pages = {6893-6897}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erae439}, pmid = {39656674}, issn = {1460-2431}, } @article {pmid39668214, year = {2024}, author = {Mendoza-Suárez, M and Akyol, TY and Nadzieja, M and Andersen, SU}, title = {Increased diversity of beneficial rhizobia enhances faba bean growth.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {10673}, pmid = {39668214}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {2071-00012B//Innovationsfonden (Innovation Fund Denmark)/ ; NNF23OC0081220//Novo Nordisk Fonden (Novo Nordisk Foundation)/ ; 771134//EC | Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020)/ ; }, mesh = {*Vicia faba/microbiology/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; *Rhizobium leguminosarum/genetics/physiology/growth & development/metabolism ; *Nitrogen Fixation ; Root Nodules, Plant/microbiology ; Genotype ; Plant Root Nodulation ; Rhizobium/physiology/genetics ; }, abstract = {Legume-rhizobium symbiosis provides a sustainable nitrogen source for agriculture. Nitrogen fixation efficiency depends on both legume and rhizobium genotypes, but the implications of their interactions for plant performance in environments with many competing rhizobium strains remain unclear. Here, we let 399 Rhizobium leguminosarum complex sv. viciae strains compete for nodulation of 212 faba bean genotypes. We find that the strains can be categorised by their nodule occupancy profiles into groups that show distinct competitive interactions and plant growth-promoting effects. Further, we show that the diversity of strains occupying root nodules affects plant growth and is under plant genetic control. These insights provide a basis for re-designing rhizobium inoculation and plant breeding strategies to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation in agriculture.}, } @article {pmid39667341, year = {2024}, author = {Bonfante, P}, title = {Fungal-bacterial endosymbiosis: Recreating an ancient symbiotic relationship.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {32}, number = {12}, pages = {2037-2038}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2024.10.018}, pmid = {39667341}, issn = {1934-6069}, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; Fungi/physiology ; Bacteria/genetics/classification ; }, abstract = {Fungal-bacterial endosymbioses, the most intimate typology of symbioses, have been described in different taxa of Mucoromycota, an early diverging group of Fungi. In a recent issue of Nature, Giger and colleagues describe how they implanted a Burkolderia-related microbe inside a Mucoromycota fungus, giving rise to a functional and stable endosymbiosis.}, } @article {pmid39665174, year = {2024}, author = {Ayala-García, P and Herrero-Gómez, I and Jiménez-Guerrero, I and Otto, V and Moreno-de Castro, N and Müsken, M and Jänsch, L and van Ham, M and Vinardell, JM and López-Baena, FJ and Ollero, FJ and Pérez-Montaño, F and Borrero-de Acuña, JM}, title = {Extracellular Vesicle-Driven Crosstalk between Legume Plants and Rhizobia: The Peribacteroid Space of Symbiosomes as a Protein Trafficking Interface.}, journal = {Journal of proteome research}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00444}, pmid = {39665174}, issn = {1535-3907}, abstract = {Prokaryotes and eukaryotes secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the surrounding milieu to preserve and transport elevated concentrations of biomolecules across long distances. EVs encapsulate metabolites, DNA, RNA, and proteins, whose abundance and composition fluctuate depending on environmental cues. EVs are involved in eukaryote-to-prokaryote communication owing to their ability to navigate different ecological niches and exchange molecular cargo between the two domains. Among the different bacterium-host relationships, rhizobium-legume symbiosis is one of the closest known to nature. A crucial developmental stage of symbiosis is the formation of N2-fixing root nodules by the plant. These nodules contain endocytosed rhizobia─called bacteroids─confined by plant-derived peribacteroid membranes. The unrestricted interface between the bacterial external membrane and the peribacteroid membrane is the peribacteroid space. Many molecular aspects of symbiosis have been studied, but the interbacterial and interdomain molecule trafficking by EVs in the peribacteroid space has not been questioned yet. Here, we unveil intensive EV trafficking within the symbiosome interface of several rhizobium-legume dual systems by developing a robust EV isolation procedure. We analyze the EV-encased proteomes from the peribacteroid space of each bacterium-host partnership, uncovering both conserved and differential traits of every symbiotic system. This study opens the gates for designing EV-based biotechnological tools for sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid39664063, year = {2024}, author = {Li, L and Cai, F and Guo, C and Liu, Z and Qin, J and Huang, J}, title = {Gut microbiome and NAFLD: impact and therapeutic potential.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1500453}, pmid = {39664063}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 32.4% of the global population and poses a significant health concern. Emerging evidence underscores the pivotal role of the gut microbiota-including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites-in the development and progression of NAFLD. Dysbiosis among gut bacteria alters key biological pathways that contribute to liver fat accumulation and inflammation. The gut virome, comprising bacteriophages and eukaryotic viruses, significantly shapes microbial community dynamics and impacts host metabolism through complex interactions. Similarly, gut fungi maintain a symbiotic relationship with bacteria; the relationship between gut fungi and bacteria is crucial for overall host health, with certain fungal species such as Candida in NAFLD patients showing detrimental associations with metabolic markers and liver function. Additionally, the "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that reduced exposure to gut parasites may affect immune regulation and metabolic processes, potentially influencing conditions like obesity and insulin resistance. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the intricate interactions within the gut microbiota and their associations with NAFLD. We highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting these microbial communities through interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Addressing the complexities of NAFLD requires comprehensive strategies that consider the multifaceted roles of gut microorganisms in disease pathology.}, } @article {pmid39663708, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, H and Mei, H and Jiang, H and Jiang, L and Lin, K and Jiang, M and Ding, N and Li, X and Gao, Z and Liu, B and Lin, W and Li, J and Zhou, J}, title = {Bioprinted Symbiotic Dressings: A Lichen-Inspired Approach to Diabetic Wound Healing with Enhanced Bioactivity and Structural Integrity.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2407105}, doi = {10.1002/smll.202407105}, pmid = {39663708}, issn = {1613-6829}, support = {//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 32271364//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31971240//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; RD-03-202305//Research and Develop Program, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University/ ; 2024NSFSC0242//Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province/ ; 25NSFSC2494//Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province/ ; }, abstract = {Providing oxygen and preventing infection at wound sites are effective ways to heal diabetic chronic wounds. Inspired by natural lichens, a bioprinted biogenic hydrogel (BBH) containing microalgae and probiotics is developed for diabetic chronic wound therapeutics, which offers prolonged biogenetic oxygen supply by microalgae and infection inhibition by probiotics. The rational design of symbiotic BBH with customizable structure and microorganism composition enhances wound resilience against elevated glucose levels and hypoxia, leading to the increased migration ability of fibroblasts and the angiogenic potential of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Notably, BBH-treated diabetic wounds exhibit dense vascular distribution, reduced hypoxia levels and inflammatory responses, and enhanced epithelial differentiation and keratinization abilities. Consequently, the BBH achieves rapid tissue repairing within 3 d and restores approximately 90% of the whole skin structure within 12 d. This work presents an engineered platform for regulating biological microenvironment of diabetic wounds and provides insights for developing bioprinted hybrid microorganism systems.}, } @article {pmid39662840, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, B and Zhang, L and Lian, L and Zhang, X and Qi, Y}, title = {Treatment of Compound Pollution in Simulated Livestock and Poultry Wastewater by Algae-bacteria Symbiosis System.}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {143927}, doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143927}, pmid = {39662840}, issn = {1879-1298}, abstract = {Livestock and poultry breeding wastewater contains a large number of heavy metals and antibiotics; the volume is huge, and it is difficult to treat, which causes serious pollution of the environment. Some studies have shown that symbiotic systems can effectively improve the efficiency of sewage treatment, but there is still a lack of research on the treatment of livestock and poultry wastewater. This experiment not only provides a more in-depth discussion of previous studies, but also demonstrates the feasibility of symbiotic treatment of livestock and poultry wastewater and explores the survival mode and operation mechanism of algal and bacterial symbiosis. The results show that the presence of bacteria greatly promoted the growth of microalgae, with production of 0.50-0.59 g/L biomass and 17.5% lipid content. Lipid levels in the algae from the symbiotic system were 1.3 times higher than for the system of pure algae, which is attributed to the bacteria releasing extracellular substances to promote their own growth and providing small molecules of organic matter and other essential elements which can be used by microalgae. In addition, during the removal of complex pollutants in the symbiotic system we found that the main contributor to the removal of heavy metal ions was the adsorption by Chlorella, while the decomposition of antibiotics mainly originated from bacteria. Furthermore, in the context of this experiment was obtained the highest removal rate of SM2 reached 28.8%, while the removal rate of Cu(II) reached 60.6% -66.7%. The technology of symbiotic treatment of wastewater from livestock and poultry breeding fills a gap and lays a theoretical foundation for the improvement of wastewater treatment.}, } @article {pmid39662569, year = {2024}, author = {Meng, D and Long, W and Sun, J and Li, H and Wang, Z and Gu, X and Zhang, S}, title = {Eco-friendly fabrication of a delignified wood‑calcium alginate aerogel with improved mechanical properties for efficient thermal insulation and flame retardancy.}, journal = {International journal of biological macromolecules}, volume = {287}, number = {}, pages = {138561}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138561}, pmid = {39662569}, issn = {1879-0003}, abstract = {Wood based composites with low density and great flame retardancy are increasingly required as sustainable and low-carbon building materials for energy conservation. In this work, the symbiosis between bio-based calcium alginate (CaA) and delignified wood was fabricated to form delignified wood-CaA aerogel composites. The density of the delignified wood@CaA sample was dropped to only 89 kg/m[3] from 120 kg/m[3] of the control wood. In addition, its tensile strength, elongation at break, and bending strength reached 16.9 MPa, 4.6 %, and 40.2 MPa, which was increased by 128.4 %, 109.1 %, and 31.8 %, respectively compared to that of control wood. During either heating or cooling, the delignified wood@CaA sample always showed better thermal insulation than the control wood, moreover, it can be developed as an infrared stealthy material. Furthermore, the delignified wood@CaA aerogel reached the limiting oxygen index of 59.2 %, and it was self-extinguished immediately after leaving ignitor in the vertical burning test. In the cone calorimeter test, the total heat release and total smoke production of delignified wood@CaA aerogel decreased by 27.6 % and 71.4 % compared to that of the control wood, respectively. In summary, the light-weighted delignified wood@CaA aerogel composite with superior performance is an ideal material used in sustainable and low-carbon building.}, } @article {pmid39662506, year = {2024}, author = {Gribonika, I and Band, VI and Chi, L and Perez-Chaparro, PJ and Link, VM and Ansaldo, E and Oguz, C and Bousbaine, D and Fischbach, MA and Belkaid, Y}, title = {Skin autonomous antibody production regulates host-microbiota interactions.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-024-08376-y}, pmid = {39662506}, issn = {1476-4687}, abstract = {The microbiota colonizes each barrier site and broadly controls host physiology[1]. However, when uncontrolled, microbial colonists can also promote inflammation and induce systemic infection[2]. The unique strategies employed at each barrier tissue to control the coexistence of the host with its microbiota remain largely elusive. Here we uncover that, within the skin, host-microbiota symbiosis depends on the remarkable ability of the skin to act as an autonomous lymphoid organ. Notably, an encounter with a new skin commensal promotes two parallel responses, both under the control of Langerhans cells. On one hand, skin commensals induce the formation of classical germinal centers within the lymph node associated with IgG1 and IgG3 antibody responses. On the other hand, microbial colonization also leads to the development of tertiary lymphoid organs within the skin that can locally sustain IgG2b and IgG2c responses. These phenomena are supported by the ability of regulatory T cells to convert into T follicular helper cells. Skin autonomous production of antibodies is sufficient to control local microbial biomass, as well as subsequent systemic infection with the same microbe. Collectively, these results reveal a striking compartmentalization of humoral responses to the microbiota allowing for control of both microbial symbiosis and potential pathogenesis.}, } @article {pmid39660940, year = {2024}, author = {Yurchenko, OV and Chernyshev, AV}, title = {Spermatozoa and Spermatogenesis in the Ribbon Worm Asteronemertes gibsoni (Hoplonemertea, Oerstediidae), a Symbiont of Sea Stars.}, journal = {Journal of morphology}, volume = {285}, number = {12}, pages = {e70014}, doi = {10.1002/jmor.70014}, pmid = {39660940}, issn = {1097-4687}, mesh = {Animals ; *Spermatogenesis/physiology ; Male ; *Spermatozoa/ultrastructure ; *Symbiosis ; Starfish/ultrastructure/physiology ; Invertebrates/ultrastructure/physiology/anatomy & histology ; Acrosome/ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; }, abstract = {In the phylum Nemertea, the class Hoplonemertea (former Enopla) comprises the largest number of studied species with complex spermatozoa. Asteronemertes gibsoni Chernyshev, 1991, a nemertean species having a symbiotic relationship with sea stars, is characterized by complex filiform spermatozoa. Here, spermatogenesis and spermatozoon structure in A. gibsoni have been examined using light and electron microscopy. Numerous proacrosomal vesicles of two kinds have been found in early spermatogenic cells. In spermatozoa, the elongated acrosomal complex consists of two components: a core, which is a spindle-shaped electron-dense acrosomal vesicle with a long anterior end, and its casing of moderate electron density that covers the acrosomal vesicle completely. The acrosomal complex is located laterally relative to the elongated nucleus. The acrosomal casing bears two rows of small, short channels between the nucleus and the electron-dense acrosomal core. In late spermatids, the elongations of the acrosomal complex and the nucleus occur simultaneously and are mediated by numerous microtubules that disappear during the latest stages of spermiogenesis. The flagellum in spermatogenic cells and spermatozoa contains an axoneme with the usual 9 × 2 + 2 microtubular organization and is posteriorly oriented in spermatozoa. As known to date, A. gibsoni has the most modified spermatozoa among investigated Nemertea, and the complex structure of its sperm is suggested to be associated with the reproductive biology, in particular, with fertilization. Additionally, a number of similar ultrastructural features in spermatozoon organization have been found in A. gibsoni and Kurilonemertes phyllospadicola whose phylogenetic relationship was previously proven.}, } @article {pmid39659839, year = {2024}, author = {Fan, X and Su, Z and Zhang, W and Huang, H and He, C and Wu, Z and Zhang, P}, title = {An advanced chitosan based sponges dressing system with antioxidative, immunoregulation, angiogenesis and neurogenesis for promoting diabetic wound healing.}, journal = {Materials today. Bio}, volume = {29}, number = {}, pages = {101361}, pmid = {39659839}, issn = {2590-0064}, abstract = {Promoting wound nerve regeneration and synchronously initiating angiogenesis are critical factors in the healing process of diabetic wounds. However, existing research on diabetic wounds mainly focuses on angiogenesis, bacterial infection and reactive oxygen species, often failing to coordinate neurogenesis and angiogenesis. To coordinate the symbiosis of nerves and blood vessels in the diabetic wounds, we successfully designed a multifunctional chitosan (CS)-based sponges by regulating the structure of CS specifically for diabetic wound healing. This sponge, which facilitates effective exudate transfer and modulates the wound microenvironment, was constructed using hydroxybutyl CS grafted with thioctic acid (TA), named as HCT sponge. When applied in a humid environment, the hydrophobic side chains of the HCT sponge interact with self-assembled hydrophobic domains, forming gel-sponge composite. Experimental results showed that the adhesion strength of the HCT sponge to wet porcine skin was 70.3 kPa. Additionally, the sponge exhibited favorable degradability, cytocompatibility and antioxidant properties. As it is shown in the experiments in vitro, sponge can not only promote cell proliferation, migration, and blood vessel formation, but also promote M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, the rat liver and femoral artery injury model validated that the HCT sponge can effectively treat heavy bleeding from wounds efficacy through quickly sealing wounds and the formation of multiple hemostatic dams. In vivo studies indicated that the HCT sponge significantly accelerated the diabetic wound healing process compared to the recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel, achieving a better recovery from the HCT sponge after 15 days. Pathological results show that the designed novel sponge holds considerable promise for treating diabetic wound, allowing regenerative neurogenesis and angiogenesis at the wound site, which provides a significant potential for further improving clinical applications.}, } @article {pmid39659293, year = {2024}, author = {Gasser, MT and Liu, A and Altamia, MA and Brensinger, BR and Brewer, SL and Flatau, R and Hancock, ER and Preheim, SP and Filone, CM and Distel, DL}, title = {Membrane Vesicles Can Contribute to Cellulose Degradation by Teredinibacter turnerae, a Cultivable Intracellular Endosymbiont of Shipworms.}, journal = {Microbial biotechnology}, volume = {17}, number = {12}, pages = {e70064}, pmid = {39659293}, issn = {1751-7915}, support = {//Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/ ; NA19OAR0110303//National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ ; 1R01AI162943-01A1:10062083-NE/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; GBMF9339//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; DBI1722553//National Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Cellulose/metabolism ; *Bivalvia/microbiology ; Gammaproteobacteria/metabolism/genetics ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Polysaccharides/metabolism ; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Teredinibacter turnerae is a cultivable cellulolytic Gammaproteobacterium (Cellvibrionaceae) that commonly occurs as an intracellular endosymbiont in the gills of wood-eating bivalves of the family Teredinidae (shipworms). The genome of T. turnerae encodes a broad range of enzymes that deconstruct cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin and contribute to wood (lignocellulose) digestion in the shipworm gut. However, the mechanisms by which T. turnerae secretes lignocellulolytic enzymes are incompletely understood. Here, we show that T. turnerae cultures grown on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) produce membrane vesicles (MVs) that include a variety of proteins identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) as carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) with predicted activities against cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. Reducing sugar assays and zymography confirm that these MVs exhibit cellulolytic activity, as evidenced by the hydrolysis of CMC. Additionally, these MVs were enriched with TonB-dependent receptors, which are essential to carbohydrate and iron acquisition by free-living bacteria. These observations indicate a potential role for MVs in lignocellulose utilisation by T. turnerae in the free-living state, suggest possible mechanisms for host-symbiont interaction and may be informative for commercial applications such as enzyme production and lignocellulosic biomass conversion.}, } @article {pmid39659200, year = {2024}, author = {Wendlandt, CE and Avelar-Barragan, J and Zomorrodian, AJ and Al-Moussawi, K and Porter, SS and Sachs, JL}, title = {Host control by Acmispon strigosus constrains fitness gains of ineffective Bradyrhizobium symbionts in mixed infections.}, journal = {Journal of evolutionary biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/jeb/voae151}, pmid = {39659200}, issn = {1420-9101}, abstract = {Plant hosts can gain significant growth benefits from symbiosis with microbes, but these benefits could be threatened by divergent fitness interests among partners. Here, we measured fitness outcomes in symbiosis, by varying the genotypes of both microbes and hosts, to examine scenarios that might favor uncooperative symbionts. We studied associations between Acmispon strigosus, an annual legume native to California, and its nitrogen fixing symbionts in the genus Bradyrhizobium. Bradyrhizobium symbionts form root nodules on compatible hosts, with strains varying from effective, fixing substantial nitrogen for the host, to ineffective strains that do not fix nitrogen and provide no benefit to host growth. We co-inoculated four A. strigosus plant lines with nine combinations of effective and ineffective Bradyrhizobium strains and measured the relative fitness of ineffective strains within individual nodules, as hosts must select against uncooperative symbionts to maintain benefits. In mixed infections, ineffective strains always had lower relative fitness in nodules compared to beneficial strains, consistent with efficient punishment of nonfixing rhizobia. However, ineffective strains exhibited genotypic variation in their fitness in nodules within individual nodules co-infected with a beneficial strain, suggesting a role for symbiont competitiveness in shaping this joint phenotype. Variation in symbiont fitness during co-inoculations did not measurably affect plant performance, suggesting that predicted conflict over the joint phenotype of rhizobia fitness has negligible effect on the host.}, } @article {pmid39658651, year = {2024}, author = {Garces, KR and Hanley, TC and Deckert, R and Noble, A and Richards, C and Gehring, C and Hughes, AR}, title = {Bacterial and fungal root endophytes alter survival, growth, and resistance to grazing in a foundation plant species.}, journal = {Oecologia}, volume = {207}, number = {1}, pages = {9}, pmid = {39658651}, issn = {1432-1939}, support = {IOS-1556738//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-1556820//National Science Foundation/ ; IOS-1556087//National Science Foundation/ ; }, mesh = {*Endophytes/physiology ; *Plant Roots/microbiology ; *Herbivory ; Symbiosis ; Fungi/physiology ; Bacteria ; }, abstract = {Plants host an array of microbial symbionts, including both bacterial and fungal endophytes located within their roots. While bacterial and fungal endophytes independently alter host plant growth, response to stress and susceptibility to disease, their combined effects on host plants are poorly studied. To tease apart interactions between co-occurring endophytes on plant growth, morphology, physiology, and survival we conducted a greenhouse experiment. Different genotypes of Spartina alterniflora, a foundational salt marsh species, were inoculated with one bacterial endophyte, Kosakonia oryzae, one fungal endophyte, Magnaporthales sp., or co-inoculated. Within the greenhouse, an unplanned herbivory event occurred which allowed insight into the ways bacteria, fungi, and co-inoculation of both endophytic microbes alters plant defense chemicals and changes herbivory. Broadly, the individual inoculation of the bacterial endophyte increased survival, whereas the fungal endophyte increased plant growth traits. Following the herbivory event, the proportion of stems grazed was reduced when plants were inoculated with the individual endophytes and further reduced when both endophytes were present. Across genotypes, anti-herbivore defense chemicals varied by individual and co-inoculation of endophytes. Bacterial inoculation and genotype interactively affected above:below-ground biomass and S. alterniflora survival of ungrazed plants. Overall, our results highlight the variable outcomes of endophyte inoculation on Spartina growth, morphology, phenolics, and survival. This study furthers our understanding of the combined effects of symbionts and plant multitrophic interactions. Further, exploring intra and inter specific effects of plant--microbe symbiosis may be key in better predicting ecosystem level outcomes, particularly in response to global change.}, } @article {pmid39561350, year = {2024}, author = {Fajardo, J and Harrison, B and Hervet, VAD and Bakker, MG}, title = {Microbiome profiling suggests novel endosymbiont associations of insect pests of stored grain.}, journal = {Canadian journal of microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1139/cjm-2024-0095}, pmid = {39561350}, issn = {1480-3275}, abstract = {Many arthropods, including economically important pests of stored grains, host intracellular bacterial symbionts. These symbionts can have diverse impacts on host morphology, stress tolerance, and reproductive success. The ability to rapidly determine the infection status of host insects and the identity of intracellular symbionts, if present, is vital to understanding the biology and ecology of these organisms. We used a microbiome profiling method based on amplicon sequencing to rapidly screen 35 captive insect colonies. This method effectively revealed single and mixed infections by intracellular bacterial symbionts, as well as the presence or absence of a dominant symbiont, when that was the case. Because no a priori decisions are required about probable host-symbiont pairing, this method is able to quickly identify novel associations. This work highlights the frequency of endosymbionts, indicates some unexpected pairings that should be investigated further, such as dominant bacterial taxa that are not among the canonical genera of endosymbionts, and reveals different colonies of the same host insect species that differ in the presence and identity of endosymbiotic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid39658308, year = {2024}, author = {Taylor, BN}, title = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in trees: Patterns, controls, and ecosystem consequences.}, journal = {Tree physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpae159}, pmid = {39658308}, issn = {1758-4469}, abstract = {Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) represents the largest natural input of bioavailable nitrogen into the biosphere, impacting key processes spanning from local community dynamics to global patterns of nutrient limitation and primary productivity. While research on SNF historically focused largely on herbaceous and agricultural species, the past two decades have seen major advances in our understanding of SNF by tree species in forest and savanna communities. This has included important developments in the mathematical theory of SNF in forest ecosystems, experimental work on the regulators of tree SNF, broad observational analyses of tree N-fixer abundance patterns, and increasingly process-based incorporation of tree SNF into ecosystem models. This review synthesizes recent work on the local and global patterns, environmental drivers, and community and ecosystem effects of nitrogen-fixing trees in natural ecosystems. By better understanding the drivers and consequences of SNF in forests, this review aims to shed light on the future of this critical process and its role in forest functioning under changing climate, nutrient cycling, and land use.}, } @article {pmid39658219, year = {2024}, author = {Juéry, C and Auladell, A and Füssy, Z and Chevalier, F and Yee, DP and Pelletier, E and Corre, E and Allen, AE and Richter, DJ and Decelle, J}, title = {Transportome remodeling of a symbiotic microalga inside a planktonic host.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrae239}, pmid = {39658219}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Metabolic exchange is one of the foundations of symbiotic associations between organisms and is a driving force in evolution. In the ocean, photosymbiosis between heterotrophic hosts and microalgae is powered by photosynthesis and relies on the transfer of organic carbon to the host (e.g. sugars). Yet, the identity of transferred carbohydrates as well as the molecular mechanisms that drive this exchange remain largely unknown, especially in unicellular photosymbioses that are widespread in the open ocean. Combining genomics, single-holobiont transcriptomics, and environmental metatranscriptomics, we revealed the transportome of the marine microalga Phaeocystis in symbiosis within acantharia, with a focus on sugar transporters. At the genomic level, the sugar transportome of Phaeocystis is comparable to non-symbiotic haptophytes. By contrast, we found significant remodeling of the expression of the transportome in symbiotic microalgae compared to the free-living stage. More particularly, 36% of sugar transporter genes were differentially expressed. Several of them, such as GLUTs, TPTs, and aquaporins, with glucose, triose-phosphate sugars, and glycerol as potential substrates, were upregulated at the holobiont and community level. We also showed that algal sugar transporter genes exhibit distinct temporal expression patterns during the day. This reprogrammed transportome indicates that symbiosis has a major impact on sugar fluxes within and outside the algal cell, and highlights the complexity and the dynamics of metabolic exchanges between partners. This study improves our understanding of the molecular players of the metabolic connectivity underlying the ecological success of planktonic photosymbiosis and paves the way for more studies on transporters across photosymbiotic models.}, } @article {pmid39658194, year = {2024}, author = {Takagi, H and Nakamura, Y and Schmidt, C and Kucera, M and Saito, H and Moriya, K}, title = {Two waves of photosymbiosis acquisition in extant planktonic foraminifera explained by ecological incumbency.}, journal = {The ISME journal}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrae244}, pmid = {39658194}, issn = {1751-7370}, abstract = {Photosymbiosis, a mode of mixotrophy by algal endosymbiosis, provides key advantage to pelagic life in oligotrophic oceans. Despite its ecological importance, mechanisms underlying its emergence and association with the evolutionary success of photosymbiotic lineages remain unclear. We used planktonic foraminifera, a group of pelagic test-forming protists with an excellent fossil record, to reveal the history of symbiont acquisition among their three main extant clades. We used single-cell 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to reveal symbiont identity and mapped the symbiosis on a phylogeny time-calibrated by fossil data. We show that the highly specific symbiotic interaction with dinoflagellates emerged in the wake of a major extinction of symbiont-bearing taxa at the end of the Eocene. In contrast, less specific and low-light adapted symbioses with pelagophytes emerged 20 million years later, in multiple independent lineages in the Late Neogene, at a time when the vertical structure of pelagic ecosystems was transformed by global cooling. We infer that in foraminifera, photosymbiosis can evolve easily and that its establishment leads to diversification and ecological dominance to such extent, that the proliferation of new symbioses is prevented by the incumbent lineages.}, } @article {pmid39657996, year = {2024}, author = {Sakioka, R and Yoneyama, K}, title = {Nitrogen deficiency influences strigolactone levels in basal parts of shoots and shoot branching phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana.}, journal = {Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/bbb/zbae185}, pmid = {39657996}, issn = {1347-6947}, abstract = {Strigolactones (SLs) are allelochemicals attracting both symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and root parasitic plants and a novel class of phytohormones inhibiting lateral shoot branching. In general, nutrient deficiency significantly promotes SL production in roots and exudation into the rhizosphere, and also induces suppressed shoot branching phenotype in host plants of AM fungi including rice, tomato, maize, etc. Nutrient deficiencies also inhibit the shoot branching in Arabidopsis thaliana (hereafter Arabidopsis), a non-host of AM fungi, while the level of carlactone, a non-canonical SL and the SL precursor for the other SLs, was reported to be unaffected. Because Arabidopsis SLs including CL and methyl carlactonoate,, are highly unstable, relationships between SL levels and shoot branching in Arabidopsis remain elusive. Herein, we demonstrate that nitrogen deficiency increases SL levels in the basal part of shoots in Arabidopsis and lateral shoot branching appears to be strongly regulated by these SLs.}, } @article {pmid39657810, year = {2024}, author = {Baine, Q and Hughes, DWW and Casares, EE and Martinson, EO and Martinson, VG}, title = {External insect gall morphology influences the functional guilds of natural enemy communities.}, journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences}, volume = {291}, number = {2036}, pages = {20242424}, pmid = {39657810}, issn = {1471-2954}, support = {//UNM Graduate and Professional Student Association/ ; //University of New Mexico/ ; //UNM Biology Graduate Student Association/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Plant Tumors/parasitology ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; *Larva/physiology/growth & development/anatomy & histology ; Insecta/physiology ; Biological Evolution ; Wasps/physiology/anatomy & histology ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {The evolution of diverse and novel morphological traits is poorly understood, especially how symbiotic interactions can drive these adaptations. The extreme diversity of external traits in insect-induced galls is currently explained by the Enemy Hypothesis, in which these traits have selective advantage in deterring parasitism. While previous tests of this hypothesis used only taxonomic identity, we argue that ecologically functional traits of enemies (i.e. mode of parasitism, larval development strategy) are a crucial addition. Here, we characterize parasitoid guild composition across four disparate gall systems and find consistent patterns of association between enemy guild and gall morphology. Specifically, galls with a longer average larva-to-surface distance host a significantly higher proportion of enemies with a distinct combination of functional traits (i.e. ectoparasitic, idiobiont, elongate ovipositor). Our results support the Enemy Hypothesis and highlight the importance of species ecology in examining insect communities and the evolution of novel defensive characters.}, } @article {pmid39657584, year = {2024}, author = {O'Donnell, RP and Wong, DCJ and Phillips, RD and Peakall, R and Linde, CC}, title = {Discordance Down Under: Combining phylogenomics & fungal symbioses to detangle difficult nodes in a diverse tribe of Australian terrestrial orchids.}, journal = {Systematic biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/sysbio/syae070}, pmid = {39657584}, issn = {1076-836X}, abstract = {Orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) associations in the Orchidaceae are thought to have been a major driver of diversification in the family. In the terrestrial orchid tribe Diurideae, it has long been hypothesised that OMF symbiont associations may reflect evolutionary relationships among orchid hosts. Given that recent phylogenomic efforts have been unable to fully resolve relationships among subtribes in the Diurideae, we sought to ascertain whether orchid OMF preferences may lend support to certain phylogenetic hypotheses. First, we used phylogenomic methods and Bayesian divergence time estimation to produce a genus-level tree for the Diurideae. Next, we synthesised decades of published fungal sequences and morphological/germination data to identify dominant fungal partners at the genus scale and perform ancestral state reconstruction to estimate the evolutionary trajectory of fungal symbiont shifts. Across the tribe, we found phylogenomic discordance stemming from incomplete lineage sorting. However, our results also revealed unprecedented phylogenetic niche conservatism of fungal symbionts within the tribe: entire genera, subtribes, and even groups of related subtribes associate with only a single fungal family, suggesting that fungal symbiont preferences in the Diurideae do indeed reflect phylogenetic relationships among orchid hosts. Moreover, we show that these relationships have evolved directionally from generalist associations with multiple fungal families towards more specific partnerships with only one fungal family. Orchid symbiont preferences here provide new insights into the placement of several groups with longstanding phylogenetic uncertainty. In spite of complex evolutionary histories, host-symbiont relationships can be used to help detangle alternative phylogenetic hypotheses.}, } @article {pmid39656243, year = {2024}, author = {Basiru, S and Ait Si Mhand, K and Elfermi, R and Khatour, I and Errafii, K and Legeay, J and Hijri, M}, title = {Enhancing chickpea growth through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus inoculation: facilitating nutrient uptake and shifting potential pathogenic fungal communities.}, journal = {Mycorrhiza}, volume = {35}, number = {1}, pages = {1}, pmid = {39656243}, issn = {1432-1890}, support = {AS-85//OCP Group/ ; }, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Cicer/microbiology/growth & development ; *Soil Microbiology ; Mycobiome ; Glomeromycota/physiology ; Plant Roots/microbiology ; Nutrients/metabolism ; Rhizosphere ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are the most widespread plant symbionts associated with plant roots, and theyperform numerous functions that contribute to plants' health and physiology. However, there are many knowledge gaps in how the interactions between AMF and root mycobiomes influence the performance of the host plants. To this end, we inoculated a local chickpea cultivar grown in agricultural soil under semi-controlled conditions with Rhizophagus irregularis. In addition to examining mycorrhizal colonization, plant biomass, and mineral nutrition, we sequenced the ITS region of the rDNA to assess the chickpea mycobiome and identify key fungal taxa potentially responding to R. irregularis inoculation. Our results showed that inoculation had a positive effect on chickpea biomass and mineral nutrition, especially the total aboveground phosphorus, potassium and sodium contents. Fusarium, Sporomia, Alternaria, and unknown Pleosporales were the most abundant taxa in the roots, while Stachybotris, Penicillum, Fusarium, Ascobolus, an unknown Pleosporales and Acrophialophora were the most abundant in the rhizosphere. Among the ASVs that either were enriched or depleted in the rhizosphere and roots are potential plant pathogens from the genera Didymella, Fusarium, Neocosmospora, and Stagonosporopsis. This study highlights the relevance of AMF inoculation not only for enhancing chickpea growth and mineral nutrition in semi-arid conditions but also for influencing the composition of the plants' fungal community which contributes to improved plant performance and resilience against biotic and abiotic stress.}, } @article {pmid39656210, year = {2024}, author = {Ling, X and Guo, H and Di, J and Xie, L and Zhu-Salzman, K and Ge, F and Zhao, Z and Sun, Y}, title = {A complete DNA repair system assembled by two endosymbionts restores heat tolerance of the insect host.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {121}, number = {51}, pages = {e2415651121}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2415651121}, pmid = {39656210}, issn = {1091-6490}, support = {2023YFD1400800//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; no. 32250002//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; no. 2023IOZ0307//Initiative Scientific Research of Program, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Bacterial Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; *DNA Repair ; Buchnera/genetics/metabolism ; Aphids/microbiology/genetics ; Serratia/genetics/metabolism/physiology ; Thermotolerance/genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Heat-Shock Response ; }, abstract = {DNA repair systems are essential to maintain genome integrity and stability. Some obligate endosymbionts that experience long-term symbiosis with the insect hosts, however, have lost their key components for DNA repair. It is largely unexplored how the bacterial endosymbionts cope with the increased demand for mismatch repairs under heat stresses. Here, we showed that ibpA, a small heat shock protein encoded by Buchnera aphidicola, directly interacted with the cytoskeletal actin to prevent its aggregation in bacteriocytes, thus reinforcing the stability of bacteriocytes. However, the succession of 11 adenines in the promoter of ibpA is extremely prone to mismatching error, e.g., a single adenine deletion, which impairs the induction of ibpA under heat stress. Coinfection with a facultative endosymbiont Serratia symbiotica remarkably reduced the mutagenesis rate in the Buchnera genome and potentially prevented a single adenine deletion in ibpA promoter, thereby alleviating the heat vulnerability of aphid bacteriocytes. Furthermore, Serratia encoded mutH, a conserved core protein of prokaryotic DNA mismatch repair (MMR), accessed to Buchnera cells, which complemented Buchnera mutL and mutS in constituting an active MMR. Our findings imply that a full complement of a prokaryotic MMR system assembled by two bacterial endosymbionts contributes significantly to the thermostability of aphid bacteriocytes in an ibpA-dependent manner, furnishing a distinct molecular link among tripartite symbioses in shaping resilience and adaptation of their insect hosts to occupy other ecological niches.}, } @article {pmid39656008, year = {2024}, author = {Ishizaka, A and Tamura, A and Koga, M and Mizutani, T and Yamayoshi, S and Iwatsuki-Horimoto, K and Yasuhara, A and Yamamoto, S and Nagai, H and Adachi, E and Suzuki, Y and Kawaoka, Y and Yotsuyanagi, H}, title = {Dysbiosis of gut microbiota in COVID-19 is associated with intestinal DNA phage dynamics of lysogenic and lytic infection.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0099824}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.00998-24}, pmid = {39656008}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {This study compared intestinal DNA phage dynamics and gut microbiota changes observed at the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study participants included 19 healthy individuals and 19 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Significant differences were observed in the diversity of the intestinal DNA virome after the onset of COVID-19 compared with that in healthy individuals. Classification by their tail morphology resulted in the order Caudovirales, a double-stranded DNA phage, accounting for >95% of all participants. In classifying phages based on host bacteria, a decreased number of phages infecting mainly the Clostridia class was observed immediately after the onset of COVID-19 and recovered over time. After the onset of COVID-19, two distinct movement patterns of intestinal phages and their host bacteria were observed: phage- and bacteria-predominant. The abundance of obligate anaerobes, such as Clostridium_sense_strict_1, Fusicatenibacter, and Romboutsia, and the phages hosting these bacteria decreased immediately after the onset of COVID-19, and faster phage recovery was observed compared with bacterial recovery. In contrast, the genus Staphylococcus, a facultative anaerobic bacterium, increased immediately after the onset of COVID-19, whereas the phages infecting Staphylococcus decreased. Furthermore, immediately after the onset of COVID-19, the percentage of lytic phages increased, whereas that of temperate phages decreased. These observations suggest that the gut microbiota dysbiosis observed immediately after the onset of COVID-19 may be linked to phage dynamics that control gut microbiota and may also affect the recovery from dysbiosis.IMPORTANCEBacteriophages infect and replicate with bacteria and archaea and are closely associated with intestinal bacteria. The symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and bacteriophages is of interest, but it is challenging to study their dynamics in the human body over time. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported to alter the gut microbiota, which is involved in gut immune regulation and pathophysiology, although changes in the intestinal phages of patients with SARS-CoV-2 and their dynamic relationship with the gut microbiota remain unclear. SARS-CoV-2 infection, which follows a transient pathological course from disease onset to cure, may provide a reliable model to investigate these interactions in the gut environment. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the correlation between gut microbiota and intestinal DNA virome dynamics in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This study found that the dysbiosis observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection involves a growth strategy that depends on the phage or bacterial dominance.}, } @article {pmid39655940, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, H and Wang, W and Honnas, L and Mazzola, M and Somera, T}, title = {Evaluating the stability of nursery-established arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal associations in apple rootstocks.}, journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0193724}, doi = {10.1128/aem.01937-24}, pmid = {39655940}, issn = {1098-5336}, abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are promoted as commercial bioinoculants for sustainable agriculture. Little is known, however, about the survival of AMF inoculants in soil and their impacts on native or pre-established AMF communities in root tissue. The current study was designed to assess the stability of pre-existing/nursery-derived AMF in apple rootstocks after being planted into soil containing a known community of AMF with a limited number of species. Root-associated endophytic communities (bacteria and fungi) are known to differ depending on apple rootstock genotype. Thus, an additional aim of this study was to explore the effect of apple rootstock genotype on AMF community structure. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in which a variety of apple rootstock genotypes (G.890, G.935, M.26, and M.7) were inoculated with a commercially available, multi-species AMF consortium. Nursery-derived AMF communities were sequenced, and changes to AMF community structure following cultivation in pasteurized soil (inoculated and non-inoculated) were assessed using a Glomeromycota-specific phylogenetic tree, which included 91 different AMF species from 24 genera. Results show that inoculant colonization potential was limited and that apple rootstocks serve as a significant source of inoculum from the nursery where they are produced. Rootstocks established relationships with introduced AMF in a genotype-specific manner. Regardless of colonization success, however, the inoculant caused alterations to the resident AMF communities of both Geneva and Malling rootstocks, particularly low abundance taxa. In addition, phylogeny-based analysis revealed a unique, well-supported clade of unknown taxonomy, highlighting the importance of using phylogenetic-based classification for accurate characterization of AMF communities.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the impacts of introduced AMF on residential AMF communities is essential to improving plant productivity in nursery and orchard systems. In general, there is a dearth of data on the interactions of commercial AMF inoculants with pre-established AMF communities living in symbiosis with the host plant. The interplay between apple rootstock genotype and the endophytic root microbiome is also an area where more research is needed. This study demonstrates the potential for nursery-established AMF associations to be maintained when transplanted into the field. In addition to providing insight into rootstock/AMF associations, our study calls attention to the current issues attendant with relying on web-based databases for determining AMF identity. The use of phylogenetic tools represents one possible solution and may be of value to industry practitioners in terms of improving product composition and consistency.}, } @article {pmid39655922, year = {2024}, author = {Gasser, MT and Liu, A and Flatau, R and Altamia, MA and Filone, CM and Distel, DL}, title = {Closing the genome of Teredinibacter turnerae T7902 by long-read nanopore sequencing.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0048424}, doi = {10.1128/mra.00484-24}, pmid = {39655922}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We present the complete closed circular genome sequence derived from the Oxford Nanopore sequencing of the shipworm endosymbiont, Teredinibacter turnerae T7902 (DSM 15152, ATCC 39867), originally isolated from the shipworm, Lyrodus pedicellatus (1). This sequence will aid in the comparative genomics of shipworm endosymbionts and the understanding of the host-symbiont evolution.}, } @article {pmid39655918, year = {2024}, author = {Farrell, MV and Aljaber, AM and Amoruso, M and Chan, WF and Dael, JR and De Tomas, ML and Delavega, EG and Eslava, JM and Holdbrook-Smith, BJ and Lee, P and Mai, V and Michael, LR and Moreno, SV and Quevedo, JF and Roberts, AG and Villanueva, J and Westin, C and Zazueta, DM and Shikuma, NJ}, title = {Draft genome sequences of Flagellimonas sp. MMG031 and Marinobacter sp. MMG032 isolated from the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium pilosum.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0091324}, doi = {10.1128/mra.00913-24}, pmid = {39655918}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {Here, we report the draft genome sequences of Flagellimonas sp. MMG031 and Marinobacter sp. MMG032, isolated from coral-associated dinoflagellate Symbiodinium pilosum, assembled and analyzed by undergraduate students participating in a Marine Microbial Genomics (MMG) course. A genomic comparison suggests MMG031 and MMG032 are novel species and a resource for restoration and biotechnology.}, } @article {pmid39655670, year = {2024}, author = {Dong, R and Wang, W and Luo, N and Li, H and Liu, J and Wang, Y and Ye, Y and Zhu, H and Li, F and Yu, H and Cao, Y}, title = {MtNAD1 associates with the autophagy complex to contribute to the degradation of immunity-related proteins in Medicago truncatula nodules.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.20336}, pmid = {39655670}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32090063//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 31970307//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32000191//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2019YFA0904700//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; AML2023B01//National Key Lab of Agricultural Microbiology/ ; 2022A1515011483//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; 2021A1515011036//Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province/ ; }, abstract = {Plant immunity is suppressed in the symbiotic nodule cells, thereby facilitating rhizobial infection. Medicago truncatula NODULES WITH ACTIVATED DEFENSE1 (MtNAD1) is crucial for suppressing immunity in nodules; however, its molecular function is unclear. We explored the molecular basis of the role of MtNAD1 in suppressing innate immunity in M. truncatula nodules. Medicago truncatula mutants lacking MtATG7 produced defective nodules, sharing some similarities with the Mtnad1 mutant nodules. Furthermore, MtNAD1 interacted with several immunity-related proteins, including BAX-inhibitor1a (MtBI-1a), two Lysin-motif proteins (MtLYM1/2), Pathogenesis-related10 (MtPR10c/d), MtMPK3/6, and two Lysin-motif receptor kinases (MtLYK8/9). In addition, MtNAD1 and the autophagy pathway contributed to the reduction of MtBI-1, MtPR10c/d, and MtLYM1/2 protein levels in planta. Knocking out either the MtBI-1 or MtLYM1/2 gene in the M. truncatula nad1 mutant can partially restore the defective nodules of the nad1 mutant. Our results demonstrate that MtNAD1 associates with the autophagy pathway by interacting with MtATG8, contributing to the degradation of several immunity-related proteins in M. truncatula nodules during rhizobial colonization and thereby supporting the development of a successful symbiosis.}, } @article {pmid39654066, year = {2024}, author = {Salari, H and Amooaghaie, R and Mozafari, H and Ghorbanpour, M and Sedaghati, E}, title = {Impact of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi species on arsenic tolerance and accumulation in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).}, journal = {BMC plant biology}, volume = {24}, number = {1}, pages = {1174}, pmid = {39654066}, issn = {1471-2229}, mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/physiology ; *Carthamus tinctorius/microbiology/metabolism/drug effects ; *Glomeromycota/physiology ; *Arsenic/metabolism/toxicity ; *Soil Pollutants/metabolism/toxicity ; *Biodegradation, Environmental ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism/growth & development ; Chlorophyll/metabolism ; Phosphorus/metabolism ; Fungi ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can regulate metal(loid) tolerance in plants and their capacity for phytoremediation. These effects can vary depending on the host plant and the AMF species. The impact of different AMF species on the ability of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) for arsenic (As) phytoremediation is still largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of two AMF species, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Funneliformis mosseae, on the tolerance and accumulation of As in safflower in soils spiked with varying arsenate concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg kg[-1]).

RESULTS: The results indicated that both AMF species established effective symbiotic relationships with safflower. However, plants inoculated with R. irregularis exhibited higher mycorrhizal dependency and root colonization, especially under 100 mg kg[-1] As. Both AMF species significantly improved plant growth parameters, chlorophyll content, and phosphorus (P) nutrition, which resulted in increased P/As ratio and enhanced tolerance index in safflower plants. In addition, AMF inoculation reduced As-induced lipid peroxidation by enhancing catalase and peroxidase activity in leaves and roots. While the mycorrhizal symbiosis didn't affect As availability in soils, it significantly reduced shoot As concentration and the translocation factor under all As levels. Furthermore, mycorrhizal inoculation, especially with R. irregularis, increased As concentration and modified-bioconcentration factor in the roots and enhanced total As uptake per plant.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results and multivariate analyses, both AMF species, particularly R. irregularis, enhanced safflower's As tolerance by retaining As in roots, improving phosphorus nutrition, and increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, showcasing their potential to enhance phytostabilization in safflower plants.}, } @article {pmid39653531, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, W and Wang, FR and Guo, Y and Zhang, HB and Jiang, FF}, title = {[Characteristics of airway microbiome co-occurrence network in patients with type 2 and non-type 2 asthma].}, journal = {Zhonghua jie he he hu xi za zhi = Zhonghua jiehe he huxi zazhi = Chinese journal of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases}, volume = {47}, number = {12}, pages = {1121-1129}, doi = {10.3760/cma.j.cn112147-20241015-00611}, pmid = {39653531}, issn = {1001-0939}, mesh = {Humans ; *Asthma/microbiology/metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Prospective Studies ; *Microbiota ; *Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Sputum/microbiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Respiratory System/microbiology/metabolism ; Breath Tests ; }, abstract = {Objective: To study the characteristics of the airway microbiome co-occurrence network in patients with type 2 and non-type 2 asthma. Methods: In a prospective study based on a cohort of asthma patients, respiratory induced sputum samples were collected from 55 asthma patients [25 males and 30 females, with a median age of 47.7 years (age range 34.3-63.0 years)] admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University and 12 healthy controls from the Physical Examination Centre of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, from May 2021 to May 2022. According to the level of exhaled breath nitric oxide (FeNO), the asthma patients were divided into 22 cases in the high FeNO group (FeNO≥40 ppb, i.e., type 2 asthma group) and 33 cases in the low FeNO group (FeNO<40 ppb, i.e., non-type 2 asthma group). All induced sputum samples were subjected to second-generation macrogenomic sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of microbial community diversity, compositional characteristics, symbiotic network characteristics and metabolic function prediction. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used for between-group comparisons, and the linear discriminant analysis (LEfSe) method was used to compare the differences in flora composition between groups. The R language was used for microbial network analysis. In addition, PICRUSt was used to predict the metabolic-functional characteristics of the microbial communities. Results: The microbial communities in the healthy control group had a lower proportion of p_Firmicutes and p_Proteobacteria than asthma patients, 29% and 21%, respectively; 37% and 33% in the low FeNO group and 42% and 26% in the high FeNO group. The microbial network in the low FeNO group had 64 pairs of edges forming 16 communities, and about 75% of the nodes had eigenvector centrality values between 0 and 0.05, and 25% of the nodes had eigenvector centrality values between 0.10 and 0.45. There were four layers of κ-nucleosynthesis, and about 42% of the vertices were in the centre of the two layers. The microbial network of the high-FeNO group had 80 pairs of edges forming 18 clusters, and 81% of the nodes had eigenvector centrality values between 0 and 0.05, and 19% of the nodes had eigenvector centrality values between 0.10 and 0.35. The κ-nucleus decomposition had eight layers, and 21% of the vertices were located in the centre's two layers. The main functional differences between the low and high FeNO groups were shown in metabolic pathways (including sugar, lipid, amino acid, and energy metabolism), drug resistance, biofilm transport, signalling, intercellular communication, and cellular repair. Conclusions: Compared with non-type 2 asthmatics, type 2 asthmatics had a higher alpha diversity of respiratory microbiota, lower levels of microorganisms in the p_Proteobacteria, and a more aggregated microbial network. There was a significant difference in the predicted metabolic function of the two endotypes of asthmatics.}, } @article {pmid39653482, year = {2024}, author = {Newsham, KK and Foot, GW and Sands, CJ and Goodall-Copestake, WP}, title = {A cosmopolitan Serendipita forms mycothalli with sub-Antarctic leafy liverworts.}, journal = {Fungal biology}, volume = {128}, number = {8 Pt B}, pages = {2355-2364}, doi = {10.1016/j.funbio.2023.11.006}, pmid = {39653482}, issn = {1878-6146}, mesh = {*Hepatophyta/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; *DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Antarctic Regions ; Symbiosis ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics/chemistry ; DNA, Ribosomal/genetics/chemistry ; Ascomycota/genetics/classification/isolation & purification/cytology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Microscopy ; }, abstract = {The occurrence of mycothalli, symbioses between liverworts and fungi, is poorly documented in sub-Antarctica, and biogeographical patterns in Serendipita, the main fungal genus forming the symbiosis, remain understudied. Here, 83 specimens of 16 leafy liverwort species were sampled from sub-Antarctic South Georgia and were examined for mycothalli. Microscopy was used to enumerate fungal structures in liverwort tissues, and sequencing of fungal ribosomal DNA was used to determine the taxonomic and biogeographical affinities of the fungi. Stained hyphal coils, a defining feature of the symbiosis, were found to be frequent (>40% of stem length colonised) in Barbilophozia hatcheri, Cephaloziella varians and Lophoziopsis excisa. A single species of Serendipita, based on a 3% cut-off for ITS2 region sequence divergence, was a frequent colonist of these liverworts. A further 18 basidiomycete and ascomycete taxa colonised other liverwort species. The presence of the Serendipita species was positively associated with the occurrence of stained hyphal coils in stem epidermal cells. Phylogenetic analyses, incorporating worldwide accessions from leafy liverwort-associated Serendipita, showed that the same species, which also occurs in Chile, mainland Europe and on Svalbard, is apparently the sole symbiont of sub- and maritime Antarctic leafy liverworts, and indicated much higher species richness of the genus outside Antarctica.}, } @article {pmid39653175, year = {2024}, author = {Wei, Y and Xia, W and Qian, Y and Rong, C and Ye, M and Yujie, C and Kikuchi, J and Li, YY}, title = {Revealing microbial compatibility of partial nitritation/Anammox biofilm from sidestream to mainstream applications: Origins, dynamics, and interrelationships.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {131963}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131963}, pmid = {39653175}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Biofilms offer a solution to the challenge of low biomass retention faced in mainstream partial nitritation/Anammox (PN/A) applications. In this study, a one-stage PN/A reactor derived from initial granular sludge was successfully transformed into a biofilm system using shedding carriers. Environmental stressors, such as ammonium nitrogen concentration and organic matter, significantly affected the competitive dynamics and dominant species composition between Ca. Kuenenia and Ca. Brocadia. Under approximately 500 mg/L NH4[+]-N, Ca. Brocadia emerged as the dominant anammox bacteria species, but was subsequently replaced by Ca. Kuenenia in the presence of approximately 54 mg COD/L CH3COONa. Moreover, Chloroflexi species on the original biofilm exhibited an associated relationship with the growth of Ca. Kuenenia in new biofilm. The biofilm assembly and microbial community migration uniquely reveal the microbial niche dynamics. This study provides valuable insights for PN/A biofilm applications facing diverse challenges of environmental stresses in the transition from sidestream to mainstream.}, } @article {pmid39653007, year = {2024}, author = {Xia, Z and Xue, C and Liu, R and Hui, Q and Hu, B and Rennenberg, H}, title = {Lead accumulation and concomitant reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in Robinia pseudoacacia are dependent on nitrogen nutrition.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {109388}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109388}, pmid = {39653007}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {Heavy metal pollution combined with nitrogen (N) limitation is a major factor preventing revegetation of contaminated land. Woody N2-fixing legumes are a natural choice for phytoremediation. However, the physiological responses of woody legumes to lead (Pb) with low N exposure are currently unknown. In the present study, a common Robinia cultivar from Northeast China, inoculated and non-inoculated with rhizobia, was exposed to -Pb or + Pb at moderate (norN) or low N application (lowN). Our results showed that without inoculation, independent of N application, Pb taken up by the roots was allocated to the shoot and inhibited photosynthesis and biomass production. In non-inoculated Robinia, Pb-mediated oxidative stress resulted in reduced H2O2 scavenging as indicated by increased ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in the leaves and proline contents in the roots, independent of N application. Combined lowN∗Pb exposure significantly increased malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in roots and leaves and enhanced APX and dehydroascorbate reductase activities in leaves compared to individual Pb exposure. Rhizobia inoculation raised the abundance of nodules and promoted Pb uptake by roots. Under Pb exposure, inoculation with rhizobia reduced MDA contents, increased proline contents in leaves and roots and enhanced activity of nitrate reductase in the leaves, independent of N application. Under Pb exposure, nitrogenase activity of inoculated Robinia under low- and norN application were similar indicating that enhanced of N2-fixation at lowN was counteracted by Pb exposure. These results show that inoculation of Robinia with rhizobia can alleviate Pb toxicity at combined lowN and Pb exposure by reducing oxidative stress.}, } @article {pmid39652712, year = {2024}, author = {Shen, Z and Li, X and Zeng, Y and Zhang, X}, title = {Influence of Noncovalent Interaction on the Nucleophilicity and Electrophilicity of Metal Centers in [M[II](S2CNEt2)2] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt).}, journal = {The journal of physical chemistry. A}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1021/acs.jpca.4c05706}, pmid = {39652712}, issn = {1520-5215}, abstract = {A systematic theoretical study was performed on the electrophilic and nucleophilic properties of Group 10 square-planar metal compounds [M[II](S2CNEt2)2] (M = Ni 1, Pd 2, and Pt 3) and their complexes. The nucleophilic metal center and coordinated sulfur atom in [M(S2CNEt2)2] facilitate the formation of metal-involving and conventional noncovalent bonds. The presence a heavier metal center results in a more negative electrostatic potential and a larger nucleophilicity, which in turn leads to the formation of stronger metal-involving noncovalent bonds than those formed by a lighter metal center. The Ni[II] center was observed to display electrophilic-nucleophilic dualism with regard to noncovalent interactions, forming both a metal-involving halogen bond (Ni···I) with iodine chloride (ICl) and a semicoordination bond (Ni···N) with N-bases. The nucleophilicity and electrophilicity of the Ni[II] center are enhanced in the ternary complexes LB···1···XCl (X = H, I; LB = NH3, NHCH2, pyridine) due to the push-pull mechanism. The N···Ni semicoordination bond exerts a push effect on the dz[2] orbital of the Ni[II] center, while the Ni···X noncovalent bond provides a symbiotic pull effect on this orbital. Furthermore, the formation of metal-involving noncovalent bonds may enhance the electrophilic ability of the Pd[II] and Pt[II] center, resulting in the formation of stable ternary complexes Py···2/3···XCl (X = H, I), which are characterized by M···N and M···X interactions.}, } @article {pmid39651901, year = {2024}, author = {Nazem-Bokaee, H and Hom, EFY and Mathews, S and Gueidan, C}, title = {Analyzing sorbitol biosynthesis using a metabolic network flux model of a lichenized strain of the green microalga Diplosphaera chodatii.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0366023}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.03660-23}, pmid = {39651901}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {Diplosphaera chodatii, a unicellular terrestrial microalga found either free-living or in association with lichenized fungi, protects itself from desiccation by synthesizing and accumulating low-molecular-weight carbohydrates such as sorbitol. The metabolism of this algal species and the interplay of sorbitol biosynthesis with its growth, light absorption, and carbon dioxide fixation are poorly understood. Here, we used a recently available genome assembly for D. chodatii to develop a metabolic flux model and analyze the alga's metabolic capabilities, particularly, for sorbitol biosynthesis. The model contains 151 genes, 155 metabolites, and 194 unique metabolic reactions participating in 12 core metabolic pathways and five compartments. Both photoautotrophic and mixotrophic growths of D. chodatii were supported by the metabolic model. In the presence of glucose, mixotrophy led to higher biomass and sorbitol yields. Additionally, the model predicted increased starch biosynthesis at high light intensities during photoautotrophic growth, an indication that the "overflow hypothesis-stress-driven metabolic flux redistribution" could be applied to D. chodatii. Furthermore, the newly developed metabolic model of D. chodatii, iDco_core, captures both linear and cyclic electron flow schemes characterized in photosynthetic microorganisms and suggests a possible adaptation to fluctuating water availability during periods of desiccation. This work provides important new insights into the predicted metabolic capabilities of D. chodatii, including a potential biotechnological opportunity for industrial sorbitol biosynthesis.IMPORTANCELichenized green microalgae are vital components for the survival and growth of lichens in extreme environmental conditions. However, little is known about the metabolism and growth characteristics of these algae as individual microbes. This study aims to provide insights into some of the metabolic capabilities of Diplosphaera chodatii, a lichenized green microalgae, using a recently assembled and annotated genome of the alga. For that, a metabolic flux model was developed simulating the metabolism of this algal species and allowing for studying the algal growth, light absorption, and carbon dioxide fixation during both photoautotrophic and mixotrophic growth, in silico. An important capability of the new metabolic model of D. chodatii is capturing both linear and cyclic electron flow mechanisms characterized in several other microalgae. Moreover, the model predicts limits of the metabolic interplay between sorbitol biosynthesis and algal growth, which has potential applications in assisting the design of bio-based sorbitol production processes.}, } @article {pmid39651872, year = {2024}, author = {Marques, M and da Silva, DM and Santos, E and Baylina, N and Peixoto, R and Kyrpides, NC and Woyke, T and Whitman, WB and Keller-Costa, T and Costa, R}, title = {Genome sequences of four novel Endozoicomonas strains associated with a tropical octocoral in a long-term aquarium facility.}, journal = {Microbiology resource announcements}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0083324}, doi = {10.1128/mra.00833-24}, pmid = {39651872}, issn = {2576-098X}, abstract = {We report the genome sequences of four Endozoicomonas sp. strains isolated from the octocoral Litophyton maintained long term at an aquarium facility. Our analysis reveals the coding potential for versatile polysaccharide metabolism; Type II, III, IV, and VI secretion systems; and the biosynthesis of novel ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides.}, } @article {pmid39651235, year = {2024}, author = {Grossman, AS and Lei, L and Botting, JM and Liu, J and Nahar, N and Souza, JGS and Liu, J and McLean, JS and He, X and Bor, B}, title = {Saccharibacteria deploy two distinct Type IV pili, driving episymbiosis, host competition, and twitching motility.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1101/2024.11.25.624915}, pmid = {39651235}, issn = {2692-8205}, abstract = {All cultivated Patescibacteria, or CPR, exist as obligate episymbionts on other microbes. Despite being ubiquitous in mammals and environmentally, molecular mechanisms of host identification and binding amongst ultrasmall bacterial episymbionts are largely unknown. Type 4 pili (T4P) are well conserved in this group and predicted to facilitate symbiotic interactions. To test this, we targeted T4P pilin genes in Saccharibacteria Nanosynbacter lyticus strain TM7x to assess their essentiality and roles in symbiosis. Our results revealed that N. lyticus assembles two distinct T4P, a non-essential thin pili that has the smallest diameter of any T4P and contributes to host-binding, episymbiont growth, and competitive fitness relative to other Saccharibacteria, and an essential thick pili whose functions include twitching motility. Identification of lectin-like minor pilins and modification of host cell walls suggest glycan binding mechanisms. Collectively our findings demonstrate that Saccharibacteria encode unique extracellular pili that are vital mediators of their underexplored episymbiotic lifestyle.}, } @article {pmid39646675, year = {2024}, author = {Titus, BM and Bennett-Smith, MF and Chiodo, T and Rodríguez, E}, title = {The clownfish-hosting sea anemones (Anthozoa: Actiniaria): updated nomenclature, biogeography, and practical field guide.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5506}, number = {1}, pages = {1-34}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5506.1.1}, pmid = {39646675}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Sea Anemones/classification/anatomy & histology ; Animal Distribution ; Anthozoa/classification ; Coral Reefs ; Symbiosis ; Terminology as Topic ; }, abstract = {Ten described species of sea anemones (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Actiniaria) serve as hosts to charismatic clownfishes (or anemonefishes) on coral reefs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific. Although not diverse in number, the clownfish-hosting sea anemones have large biogeographic ranges, exhibit extensive intraspecific phenotypic appearances, and have been surrounded by a great deal of historical and contemporary taxonomic and nomenclatural confusion. We believe these factors have created challenges for field scientists making real-time species-level identifications of host sea anemones. Subsequently, a surprising amount of peer-reviewed clownfish literature never accounts for the host sea anemone, omitting critical data for understanding the symbiosis ecologically and evolutionarily. Here, we leverage the revolution that has taken place in the realm of digital underwater photography over the past 30 years to provide an updated, practical field guide for the clownfish-hosting sea anemones. First however, we review and revise the nomenclature for each species to better reflect valid changes that were made in the historical literature but never broadly adopted. Next, we demonstrate that machine learning algorithms may be of limited use for automating sea anemone species IDs from digital photographs alone-highlighting the importance of organismal expertise for identifying these animals. Finally, we present high-resolution digital photographs that encompass much of the intraspecific phenotypic variation encountered underwater, discuss important characteristics useful for field IDs, and provide updated range maps for each species to better reflect the known biogeographic range of each host anemone. We hope the increased confidence in field identification provided by this guide will result in more papers incorporating the sea anemone host data into research frameworks and subsequent publications.}, } @article {pmid39646457, year = {2024}, author = {Fransen, CHJM}, title = {Platypontonia ngae sp. nov., a new symbiotic shrimp (Decapoda: Palaemonidae) living inside a boring gastrochaenid bivalve mollusk from the Philippines.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5476}, number = {1}, pages = {89-98}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5476.1.11}, pmid = {39646457}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Philippines ; Female ; Male ; *Palaemonidae/anatomy & histology/classification ; *Bivalvia ; *Animal Distribution ; *Body Size ; Symbiosis ; Organ Size ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; }, abstract = {A new symbiotic palaemonid shrimp Platypontonia ngae sp. nov., is described based on a male-female pair found inside the mantle cavity of a gastrochaenid bivalve mollusk collected on a coral slope on the island Panglao, Philippines. The new species constitutes the third member of the genus Platypontonia Bruce, 1968. The new species is described, figured and compared with its congeners.}, } @article {pmid39646438, year = {2024}, author = {Sun, YL and Jiang, W and Sha, ZL}, title = {Shallow-water Trapezioidea (Decapoda: Brachyura) from the South China Sea, including two new records, and notes on Tetralia glaberrima Herbst, 1790.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5476}, number = {1}, pages = {393-423}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5476.1.30}, pmid = {39646438}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Brachyura/classification/anatomy & histology ; China ; Male ; Female ; *Animal Distribution ; Body Size ; Organ Size ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Oceans and Seas ; Phylogeny ; }, abstract = {A collection of coral symbiotic crabs (Trapezioidea) from the South China Sea reports a total of 24 species, including 12 species of Trapeziidae (including one new record: Trapezia plana Ward, 1941), four species of Domeciidae, and eight species of Tetraliidae (including one new record: Tetralia brengelae Trautwein, 2007). Live color and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequence data of all species are provided.}, } @article {pmid39646244, year = {2024}, author = {Mayén-Estrada, R and Dávila, S and Dias, RJP}, title = {Ciliate symbionts of bivalves with notes on their worldwide geographic distribution.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5448}, number = {4}, pages = {451-481}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5448.4.1}, pmid = {39646244}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Bivalvia/parasitology ; *Ciliophora/physiology/classification ; *Animal Distribution ; Ecosystem ; Biodiversity ; }, abstract = {The shells, mantle cavities and various organs of mollusks serve as suitable habitats for symbiotic ciliates, as commensal, epibiotic and parasitic. With about 80,000 species, molluscans are distributed in freshwater, marine and terrestrial habitats; symbiotic ciliates have been recorded in bivalves, gastropods and polyplacophorans; however these records have not been integrated in comprehensive revisions. The goal of this work is to provide an updated checklist of the ciliates involved as symbionts of bivalve molluscs worldwide. Available records of symbiotic species of ciliates were compiled and checked, along with their molluscan hosts and localities. We obtained data for 165 species of ciliates as symbionts of 158 bivalve hosts, distributed in 31 countries, regions and seas. This is the first comprehensive study to review the biodiversity of ciliates associated with bivalves and show that only a small fraction of this class of molluscs has been studied in terms of their symbiotic relationships with ciliates.}, } @article {pmid39646189, year = {2024}, author = {Scioli, JA and Robles, R and Felder, DL}, title = {New species and records of the symbiotic shrimp genus Leptalpheus Williams, 1965, with notes on Fenneralpheus Felder & Manning, 1986, and preliminary molecular analysis of phylogenetic relationships (Crustacea: Decapoda: Alpheidae).}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5466}, number = {1}, pages = {1-72}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5466.1.1}, pmid = {39646189}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Male ; *Phylogeny ; Female ; *Decapoda/classification/anatomy & histology/genetics ; *Animal Distribution ; Symbiosis ; Body Size ; Ecosystem ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Organ Size ; }, abstract = {The shrimp genera Leptalpheus Williams, 1965 and Fenneralpheus Felder & Manning, 1986 are composed entirely of symbiotic species that co-inhabit burrows of infaunal macrocrustaceans. We report extensive collections of these genera from western Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Indo-West Pacific regions. Integrative taxonomy methods, including morphological comparisons and analysis of three mitochondrial genetic markers, are used to test species hypotheses and evolutionary relationships among members of these genera. Our molecular analysis failed to recover Leptalpheus or Fenneralpheus as monophyletic groups. Our results strongly supported the monophyly of three clades composed of species of Leptalpheus, loosely corresponding to previously proposed species groups. Three new species closely related to Leptalpheus forceps Williams, 1965, L. marginalis Anker, 2011, and L. mexicanus Ríos & Carvacho, 1983 are described. Leptalpheus ankeri n. sp., from the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic coast of Florida, and Gulf of Mexico, is a polymorphic species that exhibits two major cheliped morphotypes. Leptalpheus sibo n. sp., from the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, is morphologically very similar to L. ankeri n. sp., likely its transisthmian sister species, and shares its cheliped polymorphism. A reassessment of L. forceps concluded that records of this species from the Caribbean Sea and Brazil are not conspecific with L. forceps sensu stricto from the Atlantic coast of the USA and the Gulf of Mexico, and they are herein described as Leptalpheus degravei n. sp. Based on both molecular and morphological evidence, we found Leptalpheus bicristatus Anker, 2011 to be a junior synonym of L. mexicanus and Leptalpheus canterakintzi Anker & Lazarus, 2015 to be a junior synonym of Leptalpheus azuero Anker, 2011. First reports of Leptalpheus axianassae Dworschak & Coelho, 1999 in Texas and Mexico, Leptalpheus denticulatus Anker & Marin, 2009 in the Mariana Islands, Leptalpheus felderi Anker, Vera Caripe & Lira, 2006 and Leptalpheus lirai Vera Caripe, Pereda & Anker, 2021 in the USA, and Leptalpheus pereirai Anker & Vera Caripe, 2016 in Cuba are included.}, } @article {pmid39646068, year = {2024}, author = {Cognato, AI and Smith, SM and Schiffer, M and Li, Y}, title = {A taxonomic review of Sueus Murayama, 1951 ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Hyorrhynchini) aided by molecular phylogenetic analyses.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5477}, number = {4}, pages = {475-493}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5477.4.5}, pmid = {39646068}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; Female ; Male ; *Phylogeny ; *Weevils/anatomy & histology/classification/genetics ; *Animal Distribution ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Body Size ; Organ Size ; }, abstract = {Four Sueus Murayama, 1951 species occur in Southeast Asia and Oceania. They all likely have a female-biased haplodiploid inbreeding mating system and feed on symbiotic ambrosia fungi. These life history traits increase the potential of adventive events. Indeed, Sueus has been recently discovered on the Caribbean island of Martinique. Morphological variation has been observed among some populations of Sueus niisimai (Eggers, 1926), which questioned species boundaries. Given the beetle's potential economic importance, we provide a molecular phylogeny as a foundation for systematic study and review the status of the known species. We sequenced a total of 1117 nucleotides from mitochondrial COI and nuclear CAD genes for 25 specimens. Parsimony and Bayesian phylogenies were similar in topology and demonstrated the sister placement of S. granulatus (Eggers, 1936) to the other Sueus species, reciprocal monophyly of S. niisimai and S. pilosus (Eggers, 1936) status restored, the monophyly of S. obesus Browne, 1977 and elevated levels of nucleotide divergence (interspecific = 16-22%). Sueus chatterjeei Smith & Cognato sp. nov. (India) and Sueus insulanus Schiffer, Smith & Cognato sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea) are described. Hyorrhynchus granulatus Eggers, 1936 is removed from synonymy with Hyorrhynchus lewisi Blandford, 1894 and reinstated as a valid species, Sueus granulatus (Eggers, 1936) status restored, comb. nov. A key to the eight recognized species is given. In addition, the identity of the Martinique species is revised as S. pilosus. Geographic distribution of species and the potential existence of cryptic species are discussed.}, } @article {pmid39646064, year = {2024}, author = {Domahovski, AC and Paladini, A}, title = {Pharsalus repandus Melichar, 1906 (Hemiptera, Ricaniidae): first record of ant-attendance in the family, ethological notes, and new records from Brazil.}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {5477}, number = {5}, pages = {563-570}, doi = {10.11646/zootaxa.5477.5.3}, pmid = {39646064}, issn = {1175-5334}, mesh = {Animals ; *Ants/classification/physiology ; Brazil ; *Hemiptera/classification/physiology/anatomy & histology ; Female ; Male ; *Animal Distribution ; Body Size ; Symbiosis ; Animal Structures/anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Organ Size ; Behavior, Animal ; }, abstract = {Ant attendance or trophobiosis is widely distributed in Auchenorrhyncha and can be defined as a disjunctive association, an interspecific relationship between two symbiotic organisms. Aggregation behavior with or without ant mutualism has been documented for nymphs and adults in a few families of Fulgoromorpha whereas ant-attendance is reported for all planthopper families except for Ricaniidae. Based on field observations of Pharsalus repandus Melichar, 1906, the present work aims to record the first mutualistic interaction of ant-attendance in a species of the family Ricaniidae, report its aggregation behavior, its host plant, and expand its known distribution to the states of Paraná and Minas Gerais. Two ants were attending the planthoppers at the same time, identified as Camponotus (Myrmotrhix) rufipes (Fabricius, 1775) and Camponotus (Myrmobrachys) crassus Mayr, 1862. We noted direct contact and observed the ants employing antennal palpation behavior to stimulate the planthoppers to deliver honeydew.}, } @article {pmid39645585, year = {2024}, author = {Suetsugu, K and Okada, H and Hirota, SK and Yamasaki, M and Imaichi, R and Ebihara, A}, title = {Drastic mycorrhizal community shifts in Sceptridium ferns during the generation transition from fully mycoheterotrophic gametophytes to photosynthetic sporophytes.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.20330}, pmid = {39645585}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {JPMJPR21D6//Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology/ ; }, abstract = {Many plant species experience a prolonged subterranean phase during which they rely entirely on mycorrhizal fungi for carbon. While this mycoheterotrophic strategy spans liverworts, lycophytes, and ferns, most empirical research has centered on angiosperms. This study explores the fungal associations of Sceptridium (Ophioglossaceae), an early-diverging fern with mycoheterotrophic gametophytes. We analyzed germination patterns and fungal associations in Sceptridium gametophytes, comparing them to the distribution and mycorrhizal partners of photosynthetic sporophytes. High-throughput sequencing data reveal that mycoheterotrophic gametophytes consistently associate with a single Entrophospora fungus in the order Entrophosporales (Glomeromycotina), while photosynthetic sporophytes primarily partner with fungi from Glomeraceae (Glomerales, Glomeromycotina). Consequently, gametophytes exhibit spatial clustering without association with adult plants. This is the first documentation of an association between Entrophosporaceae (and the order Entrophosporales) and mycoheterotrophic plants. The drastic shifts in Sceptridium mycorrhizal communities across life stages likely reflect changing physiological needs during development. Further research is essential to determine whether the association with Entrophosporaceae is widespread among mycoheterotrophic species and to elucidate the functional and physiological mechanisms underlying these mycorrhizal shifts.}, } @article {pmid39645540, year = {2024}, author = {Sacristán, C and Guerrero, M and Sánchez, S and Rodríguez, A and García, RM and Ewbank, AC and Gros, M and Rodríguez-Mozaz, S and Martínez, IM and Guasch, L and de la Torre, A}, title = {Comparison of Oxytetracycline and Sulfamethazine Effects Over Root Elongation in Selected Wild and Crop Plants Commonly Present in the Mediterranean Cropland and Pasture Scenarios.}, journal = {Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39645540}, issn = {1432-0703}, support = {RTI2018_095586_B_C21//Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Spanish State Research Agency/ ; MCI/AEI/FEDER//European Regional Development Fund/ ; UE//European Regional Development Fund/ ; IJC2020-046019-I//Juan de la Cierva incorporación/ ; JDC2022-048632-I//Juan de la Cierva/ ; RYC2020-030324-I//Ramon y Cajal/ ; SGR ICRA-ENV 2021 01282//Generalitat de Catalunya/ ; }, abstract = {Fertilization with animal manure and sewage sludge, and the use of sewage water for irrigation, can lead to high antimicrobial concentrations in agricultural soils. Once in soil, antimicrobials can exert direct and indirect toxic effects on plants by misbalancing plant-microbe symbiotic relationships. We performed germination tests to determine the optimum germination conditions of 24 plant species (10 crop and 14 wild species). Subsequently, we analyzed the differences in oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine phytotoxicity in 19 plant species for which optimum germination conditions could be established. The root elongation of the majority of wild species was inhibited in the presence of oxytetracycline and sulfamethazine, whereas crops were mainly affected by oxytetracycline. There were no differences in sensitivity to oxytetracycline between crop and wild plant species, whereas wild plants were significantly more susceptible to sulfamethazine than crop species. Thus, to cover both productivity and biodiversity protection goals, we recommend pharmaceuticals' predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) values based on crop and wild plant species phytotoxicity data.}, } @article {pmid39644640, year = {2024}, author = {Li, Q and Chen, Y and Zhang, J and Zhang, S and Li, J}, title = {Specificity of benthic invertebrate gill-associated microbiome contributes to host fitness to localized heterogeneous environment in the cold seep.}, journal = {The Science of the total environment}, volume = {958}, number = {}, pages = {177861}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177861}, pmid = {39644640}, issn = {1879-1026}, abstract = {The deep hydrocarbon fluids discharged into the water column at cold seeps create diverse and heterogeneous habitats on the seafloor. Symbiosis is essential for the survival of marine life in extreme deep-sea environments. Although the symbiotic relationship between chemoautotrophic bacteria and invertebrates has been reported, our understanding of these host-microbe interactions under heterogeneous environment remains limited. In this study, we evaluated the bacterial community structures, histological and subcellular localization, and potential functions of the gill microbiomes of six invertebrates in the Haima cold seep, South China Sea. The results showed distinct gill-associated microbiomes in these six invertebrates. Gigantidas haimaensis and Archivesica marissinica exhibit a highly dependent symbiotic relationship with their intracellular gill symbionts, characterized by a simple composition. In contrast, Alvinocaris longirostris, Shinkaia crosnieri, Phymorhynchus buccinoides, and Paraescarpia echinospica display a loosely dependent association with their extracellular gill-associated microbes, which are notably complex in composition. Moreover, gill microbiome specificity was seen among six invertebrates and host selection could be an underlying mechanism. The potential functional components of these six invertebrate gill microbiomes contribute to host fitness in heterogeneous local environments. The results obtained from our study provide insights into the ecology and evolution of host-microbe interactions and the underlying mechanisms in extreme marine environments. This information is critical for predicting the responses of benthic fauna to environmental changes in cold seeps.}, } @article {pmid39644552, year = {2024}, author = {Yuan, M and Shi, Z and Gao, J and Wu, S and Xu, S and Wang, X}, title = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal type increases the negative feedback of soil microbial biomass to nitrogen deposition.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {373}, number = {}, pages = {123617}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123617}, pmid = {39644552}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {Soil microbes are crucial for ecosystem health and functioning, playing key roles in decomposing organic matter, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. Mycorrhizal fungi, a vital group of soil microbes, establish symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhancing plant nutrient uptake and improving soil structure. Globally nitrogen (N) enrichment is recognized as a significant regulator of soil microbial communities. However, whether and how mycorrhiza mediate the effects of N deposition on soil microbial biomass remains unclear. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis using 1945 paired observations (1309 AM type and 636 NonAM type) from 113 independent studies to assess the mycorrhiza-mediated responses of soil microbial biomass and respiration to N deposition. The results showed that N deposition reduced total, bacterial and fungal biomass, as well as fungi to bacteria ratio (F:B ratio), and the negative impact was more pronounced under AM type compared to NonAM type. Notably, the adverse effects intensified with increasing N application rate under AM type. Moreover, root respiration exhibited a greater increase with N deposition in AM type than in NonAM type, whereas microbial and soil respiration displayed a more significant decrease in AM type compared to NonAM type. The structural equation modeling revealed that the effects of N deposition on microbes were primarily driven by mean annual temperature (MAT) for AM type, whereas for NonAM type, it was mean annual precipitation (MAP) that played a significant role. Overall, our results indicated that soil microbes of the AM type were more susceptible to N deposition compared to those of the NonAM type. The observed patterns indicated that mycorrhizal type could effect the responses of plants and soil to nitrogen deposition, which has implications for ecosystem nutrient cycling and sustainable agriculture.}, } @article {pmid39644422, year = {2024}, author = {Su, Z and Li, H and Xu, Y and Zhang, C and Wu, J and Lei, Y}, title = {Establishment of an efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system for an Armillaria species, a host of the fully mycoheterotrophic plant Gastrodia elata.}, journal = {Folia microbiologica}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39644422}, issn = {1874-9356}, support = {202301AT070379//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 202001AS070021//Applied Basic Research Foundation of Yunnan Province/ ; XZ202201YD0006C//Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Fund Projects/ ; }, abstract = {The genus Armillaria (Basidiomycota, Agaricales, Physalacriaceae) comprises pathogenic fungi that cause root-rot disease in plants, as well as species with low pathogenicity, some of which are hosts of the fully mycoheterotrophic orchid plant Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae). To investigate the mechanisms underlying such special interactions between Armillaria fungi and G. elata, it is crucial to establish genetic transformation platforms for the Armillaria fungi and G. elata. In this study, an Armillaria strain Arm37 was isolated from G. elata, which can form symbiosis with G. elata in axenic culture under laboratory conditions. A vector pYT-EV containing a cassette for hygromycin-resistance selection and a cassette for expressing or silencing target genes was constructed. An Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system for Arm37 was successfully developed and optimized to achieve a transformation efficiency of 32%. The ATMT system was successfully used to express the reporter genes eGFP encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein and GUS encoding β-glucuronidase and to effectively silence the endogenous gene URA3 encoding orotidine-5'-phosphate decarboxylase in Arm37. This ATMT system established for Arm37 provides an efficient genetic tool for exploring the Arm37 genes that are involved in the unique interaction between the Armillaria fungi and fully mycoheterotrophic plant G. elata.}, } @article {pmid39643654, year = {2024}, author = {Ticinesi, A and Siniscalchi, C and Meschi, T and Nouvenne, A}, title = {Gut microbiome and bone health: update on mechanisms, clinical correlations, and possible treatment strategies.}, journal = {Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39643654}, issn = {1433-2965}, abstract = {The intestinal microbiome is increasingly regarded as a relevant modulator of the pathophysiology of several age-related conditions, including frailty, sarcopenia, and cognitive decline. Aging is in fact associated with alteration of the equilibrium between symbiotic bacteria and opportunistic pathogens, leading to dysbiosis. The microbiome is able to regulate intestinal permeability and systemic inflammation, has a central role in intestinal amino acid metabolism, and produces a large number of metabolites and byproducts, with either beneficial or detrimental consequences for the host physiology. Recent evidence, from both preclinical animal models and clinical studies, suggests that these microbiome-centered pathways could contribute to bone homeostasis, regulating the balance between osteoblast and osteoclast function. In this systematic review, we provide an overview of the mechanisms involved in the gut-bone axis, with a particular focus on microbiome function and microbiome-derived mediators including short-chain fatty acids. We also review the current evidence linking gut microbiota dysbiosis with osteopenia and osteoporosis, and the results of the intervention studies on pre-, pro-, or post-biotics targeting bone mineral density loss in both animal models and human beings, indicating knowledge gaps and highlighting possible avenues for future research.}, } @article {pmid39643369, year = {2024}, author = {Li, S and Wang, R and Liu, R and Wang, L and Wang, X and Wei, J and Yuan, Y and Yue, T and Cai, R and Wang, Z}, title = {Exploring the dynamic characteristic of typical kombucha induced by symbiotic microbiota succession from four Chinese regions: A comprehensive analytical framework.}, journal = {Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)}, volume = {198}, number = {}, pages = {115335}, doi = {10.1016/j.foodres.2024.115335}, pmid = {39643369}, issn = {1873-7145}, mesh = {*Fermentation ; *Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis/metabolism ; *Odorants/analysis ; *Microbiota ; China ; Phenols/analysis/metabolism ; Food Microbiology ; Symbiosis ; Yeasts/metabolism/classification ; Antioxidants/analysis/metabolism ; Kombucha Tea/microbiology/analysis ; East Asian People ; }, abstract = {To investigate the microbial diversities and dynamic quality properties of kombucha, the successional changes with different periods from four regions were comprehensively characterized and compared. A total of 197 indigenous yeast and bacterial strains were isolated, involving Gluconobacter, Komagataeibacter, Starmerella and Zygosaccharomyces spp. The successional dynamics of the kombucha communities in different regions were evaluated. The b* values of all kombucha decreased continuously as fermentation progressed. Results indicated that proper fermentation timing significantly influenced nutritional composition and aroma characteristics. A gradual increase in the content of individual monomeric phenols during the middle and late stages of fermentation (days 6-15). Overall, the Shaanxi (SX) region exhibited the highest content of the 10 phenolics detected on day 9, with 273.45 mg/L, followed by the Hunan (HN) region on day 9 (206.49 mg/L). Higher concentrations of bioactive compounds were produced during later stages, which determined the antioxidant properties. A total of 94 volatile compounds were identified and 32 volatiles with relative odor activity value (rOAV) ≥ 0.1. Four regions showed a decreasing trend in the number of aromas in the later stages of fermentation. The predominant compounds were acids, esters and alcohols during the later fermentation stages, which decanal, trans-β-ionone and damascenone serving as characteristic aromas. The partial least-squares regression analysis revealed that apple juice, fruity and sour apple odors showed an intensely positive impact on the overall acceptability of the kombucha.}, } @article {pmid39642156, year = {2024}, author = {Xie, K and Ren, Y and Huang, Y and Wang, L and Li, L and Ye, H and Yang, C and Wang, S and Xu, G and Chen, A}, title = {A conserved nuclear factor YC subunit, NF-YC3, is essential for arbuscule development.}, journal = {The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/tpj.17195}, pmid = {39642156}, issn = {1365-313X}, support = {BK20230992//Basic Research Program of Jiangsu province in China/ ; 2021YFF1000400//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 32302665//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32472831//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; YDZX2024019//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; BX20220155//Postdoctoral Innovation Talents Support Program/ ; }, abstract = {Establishing reciprocal symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is an important evolutionary strategy of most terrestrial plants to adapt to environmental stresses, especially phosphate (Pi) deficiencies. Identifying the key genes essential for AM symbiosis in plants and dissecting their functional mechanisms will be helpful for the breeding of new crop varieties with enhanced nutrient uptake efficiency. Here, we report a nuclear factor YC subunit-encoding gene, OsNF-YC3, whose expression is specifically induced in arbuscule-containing cells, plays an essential role in AM symbiosis. Knockout of OsNF-YC3 resulted in stunted arbuscule morphology and substantially decreased P accumulation, while overexpressing OsNF-YC3 enhanced mycorrhization and Pi uptake efficiency. OsNF-YC3 is directly regulated by OsPHRs, the major regulators of Pi starvation responses. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis uncovered multiple genes with crucial roles in arbuscule development as its potential downstream targets, including the AM-specific Pi transporter gene OsPT11. OsNF-YC3 can form a heterotrimer with the other two NF-Y subunits, OsNF-YA11 and OsNF-YB11, in yeast. Loss of OsNF-YA11 function also severely impaired arbuscule development in its mutants. Overall, our results highlight an essential role of OsNF-YC3 and its potential interacting NF-Y subunit, OsNF-YA11, in regulating AM symbiosis and arbuscule development.}, } @article {pmid39641030, year = {2024}, author = {Mfopa, AN and Kemzeu, R and Fokom, R and Yamthe, LRT and Dize, D and Boyom, FF}, title = {Phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antileishmanial activities of kombucha as affected by fermentation time.}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, number = {22}, pages = {e40463}, pmid = {39641030}, issn = {2405-8440}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: Study the impact of fermentation time on the phytochemical properties, antioxidant and antileishmanial activities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The preparation of Kombucha tea by fermentation was performed under aseptic conditions and symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) layer was maintained in culture for continuous growth in a water-sugar (4 L-500 g) mixture for 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days. The process of preparation was performed using a decoction. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins was determined using standard method. The antioxidant activity was determined using three tests: DPPH•, ABTS• + and FRAP methods. Finally, the antileishmanial activity was performed in vitro on Leishmania donovani promastigote strains.

RESULTS: The qualitative analysis of the constituents showed the kombucha drink was rich in saponins, terpenoids, quinones, phenolic compounds, catechins and coumarins depending on the fermentation times. Depending on the fermentation time (7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days and 35 days), significant quantities of phenolic compounds were obtained in the tea with values ranging from 182.42 to 509.41 mg GAE/g dry extract; 15.83-53.05 mg QE/g dry extract and 6.16-51.82 mg TAE/g dry extract respectively for phenolic compounds, total flavonoids and total tannins. The SC50 values of DPPH• and ABTS• [+], were 14.57 μg/mL; and 21.47 μg/mL after 14 and 21 days of fermentation respectively indicating a good antioxidant profile. The inhibition of the promastigote form of Leishmania donovani responsible for visceral leishmaniasis was observed with the samples obtained after 7 days, 14 days and 28 days with inhibitory concentrations 50 of: 131.2, 48.86 and 128.8 μg/mL respectively. The antileishmanial activity was more pronounced with the Kombucha tea after 14 days (KBT14) extract (48.86 μg/mL).

CONCLUSION: The Kombucha tea revealed the presence of phenolic compounds at different fermentation time. In addition, a good antioxidant profile was observed with the different radicals analyzed. Also, the inhibition of the Leishmania parasite was obtained. Therefore, the Kombucha tea constitutes a source bioactive molecules with antioxidant properties against Leishmania parasite.}, } @article {pmid39639425, year = {2024}, author = {Medeiros, ID and Ibáñez, A and Arnold, AE and Hedderson, TA and Miadlikowska, J and Flakus, A and Carbone, I and LaGreca, S and Magain, N and Mazur, E and Castillo, RV and Geml, J and Kaup, M and Maggs-Kölling, G and Oita, S and Sathiya Seelan, JS and Terlova, E and Hom, EFY and Lewis, LA and Lutzoni, F}, title = {Eco-phylogenetic study of Trebouxia in southern Africa reveals interbiome connectivity and potential endemism in a green algal lichen photobiont.}, journal = {American journal of botany}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e16441}, doi = {10.1002/ajb2.16441}, pmid = {39639425}, issn = {1537-2197}, abstract = {PREMISE: Southern Africa is a biodiversity hotspot rich in endemic plants and lichen-forming fungi. However, species-level data about lichen photobionts in this region are minimal. We focused on Trebouxia (Chlorophyta), the most common lichen photobiont, to understand how southern African species fit into the global biodiversity of this genus and are distributed across biomes and mycobiont partners.

METHODS: We sequenced Trebouxia nuclear ribosomal ITS and rbcL of 139 lichen thalli from diverse biomes in South Africa and Namibia. Global Trebouxia phylogenies incorporating these new data were inferred with a maximum likelihood approach. Trebouxia biodiversity, biogeography, and mycobiont-photobiont associations were assessed in phylogenetic and ecological network frameworks.

RESULTS: An estimated 43 putative Trebouxia species were found across the region, including seven potentially endemic species. Only five clades represent formally described species: T. arboricola s.l. (A13), T. cf. cretacea (A01), T. incrustata (A06), T. lynniae (A39), and T. maresiae (A46). Potential endemic species were not significantly associated with the Greater Cape Floristic Region or desert. Trebouxia species occurred frequently across multiple biomes. Annual precipitation, but not precipitation seasonality, was significant in explaining variation in Trebouxia communities. Consistent with other studies of lichen photobionts, the Trebouxia-mycobiont network had an anti-nested structure.

CONCLUSIONS: Depending on the metric used, ca. 20-30% of global Trebouxia biodiversity occurs in southern Africa, including many species yet to be described. With a classification scheme for Trebouxia now well established, tree-based approaches are preferable over "barcode gap" methods for delimiting new species.}, } @article {pmid39639105, year = {2024}, author = {Xu, Z and Schahl, A and Jolivet, MD and Legrand, A and Grélard, A and Berbon, M and Morvan, E and Lagardere, L and Piquemal, JP and Loquet, A and Germain, V and Chavent, M and Mongrand, S and Habenstein, B}, title = {Dynamic pre-structuration of lipid nanodomain-segregating remorin proteins.}, journal = {Communications biology}, volume = {7}, number = {1}, pages = {1620}, pmid = {39639105}, issn = {2399-3642}, support = {ANR-19-CE13-0021//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; ANR-23-CE11-0005-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; CNRS Momentum//Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (National Center for Scientific Research)/ ; }, mesh = {*Molecular Dynamics Simulation ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics ; Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics ; Protein Domains ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/chemistry/genetics ; }, abstract = {Remorins are multifunctional proteins, regulating immunity, development and symbiosis in plants. When associating to the membrane, remorins sequester specific lipids into functional membrane nanodomains. The multigenic protein family contains six groups, classified upon their protein-domain composition. Membrane targeting of remorins occurs independently from the secretory pathway. Instead, they are directed into different nanodomains depending on their phylogenetic group. All family members contain a C-terminal membrane anchor and a homo-oligomerization domain, flanked by an intrinsically disordered region of variable length at the N-terminal end. We here combined molecular imaging, NMR spectroscopy, protein structure calculations and advanced molecular dynamics simulation to unveil a stable pre-structuration of coiled-coil dimers as nanodomain-targeting units, containing a tunable fuzzy coat and a bar code-like positive surface charge before membrane association. Our data suggest that remorins fold in the cytosol with the N-terminal disordered region as a structural ensemble around a dimeric anti-parallel coiled-coil core containing a symmetric interface motif reminiscent of a hydrophobic Leucine zipper. The domain geometry, the charge distribution in the coiled-coil remorins and the differences in structures and dynamics between C-terminal lipid anchors of the remorin groups provide a selective platform for phospholipid binding when encountering the membrane surface.}, } @article {pmid39638929, year = {2024}, author = {Shi, Z and Ma, R and Shan, L and Tu, H and Li, Q and Su, J and Lu, F and Yu, K and Geng, Z and Slezak, P and Zhou, Z and Hu, E and Shi, S and Lan, G and Xie, R}, title = {Artificial Plateletoids Recruit Blood Proteins to Shield Symbiotic Thrombin: a Silk Fibroin/Calcium Interface Medicated Thrombin Generation and Preservation.}, journal = {Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e2406909}, doi = {10.1002/smll.202406909}, pmid = {39638929}, issn = {1613-6829}, support = {SWU-KT22004//Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities/ ; 52103096//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; MPC-2022-04099//Ernst Mach Grant Scholarship financed by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research/ ; }, abstract = {Breaking the constraints of thrombin during storage and in vivo applications remains challenging because of its low stability and sensitivity to environmental temperature and acidity. Herein, an artificial plateletoid is developed for in situ thrombin generation through a co-incubation approach with plasma in vitro, utilizing a silk fibroin/Ca[2+] interface, to enhance the activity and stability of the generated thrombin. Notably, the enzymatic activity of the plateletoid thrombin platform is as high as 30 U g[-1], leading to rapid clotting within 55 s, and it persisted for at least 90 days at as high as 37 °C. This considerably lessens the difficulties associated with maintaining the cold chain while storing and shipping thrombin formulations. Additionally, a gastric bleeding model confirmed that the plateletoid platform improved the acid resistance of thrombin by upregulating the pH of the gastric environment (pH 0.8), facilitating oral delivery of thrombin for effective hemorrhage control in highly acidic stomach conditions. This pioneering study addresses the constraints of thrombin in storage and in vivo applications and may provide a basis for further research on biological storage and delivery approaches.}, } @article {pmid39638784, year = {2024}, author = {Guillory, A and Fournier, J and Kelner, A and Hobecker, K and Auriac, MC and Frances, L and Delers, A and Pedinotti, L and Le Ru, A and Keller, J and Delaux, PM and Gutjahr, C and Frei Dit Frey, N and de Carvalho-Niebel, F}, title = {Annexin- and calcium-regulated priming of legume root cells for endosymbiotic infection.}, journal = {Nature communications}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {10639}, pmid = {39638784}, issn = {2041-1723}, support = {TULIP ANR-10-LABX-41//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; COME-IN ANR-14-CE35-0007-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; LIVE-SWITCH ANR-19-CE20-0026-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; LIVE-SWITCH ANR-19-CE20-0026-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; LIVE-SWITCH ANR-19-CE20-0026-01//Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency)/ ; grant No. 759731//EC | EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020 | H2020 European Institute of Innovation and Technology (H2020 The European Institute of Innovation and Technology)/ ; }, mesh = {*Symbiosis ; *Medicago truncatula/microbiology/metabolism ; *Calcium/metabolism ; *Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; *Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Rhizobium/physiology ; Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Annexins/metabolism ; }, abstract = {Legumes establish endosymbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi or rhizobia bacteria to improve mineral nutrition. Symbionts are hosted in privileged habitats, root cortex (for AM fungi) or nodules (for rhizobia) for efficient nutrient exchange. To reach these habitats, plants form cytoplasmic cell bridges, key to predicting and guiding fungal hyphae or rhizobia-filled infection thread (IT) root entry. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly studied. Here we show that unique ultrastructural changes and calcium (Ca[2+]) spiking signatures, closely associated with Medicago truncatula Annexin 1 (MtAnn1) accumulation, accompany rhizobia-related bridge formation. Loss of MtAnn1 function in M. truncatula affects Ca[2+] spike amplitude, cytoplasmic configuration and rhizobia infection efficiency, consistent with a role of MtAnn1 in regulating infection priming. MtAnn1, which evolved in species establishing intracellular symbioses, is also AM-symbiosis-induced and required for proper arbuscule formation. Together, we propose that MtAnn1 is part of an ancient Ca[2+]-regulatory module for transcellular endosymbiotic infection.}, } @article {pmid39637140, year = {2024}, author = {Cheibchalard, T and Leelahavanichkul, A and Chatthanathon, P and Klankeo, P and Hirankarn, N and Somboonna, N}, title = {Fungal microbiome in gut of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-prone mice (pristane and FCGRIIb deficiency), a possible impact of fungi in lupus.}, journal = {PloS one}, volume = {19}, number = {12}, pages = {e0314662}, pmid = {39637140}, issn = {1932-6203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/microbiology/immunology ; Mice ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Receptors, IgG/genetics/deficiency ; Mycobiome ; Disease Models, Animal ; Terpenes ; Fungi/genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; Feces/microbiology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; }, abstract = {The gut mycobiota (fungal microbiota) plays a crucial role in the immune system, potentially impacting autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Despite growing interest, data on intestinal fungi in SLE remain limited. This study thereby investigated the human-mimicked (mice) gut mycobiome and quantitative gut mycobiome analyses using universal fungal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) DNA next generation sequencing and real-time PCR, tracking time-series dynamics from preclinical to established SLE conditions in two SLE-prone mouse models. These models included pristane -induced mice, representing an environmental cause of SLE, and Fc gamma receptor RIIb (FcgRIIb) deficiency mice, representing a genetic factor. Fecal samples and different intestinal sections from mice aged 2-10 months were analyzed, including samples from 4-month-old and 11-month-old mice, which represented preclinical lupus (negative for anti-dsDNA) and established SLE conditions (positive for anti-dsDNA with proteinuria), respectively, alongside age-matched healthy controls. Results showed increased fungal diversity, specific changes in gut fungal species (i.e. increased Candida spp.), and an elevated Basidiomycota-to-Ascomycota (Basidiomycota/Ascomycota) ratio, which correlated with lupus activity in both lupus models. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe; a possible representative organism) helped identify specific fungal difference between the lupus models. Our findings revealed that active lupus states may elevate gut fungal populations and alter fungal components in both the pristane and genetically susceptible SLE-prone mice, as indicated by mycobiota and quantitative mycobiota analyses. These changes could, in turn, influence disease activity. This research is essential for a deeper understand of the SLE-gut microbiome association, as the gut microbiome comprises both bacterial and fungal symbiosis. Manipulating fungal communities could present a potential therapeutic avenue for influencing disease outcomes in lupus. Further studies are crucial to clarify the direct role of gut fungi in lupus disease progression.}, } @article {pmid39636981, year = {2024}, author = {Gutiérrez-García, K and Aumiller, K and Dodge, R and Obadia, B and Deng, A and Agrawal, S and Yuan, X and Wolff, R and Zhu, H and Hsia, RC and Garud, N and Ludington, WB}, title = {A conserved bacterial genetic basis for commensal-host specificity.}, journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)}, volume = {386}, number = {6726}, pages = {1117-1122}, doi = {10.1126/science.adp7748}, pmid = {39636981}, issn = {1095-9203}, mesh = {Animals ; *Adhesins, Bacterial/genetics/metabolism ; *Drosophila melanogaster/microbiology/genetics ; Genomic Islands ; *Host Specificity ; *Lactobacillus plantarum/genetics ; Symbiosis ; }, abstract = {Animals selectively acquire specific symbiotic gut bacteria from their environments that aid host fitness. To colonize, a symbiont must locate its niche and sustain growth within the gut. Adhesins are bacterial cell surface proteins that facilitate attachment to host tissues and are often virulence factors for opportunistic pathogens. However, the attachments are often transient and nonspecific, and additional mechanisms are required to sustain infection. In this work, we use live imaging of individual symbiotic bacterial cells colonizing the gut of living Drosophila melanogaster to show that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum specifically recognizes the fruit fly foregut as a distinct physical niche. L. plantarum establishes stably within its niche through host-specific adhesins encoded by genes carried on a colonization island. The adhesin binding domains are conserved throughout the Lactobacillales, and the island also encodes a secretion system widely conserved among commensal and pathogenic bacteria.}, } @article {pmid39636364, year = {2024}, author = {Plante, M}, title = {A new symbiotic, holistic and gradualist model proposal for the concept of "living organism".}, journal = {Theory in biosciences = Theorie in den Biowissenschaften}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39636364}, issn = {1611-7530}, abstract = {In biology, the concept of "living organism" has traditionally been based on the smallest level of organization comprising all the necessary and essential characteristics of life: the cell. Today, this concept is being challenged by the analysis of ambiguous biological entities, located both below and above the level of the living cell, which exhibit some of the characteristics of living organisms. This situation has given rise to an epistemological pluralism of the concepts of "organism", "individual" and "living", for which no clear and unanimous definition has yet been accepted. The aim of this manuscript is to explore new ideas and perspectives for defining the concept of "living organism", in order to eliminate a certain level of pluralism that could generate confusion, particularly in the pragmatic context of biological research. First, I expose the dualism of the concepts of "organism" and "individual" and suggest a fusion of these concepts in order to eliminate a certain level of pluralism. In doing so, I develop a symbiotic and holistic definition of the concept of "living organism", which includes different structural levels of the organism: molecular, cellular and ecosystems. Second, I present the epistemological problem of the concept of "living", which is closely related to the concepts of "organism" and "individual", by analyzing the list and gradational types of definition. In doing so, I propose a new symbiotic, holistic and gradualist model of the concept of "living organism", using a gradation of several properties of the living applied to the different structural levels of the organism developed previously (molecular, cellular, ecosystems).}, } @article {pmid39635761, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, Z and Miao, X and Wu, X and Wu, Y and Han, T and Su, Y and Liu, P and Zhu, Z and Xu, RX}, title = {Utilizing photosynthetic oxygen-releasing biomaterials to modulate blood vessel growth in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane.}, journal = {Biomaterials science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1039/d4bm00880d}, pmid = {39635761}, issn = {2047-4849}, abstract = {Effective vascularization is crucial for the success of tissue engineering and is influenced by numerous factors. The present work focuses on investigating the effect of a substance, cyanobacteria-loaded oxygen-releasing hydrogel, on vascularization and verifying the effect of photosynthetic-oxygen-releasing biomaterials containing a cyanobacteria hydrogel on angiogenesis, using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a model system. On the eighth day of embryonic development, cyanobacterial microspheres were placed on the CAM and maintained in a light incubator under appropriate growth and photosynthesis conditions. The effect of cyanobacterial microspheres on vascularization was evaluated from the eighth day of embryonic development. The carrier material used to prepare the microspheres was a calcium alginate hydrogel, which is biocompatible for maintaining embryonic vitality. The article studied the preparation method, the optimal process, and the specific effects of in vivo co-culture on CAM vascularization and development. The data indicate that our prepared photosynthetic oxygen-releasing blue-green algal microspheres have the potential for symbiosis with tissues by supplying oxygen to tissues and inducing vascular growth through photosynthetic oxygen release. This research opens new avenues for applying cyanobacterial microspheres, a novel biological oxygen-releasing material, in regenerative medicine.}, } @article {pmid39633586, year = {2025}, author = {Moura, IB and Buckley, AM}, title = {Using nutrition to help recovery from infections.}, journal = {Current opinion in gastroenterology}, volume = {41}, number = {1}, pages = {54-58}, pmid = {39633586}, issn = {1531-7056}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; *Dysbiosis ; *Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Clostridium Infections ; Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage ; Clostridioides difficile ; }, abstract = {PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Antibiotics are a cornerstone of modern medicine, but antibiotic consumption can have depleting effects on the gut microbiota, potentially leading to gastrointestinal symptoms and other diseases, namely Clostridioides difficile infection. Because nutrition is a major driver of gut microbiota diversity and function, here we explore the current evidence on the potential of diets in alleviate the deleterious effects of antibiotics consumed during infections.

RECENT FINDINGS: Beneficial nutrients can enhance the symbiotic effect of the gut microbiota with the host, supporting anti-inflammatory responses and maintaining tight junction integrity. Short-chain fatty acids have been shown to positively affect the immune response, reducing the severity of C. difficile infection, whereas high-fibre diets have been shown to promote faster recovery of the gut microbiota after antibiotic therapy.

SUMMARY: The role of nutrition during infection is gaining momentum, with key findings exploring the effect of some nutrients in limiting the severity of infections and helping the microbiota recover from antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Although this field is in its infancy, these findings open the possibility of personalised nutrition as a way of restoring microbiome diversity. But more work is needed to identify the most effective types and combinations of nutrients to achieve this.}, } @article {pmid39633484, year = {2024}, author = {Pérez, Y and Almendras, K and Millanes, AM and Serey, N and Yurkov, A and Lizana, N and Nesci, A and Fessia, A and Orlando, J}, title = {Peltigera lichens as sources of uncharacterized cultured basidiomycete yeasts.}, journal = {IMA fungus}, volume = {15}, number = {1}, pages = {39}, pmid = {39633484}, issn = {2210-6340}, support = {FONDECYT - 1181510//Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo/ ; Millennium Science Initiative Program - ICN2021_002//Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo/ ; National Doctoral Fellowship - 21190058//Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo/ ; }, abstract = {Lichens represent one of the most successful examples of symbiosis. They are constituted by the association between a dominant fungus (i.e., the mycobiont), one or more photosynthetic partners (algae or cyanobacteria), and harbor an array of associated microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. The associated fungal communities in lichens, known as the "lichen mycobiome", are composed of both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, including filamentous and yeast taxa. Recently, basidiomycete yeasts have received considerable attention as a much-overlooked source of diversity within the lichen mycobiome, with hypothesized roles in lichen symbiosis. This study surveyed the diversity of cultivable basidiomycete yeasts associated with Peltigera lichens across southern Chile. A phylogenetic study based on sequences of 179 yeast isolates allowed the identification of 29 taxa from 13 genera in the classes Agaricostilbomycetes, Cystobasidiomycetes, Microbotryomycetes, and Tremellomycetes, with the latter being the most represented. This research revealed several yeast species, including members of the genera Boekhoutia and Goffeauzyma, in lichens for the first time, thereby expanding our understanding of lichen-associated fungal diversity. In addition, four new cultivable species isolated from Peltigera are formally described. These are Boekhoutia peltigerae sp. nov., Cystobasidium chilense sp. nov., Genolevuria patagonica sp. nov. and Pseudotremella navarinensis sp. nov. These results highlight the role of lichens as reservoirs of uncharacterized basidiomycete yeasts.}, } @article {pmid39631347, year = {2024}, author = {Lu, B and Lin, Y and He, C and Wang, Z and Li, X and He, X}, title = {Effects of dark septate endophyte on root growth, physiology and transcriptome of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus seedlings under drought stress.}, journal = {Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB}, volume = {219}, number = {}, pages = {109367}, doi = {10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109367}, pmid = {39631347}, issn = {1873-2690}, abstract = {As the only evergreen relict species in the desert environment of western China, Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Leguminosae) roots is colonized with dark septate endophytes (DSE), but the potential of DSE to alleviate the adverse effects of drought on seedling roots remains uncertain. This study examined the effects of DSE on root growth, physiology and transcriptome of A. mongolicus under drought stress. Drought drastically reduced root biomass by 47.7%, while all DSE strains established positive symbiosis with A.mongolicus, with G.hyphopodioides having the most pronounced promoting effect. Inoculation with G. hyphopodioides alleviated drought stress injury by increasing CAT activity, AsA content and soluble sugar content in the roots, with a significant reduction in MDA accumulation by 97.7%. G. hyphopodioides also significantly increased zeatin and brassinosteroid contents, which in turn regulated the root structure and increased root activity, resulting in a 208.6% increase in root biomass. Transcriptome analysis screened 1246 differentially expressed genes (542 up-regulated and 704 down-regulated) between G. hyphopodioides inoculation under drought treatment, mainly associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, ascorbic acid and aldehyde metabolism, hormone synthesis and signalling, sucrose and starch metabolism, and vitamin B6 metabolism, and further investigated and identified key potential genes and transcription factors (DREB, ERF, NAC, MYB, C2H2). These findings reveal the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which DSE symbiosis improves the drought resistance of A. mongolicus seedlings, providing valuable guidance on the use of DSE resources to promote ecological construction and production of desert plants.}, } @article {pmid39631247, year = {2024}, author = {Zhao, W and Zhang, Y and Chen, J and Hu, D}, title = {Revolutionizing oral care: Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-Regulating biomaterials for combating infection and inflammation.}, journal = {Redox biology}, volume = {79}, number = {}, pages = {103451}, doi = {10.1016/j.redox.2024.103451}, pmid = {39631247}, issn = {2213-2317}, abstract = {The human oral cavity is home to a delicate symbiosis between its indigenous microbiota and the host, the balance of which is easily perturbed by local or systemic factors, leading to a spectrum of oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontitis, and pulp infections. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play crucial roles in the host's innate immune defenses. However, in chronic inflammatory oral conditions, dysregulated immune responses can result in excessive ROS production, which in turn exacerbates inflammation and causes tissue damage. Conversely, the potent antimicrobial properties of ROS have inspired the development of various anti-infective therapies. Therefore, the strategic modulation of ROS by innovative biomaterials is emerging as a promising therapeutic approach for oral infection and inflammation. This review begins by highlighting the state-of-the-art of ROS-regulating biomaterials, which are designed to generate, scavenge, or modulate ROS in a bidirectional manner. We then delve into the latest innovations in these biomaterials and their applications in treating a range of oral diseases, including dental caries, endodontic and periapical conditions, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, and oral candidiasis. The review concludes with an overview of the current challenges and future potential of these biomaterials in clinical settings. This review provides novel insights for the ongoing development of ROS-based therapeutic strategies for oral diseases.}, } @article {pmid39631125, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, JY and Li, XY and Li, DX and Zhang, ZH and Hu, LQ and Sun, CX and Zhang, XN and Wu, M and Liu, LT}, title = {Endoplasmic reticulum stress in intestinal microecology: A controller of antineoplastic drug-related cardiovascular toxicity.}, journal = {Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie}, volume = {181}, number = {}, pages = {117720}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117720}, pmid = {39631125}, issn = {1950-6007}, abstract = {Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is extensively studied as a pivotal role in the pathological processes associated with intestinal microecology. In antineoplastic drug treatments, ER stress is implicated in altering the permeability of the mechanical barrier, depleting the chemical barrier, causing dysbiosis, exacerbating immune responses and inflammation in the immune barrier. Enteric dysbiosis and intestinal dysfunction significantly affect the circulatory system in various heart disorders. In antineoplastic drug-related cardiovascular (CV) toxicity, ER stress constitutes a web of relationships in the host-microbiome symbiotic regulatory loop. Therefore, understanding the holobiont perspective will help de-escalate spatial and temporal restrictions. This review investigates the role of ER stress-mediated gut microecological alterations in antineoplastic treatment-induced CV toxicity.}, } @article {pmid39629824, year = {2024}, author = {Lomax, N and Vinjamuri, S and Vinjamuri, S and Franco, D and Schroeder, G and Harrop, J}, title = {A Comprehensive Exploration of Digital Twinning in Spine Surgery.}, journal = {Clinical spine surgery}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1097/BSD.0000000000001748}, pmid = {39629824}, issn = {2380-0194}, abstract = {One recent innovation in the health care landscape is the integration of Digital Twin (DT) in the field of spine surgery. DT, first used in 2002 is defined as the replication of physical entities in a virtual environment. It has emerged as a transformative tool for optimizing complex systems. In this review, we delve into the intersection of DT and spine surgery, exploring how this symbiotic relationship is reshaping precision medicine. By creating virtual replicas of the spine and its intricate neural networks, surgeons gain insights into personalized patient care, preoperative planning, and postoperative analysis. This exploration tackles the potential impact of DT on neurosurgical procedures, emphasizing its role in enhancing surgical precision, improving patient outcomes, and pushing the boundaries of innovation in modern health care.}, } @article {pmid39628589, year = {2024}, author = {Zou, ZP and Zhang, XP and Zhang, Q and Yin, BC and Zhou, Y and Ye, BC}, title = {Genetically engineered bacteria as inflammatory bowel disease therapeutics.}, journal = {Engineering microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {4}, pages = {100167}, pmid = {39628589}, issn = {2667-3703}, abstract = {Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurrent disease caused by immune response disorders that disrupt the intestinal lumen symbiotic ecosystem and dysregulate mucosal immune functions. Current therapies available for IBD primarily focus on symptom management, making early diagnosis and prompt intervention challenging. The development of genetically engineered bacteria using synthetic biology presents a new strategy for addressing these challenges. In this review, we present recent breakthroughs in the field of engineered bacteria for the treatment and detection of IBD and describe how bacteria can be genetically modified to produce therapeutic molecules or execute diagnostic functions. In particular, we discuss the challenges faced in translating live bacterial therapeutics from bacterial design to delivery strategies for further clinical applications.}, } @article {pmid39628257, year = {2024}, author = {Lü, LY and Jin, MT and Wei, ZY and Gao, WF and Sun, L}, title = {[Research Progress on the Efficiency and Mechanism of Iron-based Materials for Enhancing Anaerobic Digestion of Municipal Sludge].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {45}, number = {11}, pages = {6713-6722}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202312066}, pmid = {39628257}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {*Sewage/microbiology/chemistry ; Anaerobiosis ; *Iron/metabolism/chemistry ; *Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods ; *Bioreactors/microbiology ; Cities ; }, abstract = {Achieving effective treatment and resource reuse of municipal sludge is a worthwhile research issue. Currently, anaerobic digestion treatment is an effective way to achieve the resource utilization of municipal sludge. However, due to the slow start-up, poor stability and low gas production efficiency of anaerobic digestion systems, sludge anaerobic digestion faces many challenges in practical engineering applications. Iron-based material has been proven to be a good conductive material for promoting anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge. On the basis of previous studies, this article summarized the effects of different iron-based materials on anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge. Simultaneously, from the perspectives of alleviating toxic substance inhibition, enhancing microbial metabolism, and promoting electron transfer between symbiotic microorganisms, the mechanism of iron-based materials enhancing anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge was summarized. The mechanism of direct interspecific electron transfer mediated by iron-based materials in enhancing anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge was described, and the research direction of iron-based materials enhancing anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge was prospected.}, } @article {pmid39628791, year = {2024}, author = {Shoaib, M and Bai, R and Li, S and Xie, Y and Shen, Y and Ni, J}, title = {Exploring the diversity of microbes and natural products from fungus-growing termite tripartite symbiosis.}, journal = {Engineering microbiology}, volume = {4}, number = {1}, pages = {100124}, pmid = {39628791}, issn = {2667-3703}, abstract = {The fungus-growing termite is considered a distinct ecological niche because it involves a tripartite symbiosis between the termite host, gut microflora, and the in vitro fungus Termitomyces, which has led to the expansion of highly organized and complex societies among termite colonies. Tripartite symbiosis in fungus-growing termites may promote unique microbes with distinctive metabolic pathways that may serve as valuable resources for developing novel antimicrobial therapeutic options. Recent research on complex tripartite symbioses has revealed a plethora of previously unknown natural products that may have ecological roles in signaling, communication, or defense responses. Natural products produced by symbionts may act as crucial intermediaries between termites and their pathogens by providing direct protection through their biological activities. Herein, we review the state-of-the-art research on both microbes and natural products originated from fungus-growing termite tripartite symbiosis, highlighting the diversity of microbes and the uniqueness of natural product classes and their bioactivities. Additionally, we emphasize future research prospects on fungus-growing termite related microorganisms, with a particular focus on their potential roles in bioactive product discovery.}, } @article {pmid39628197, year = {2024}, author = {Yu, G and Zhao, SL and Feng, SM and Sun, YB and Chen, F}, title = {[Effects of Different Fertilization Treatments on Bacterial Community and Citrus Quality in Yellow Soils of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau].}, journal = {Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue}, volume = {45}, number = {12}, pages = {7337-7349}, doi = {10.13227/j.hjkx.202401001}, pmid = {39628197}, issn = {0250-3301}, mesh = {*Fertilizers ; *Citrus/growth & development ; China ; *Soil Microbiology ; *Soil/chemistry ; *Bacteria/classification/growth & development ; Manure ; Charcoal ; Nitrogen/analysis ; Phosphorus/analysis ; Altitude ; }, abstract = {To investigate the intrinsic driving mechanism of citrus yield and quality enhancement under different fertilizer applications, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of biochar (SW), organic fertilizer (YJ), farmyard manure (NJ), chemical fertilizer (HF), and no fertilizer as the control (CK) on soil physical and chemical properties, bacterial community characteristics, and citrus quality of citrus orchards in the yellow soil area of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The results showed that compared with those in the CK treatment, the yield, single fruit weight, edible rate, juice rate, vitamin C content, and soluble solids of citrus increased under the different fertilization treatments. In contrast, the titratable acid content of citrus decreased, resulting in an increase in the solid-acid ratio of citrus. Among the different fertilization treatments, the most significant effective treatment was SW. The SW and YJ treatments significantly increased the soil pH value, while the HF treatment decreased soil pH. Different fertilization treatments could increase the contents of soil organic matter, hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium. The SW treatment exhibited the most obvious effect on the contents of soil hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium. The YJ treatment exhibited the most obvious effect on the soil organic matter content. The different fertilization treatments significantly affected soil bacterial community diversity and community structure, among which the SW treatment significantly increased the soil Chao1 index, observed species index, and Shannon index; optimized soil bacterial community structure; and made the bacterial symbiotic network simple and stable. By contrast, the HF treatment significantly decreased the soil Chao1 index, observed species index, and Simpson index and had less effect on bacterial community structure. Redundancy analysis showed that soil available potassium (96.47%), Chao1 index (73.80%), and Chujaibacter (55.92%) were the key factors in improving citrus yield and quality. Variance decomposition analysis indicated that the soil bacterial community structure was the largest contributor (17.00%) to the improvement in citrus yield and quality. In conclusion, fertilization can effectively improve soil physical and chemical properties, increase soil nutrient supply level, optimize bacterial community structure, and improve citrus yield and quality. Of these, biochar can be used as a priority for the fertilization and improvement of the soil in citrus orchards in the yellow soil area of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.}, } @article {pmid39627436, year = {2024}, author = {Wu, Y and Li, C and Geng, Z and Wang, L and Wang, S and Zhang, D and Li, D and Meng, F}, title = {Anti-Colon Cancer Effects of Lysate from Potential Probiotic Yeast Strains Derived from Human Breast Milk.}, journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39627436}, issn = {1867-1314}, abstract = {Breast milk contains a diverse array of symbiotic microorganisms, including beneficial probiotics. While most research has focused on the bacterial composition of breast milk, the fungal community (mycobiota) has received limited attention. In this study, we isolated and evaluated yeast strains from breast milk, demonstrating the safety and probiotic potential of four strains through hemolysis tests, antimicrobial activity, tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions, aggregation, cell adhesion, and antioxidant activity assays. These yeast strains significantly inhibited the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and showed strong antioxidant properties. Moreover, lysates from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Cryptococcus laurentii isolated from breast milk markedly inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cell lines (HT-29 and SW620) and induced apoptosis by upregulating key apoptosis-related genes (caspase 3, caspase 9, and Bax), as well as autophagy-related genes (Beclin-1, LC3, and ATG5). This study provides valuable insights into the potential of breast milk-derived yeast strains for developing novel probiotic therapies for colon cancer treatment.}, } @article {pmid39627243, year = {2024}, author = {Jaber, Y and Sarusi-Portuguez, A and Netanely, Y and Naamneh, R and Yacoub, S and Saar, O and Drawshave, N and Eli-Berchoer, L and Shapiro, H and Elinav, E and Wilensky, A and Hovav, AH}, title = {Gingival spatial analysis reveals geographic immunological variation in a microbiota-dependent and -independent manner.}, journal = {NPJ biofilms and microbiomes}, volume = {10}, number = {1}, pages = {142}, pmid = {39627243}, issn = {2055-5008}, support = {2272/20//Israel Science Foundation (ISF)/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Gingiva/microbiology/immunology ; Mice ; *Microbiota ; Spatial Analysis ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Alveolar Bone Loss/microbiology ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mouth Mucosa/immunology/microbiology ; Host Microbial Interactions/immunology ; }, abstract = {In mucosal barriers, tissue cells and leukocytes collaborate to form specialized niches that support host-microbiome symbiosis. Understanding the spatial organization of these barriers is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying health and disease. The gingiva, a unique mucosal barrier with significant health implications, exhibits intricate tissue architecture and likely contains specialized immunological regions. Through spatial transcriptomic analysis, this study reveals distinct immunological characteristics between the buccal and palate regions of the murine gingiva, impacting natural alveolar bone loss. The microbiota primarily affects gingival immunity in the buccal region. Additionally, a significant influence of the microbiota on the junctional epithelium facing the oral biofilm offers new insights into neutrophil recruitment. The microbiota also regulates the proliferation and barrier-sealing function of the gingival epithelium. This underscores the presence of immunological niches in the gingiva, with the microbiota differentially influencing them, highlighting the high complexity of this oral mucosal barrier.}, } @article {pmid39626403, year = {2024}, author = {Zalota, AK and Savchenko, AS and Miroliubov, AA and Waiho, K and Fazhan, H and Chan, BKK and Kolbasov, GA}, title = {Parasitism in coral reefs: Trophic ecology of crustacean ascothoracidan parasites and their coral hosts from Malaysia.}, journal = {Zoology (Jena, Germany)}, volume = {168}, number = {}, pages = {126234}, doi = {10.1016/j.zool.2024.126234}, pmid = {39626403}, issn = {1873-2720}, abstract = {Coral reefs house a great variety of symbiotic associations, including parasitism. One of the crucial issues in the host-symbiont interactions is the parasites' feeding mode. Does the parasite/symbiont use the host's tissues for nutrition, steal food from the host's digestive system, or take food directly from the environment? However, most of the parasitism in corals is endosymbiotic (endoparasitic). Their trophic interactions are difficult to identify since they only occur in intact associations. This work uses stable isotope analysis (SIA) of carbon and nitrogen and morphological analysis to study the trophic relationship between the crustacean endoparasites, the Ascothoracida (genera Baccalaureus, Sessilogoga, and Zibrowia) and their various coral hosts ranging from Zoantharia (Palythoa) to Antipatharia (Antipathes), and Scleractinia (Dendrophyllia). The hosts belong to different coral taxa and obtain food from different sources, reflected in their stable isotope values. The SIA, supported by the morphological analysis, suggests that the Zibrowia parasite feeds directly on its Dendrophyllia host. Sessilogoga retains vagility within and around the black coral colony. It has typical generalized piercing mouth parts with numerous teeth and denticles. Sessilogoga may use antipatharian tissues for food directly as well as sucks food fluids from the host's gastrovascular system. There is no clear trophic shift trend between Palythoa and its parasite Baccalaureus. Such differences exclude the possibility of the parasite feeding predominantly on its host's tissues and suggest a broad spectrum of food sources. Thus, SIA reveals that endosymbiotic ascothoracidans may not always be true parasitic but also opportunistic feeders, which steal food directly from the host gastric cavity.}, } @article {pmid39625066, year = {2024}, author = {Pérez-Ferrer, PA and Ashraf, M and Rodrigues, M and Troncoso, J and Nishiguchi, MK}, title = {Genetic Variation in the Atlantic Bobtail Squid-Vibrio Symbiosis From the Galician Rías.}, journal = {Molecular ecology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e17596}, doi = {10.1111/mec.17596}, pmid = {39625066}, issn = {1365-294X}, support = {//New Mexico State University/ ; NASA EXO-80NSSC21K0256//NASA Astrobiology Institute/ ; //University of California Merced/ ; NSF-DBI 2214-38//Division of Biological Infrastructure/ ; }, abstract = {Symbiotic marine bacteria that are transmitted through the environment are susceptible to abiotic factors (salinity, temperature, physical barriers) that can influence their ability to colonize their specific hosts. Given that many symbioses are driven by host specificity, environmentally transmitted symbionts are more susceptible to extrinsic factors depending on conditions over space and time. In order to determine whether the population structure of environmentally transmitted symbionts reflects host specificity or biogeography, we analysed the genetic structure of Sepiola atlantica (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) and their Vibrio symbionts (V. fischeri and V. logei) in four Galician Rías (Spain). This geographical location is characterized by a jagged coastline with a deep-sea entrance into the land, ideal for testing whether such population barriers exist due to genetic isolation. We used haplotype estimates combined with nested clade analysis to determine the genetic relatedness for both S. atlantica and Vibrio bacteria. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) were used to estimate variation within and between populations for both host and symbiont genetic data. Our analyses reveal a low percentage of variation among and between host populations, suggesting that these populations are panmictic. In contrast, Vibrio symbiont populations show certain degree of genetic structure, demonstrating that the hydrology of the rías is driving bacterial distribution (and not host specificity). Thus, for environmentally transmitted symbioses such as the sepiolid squid-Vibrio association, abiotic factors can be a major selective force for determining population structure for one of the partners.}, } @article {pmid39623774, year = {2024}, author = {Hu, Y and Wang, ML and Yang, RL and Shao, ZK and Du, YH and Kang, Y and Zhu, YX and Xue, XF}, title = {Symbiotic bacteria play crucial roles in a herbivorous mite host suitability.}, journal = {Pest management science}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1002/ps.8571}, pmid = {39623774}, issn = {1526-4998}, support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The tomato russet mite (TRM), Aculops lycopersici, is a strictly herbivorous and economically significant pest that infests Solanaceae plants, but its host suitability varies, showing high performance on tomatoes. Although symbiotic bacteria have been suggested to play crucial roles in the host adaptation of herbivores, their effects on TRM remain unclear.

RESULTS: In this study, using next generation high-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA data, we identified the bacterial diversity and community composition of TRM feeding on tomato, eggplant, and chili. Our results show no significant difference in the bacterial community composition of TRM across three host plants. However, the relative density of Escherichia coli (TRM_Escherichia) showed 9.36-fold higher on tomato than on eggplant and chili. These results align with the observed TRM performance among three host plants. When TRM_Escherichia was reduced using antibiotics, the treated TRM decreased the population density on tomato. However, when we transferred TRM from eggplant to tomato, the population density of TRM increased, coinciding with an increase of the TRM_Escherichia density. These results indicate that TRM_Escherichia may affect the host suitability of TRM. Our fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results further showed that TRM_Escherichia is primarily distributed in the salivary glands. Metagenomic data results suggest that TRM_Escherichia functions in food digestion and energy metabolism.

CONCLUSION: We provided the first comprehensive analysis of TRM bacterial communities. Our findings demonstrate that the symbiotic bacterium TRM_Escherichia may play crucial roles in the suitability of TRM feeding on different Solanaceae hosts. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.}, } @article {pmid39623674, year = {2024}, author = {Jaiswal, S and Singh, SP and Singh, S and Gupta, R and Tripathi, DK and Corpas, FJ and Singh, VP}, title = {Hydrogen Sulphide: A Key Player in Plant Development and Stress Resilience.}, journal = {Plant, cell & environment}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/pce.15309}, pmid = {39623674}, issn = {1365-3040}, support = {//This research is supported by a European Regional Development Fund co-financed grant from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2023-145153NB-C21 and CPP2021-008703)./ ; }, abstract = {Based on the research conducted so far, hydrogen sulphide (H2S) plays a crucial role in the development and stress resilience of plants. H2S, which acts as a signalling molecule, responds to different stresses such as heavy metals, drought, and salinity, and it regulates various aspects of plant growth and development including seed germination, root development, stomatal movement, flowering, and fruit ripening. Additionally, H2S is involved in mediating legume-Rhizobium symbiosis signalling. It modulates plant responses to external environmental stimuli by interacting with other signalling molecules like phytohormones, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, H2S exerts these regulations since it can modify protein functions through a reversible thiol-based oxidative posttranslational modification called persulfidation, particularly in stress response and developmental processes. As a result, H2S is recognised as an important emerging signalling molecule with multiple roles in plants. Research in this field holds promise for engineering stress tolerance in crops and may lead to potential biotechnological applications in agriculture and environmental management.}, } @article {pmid39620087, year = {2024}, author = {Zhang, X and Xi, T and Wang, Y and Fan, X and Xu, D and Zhang, P and Sun, K and Zhang, Y and Ma, J and Ye, N}, title = {Chemical interactions between kelp Macrocystis pyrifera and symbiotic bacteria under elevated CO2 condition.}, journal = {Marine life science & technology}, volume = {6}, number = {4}, pages = {700-712}, pmid = {39620087}, issn = {2662-1746}, abstract = {UNLABELLED: Kelps are pivotal to temperate coastal ecosystems, providing essential habitat and nutrients for diverse marine life, and significantly enhancing local biodiversity. The impacts of elevated CO2 levels on kelps may induce far-reaching effects throughout the marine food web, with potential consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem functions. This study considers the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera and its symbiotic microorganisms as a holistic functional unit (holobiont) to examine their collective response to heightened CO2 levels. Over a 4 month cultivation from the fertilization of M. pyrifera gametes to the development of juvenile sporophytes, our findings reveal that elevated CO2 levels influence the structure of the M. pyrifera symbiotic microbiome, alter metabolic profiles, and reshape microbe-metabolite interactions using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis. Notably, Dinoroseobacter, Sulfitobacter, Methylotenera, Hyphomonas, Milano-WF1B-44 and Methylophaga were selected as microbiome biomarkers, which showed significant increases in comparative abundance with elevated CO2 levels. Stress-response molecules including fatty-acid metabolites, oxylipins, and hormone-like compounds such as methyl jasmonate and prostaglandin F2a emerged as critical metabolomic indicators. We propose that elevated CO2 puts certain stress on the M. pyrifera holobiont, prompting the release of these stress-response molecules. Moreover, these molecules may aid the kelp's adaptation by modulating the microbial community structure, particularly influencing potential pathogenic bacteria, to cope with environmental change. These results will enrich the baseline data related to the chemical interactions between the microbiota and M. pyrifera and provide clues for predicting the resilience of kelps to future climate change.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-024-00259-5.}, } @article {pmid39620008, year = {2024}, author = {Banakar, M and Fernandes, GVO and Etemad-Moghadam, S and Frankenberger, R and Pourhajibagher, M and Mehran, M and Yazdi, MH and Haghgoo, R and Alaeddini, M}, title = {The strategic role of biotics in dental caries prevention: A scoping review.}, journal = {Food science & nutrition}, volume = {12}, number = {11}, pages = {8651-8674}, pmid = {39620008}, issn = {2048-7177}, abstract = {Dental caries is a global oral health issue that is prevalent and preventable. Biotics (probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, and postbiotics) are recommended as low-cost methods for preventing dental caries. This scoping review aimed to critically review the scientific evidence concerning the role of biotics in caries prevention and maintaining oral health benefits. A systematic search was conducted in several databases from 2012 onward, using specific keywords. The search resulted in 69 articles. While there is limited research on the mechanism of biotics in preventing caries, numerous studies have investigated the impacts of probiotics on decreasing caries risk factors. Probiotics can reduce cariogenic bacteria, reduce acidogenic bacteria, increase pH, and produce antimicrobial compounds. Probiotics can be used as a therapeutic approach to manage caries by restoring eubiosis at the host-microbial interface, which may not be accomplished with traditional therapies. Its positive effect on reducing dental caries is influenced by the choice of potent probiotic strains, appropriate dosage, treatment period, vehicle, and microbial interaction with the host. Specific oral bacteria have also been shown to utilize prebiotics such as urea and arginine, increasing pH levels. This highlights the potential of combining prebiotic and probiotic bacteria for caries prevention. In addition, this review is focused on bacterial-derived compounds, namely postbiotics, due to their valuable effects in preventing caries. Biotics have demonstrated potential in preventing dental caries and maintaining oral health. Further research is needed to optimize their use and explore the potential of postbiotics for caries prevention.}, } @article {pmid39605481, year = {2024}, author = {Culotta, J and Lindsey, AR}, title = {A reference genome for Trichogramma kaykai: A tiny desert-dwelling parasitoid wasp with competing sex-ratio distorters.}, journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, pmid = {39605481}, issn = {2692-8205}, support = {R35 GM150991/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States ; }, abstract = {The tiny parasitoid wasp Trichogramma kaykai inhabits the Mojave Desert of the southwest United States. Populations of this tiny insect variably host up to two different sex-distorting genetic elements: (1) the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia which induces the parthenogenetic reproduction of females, and (2) a B-chromosome, "Paternal Sex Ratio" (PSR), which converts would-be female offspring to PSR-transmitting males. We report here the genome of a Wolbachia-infected Trichogramma kaykai isofemale colony KSX58. Using Oxford Nanopore sequencing we produced a final genome assembly of 203 Mbp with 45x coverage, consisting of 213 contigs with an N50 of 1.9 Mbp. The assembly is quite complete, with 91.41% complete BUSCOs recovered: a very high score for Trichogrammatids that have been previously characterized for having high levels of core gene losses. We also report a complete mitochondrial genome for T. kaykai, and an assembly of the associated Wolbachia, strain wTkk. We identified copies of the parthenogenesis-inducing genes pifA and pifB in a remnant prophage region of the wTkk genome. The Trichogramma kaykai assembly is the highest quality genome assembly for the genus to-date and will serve as a great resource for understanding the evolution of sex and selfish genetic elements.}, } @article {pmid39618476, year = {2024}, author = {Gamberi, L and Annibale, A and Vivo, P}, title = {Price of information in games of chance: A statistical physics approach.}, journal = {Physical review research}, volume = {6}, number = {3}, pages = {}, pmid = {39618476}, issn = {2643-1564}, abstract = {Information in the form of data, which can be stored and transferred between users, can be viewed as an intangible commodity, which can be traded in exchange for money. Determining the fair price at which a string of data should be traded is an important and open problem in many settings. In this work we develop a statistical physics framework that allows one to determine analytically the fair price of information exchanged between players in a game of chance. For definiteness, we consider a game where N players bet on the binary outcome of a stochastic process and share the entry fees pot if successful. We assume that one player holds information about past outcomes of the game, which they may either use exclusively to improve their betting strategy or offer to sell to another player. We find a sharp transition as the number of players N is tuned across a critical value, between a phase where the transaction is always profitable for the seller and one where it may not be. In both phases, different regimes are possible, depending on the "quality" of information being put up for sale: we observe symbiotic regimes, where both parties collude effectively to rig the game in their favor, competitive regimes, where the transaction is unappealing to the data holder as it overly favors a competitor for scarce resources, and even prey-predator regimes, where an exploitative data holder could be giving away bad-quality data to undercut a competitor. Our analytical framework can be generalized to more complex settings and constitutes a flexible tool to address the rich and timely problem of pricing information in games of chance.}, } @article {pmid39618367, year = {2024}, author = {Vos, MC and Voor In 't Holt, AF and Severin, JA and van der Schoor, AS}, title = {Creating Synergy: The Partnership Between Infection Prevention & Control Architectural Design for a Healthier Hospital.}, journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics}, volume = {319}, number = {}, pages = {280-291}, doi = {10.3233/SHTI240950}, pmid = {39618367}, issn = {1879-8365}, mesh = {*Hospital Design and Construction ; *Cross Infection/prevention & control ; *Infection Control/methods ; Humans ; United States ; }, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between healthy hospital design and infection prevention and control (IPC) is crucial to developing a safe healthcare environment. Collaborative efforts in mitigating the risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are needed and will decrease morbidity, mortality rates, and costs. HAIs not only impact patient health but also tarnish the reputation of healthcare institutions. This paper delves into the distinctions between exogenous-derived and endogenous-derived HAIs, elucidating their sources, transmission mechanisms, and preventive strategies. Exogenous-derived HAIs can be prevented by a well-designed hospital layout which minimize contamination. Endogenous-derived HAIs originate from the patient's own microbial flora, necessitating tailored infection prevention strategies such as antimicrobial prophylaxis. Standard precautions and transmission-based precautions, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), form the cornerstone of infection control efforts. Hospital design should facilitate compliance with these measures, ensuring a microbial-safe environment conducive to patient recovery. Interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, healthcare professionals, and infection control experts are needed to integrate infection control principles into hospital design processes effectively. Key considerations include optimizing patient flows, separating clean and dirty materials, and implementing robust ventilation systems to mitigate airborne transmission risks. Furthermore, selecting appropriate surface materials resistant to microbial growth and enabling effective cleaning and disinfection protocols are important to maintain a microbial safe hospital environment. Most importantly, the shift towards single-occupancy rooms represents a significant stride in infection prevention, minimizing the risk of cross-contamination compared to multi-occupancy wards. Scientific evidence supports the efficacy of single-occupancy rooms in reducing microbial contamination and preventing HAIs.}, } @article {pmid39617798, year = {2024}, author = {Gorish, BMT and Abdelmula, WIY and Sethupathy, S and Dar, MA and Shahnawaz, M and Zhu, D}, title = {Microbial degradation of polyethylene polymer: current paradigms, challenges, and future innovations.}, journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology}, volume = {40}, number = {12}, pages = {399}, pmid = {39617798}, issn = {1573-0972}, support = {2023YFC3403600//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; BK20220003//Jiangsu Province Innovation Program for Carbon Neutralization/ ; BE2021691//Jiangsu Province Key R&D Program/ ; }, mesh = {*Biodegradation, Environmental ; *Polyethylene/metabolism/chemistry ; *Bacteria/metabolism ; Microbial Consortia ; }, abstract = {Polyethylene (PE) is the second most commonly used plastic worldwide, mainly used to produce single-use items such as bags and bottles. Its significant resistance to natural biodegradation results in the accumulation of PE in landfills, leading to various ecological and toxicological consequences. Despite extensive research on the microbial degradation of PE, achieving complete biodegradation remains a challenge. Comparing experimental outcomes is complicated by the diverse array of microbes involved in PE biodegradation, variations in culture conditions, and differences in assessment tools. This review discusses the critical hurdles in PE biodegradation experiments, including the chemical complexity of PE substrates and the challenges of isolating effective microbes and forming stable consortia. The review also delves into the difficulties in accurately assessing microbial metabolic activity and understanding the biochemical pathways involved in PE degradation. Furthermore, it addresses the pressing issues of metabolic byproducts, slow degradation rates, scalability concerns, and the challenges in measuring biodegradation levels effectively. In addition to outlining the technical challenges associated with PE experiments, this review offers recommendations for future research directions to enhance PE biodegradation outcomes. Overcoming these challenges and implementing the proposed future strategies will improve the reliability, comparability, and practicality of current PE biodegradation experiments, ultimately contributing to better comprehension and management of PE waste in the environment.}, } @article {pmid39617215, year = {2024}, author = {Zuccarotto, A and Sollitto, M and Leclère, L and Panzella, L and Gerdol, M and Leone, S and Castellano, I}, title = {Molecular evolution of ovothiol biosynthesis in animal life reveals diversity of the natural antioxidant ovothiols in Cnidaria.}, journal = {Free radical biology & medicine}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.11.037}, pmid = {39617215}, issn = {1873-4596}, abstract = {Sulfoxide synthase OvoA is the key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of ovothiols (OSHs), secondary metabolites endowed with unique antioxidant properties. Understanding the evolution of such enzymes and the diversity of their metabolites should reveal fundamental mechanisms governing redox signaling and environmental adaptation. "Early-branching" animals such as Cnidaria display unique molecular diversity and symbiotic relationships responsible for the biosynthesis of natural products, however, they have been neglected in previous research on antioxidants and OSHs. In this work, we have integrated genome and transcriptome mining with biochemical analyses to study the evolution and diversification of OSHs biosynthesis in cnidarians. By tracing the history of the ovoA gene, we inferred its loss in the latest common ancestor of Medusozoa, followed by the acquisition of a unique ovoB/ovoA chimeric gene in Hydrozoa, likely through a horizontal gene transfer from dinoflagellate donors. While Anthozoa (corals and anemones), bearing canonical ovoA genes, produced a striking variety of OSHs (A, B, and C), the multifunctional enzyme in Hydrozoa was related to OSH B biosynthesis, as shown in Clytia hemisphaerica. Surprisingly, the ovoA-lacking jellyfish Aurelia aurita and Pelagia noctiluca also displayed OSHs, and we provided evidence of their incorporation from external sources. Finally, transcriptome mining revealed ovoA conserved expression pattern during larval development from Cnidaria to more evolved organisms and its regulation by external stimuli, such as UV exposure. The results of our study shed light on the origin and diversification of OSH biosynthesis in basal animals and highlight the importance of redox-active molecules from ancient metazoans as cnidarians to vertebrates.}, } @article {pmid39616490, year = {2024}, author = {Govender, R and Mabaso, N and Abbai, NS}, title = {Investigating links between Trichomonas vaginalis, T. vaginalis virus, Mycoplasma hominis, and metronidazole resistance.}, journal = {Journal of infection in developing countries}, volume = {18}, number = {10}, pages = {1590-1600}, doi = {10.3855/jidc.17592}, pmid = {39616490}, issn = {1972-2680}, mesh = {*Trichomonas vaginalis/drug effects/isolation & purification ; *Mycoplasma hominis/drug effects/isolation & purification/genetics ; *Metronidazole/pharmacology ; Humans ; Female ; *Mycoplasma Infections/microbiology ; Prevalence ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Trichomonas Vaginitis/microbiology/parasitology ; Totiviridae/genetics/drug effects/isolation & purification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Symbiosis ; Drug Resistance ; Antiprotozoal Agents/pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Coinfection/microbiology ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is the etiological agent of the common non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI), trichomoniasis. TV can inherently harbour Mycoplasma hominis and Trichomonas vaginalis virus (TVV) species. Endosymbiosis of TV with M. hominis and TVV may contribute to metronidazole resistance in this pathogen. This study determined the prevalence of TVVs across clinical isolates of TV, as well as the symbiosis between TV, TVV, and M. hominis in relation to metronidazole resistance.

METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one clinical isolates of TV were analysed in this study. The isolates were subjected to drug susceptibility assays using varying concentrations of metronidazole. Nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) were extracted from the isolates for molecular assays. The presence of intracellular M. hominis was determined by 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers. The presence of the individual TVVs was determined by PCR using gene specific primers with template cDNA.

RESULTS: The prevalence of TVV and M. hominis were 76% (16/21) and 86% (18/21), respectively. No significant associations were observed between the presence of TVV and clinical symptoms. A significant association was noted between the coinfection of TVV4 and M. hominis (p = 0.014). The presence of any TVV was significantly associated with metronidazole susceptibility patterns (p = 0.012). No significant associations were noted between the coinfection of endosymbionts and metronidazole resistance.

CONCLUSIONS: The information obtained displays the ability of TV to form an endosymbiotic relationship with several microorganisms, simultaneously. Based on these findings, both endosymbionts pose no significant influence on metronidazole resistance.}, } @article {pmid39616473, year = {2024}, author = {Dolo, O and Coulibaly, F and Somboro, AM and Fofana, DB and Togo, J and Balde, A and Diallo, D and Maiga, A and Diarra, B and Murphy, RL and Balam, S and Holl, J and Sylla, M and Maiga, M and Maiga, AI}, title = {The impact of HIV antiretroviral therapy on gut microbiota: the need for well-designed longitudinal studies.}, journal = {Journal of infection in developing countries}, volume = {18}, number = {10}, pages = {1461-1473}, doi = {10.3855/jidc.18878}, pmid = {39616473}, issn = {1972-2680}, mesh = {Humans ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects ; *HIV Infections/drug therapy ; Longitudinal Studies ; *Dysbiosis ; Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use ; Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; }, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a major public health concern despite a significant decline in HIV-related mortality and morbidity. These significant advances are linked mostly to effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, these treatments are not without consequences on other microorganisms in our body, especially when they must be used for life. Balanced gut microbiota is essential for maintaining human health through symbiotic relationship with the host cells.

AIMS AND METHODOLOGY: This review focuses on ART and its potential impact on the intestinal microbial population of HIV-infected individuals. Therefore, we retrieved studies focusing on the impact of HIV ART on the gut microbiota, that were published from 2010 to 2021.

RESULTS: It was observed that most studies on HIV ART and associated gut microbiota have been cross-sectional, and the findings, in general, showed significant damages caused by the ART to the gut microbial community (dysbiosis), with the impact varying in different studies. These changes also revealed dysfunction in microbial translocation and some immune markers, including T lymphocyte rates and the overall inflammation balance.

CONCLUSIONS: There are significant gaps in our understanding of the impact of HIV ART on gut microbiota. Thus, a longitudinal study is likely needed with a considerable sample size from different settings and classes of ART to better understand the impact of HIV ART on the gut microbiota, and develop remedial (restorative) and adjunctive host-directed strategies during HIV ART.}, } @article {pmid39615101, year = {2024}, author = {Huang, W and Huang, Z and Yang, E and Meng, L and Chen, J and Tan, R and Xiao, Z and Zhou, Y and Xu, M and Yu, K}, title = {High- and low-temperature stress responses of Porites lutea from the relatively high-latitude region of the South China Sea.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {106858}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106858}, pmid = {39615101}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Global climate change has led to more frequent extreme temperature (extreme heat and cold) events, posing a serious threat to coral reef ecosystems. Higher latitudes are considered potential refuges for reef-building corals, but their response to extreme temperature stress in these regions remain unclear. This study, indoor simulated stress experiments ranging on Porites lutea from Weizhou Island in the northern part of the South China Sea, simulating suitable (26 °C) to extreme high (34 °C) and extreme low (12 °C) temperatures. Physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional responses, were analysed. Results showed P. lutea's tentacles contracted, and symbiotic relationships broke down at both high and low temperatures; leading to oxidative stress, and a higher risk of disease. The coral host's response to temperature stress was positively regulated, mainly through apoptosis and metabolic inhibition pathways, whereas Symbiodiniaceae C15 showed no significant response to either high- or low-temperature stress. The coral host played a dominant role in the holobiont's stress response, using similar mechanisms for both high- and low-temperatures with some differences in the details. This study enhances understanding the temperature response mechanisms of the dominant coral species, P. lutea in the relatively high-latitude regions of the South China Sea.}, } @article {pmid39612478, year = {2024}, author = {Zhao, Y and Ran, W and Xu, W and Song, Y}, title = {ITS amplicon sequencing revealed that rare taxa of tea rhizosphere fungi are closely related to the environment and provide feedback on tea tree diseases.}, journal = {Microbiology spectrum}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {e0188924}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01889-24}, pmid = {39612478}, issn = {2165-0497}, abstract = {The rhizospheres of plants and soil microorganisms are intricately interconnected. Tea trees are cultivated extensively on the karst plateau of Guizhou Province, China; however, the understanding of the interactions among fungal communities, community taxa, and diseases impacting tea tree in the soil rhizosphere is limited. Our aim is to offer insights for the advancement of modern agriculture in ecologically fragile karst tea gardens, as well as microbiomics concepts for green and sustainable environmental development. This study utilized the internal transcribed spacer high-throughput sequencing technology to explore the symbiotic relationship between rhizosphere fungi and plant disease feedback in multiple tea estates across the Guizhou Plateau. The ecological preferences and environmental thresholds of fungi were investigated via environmental variables. Furthermore, a correlation was established between different taxa and individual soil functions. Research has indicated that tea leaf blight disrupts symbiotic connections among fungal groups. For various taxa, we found that numerous taxa consistently maintained core positions within the community, whereas rare taxa were able to stabilize due to a high proportion of positive effects. Additionally, abundant taxa presented a wider range of environmental feedback, whereas the rare taxon diversity presented a stronger positive association with the soil Z score. This study contributes to our understanding of the importance of rare taxa in plant rhizosphere soil processes. Emphasis should be placed on the role of rare taxa in pest and disease control within green agriculture while also strengthening systematic development and biogeographical research related to rare taxa in this region.IMPORTANCEIn this study, based on internal transcribed spacer high-throughput sequencing, fungal communities in the rhizosphere soil of tea trees and their interactions with the environment in karst areas were reported, and the symbiotic relationships of different fungal taxa and their feedback to the environment were described in detail by using the knowledge of microbial ecology. On this basis, it was found that tea tree diseases affect the symbiotic relationships of fungal taxa. At the same time, we found that rare taxa have stronger cooperative relationships in response to environmental changes and explored their participation in soil processes based on fungal trait sets. This study will provide basic data for the development of modern agriculture in tea gardens and theoretical basis for the sustainable prevention and control of tea tree diseases.}, } @article {pmid39611464, year = {2024}, author = {Dong, Q and Ren, S and Willing, CE and Adams, CA and Li, Y and Ji, B and Gao, C}, title = {Xizang meadow degradation alters resource exchange ratio, network complexity, and biomass allocation tradeoff of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.}, journal = {The New phytologist}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1111/nph.20304}, pmid = {39611464}, issn = {1469-8137}, support = {32170129//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32322053//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; XDA2005010402//Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/ ; 2019QZKK0304//Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) Program/ ; }, abstract = {The response of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis to environmental fluctuations involves resource exchange between host plants and fungal partners, associations between different AM fungal taxa, and biomass allocation between AM fungal spore and hyphal structures; yet a systematic understanding of these responses to meadow degradation remains relatively unknown, particularly in Xizang alpine meadow. Here, we approached this knowledge gap by labeling dual isotopes of air [13]CO2 and soil [15]NH4Cl, computing ecological networks of AM fungal communities, and quantifying AM fungal biomass allocation among spores, intra- and extraradical hyphae. We found that the exchange ratio of photosynthate and nitrogen between plants and AM fungi increased with the increasing severity of meadow degradation, indicating greater dependence of host plants on this symbiosis for resource acquisition. Additionally, using 18S rRNA gene metabarcoding, we found that AM fungal co-occurrence networks were more complex in more degraded meadows, supporting the stress gradient hypothesis. Meadow degradation also increased AM fungal biomass allocation toward traits associated with intra- and extraradical hyphae at the expense of spores. Our findings suggest that an integrated consideration of resource exchange, ecological networks, and biomass allocation may be important for the restoration of degraded ecosystems.}, } @article {pmid39611431, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, J and Zhu, Y and Leng, J and Yuan, Y and Cao, Y and Cheng, G and Xia, X}, title = {A symbiotic mosquito-gut bacterium for flavivirus control.}, journal = {Clinical and translational medicine}, volume = {14}, number = {12}, pages = {e70087}, pmid = {39611431}, issn = {2001-1326}, support = {202302AO370010//Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Project of Southwest United Graduate School of Yunnan/ ; 2021YFC2300200//National Key Research and Development Plan of China/ ; 32260896//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 32188101//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82422049//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 82102389//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 202201AS070062//Basic Research Projects of Yunnan Province/ ; }, mesh = {Animals ; *Aedes/microbiology/virology ; Symbiosis ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology ; Flavivirus/physiology/pathogenicity ; Mosquito Vectors/microbiology/virology ; Humans ; Dengue Virus/physiology/pathogenicity ; China ; }, abstract = {Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) have emerged as major global public health challenges, causing numerous infections and fatalities each year. However, current measures, including vaccines and treatments, are often limited or ineffective. This highlights the urgent need for novel preventive strategies to control the spread of key mosquito-borne viruses like DENV and ZIKV. In a recent study published in Science, Zhang et al. isolated a bacterium named Rosenbergiella_YN46 from the gut of field-caught Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Yunnan Province, China. This commentary reviews their findings, published on April 19, 2024, which describe the symbiotic bacterium Rosenbergiella_YN46 and its ability to block flavivirus transmission, including both DENV and ZIKV. The bacterium shows promising potential for future dengue fever prevention and provides valuable insights into a novel biological approach for controlling mosquito-borne viral diseases.}, } @article {pmid39611088, year = {2024}, author = {Hou, J and Tan, Y and Huang, Y and Li, H and Li, D and Liu, X and Li, J and Hu, Y and Xiang, J}, title = {Skin microbiota during metamorphosis of Quasipaa spinosa: guidance for maintaining mucosal symbiotic microbial flora homeostasis in early life of frogs.}, journal = {Frontiers in microbiology}, volume = {15}, number = {}, pages = {1453617}, pmid = {39611088}, issn = {1664-302X}, abstract = {The skin microbiota plays an essential role in helping the host adapt to different environments and maintain health. By examining the characteristics of amphibian skin flora alongside ontogenetic traits, we can gain insights into the adaptation mechanisms of amphibian skin flora to environmental changes during development. In this study, we analyzed the skin microbiota of Quasipaa spinosa during metamorphosis using Illumina sequencing. Venn diagrams and UpSet analysis revealed that the LTS (hindlimb tadpoles' skin, aquatic habitat) and FTS (forelimb tadpoles' skin, shift from aquatic to amphibious habitats) groups exhibited a higher number of unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), while the TS (tadpoles' skin, aquatic habitat) and LFS (land frogs' skin, amphibious habitats) groups displayed a lower abundance of ASVs. Diversity analysis indicated similarities in the microorganisms between the LTS and the FTS groups, with higher microbial diversity compared to the TS and the LFS groups. Additionally, microbial co-occurrence network analysis indicated a more stable microecology in the LTS group and FTS group. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota were identified as the dominant phyla, although their relative abundances varied widely among groups. LEfSe (Linear discriminant analysis effect size) showed significant enrichment of beneficial bacteria at various developmental stages, including Bacteroides, Bacillus, and Lactobacillus. Functional prediction analysis shows significant differences in skin microorganism functions across various developmental stages, with a primary focus on metabolic functions. This study provides valuable insights into the compositional dynamics of skin microbiota in Q. spinosa at various developmental stages.}, } @article {pmid39611011, year = {2024}, author = {Liu, Q and Tao, J and Kan, L and Zhang, Y and Zhang, S}, title = {Diversity, antibacterial and phytotoxic activities of actinomycetes associated with Periplaneta fuliginosa.}, journal = {PeerJ}, volume = {12}, number = {}, pages = {e18575}, pmid = {39611011}, issn = {2167-8359}, mesh = {*Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry ; *Actinobacteria/metabolism ; Animals ; *Periplaneta/microbiology/drug effects ; Echinochloa/drug effects ; Symbiosis ; Nymph/microbiology/drug effects ; Herbicides/pharmacology/isolation & purification/chemistry ; }, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Insect-associated actinomycetes represent a potentially rich source for discovering bioactive metabolites. However, the diversity, antibacterial and phytotoxic activities of symbiotic actinomycetes associated with Periplaneta fuliginosa have not yet been conducted.

RESULTS: A total of 86 strains of actinomycetes were isolated from the cornicles and intestines of both nymphs and adults of P. fuliginosa. Diversity analysis revealed that the isolated strains were preliminarily identified as 17 species from two genera, and the dominant genus was Streptomyces. A total of 36 crude extracts (60%) obtained from the supernatant of the 60 fermented strains exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against at least one tested pathogenic bacterium. Among these active strains, 27 crude extracts (75%) exhibited phytotoxic activity against the radicle of Echinochloa crusgalli. Furthermore, seven known compounds, including methoxynicotine (1), (3Z,6Z)-3-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-6-(2-methylpropyl) piperazine-2,5-dione (2), XR334 (3), 1-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-naphthoic acid (4), nocapyrone A (5), β-daucosterol (6), and β-sitosterol (7) were isolated from an active rare actinomycete Nocardiopsis sp. ZLC-87 which was isolated from the gut of adult P. fuliginosa. Among them, compound 4 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Micrococcus tetragenus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae with the zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 14.5, 12.0, 12.5, and 13.0 mm at a concentration of 30 μg/disc, respectively, which was weaker than those of gentamicin sulfate (ZOI of 29.5, 19.0, 18.5, and 24.5 mm). In addition, the compound 4 had potent phytotoxic activity against the radicle of E. crusgalli and Abutilon theophrasti with the inhibition rate of 65.25% and 92.68% at the concentration of 100 μg/mL.

CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, this study showed that P. fuliginosa-associated actinomycetes held promise for the development of new antibiotic and herbicide resources.}, } @article {pmid39608416, year = {2024}, author = {Wan, R and Mo, F and Chen, L and He, J and Shao, S and Hu, H}, title = {Two-way role of boron in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge: Enhanced signal communication for efficient metabolism.}, journal = {Bioresource technology}, volume = {418}, number = {}, pages = {131891}, doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131891}, pmid = {39608416}, issn = {1873-2976}, abstract = {Based on the crucial role of boron in the metabolism of algae and bacteria, this study aimed to investigate the effects of boron on microalgae-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) system. The addition of boron stimulated the secretion of autoinducer-2 to promote bacterial quorum sensing, which increased the extracellular polymeric substances production by more than 12.5 %. Meanwhile, boron significantly impacted the indole-3-acetic acid levels in microalgae to improve photosynthetic efficiency and increased the abundance of target algae (Chlorophyta and Cyanobacteria) by more than 0.23 times and 0.88 times, respectively. However, the influence of boron was not concentration-dependent, with the optimal concentration as 80 µM. Both boron deficiency and excess can heighten oxidative stress and affect the stability of the MBGS system. This study highlights the essentiality of boron in simultaneously influencing signal communication of algae and bacteria to strengthen synergy, and provides a theoretical basis for strengthening the symbiotic relationship within MBGS.}, } @article {pmid39608239, year = {2024}, author = {Tao, Y and Wang, Y and Cui, Y and Sun, R and Zhang, B and Qu, J and Cai, H and Zhang, Y}, title = {Bioenhanced remediation of dibutyl phthalate contaminated black soil by immobilized biochar microbiota.}, journal = {Journal of environmental management}, volume = {373}, number = {}, pages = {123317}, doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123317}, pmid = {39608239}, issn = {1095-8630}, abstract = {To address the contamination caused by DBP residues prevalent in black soils, this study developed a multifunctional bioremediation material (BHF@DK-P3) using humic acid and iron-modified corn stover biochar in combination with microbiota. The microbiota contained DBP-degrading bacteria (Enterobacterium sp. DNB-S2), phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (Enterobacter sp. P1) and potassium-solubilizing bacteria (Paenibacillus sp. KT), and formed a good mutualistic symbiosis. In the biochar microenvironment, the microflora had lower DBP biotoxicity responses and more cell membrane formation. The addition of BHF@DK-P3 brought the structure of the DBP-contaminated black soil closer to the optimal three-phase ratio. The microbiota was able to perform their biological functions stably under both DBP stress and acid-base stress conditions. The stability of soil aggregates and the efficiency of N, P, K nutrients were improved, with available phosphorus increasing by 21.45%, available potassium by 12.54% and alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen by 14.74%. The relative abundance of copiotrophic bacterial taxa in the soil increased and the relative abundance of oligotrophic bacterial taxa decreased, providing a good mechanism for the conversion and utilization of soil nutrients. Biochar and microbiota jointly influenced soil carbon and nitrogen metabolism in response to DBP.}, } @article {pmid39608222, year = {2024}, author = {Padilha, MDM and Melo, FTV and Laurentino, RV and da Silva, ANMR and Feitosa, RNM}, title = {Dysregulation in the microbiota by HBV and HCV infection induces an altered cytokine profile in the pathobiome of infection.}, journal = {The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases : an official publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases}, volume = {29}, number = {1}, pages = {104468}, doi = {10.1016/j.bjid.2024.104468}, pmid = {39608222}, issn = {1678-4391}, abstract = {Viral hepatitis is a public health problem, about 1 million people die due to complications of this viral disease, the etiological agents responsible for inducing cirrhosis and cellular hepatocarcinoma are HBV and HCV, both hepatotropic viruses that cause asymptomatic infection in most cases. The regulation of the microbiota performs many physiological functions, which can induce normal intestinal function and produce essential nutrients for the human body. Metabolites derived from gut microbiota or direct regulation of host immunity and metabolism have been reported to profoundly affect tumorigenesis in liver disease. If the microbiota is unbalanced, both exogenous and symbiotic microorganisms can affect a pathological process. It is well understood that the microbiota plays a role in viral diseases and infections, specifically the hepatic portal pathway has been linked to the gut-liver axis. In HBV and HCV infections, the altered bacterial representatives undergo a state of dysbiosis, with subsequent establishment of the pathobiome with overexpression of taxons such as Bacteroides, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, Enterobacter, and Enterococcus. This dysregulated microbiome induces a microenvironment conducive to the development of hepatic complications in patients with acute and chronic HBV and HCV infection, with subsequent dysregulation of cytokines IFN-α/β, TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β, IL-6 and IL-10, which alter the dysfunction and damage of the hepatic portal system. In view of the above, this review aimed to correlate the pathophysiological mechanisms in HBV and HCV infection, the dysregulation of the microbiome in patients infected with HBV and HCV, the most altered cytokines in the microbiome, and the most altered bacterial representatives in the pathobiome of infection.}, } @article {pmid39607727, year = {2024}, author = {Khan, K and Li, ZW and Khan, R and Ali, S and Ahmad, H and Shah, MA and Zhou, XB}, title = {Co-exposure Impact of Nickel Oxide Nanomaterials and Bacillus subtilis on Soybean Growth and Nitrogen Assimilation Dynamics.}, journal = {Plant physiology}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiae638}, pmid = {39607727}, issn = {1532-2548}, abstract = {Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NPs) pose potential threats to agricultural production. Bacillus subtilis has emerged as a stress-mitigating microbe that alleviates the phytotoxicity caused by NiO-NPs. However, the mechanisms underlying its effectiveness, particularly in root-nodule symbiosis and biological N2-fixation (BNF), remain unclear. Here, we tested the combined exposure of NiO-NPs (50 mg kg-1) and B. subtilis on soybean (Glycine max L.) growth and BNF. Combined exposure increased root length, shoot length, root biomass, and shoot biomass by 19-26%, while Ni (200 mg kg-1) reduced them by 38--53% compared to the control. NiO-NPs at 100 and 200 mg kg-1 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced nodule formation by 16% and 58% and Nitrogen assimilation enzyme activities levels (UE, NR, HS, and GOGAT) by 13-57%. However, co-exposure with B. subtilis improved nodule formation by 22-44%. Co-exposure of NiO-NPs (200 mg kg-1) with B. subtilis increased POD, CAT, and GSH-Px activity levels by 20%, 16%, and 14% while reducing MDA (14%) and H2O2 (12%) levels compared to NiO-NPs alone. Additionally, co-exposure of NiO-NPs (100 and 200 mg kg-1) with B. subtilis enhanced the relative abundance of Stenotrophomonas, Gemmatimonas, and B. subtilis, is associated with N2-cycling and N2-fixation potential. This study confirms that B. subtilis effectively mitigates NiO-NP toxicity in soybean, offering a sustainable method to enhance BNF and crop growth and contribute to addressing global food insecurity.}, } @article {pmid39607363, year = {2024}, author = {Schindler, M and Alon, S}, title = {"We Do Not Have a Written Protocol or Flowchart for Intervention": Social Workers' Perceptions and Experiences of Interventions with Older Parents Subjected to Abuse by Adult Offspring with Psychiatric Disorders.}, journal = {Journal of gerontological social work}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {1-24}, doi = {10.1080/01634372.2024.2432571}, pmid = {39607363}, issn = {1540-4048}, abstract = {One in six older adults worldwide is subjected to abuse (WHO, 2022), with heightened risk among parents of offspring with mental disorders. This qualitative study explores social workers' experiences in addressing elder abuse by these offspring. Two themes emerged: (1) "The snowball rolls: Unfolding mutual dependency and symbiosis," describing abusive offspring's characteristics and dynamics with aging parents, (2) "For every case, you need to match a tailor-made suit," detailing psychosocial and legal interventions. Findings highlight the need for family-focused interventions and providing treatment to the abuser. It is recommended to develop formal guiding principles to address these complex cases effectively.}, } @article {pmid39605284, year = {2024}, author = {Harrison, TL and Stinchcombe, JR and Frederickson, ME}, title = {Elevated rates of molecular evolution genome-wide in mutualist legumes and rhizobia.}, journal = {Molecular biology and evolution}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1093/molbev/msae245}, pmid = {39605284}, issn = {1537-1719}, abstract = {Rates of molecular evolution vary greatly among even closely related species. Although theory predicts that antagonistic interactions between species increase rates of molecular evolution, predictions for how mutualism affects evolutionary rates are mixed. We compared rates of molecular evolution between 1) mutualistic and non-mutualistic legumes, 2) an independent set of symbiotic rhizobia and their non-symbiotic close relatives, and 3) symbiotic and non-symbiotic clades within Ensifer, a diverse genus of bacteria with various lifestyles. We assembled transcriptomes de novo for 12 legume species and calculated dN/dS ratios at orthologous genes in all species to determine if genes in mutualistic plants evolve faster or slower than in their non-mutualistic relatives. We also calculated dN/dS ratios in genes known to be important for symbiosis. We found that mutualists have higher rates of molecular evolution genome-wide compared to non-mutualist legumes, but this pattern did not hold in symbiosis genes. We next calculated dN/dS ratios in 14 bacteria species across the proteobacteria phylogeny that differ in whether they associate mutualistically with plants, using published data. In most pairs, symbiotic rhizobia show higher dN/dS values compared to their non-symbiotic relatives. Within a bacterial genus with many well-characterized mutualist species (Ensifer), we calculated dN/dS ratios in symbiotic and non-symbiotic clades and found that symbiotic lineages have higher rates of molecular evolution genome-wide, but not at genes on the symbiotic plasmid pSymB. Our results suggest that although mutualism between legumes and rhizobia is associated with elevated rates of molecular evolution genome-wide, symbiosis genes may be evolutionarily stagnant.}, } @article {pmid39603566, year = {2024}, author = {Mojgani, N and Bagheri, M and Ashique, S and Islam, A and Moharrami, M and Modirrousta, H and Hussain, A}, title = {Honeybee defense mechanisms: Role of honeybee gut microbiota and antimicrobial peptides in maintaining colony health and preventing diseases.}, journal = {Microbial pathogenesis}, volume = {198}, number = {}, pages = {107161}, doi = {10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107161}, pmid = {39603566}, issn = {1096-1208}, abstract = {Honeybees play a vital role in pollination and the maintenance of ecosystem biodiversity, making their health and well-being crucial for agriculture and environmental sustainability. Bee health is modulated by symbiotic microorganisms colonizing the gut in balanced proportions. Studies have demonstrated that these beneficial bacteria have the capacity to enhance the immune system of honey bees, having substantial impact on regulating their immunological responses and hence aiding in defending against pathogenic illnesses. Another important aspect of honeybee health is their innate immune system that is related to their ability to synthesize antimicrobial peptides (AMP). AMPs, the small, cationic peptides are the humoral effector molecules that are synthesized in the hemolymph of the insects after being exposed to microbial infectious agents. A number of honeybee's gut microbiota especially Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), are known to regulate the production of several AMPs and hence are able to provide protection to these insects against a number of disease agents by modulating their innate immune response via induction of the AMPs genes. These AMPs mainly produced by adult workers are an important and integral part of an insect's immune response. Several AMPs namely apidaecins, abaecins, hymenoptaecins and defensins produced in the adult honeybee, hold the ability to control or prevent a number of diseases in these pollinator insects.}, } @article {pmid39603244, year = {2024}, author = {Dunken, N and Widmer, H and Balcke, GU and Straube, H and Langen, G and Charura, NM and Saake, P and De Quattro, C and Schön, J and Rövenich, H and Wawra, S and Khan, M and Djamei, A and Zurbriggen, MD and Tissier, A and Witte, CP and Zuccaro, A}, title = {A nucleoside signal generated by a fungal endophyte regulates host cell death and promotes root colonization.}, journal = {Cell host & microbe}, volume = {}, number = {}, pages = {}, doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2024.10.020}, pmid = {39603244}, issn = {1934-6069}, abstract = {The intracellular colonization of plant roots by the beneficial fungal endophyte Serendipita indica follows a biphasic strategy, including a host cell death phase that enables successful colonization of Arabidopsis thaliana roots. How host cell death is initiated and controlled is largely unknown. Here, we show that two fungal enzymes, the ecto-5'-nucleotidase SiE5NT and the nuclease SiNucA, act synergistically in the apoplast at the onset of cell death to produce deoxyadenosine (dAdo). The uptake of extracellular dAdo but not the structurally related adenosine activates cell death via the equilibrative nucleoside transporter ENT3. We identified a previously uncharacterized Toll-like interleukin 1 receptor (TIR)-nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptor (NLR) protein, ISI (induced by S. indica), as an intracellular factor that affects host cell death, fungal colonization, and growth promotion. Our data show that the combined activity of two fungal apoplastic enzymes promotes the production of a metabolite that engages TIR-NLR-modulated pathways to induce plant cell death, providing a link to immunometabolism in plants.}, } @article {pmid39603112, year = {2024}, author = {Haro, R and Walunjkar, N and Jorapur, S and Slamovits, CH}, title = {Long-read DNA sequencing reveals the organization of the mitochondrial genome in the early-branching dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina.}, journal = {Protist}, volume = {175}, number = {6}, pages = {126071}, doi = {10.1016/j.protis.2024.126071}, pmid = {39603112}, issn = {1618-0941}, abstract = {The mitochondrial genomes of dinoflagellate protists are remarkable for their highly fragmented and heterogeneous organization. Early attempts to determine their structure without 'next-generation' DNA sequencing failed to recover a defined genome. Still, it coincided in showing that the proteins coding genes, three in total, and parts of the ribosomal RNA genes were spread across a diffuse assortment of small linear fragments. In contrast, a recent study employed Illumina sequencing to assemble a 326 kbp long single-molecule, circular mitochondrial genome in the symbiotic dinoflagellate Breviolum minutum. Here, we used a combination of short- and long-read massively-parallel DNA sequencing to analyze further the mitochondrial DNA of the early-branching dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina. We found that the mitochondrial genome of O. marina consists of 3 linear chromosomes sized 15.9, 33.8 and 40.6 kbp for a total of 90.3 kbp. It contains the cox1, cox3 and cob genes, the same three proteins encoded in the mitochondrion of all myzozoans (Apicomplexa and Dinophyceae), some fragments of ribosomal RNA genes as well as many non-functional gene fragments and extensive noncoding DNA. Our analysis unveiled segments syntenic patterns and rearrangements encompassing coding and non-coding regions, suggesting that recombination is a pervasive process driving the evolution of these genomes.}, } @article {pmid39603001, year = {2024}, author = {Gao, X and Chen, J and Ma, Y and Zheng, Y and Bu, Y and Yu, X and Yu, K}, title = {Differential physiological and microbial responses of the octocoral Junceella squamata to high-temperature and cadmium stress.}, journal = {Marine environmental research}, volume = {204}, number = {}, pages = {106865}, doi = {10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106865}, pmid = {39603001}, issn = {1879-0291}, abstract = {Global warming and heavy metals have become the major threat to the growth and reproduction of corals. However, unlike scleractinian corals, in the context of widespread coral degradation worldwide, there are few reports on the response of octocorallia corals to high-temperature stress and heavy metals. In the present study, we conducted indoor simulation experiments using Junceella squamata. We evaluated the physiological response of these corals under high-temperature stress at 33 °C and cadmium (Cd) stress by comparing the composition and diversity of their symbiotic bacteria and analyzing differences in their transcriptome. The results show that high-temperature stress has more severe adverse effects than cadmium stress. High-temperature stress disrupts coral symbiotic relationships, leading to an increase in alpha diversity associated with disease-causing bacteria, which may increase the risk of infection and potentially contribute to coral mortality. Meanwhile, cadmium stress increases the instability of the coral holobiont, potentially disrupting DNA stability and RNA transcriptional regulation. However, an increase in Cd-tolerant bacteria may help corals respond to cadmium stress. This study reveals the effects of harmful substances on coral and highlights the urgent need for action to protect octocorals in the face of environmental stress.}, } @article {pmid39602985, year = {2024}, author = {Gao, X and Chen, J and Yu, K and Bu, Y and Wang, L and Yu, X}, title = {Exposure to polypropylene microplastics induces the upregulation of protein digestion-associated genes and microbiome reorganization in the octocoral Junceella squamata.}, journal = {Marine pollution bulletin}, volume = {210}, number = {}, pages = {117331}, doi = {10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117331}, pmid = {39602985}, issn = {1879-3363}, abstract = {Microplastics, a new type of pollutants found in coral reefs, have attracted increasing attention. However, most of the current research focuses on the scleractinian corals and few reports on Octocorallia. To reveal the impact of microplastic exposure on Octocorallia, we analyzed the transcriptional response of the coral hosts Junceella squamata along with changes to the diversity and community structure of its symbiotic bacteria following exposure to polystyrene microplastics. These results suggest that the microplastics have adverse impacts on nutrient metabolism and absorption in J. squamata. The symbiotic bacteria of J. squamata exhibited a clear response after exposure to microplastics, which may also reflect an adaptation mechanism of corals, and help to maintain the physiological function of coral symbiotic function under the exposure of microplastics. This study has revealed the impact of microplastic exposure on J. squamata, providing new insights for coral protection against the background of increased microplastics pollution.}, } @article {pmid39601429, year = {2024}, author = {Wang, Y and Wang, Y and Zhou, Y and Feng, Y an