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Bibliography on: Microbiome

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ESP: PubMed Auto Bibliography 09 Mar 2026 at 01:51 Created: 

Microbiome

It has long been known that every multicellular organism coexists with large prokaryotic ecosystems — microbiomes — that completely cover its surfaces, external and internal. Recent studies have shown that these associated microbiomes are not mere contamination, but instead have profound effects upon the function and fitness of the multicellular organism. We now know that all MCEs are actually functional composites, holobionts, composed of more prokaryotic cells than eukaryotic cells and expressing more prokaryotic genes than eukaryotic genes. A full understanding of the biology of "individual" eukaryotes will now depend on an understanding of their associated microbiomes.

Created with PubMed® Query: microbiome[tiab] NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion

Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)

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RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Wang M, Huo Y, Zhao Y, et al (2026)

Responses of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen to cadmium stress: hormetic effects on growth, antioxidant systems, and rhizosphere microbial dynamics.

Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1741415.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses a major threat to Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen cultivation, yet the dose-dependent thresholds separating adaptive responses from toxicity remain poorly understood, particularly at the level of rhizosphere microbial processes.

METHODS: A 75-day pot experiment was conducted using eight soil Cd concentrations (0-100 mg kg[-1]). Plant growth traits and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT) were measured. Rhizosphere microbial communities were characterized in terms of alpha and beta diversity, co-occurrence network structure, and predicted functional potential using PICRUSt2 and FAPROTAX.

RESULTS: Moderate Cd exposure (∼30 mg kg[-1]) enhanced plant growth and antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas high Cd (≥ 80 mg kg[-1]) caused physiological inhibition, consistent with a hormetic response. Microbial alpha diversity also peaked under moderate Cd but declined sharply at high Cd levels. Beta diversity differentiation was primarily driven by shifts in relative abundance rather than taxonomic turnover. Severe Cd stress reduced co-occurrence network connectivity and increased negative correlations, although several persistent core taxa (e.g., Granulicella) were maintained. Functional predictions indicated substantial functional redundancy, with key nutrient-cycling pathways largely retained despite pronounced network simplification.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Yin X, Zeng J, Li Z, et al (2026)

Gut bacteriome alterations during high altitude exposure: a comprehensive analysis of different species.

Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1762563.

With the increase of high-altitude sojourn population, more and more studies on hypoxia have been conducted, but the associated changes in gut bacteriome in different hypoxic environments need to be further investigated. Gut bacteriome plays an important role in host adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia, but the contribution of gut bacteriome in high-altitude hypoxia adaptation is still controversial and may be influenced by multiple factors. In this study, we reviewed the changes in diversity and composition of the gut bacteriome of different populations of animals in different highland hypoxic environments, clarified the dynamics of the gut bacteriome during exposure to high altitude, identified the core bacteriome that may contribute to host adaptation to hypoxic environments, and comprehensively considered the effects of multiple factors on the gut bacteriome.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Guo ZL, Cui MW, Dong YL, et al (2026)

The oral microbiome as a regulatory hub for systemic health: a systematic review of mechanistic links and clinical implications.

Journal of oral microbiology, 18(1):2635233.

BACKGROUND: The human oral microbiome is a highly diverse ecosystem with important roles in oral and systemic health. Beyond dental caries and periodontitis, oral dysbiosis has been increasingly implicated in the development of multiple non-communicable diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically synthesize evidence on the mechanisms linking oral dysbiosis to systemic diseases and to summarize its diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

DESIGN: A systematic review was performed using major electronic databases. We screened 1,128 records and included 104 studies that met predefined eligibility criteria.

RESULTS: Evidence indicates that oral dysbiosis may influence systemic health through several mechanisms, including hematogenous dissemination of oral pathogens and virulence factors (e.g. lipopolysaccharide), chronic systemic inflammation, molecular mimicry in autoimmune disorders, and microbial metabolic byproducts. The reviewed studies support associations between oral microbiome alterations and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and gastrointestinal cancers. The literature also highlights the promise of non-invasive oral microbiome-based biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Emerging microbiome-modulating interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, and bacteriophage therapy, show potential for restoring oral eubiosis and improving systemic outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Oral dysbiosis is an important regulator of systemic disease processes and a promising target for diagnosis, prevention, and therapy. Integrating oral health and oral microbiome assessment into broader disease management may improve outcomes, although methodological standardization and stronger causal evidence are still needed.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Keles E, O Celik (2026)

Metagenomic and microbiological analyses of historical manuscripts for bacterial community profiling and bacteria-related biodeterioration assessment.

Microbial cell (Graz, Austria), 13:117-130.

Bacteria are important agents in the biodeterioration of cultural heritage objects, including historical manuscripts. Characterizing bacterial communities and generating robust microbiological data has therefore become crucial for conservation and restoration strategies. In this study, we investigated the bacterial communities associated with biodeterioration in six historical manuscripts using both culture-dependent and culture-independent (Illumina MiSeq) approaches. Culture-dependent methods yielded only 16 viable and culturable isolates, highlighting the limitations of traditional techniques. In contrast, metagenomic analysis revealed a far richer and more diverse bacterial community, capturing both living and non-living microbial traces accumulated over centuries. Bacterial genera with known cellulolytic and/or proteolytic activities, such as Bacillus, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter, were identified as part of a core microbiome commonly associated with paper deterioration. High abundances of gut-associated bacteria (Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Porphyromonas) and human-related taxa (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Cutibacterium) indicated extensive historical human handling. A notable finding was the detection of Pseudonocardia broussonetiae, an endophytic bacterium associated with paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), suggesting the possible use of this plant as a papermaking material in one manuscript. This represents an important contribution to understanding Islamic paper production. Overall, our results demonstrate that effective conservation strategies require a detailed understanding of each manuscript's microbial ecology, together with evidence of past environmental conditions, handling history, and production materials.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Koh YC, MH Pan (2026)

Pterostilbene-mediated microbiota shifts: Implications and opportunities.

Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 16(2):131-142.

Pterostilbene, a natural stilbene compound present in blueberries and several medicinal plants, has been increasingly studied for its ability to influence gut microbiota composition across different disease contexts. In a variety of animal and cell-based models, researchers have observed notable shifts in microbial profiles following pterostilbene supplementation. These changes are thought to be, at least in part, responsible for the compound's health-promoting properties, especially in relation to disease prevention and immune regulation. Despite these findings, no in-depth review has yet compiled the specific bacterial taxa most consistently affected by pterostilbene, nor analyzed the broader physiological significance of such changes. In this narrative review, we aim to address that gap by synthesizing current knowledge on the gut microbiota-modulating effects of pterostilbene. Particular focus is placed on beneficial genera that are frequently enriched, such as Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia, and Lactobacillus. These microbes are often associated with key functions like intestinal barrier support, immune homeostasis, and the production of short-chain fatty acids. By linking microbial alterations to potential host benefits, we hope this review will inform future studies that explore pterostilbene as a microbiota-targeted therapeutic agent. Moreover, considering that this compound is found in many herbal medicines, our discussion may also offer valuable insights for research at the intersection of microbiome science and traditional medicine.

RevDate: 2023-01-02
CmpDate: 2022-03-11

Howard MM, Bass E, Chautá A, et al (2022)

Integrating plant-to-plant communication and rhizosphere microbial dynamics: ecological and evolutionary implications and a call for experimental rigor.

The ISME journal, 16(1):5-9.

The perception of airborne chemical signals by plants can trigger reconfigurations of their metabolism that alter their biotic interactions. While plant-to-plant chemical communication has primarily been studied in the context of eliciting defenses to herbivores and pathogens, recent work suggests that it can also affect plants’ interactions with their rhizosphere microbiomes. In this perspective, we discuss the potential for integrating the fields of plant-to-plant communication and microbial ecology to understand the chemical ecology of plant−microbiome interactions. As an introduction for microbial ecologists, we highlight mechanistic knowledge gaps in plant volatile organic compound (VOC) perception and provide recommendations for avoiding common experimental errors that have plagued the plant communication field. Lastly, we discuss potential implications of plant VOCs structuring rhizosphere microbiomes, particularly effects on plant community and evolutionary dynamics. As we continue to discover links between plant metabolism and their microbiomes—from molecular to community scales—we hope that this perspective will provide both motivation and words of caution for researchers working at the intersection of these two fields.

RevDate: 2026-03-07
CmpDate: 2026-03-07

Fedosova N, Symchych T, Gogol S, et al (2026)

INFLUENCE OF BIFIDOBACTERIUM ANIMALIS SUBSP. LACTIS BB-12 AND LACTOBACILLUS RHAMNOSUS GG ON POLARIZATION OF TUMOR-ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGES.

Experimental oncology, 47(4):451-458.

BACKGROUND: The microbiota has a significant impact on the host's immune system. However, the influence of the microbiome is heavily dependent on species, strain, and context. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (BB-12) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) supplementation on the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in mice with Ehrlich carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Balb/c mice bearing solid Ehrlich carcinoma were administered via gavage with BB-12, LGG, or 0.9% NaCl. On days 14, 21, and 28 of tumor growth, macrophages from tumor tissue were isolated and subjected to functional analysis. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured using the standard Griess reaction. The arginase activity was determined based on the urea measurements. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was checked using flow cytometry. The cytotoxic activity was estimated by an MTT assay.

RESULTS: The application of different probiotic bacteria elicited different TAM polarization states. The TAMs in the group supplemented with LGG demonstrated M1 polarization with low arginase activity but high production of NO and ROS, as well as cytotoxic activity toward Ehrlich carcinoma cells. The TAMs of BB-12-treated mice exhibited M2 (supposedly M2b) polarization, characterized by high arginase activity alongside the preserved cytotoxic activity toward Ehrlich carcinoma cells in vitro.

CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the consumption of two probiotics, BB-12 and LGG, affects the polarization of TAMs in distantly located experimental tumors.

RevDate: 2026-03-07
CmpDate: 2026-03-07

Mezera CC, Steffan S, LA Holland (2026)

Pollinator Visitation Alters Cranberry Flower Fungal Communities in Wisconsin Cranberry Agroecosystems.

Environmental microbiology reports, 18(2):e70310.

Pollinators are known dispersal agents of microbial communities between flowering plants, although the role of insect-mediated microbial assembly in flowering agricultural crops is not well understood. In cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) agroecosystems, the blossom period is a vulnerable time for infection from pathogens within the cranberry fruit rot fungal disease complex, and understanding the components and assembly dynamics in cranberry flower fungal communities may provide important insights to the relationship between the cranberry microbiome and crop health. This 2-year study uses a combination of culture-dependent and next-generation sequencing approaches to compare the community structure of cranberry flowers, honey bees (Apis mellifera), bumble bees (Bombus sp.), wild solitary bees, hover flies (Syrphidae), and nearby wildflowers to identify shared fungal associates. Compared to a tenting treatment in cranberry flowers used to prevent insect visitation, cranberry flowers with access to pollinators have higher detection of fungal genera in culture, as well as more fungal genera identified through culture-independent methods. Fungi associated with the cranberry fruit rot complex were identified in several insect groups, with the highest proportion of identified fruit rot fungi detected in Toxomerus fly samples. This research provides the first evidence of shared fungal communities between pollinators and managed cranberry flowers.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Kumar D, Gupta V, Jaiswal NK, et al (2026)

Antibiotics and Metabolic Dysregulation After Surgery: Exploring an Overlooked Connection.

Hypertension and hyperglycemia are common in patients without metabolic disease even after surgery and are generally considered to have been caused by surgical stress and inflammation. Nonetheless, in the case of long-term or repeated exposure to perioperative antibiotics, this can be a hidden cause of disturbances. Broad-spectrum antibiotics may interfere with gut microbiota, decrease short-chain fatty acid synthesis, and impair mitochondrial function and vascularity, thereby facilitating the development of insulin resistance and metabolic instability. Observational cohort evidence associates cumulative exposure to antibiotics with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, whereas experimental models show that antibiotics cause glucose intolerance via the mechanism of dysbiosis. There are also clinical observations that, in certain patients, suitable parameters of the metabolic condition return to normal only on removal of antibiotics. These mechanisms can interact with surgical stress, especially in metabolically vulnerable individuals. This hypothesis-generating editorial demonstrates the need to explore antibiotic-related metabolic changes during postoperative care and to implement microbiome-informed interventions in perioperative practice and antibiotic stewardship.

RevDate: 2026-03-07
CmpDate: 2026-03-07

Orozco-Mosqueda MDC, Flores-Piña A, Kumar A, et al (2026)

Impact of Fire and Heat Stress on Soil Microorganisms: A Review of Community Changes, Molecular Responses and Plant-Beneficial Roles.

Environmental microbiology reports, 18(2):e70247.

Fire, whether occurring on the surface or underground, significantly influences soil microbial dynamics by reshaping community composition, functional diversity and overall soil and plant health. This review examines the effects of fire on soil-beneficial microbial communities, with particular attention to how surface and underground fires drive shifts in microbial diversity and functional roles within the agroecosystems. These changes impact key processes such as nutrient cycling, soil physicochemical structure and organic matter decomposition, ultimately affecting crop production. Bacterial groups such as Firmicutes and Actinobacteria often increase in abundance following fire events, while others lacking survival strategies tend to decline. Resilient fungal groups, including Ascomycota (such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma), frequently play pivotal roles during the recovery process. Fire can also enhance microbial metabolic activity, particularly in pathways involved in organic matter degradation, leading to short-term increases in nutrient availability that support plant regrowth. Finally, the review discusses the molecular responses of microbes to fire and outlines perspectives for better understanding this type of stress and how it affects the beneficial soil microbiota in agricultural edaphic systems.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Shi Y, Lin X, Wang L, et al (2026)

Engineered Biomimetic Nanoparticles With Targeted Delivery of Chlorothiazide for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English) [Epub ahead of print].

While conventional treatment strategies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) focus primarily on suppressing overactive immunity, there is still a lack of definitive interventions targeting key pathological mechanisms, such as intestinal barrier dysfunction, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, and disrupted mucosal immune regulation. Using a high-throughput drug screening platform, the present study successfully identified chlorothiazide (Chl), a lead compound with anti-inflammatory potential, from a library of 3152 natural compounds. To further increase the bioavailability of Chl and mitigate its potential toxicity, we constructed a biomimetic delivery system based on engineered bacterial membrane-encapsulated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive biomimetic nanoparticles (CHM NPs). This delivery system achieved targeted accumulation in inflamed colonic tissue in a mouse model of acute colitis and effectively facilitated the restoration of epithelial barrier function. Moreover, CHM NPs significantly altered the gut microbiome, increasing overall microbial abundance and diversity while increasing the abundance of gut Lactobacillus, which plays a crucial role in maintaining gut microecological homeostasis. We systematically elucidated the multifaceted mechanisms by which CHM NPs regulate gut homeostasis, remodel the microbial composition, and modulate innate immunity. These findings provide novel theoretical foundations and potential intervention strategies for the treatment of IBD and other related inflammatory conditions.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Stoehr MC, Martin EM, Babalola JT, et al (2026)

Effects of combined prenatal exposure to air pollution and maternal stress on social behavior and oxytocin and vasopressin systems in male and female mice.

Journal of neuroendocrinology, 38(3):e70151.

Prenatal exposures to air pollution and maternal psychosocial stress are each associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and epidemiological work suggests that concurrent exposure to these risk factors may be particularly harmful. This is important given that the same populations often bear the brunt of both toxicant and psychosocial stress burdens. Social impairments are a defining symptom in ASD. Previous work modeling combined prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) and maternal stress (MS) in rodents has found male-biased social deficits in offspring, as well as changes to neuroimmune processes and the gut microbiome. However, the precise neural circuits on which these exposures converge to impact social behavior are unclear. Oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) are neuropeptides critical to the regulation of social behavior across species, signaling primarily at the oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) and vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) in the brain. Here, we hypothesized that OXT and/or AVP expression would be reduced in the brain following DEP/MS exposure. Following prenatal exposure to DEP/MS or the vehicle/control condition (VEH/CON), we measured maternal and offspring outcomes during the perinatal period, social and anxiety-like behavior during adolescence, OXT and AVP cell/fiber density, and Oxtr and Avpr1a mRNA expression in early adulthood in several brain regions in both males and females. We observed a decrease in interaction time in DEP/MS males as compared to VEH/CON in the sociability assay and a decrease in social novelty preference in DEP/MS females as compared to VEH/CON. No effects of sex or treatment were observed on OXT or AVP cell number or fiber density in the hypothalamic regions assessed. However, numerous sex differences were observed in Oxtr and Avpr1a mRNA. Moreover, Avpr1a mRNA was significantly increased following DEP/MS exposure in the nucleus accumbens in both sexes and trended towards increasing in the dorsal hippocampus. Together, these findings suggest that DEP/MS exposure has a stronger impact on female social behavior than previously observed. Moreover, while DEP/MS exposure does not appear to impact OXT or AVP expression in the brain, V1aR expression is modulated by DEP/MS exposure in the nucleus accumbens.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Luo F, Cai Y, Cui Y, et al (2026)

Microbiome eco-evolution of cultivated and wild rice species across the genus Oryza and its importance in supporting rice growth.

Microbiome pii:10.1186/s40168-026-02359-z [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Crop wild relatives and their microbiomes are essential for sustainable crop production. However, the co-evolution of wild rice species and their microbiomes remains poorly understood. Herein, we investigated microbiome assembly across 17 wild rice and one cultivated rice species under controlled conditions spanning ~15 million years of evolution.

RESULTS: Our data reveal distinct eco-evolutionary patterns for bacteria and fungi. Host divergence time was the predominant driver of root microbiota structure, outweighing polyploidy and life cycle, and exerted a stronger effect on bacteria than fungi. Bacterial community exhibited a significant phylosymbiosis with its host, but fungi did not. Over evolutionary time, bacterial diversity decreased while phylogenetic clustering increased. Deterministic and stochastic processes co-drove bacteria assembly, whereas stochastic processes strongly drove fungi assembly. Potentially functional taxa, including nitrogen-fixing and methane-cycle bacteria, were differentially enriched across evolutionary time and polyploidization events. Notably, co-speciating bacteria better predicted grain weight than fungi, with core species making a major contribution. Using a synthetic community (SynCom) derived from the wild rice core microbiome and four nitrogen-fixing strains enriched in early- and medium-diverging Oryza species, we demonstrated that the SynCom strongly promoted rice growth, with the removal of key members markedly reducing its impact.

CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal co-phylogenetic patterns between Oryza and root-associated bacteria, highlighting the closer functional linkage between rice traits and bacteria than fungi, likely due to their co-evolution. Our findings provide new insights into crop-microbiome symbiosis from an eco-evolutionary perspective and underscore the importance of co-speciating microbiomes from wild relatives in supporting crop growth. Video Abstract.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Gu C, Qi Y, Xie Y, et al (2026)

A lung microbial signature for postoperative recurrence in stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer.

Respiratory research pii:10.1186/s12931-026-03609-2 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Li Y, Liu L, Long M, et al (2026)

Habitat-driven variation in gut microbiome composition and function of the pygmy grasshopper (Tetrix japonica) across diverse ecosystems in China.

BMC genomics pii:10.1186/s12864-026-12725-8 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Dühr H, Pärnänen K, Kucháriková N, et al (2026)

Lifestyle associates with unique resistome and microbiome signatures in children.

BMC microbiology pii:10.1186/s12866-025-04665-2 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Jiang EX, Quarta G, Delau O, et al (2026)

Mutations in Exon 29 of Ring Finger Protein 213 Are Associated with Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer.

Digestive diseases and sciences [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays a role in carcinogenesis for early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). The novel Ring Finger Protein 213 (RNF213) gene has broad antimicrobial properties. Our study aimed to compare RNF213 mutation rates in EOCRC and late-onset colorectal cancer using data from the cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics.

METHODS: All participants from the cBioPortal with CRC samples that profiled the RNF213 gene were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between EOCRC and primary tumor RNF213 mutation. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the influence of RNF213 mutation on all-cause mortality risk. All tests were two-sided.

RESULTS: 1594 participants with CRC from six cohorts were included, of which 7.8% (N = 125) had EOCRC. Participants with EOCRC were more likely to have late-stage CRC (p < 0.001) and left-sided tumors (p < 0.001). Participants with a mutation in exon 29 of RNF213 had significantly increased odds of EOCRC diagnosis (adjOR 3.82, 95% CI 1.82, 7.54) compared to participants with wild-type RNF213, while mutations in other exons did not confer significantly increased odds of EOCRC diagnosis (adjOR 1.61, 95% CI 0.72, 3.22). There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality risk by RNF213 mutation status.

CONCLUSIONS: Primary tumor mutations in exon 29 of the RNF213 gene are associated with significantly increased odds of EOCRC diagnosis in a multicohort sample of participants with CRC. Future studies of germline and precancerous RNF213 mutations are needed to elucidate its possible role in EOCRC tumorigenesis.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Moiseyenko A, Antonello G, Schonhoff AM, et al (2026)

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, depleted in the Parkinson's disease microbiome, improves motor deficits in α-synuclein overexpressing mice.

NPJ Parkinson's disease pii:10.1038/s41531-026-01287-x [Epub ahead of print].

Gut microbiome composition is altered in Parkinson's disease (PD), the fastest-growing neurological condition, that is characterized by neurodegeneration, motor dysfunction, and is frequently accompanied by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Notably, microbial taxa with anti-inflammatory properties are consistently depleted in PD patients compared to controls. To explore whether specific gut bacteria may be disease-protective, we assembled a microbial consortium of 8 human-associated taxa that are reduced in individuals with PD. Treatment of α-synuclein overexpressing (Thy1-ASO) mice, an animal model of PD, with this consortium improved motor and GI deficits. A single bacterial species from this consortium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, was sufficient to correct gut microbiome deviations in Thy1-ASO mice, induce anti-inflammatory immune responses, and promote protective colonic gene expression profiles. Accordingly, oral treatment with F. prausnitzii robustly ameliorated motor and GI deficits and reduced α-synuclein aggregates in the brain. These findings support the emerging hypothesis of functional contributions by the microbiome to PD outcomes, and embolden the development of potential probiotic therapies to treat motor and non-motor symptoms.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Franciosa I, Castelnuovo G, Cantele C, et al (2026)

Gut microbiome modulation by cricket, pea, and whey protein using the SHIME in vitro simulator.

NPJ science of food pii:10.1038/s41538-026-00785-9 [Epub ahead of print].

Entomophagy is increasingly popular, and Acheta domesticus offers an ecologically sustainable protein alternative, but the effects on the human gut microbiome need further investigation. In this study, we investigated the impact of the intake of three isolated proteins: pea (plant), whey (animal), and cricket (insect) on gut microbiome of a single-donor using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®). Cricket protein intake was associated with potential beneficial taxa such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, genes related to vitamin biosynthesis and bacteriocin transport, and short and medium-chain fatty acids. Pea protein intake was associated with Faecalibacterium and Slackia, while whey protein with Butyricimonas and Lactobacillus. Metagenomic analysis revealed that pea intake led to increased lysine degradation genes, promoting SCFAs production. Each protein has its own unique characteristics that may contribute positively to gut health. Specifically, cricket protein intake appears to have beneficial effects, promoting the growth of potentially beneficial taxa and enhancing short-chain fatty acid production. The results of this study indicate that cricket protein does not exhibit any detrimental effects compared to pea and whey proteins.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Chechi K, Chakaroun R, Myridakis A, et al (2026)

A gut microbiome-kidney-heart axis predictive of future cardiovascular diseases.

Nature communications pii:10.1038/s41467-026-69405-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a major global health challenge. Early markers of disease initiation and progression are urgently needed. We, and others, have previously shown changes in the gut microbiome in association with metabolic and CVD. Here, we demonstrate that gut microbiome-related changes can be detected in association with subclinical variations in heart and kidney function. Markers related to gut microbial metabolism of aromatic amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, associate with circulating pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and estimated glomerular filtration rate in a metabolically healthy European population. Observational and genetic evidence further identify microbiome-related metabolites as mediators of this gut microbiome-kidney axis, with their baseline levels associating with incident CVD in an external Canadian population. Altogether, our work suggests that the gut microbiome interacts with the cardiorenal axis and participates in an interorgan crosstalk affecting host physiology and risk of CVD.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Santana AE, Torres SMF, MO Costa (2026)

Skin Commensal Microbiota Does Not Influence the Clinical Course of Dermatophyte Infection in Persian Cats.

Veterinary dermatology [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytes can be isolated from both symptomatic and asymptomatic cats, yet the role of skin commensals in modulating disease expression remains unclear. This study investigates whether microbial skin communities influence the clinical presentation (symptomatic or asymptomatic) of dermatophyte infection in Persian cats.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: We hypothesised that the fungal and bacterial skin microbiota differ between Persian cats with and without clinical signs of dermatophytosis. The objectives of this study were to compare the fungal and bacterial skin microbiota among healthy, symptomatic, and asymptomatic cats with dermatophytosis and to evaluate the performance of two skin sampling methods (carpet and toothbrush) for microbiome analysis.

ANIMALS: Forty-five cats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cats were grouped according to clinical presentation: Persian cats with skin lesions characteristic of dermatophytosis (multifocal alopecia and scaling) and a positive fungal culture (symptomatic group; n = 15), Persian cats with no skin lesions and a positive fungal culture (asymptomatic group; n = 15), and domestic short hair cats with no history and clinical signs of skin disease and negative fungal culture (negative group; n = 15). Hair and scale samples were collected using carpet and toothbrush techniques from all animals. Fungal and bacterial communities were investigated using high-throughput sequencing targeting internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 and 16S ribosomal (r)RNA genes.

RESULTS: Our data showed that the taxonomic composition of fungal and bacterial communities was similar between symptomatic and asymptomatic cats, regardless of the sampling method used. No notable differences were identified in the relative abundance of Microsporum spp. between symptomatic and asymptomatic cats.

Our findings suggest that the commensal microbiota may not influence the clinical presentation of dermatophyte infection. Instead, other factors, such as the host immune response, appear to play a pivotal role in determining disease outcomes.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Albright JD, LI Haug (2026)

Bidirectional Communication: The Gut-Brain Axis in Companion Animal Health.

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice pii:S0195-5616(26)00015-X [Epub ahead of print].

The microbiome-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is a complex network of gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota and host enteric, immune, neural, endocrine, and metabolic pathways. Disruptions to homeostasis promote dysbiosis, immune dysregulation, inflammation, and vagal signal disruption. Many disease states and behavioral disorders are associated with a change in GI microbial composition and diversity. Psychoactive treatments may specifically target the MGBA to reduce systemic and neuroinflammation linked to the pathogenesis of many GI and neuropsychiatric conditions.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Kobayashi S, Nakagawa H, M Komai (2026)

Comprehensive analysis of tonsillar gene expression and the tonsillar microbiota in patients with palmoplantar pustulosis and pustulotic arthro-osteitis.

Journal of dermatological science pii:S0923-1811(26)00021-6 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy improves symptoms in patients with palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) and suppresses disease progression in patients with pustulotic arthro-osteitis (PAO), highlighting the important role of tonsils in the pathogenesis of PPP/PAO.

OBJECTIVE: To identify inflammatory pathways involved in the tonsil tissue of patients with PPP/PAO, and to clarify the characteristics of tonsillar microbiota.

METHODS: We assessed gene expression in tonsil tissue obtained from PPP/PAO or recurrent tonsillitis (RT)/sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) patients using microarray and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. We also performed a comprehensive analysis of the tonsillar microbiota using next-generation sequencing. Potential associations between tonsillar gene expression and bacterial composition or disease activities were evaluated.

RESULTS: Twenty-five tonsils from PPP/PAO patients and 15 tonsils from RT/SAS patients were included. The gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and molecules involved in the Th17, Th2, and Treg pathways was significantly higher in PPP/PAO tonsils than in RT/SAS tonsils. A significant positive correlation between Streptococcus spp. and the expression of Th17 and Th2 pathway genes was revealed both in PPP/PAO and RT/SAS, however, different correlation patterns were observed between these groups for the other genera. PAO disease activity showed a negative correlation with the expression of CCR4, FOXP3, and CXCR3 genes.

CONCLUSION: PPP/PAO tonsils exhibit enhanced Th17, Th2, and Treg responses relative to RT/SAS, indicating a complex inflammatory condition. Streptococcus genus may be associated with inflammation, and interaction between microbiota and T cell immunity would be suggested in PPP/PAO tonsils. PAO disease activity inversely correlated with Treg response.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Long Z, Li J, Zhu F, et al (2026)

From intestinal messenger to next-generation therapeutics: A review on mechanisms and prospects of host metabolic regulation mediated by P9, a secreted protein from Akkermansia muciniphila.

International journal of biological macromolecules pii:S0141-8130(26)01125-6 [Epub ahead of print].

P9, a protein secreted by Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), serves as a key bioactive effector and exhibits promising therapeutic potential for metabolic disorders. This review systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which P9 mediates microbe-host interactions through activation of the intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling pathways. It also summarizes recent advances in P9 biomanufacturing, summarizing advances in its heterologous expression in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Lactobacillus lactis (L. lactis), and proposes innovative delivery strategies using engineered probiotics or nanocarriers to bypass gastrointestinal barriers. In addition, we explore the modular structure of P9 proteins predicted by AlphaFold, revealing potential domains amenable to functional optimization through protein engineering. By combining mechanistic insights with bioengineering approaches, this review positions engineered P9 as a multifunctional candidate for developing oral, targeted, and sustained-release therapies against obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This strategy offers new avenues for linking fundamental gut microbiome research with translational metabolic medicine applications.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Huang P, Gao J, Cao L, et al (2026)

Effects of subchronic exposure to PFOA and nanoplastics on the gills of Eriocheir sinensis: Perspectives from the transcriptome, microbiome and physiology.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP pii:S1532-0456(26)00060-8 [Epub ahead of print].

PFOA and NPs are recognized as persistent organic pollutants with potential ecological risks in aquatic ecosystems, and they exhibit specific toxic effects on benthic invertebrates. As a vital respiratory organ of aquatic animals, the gill plays a key role in gas exchange and osmoregulation. However, studies on the potential adverse impacts of these two pollutants on the gill tissue remain scarce. In the present study, we conducted a 28-day stress experiment with the Eriocheir sinensis as a research model and systematically investigated the toxic effects of PFOA/NPs on gill organs by multi-omics sequencing. At the biochemical level, PFOA/NPs inhibited the activity and transcription of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, T-SOD, and GSH) or genes (gpx, gstd7), while triggering oxidative stress (MDA) and causing morphological damage. Moreover, PFOA/NPs induced inflammation (TNF-α, hil-6), apoptosis, autophagy (bnip3, stk17a, lc3a, epg5), suppression of immune responses (fcn, lyz), and disruption of glycolipid metabolism (fasn, acsl14, srebf1, acsly). In addition, the PFOA-NPs co-exposure disrupted the microbial flora structure in gill tissues, including reduced community evenness, increased dominance of specific species, and heightened abundances of both environmental organic pollutant-degrading microbes and opportunistic pathogens (Acidovorax, Sphaerotilus, Candidatus_Bacilloplasma). Furthermore, PFOA-NPs may disrupt microbial physiological homeostasis by suppressing the "LPS biosynthesis-antibiotic production-GAG degradation-lysosomal function" axis. These findings indicate that the gill organs of aquatic crustaceans are highly sensitive to organic pollutants such as PFOA and NPs, and long-term exposure disrupts their tissue physiology and microbial community homeostasis, thereby providing critical data to support the ecotoxicological assessment of PFOA/NPs in aquatic ecosystems.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Petersen AØ, Damholt B, Grove M, et al (2026)

Safety, recovery, and pharmacodynamics of CRISPR-Cas therapeutic SNIPR001: a phase 1, randomised, double-blind, first-in-human, dose-escalation study.

The Lancet. Microbe pii:S2666-5247(25)00185-5 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Patients with haematological cancer who receive stem-cell transplantation are at risk of bloodstream infections, often caused by multidrug resistant gut pathogens such as Escherichia coli. SNIPR001 is a cocktail of four CRISPR-Cas-armed bacteriophages that reduce colonisation of E coli in the gastrointestinal tract in animal models and is designed to not affect other members of the commensal microbiota. We aimed to investigate the safety and tolerability of SNIPR001 in healthy participants.

METHODS: In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, first-in-human, dose-escalation trial conducted at a single centre (Medpace Clinical Pharmacology Unit; Cincinnati, OH, USA), we sequentially enrolled healthy participants (aged 18-65 years) with more than 10[7]E coli colony-forming units per gram of stool into cohorts 1, 2, and 3, pending a safety review of the previous enrolment group where applicable. Participants in each cohort were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo using a unique three-digit participant identification number. Participants were orally administered 10[8] plaque-forming units (PFU) per dose (cohort 1), 10[10] PFU per dose (cohort 2), and 10[12] PFU per dose (cohort 3) of SNIPR001 or placebo (phosphate-buffered saline buffer), twice daily for 7 days. All personnel, except for a pharmacy staff member who prepared both SNIPR001 and placebo vials, were masked to the administered dose and assignment; masking was ensured by fully covering the surface of each vial. Participants were followed up to day 187. The primary outcome was the incidence and severity of adverse events and medically attended adverse events from the first administration of the study drug until 4 weeks after the last dose administration on day 35 of the study. Recovery and biodistribution of SNIPR001 in faeces, blood, and urine; pharmacodynamics, including the ability of SNIPR001 to reduce E coli levels in stool (assessed using a linear mixed-effects model); and microbiome composition (using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) were secondary outcomes. Primary safety analyses were assessed per-protocol (ie, all enrolled participants who received at least one administration of the study drug). This trial was conducted under an Investigational New Drug application from the US Food and Drug Administration, is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05277350), and is closed to new participants.

FINDINGS: The trial was carried out between March 24, 2022, and Nov 30, 2022. 36 eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive SNIPR001 or placebo in cohorts 1 (six assigned to 10[8] PFU per dose and two assigned to placebo), 2 (six to 10[10] PFU per dose and two to placebo), and 3 (12 to 10[12] PFU per dose and eight to placebo). The mean age of participants was 42·1 years (SD 13·8), with 14 (39%) female participants and 22 (61%) male participants. During the trial and 4-week follow-up period, only mild and moderate adverse events were observed, with most adverse events occurring in the placebo group (13, six, one, and nine for participants receiving either placebo or SNIPR001 at 10[8], 10[10], and 10[12] PFU twice a day, respectively). The number of participants who had adverse events was not significantly higher in treatment groups than in the placebo group (p=0·94, one-sided Fisher's exact test). The most frequently reported adverse events were headaches and diarrhoea. No grade 3-4 adverse events were reported and no serious adverse events were reported in the SNIPR001 dose groups. During and after the dosing period, the gut microbiota composition did not significantly differ between the treatment and placebo groups (p>0·05, two-sided Mann-Whitney U test of Bray-Curtis distances, false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected). Functional SNIPR001 was recovered from stool samples in concentrations proportional to the administered dose but was not meaningfully detected in plasma (only one sample) or urine (only one sample). SNIPR001 was undetected in all samples 6 months after the last dosing, which is a favourable pharmacokinetic property and meets regulatory expectations. We observed the largest reduction in E coli levels compared with placebo 2 weeks after treatment initiation at day 14 (78%; -0·65 log10 [SE 0·64] for 10[12] PFU SNIPR001 twice-daily group), according to a linear mixed-effects model for the highest dose population; however, this change was not statistically significant (p=0·811, linear mixed-effects model, FDR-corrected).

INTERPRETATION: This first-in-human study of SNIPR001 supported its safety, tolerability, and restriction to the gastrointestinal tract, while not systemically disrupting the gut microbiome. These results justify further clinical development of SNIPR001 in an ongoing phase 1b/2a trial.

FUNDING: Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) and SNIPR Biome.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Chen Q, Feng X, Wang J, et al (2026)

Impact of gut microbiota on hepatocellular carcinoma: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic prospective.

European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990), 237:116581 pii:S0959-8049(26)00361-8 [Epub ahead of print].

Advances in sequencing technology have elucidated the complex role of the gut microbiota in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Communication between the gut and the liver occurs via the gut-liver axis, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been implicated in both the promotion and suppression of HCC. Furthermore, through interactions with host metabolism and immune system, the gut microbiota significantly influences treatment responses and prognostic outcomes of HCC. Despite progress in therapeutic strategies, clinical efficacy remains suboptimal, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of the gut microbiota's role. This review highlights the potential of gut microbiota as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of HCC, and explores its therapeutic implications. We summarize current insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the gut microbiota-HCC interplay, and emphasize the relationship between gut microbiota and the efficacy of various treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted agents. Microbiome-targeting interventions like probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and dietary changes as emerging adjuvant strategies are also discussed in detail to provide potential resources for advancing translational hepatology. Although challenges remain, this review aims to provide valuable perspectives for developing individualized therapeutic strategies in HCC management.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Shekarriz S, Vigod SN, Bianco T, et al (2026)

The Safety, Efficacy, and Feasibility of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in a Population With Bipolar Disorder During Depressive Episodes: A Pilot Parallel Arm Randomized Controlled Trial: Sécurité, efficacité et faisabilité de la transplantation de microbiote fécal chez une population atteinte de troubles bipolaires, au cours d'épisodes dépressifs : essai pilote contrôlé à répartition aléatoire et à groupes parallèles.

Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie [Epub ahead of print].

BackgroundThe gut microbiome has been proposed as a potential modifiable target to treat mental illness. This double-blind randomized control trial investigated fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in bipolar disorder (BD) to assess efficacy, safety, and feasibility. The primary outcome evaluated the effectiveness of standard approved therapy for BD depression + FMT in individuals not responding to standard treatment, measured by change in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline to week 24. Secondary outcomes included FMT's impact on anxiety, global function, side-effects, and safety. The feasibility of this novel intervention was also assessed. Microbial analysis utilized whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing, comparing outcomes between allogenic (donor) and autologous (participants own) FMT.MethodsA total of 35 participants (28 women and 7 men) with at least moderate depressive-phase BD (MADRS) were randomized to receive either allogenic FMT (n = 17) or autologous FMT (n = 18) via colonoscopy and were followed for 24 weeks.ResultsMADRS scores significantly improved from baseline to the last visit in both treatment arms. There was no significant difference between allogenic FMT (16.74-point improvement) and autologous FMT (15.4-point improvement) regarding clinical efficacy (t = -0.47, p-value = .64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -7.3-4.6). Microbiota analysis showed that allogenic FMT let to a bacterial profile similar to the healthy donor and increased bacterial diversity at the 6-month mark, whereas those receiving autologous FMT did not. The intervention was well tolerated with no significant adverse events. Recruitment, randomization, and retention metrics support feasibility of a larger trial.ConclusionFeasibility and tolerability data indicate further investigation into microbial manipulation in BD is warranted. The absence of efficacy differences between the two types of FMT, despite microbial change, highlights the importance of a true placebo in future studies, as well as the importance of understanding exactly what bacteria are linked to improvements. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0327922.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

D'Souza R, Pujare K, Balu SK, et al (2026)

Differential Response of Banana Root Exudates and its Components on the Growth and Development of Banana Wilt Pathogen.

Microbial ecology, 89(1):.

UNLABELLED: Plant roots and rhizospheric microbes share an intricate relationship. Plants produce a complex mixture of root exudates that significantly affect the rhizospheric microbiome. Understanding the composition and functional significance of root exudates is essential for elucidating ecological mechanisms that can be leveraged to reduce disease severity. The significance of banana root exudates in Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) remains poorly understood. This study investigates the differential effects of root exudates and their specific constituents derived from resistant and susceptible banana cultivars on the growth and development of Foc. Root exudates collected from four banana cultivars were evaluated for their effect on Foc mycelial growth, conidiospore germination and chemotropism. Exudates from susceptible cultivars (Rasthali, Red banana) significantly stimulated Foc conidiospore germination and chemotropism index as compared to those from resistant cultivars (Grand Naine, cv. Rose). Among the components, fumaric and salicylic acid showed dose-dependent increase in Foc conidia germination and chemotropism index. Conversely, oxalic and malic acid showed inhibition of Foc conidia germination at 0.5 µM, while phthalic acid showed inhibitory effects at 5 µM. Interestingly, oxalic, malic and phthalic acid treatment showed increased chemotropism index at 0.5 µM whereas, cinnamic acid showed a dose-dependent decrease. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed distinct profiles of organic acids among the four cultivars, while phenolic acids were detected in all four samples. This study enhances our understanding of the banana-Fusarium interaction and offer valuable insights into natural defense mechanisms and potential biocontrol strategies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00248-025-02693-z.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Unrug-Bielawska K, Dziełak M, Sandowska-Markiewicz Z, et al (2026)

Sex- and mouse strain-related differences in body weight gain, composition of the gut microbiota, and levels of selected metabolites in response to a Western-style diet.

BMC gastroenterology, 26(1):.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies reveal an association between the mitochondrial Amidoxime Reducing Component (MTARC) 1 and 2 proteins and metabolism in Mtarc1/2-deficient mice that are resistant to diet-induced obesity; however, the impact of Mtarc1/2 knockout (KO) on the gut microbiota and metabolome has not been explored in the context of sex and diet.

AIM: To compare the effects of a Western diet (WD) or a Novel Gubra Amylin NASH (GAN) diet on body weight gain, and on the composition of the gut microbiome and metabolome, between the background mouse strain and male and female Mtarc1- or Mtarc2-KO mice.

METHODS: Seventy-two 8-week-old male and female mice from each strain were fed a WD or a corresponding control normal diet (ND/WD), or a GAN diet or a corresponding control normal diet (ND/GAN), for 16 weeks. Fecal samples were collected at the beginning and end of the experiments, and 16 S rRNA-based microbiota profiling-based analysis was performed by sequencing the variable V3 and V4 regions of the bacterial 16 S rRNA gene. Mass spectrometry was used to measure short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and amino acids (AAs).

RESULTS: Compared with a control ND, GAN feeding increased the body weight of all groups of mice, whereas the WD increased the body weight of all groups except Mtarc2-KO female mice. The most significant weight gain was observed for male and female C57BL6/NTac mice fed a WD or GAN. Differences in body weight were mirrored in the microbiota profiles. In each of the mouse strains tested, the number of differentially abundant taxa between the GAN- and ND/GAN-fed groups was greater than that between WD- and ND/WD-fed mice. Both the GAN and WD also altered the levels of SCFAs and AAs in feces in a manner dependent on the mouse strain and sex.

CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences in body weight gain and changes in the composition of the gut microbiome and metabolome between the background mouse strain and Mtarc1-KO or Mtarc2-KO mice were further modified by sex and diet. Therefore, preclinical studies using animal models of obesity should ensure the selection of the appropriate mouse strain and sex, and be mindful of diet composition.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-026-04647-2.

RevDate: 2026-03-06

Bansaghi S, Gulyás G, Járay T, et al (2026)

Effect of long-lasting antimicrobial surface sprays in real-life environment.

BMC infectious diseases, 26(1):.

Antimicrobial surfaces have the potential to continuously self-decontaminate, which can play a key role in infection control. Various surface treatment sprays are available on the market today, differing in their chemical compositions and active ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these surface treatment sprays in real-life settings. The effects of the sprays were examined both in vitro, using bacterial suspensions, and in real-life settings. Effectiveness was measured by the number of colony-forming units (CFU) and by ATP tests. Additionally, the microbiome of one door opener was sequenced to identify the predominant microbes on that surface. Sequencing revealed that the microbiome of the door openers is mainly composed of skin bacteria. Staphylococcus (49.2%) and Micrococcus (33.6%) were the dominant genera identified in the sample. In vitro experiments demonstrated that all spray treatments were effective when tested against bacteria in suspension. However, in real-life settings, none of our measurements detected a significant reduction in microbial presence following spray treatment. We hypothesize that this discrepancy is due to the presence of a fatty substance, likely from fingerprints, on surfaces. This oily layer may act as a barrier that physically separates microbes from the treated surfaces, thereby diminishing the efficacy of the antimicrobial sprays.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Sun QQ, Bao MY, Gao R, et al (2026)

Advances in Understanding Lipid Metabolism in Oligodendrocyte Development and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Clinical science (London, England : 1979) pii:237261 [Epub ahead of print].

Lipids are indispensable architectural and functional components of central nervous system (CNS) myelin, with cholesterol, sphingolipids, and phospholipids collectively constituting 70-80% of myelin membrane composition. Oligodendrocytes (OLs), the sole myelin-producing cells in the CNS, exhibit exquisite metabolic specialization to sustain lifelong myelination and remyelination. Mounting evidence implicates lipid metabolic dysregulation-spanning cholesterol efflux defects, sphingolipid imbalance, and peroxisomal dysfunction-as a convergent mechanism underlying OL differentiation failure and progressive demyelination in neurodegenerative diseases. This review explores the role of lipid metabolic rewiring in governing oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) fate determination, highlighting three crucial axes: the interplay between mitochondria and peroxisomes in lipid biosynthesis, the potential toxicity of accumulated myelin debris in the microenvironment, and the regulation of OPC differentiation through lactylation modification on lipid metabolism and the interaction between glycolipid metabolisms. We further synthesize emerging therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways, including immunometabolism modulators, precision lipid interventions; diet-microbiome synergies: ketogenic diets combined with butyrate-producing probiotics to amplify endogenous remyelination. By integrating lipidomics datasets and recent clinical trial evidence, we propose a shift from broad metabolic suppression to spatially resolved modulation of lipid flux. This synthesis not only clarifies the dual roles of lipids in OL development and degeneration but also highlights druggable targets for personalized treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Pucci N, Kaan AM, Ujčič-Voortman J, et al (2026)

Unique ecology of co-occurring functionally and phylogenetically undescribed species in the infant oral microbiome.

PLoS computational biology, 22(3):e1013185 pii:PCOMPBIOL-D-25-01114 [Epub ahead of print].

Early-life oral microbiome development is a complex community assembly process that influences long-term health outcomes. Nevertheless, microbial functions and interactions driving these ecological processes remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyze oral microbiomes from a longitudinal cohort of 24 mother-infant dyads at 1 and 6 months postpartum using shotgun metagenomics. We identify two previously undescribed Streptococcus and Rothia species to be among the most prevalent, abundant and strongly co-occurring members of the oral microbiome of six-month-old infants. By leveraging metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and genome-scale metabolic models (GEMS) we reveal their genomic and functional characteristics relative to other infant-associated species and predict their metabolic interactions within a network of co-occurring oral taxa. Our findings highlight unique functional features, including genes encoding adhesins and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Metabolic modeling identified potential exchange of key amino acids, particularly ornithine and lysine, between these species, suggesting metabolic cross-feeding interactions that may explain their co-abundance across infant oral microbiomes. Overall, this study provides key insights into the functional adaptations and microbial interactions shaping early colonization in the oral cavity, providing testable hypotheses for future experimental validation.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Roy P, Roy D, Bhattacharjee S, et al (2026)

MDPD reveals specific microbial signatures in human pulmonary diseases.

Briefings in bioinformatics, 27(2):.

Pulmonary diseases are becoming a serious threat worldwide, and enormous data from different human microbiomes have been generated to understand these complex diseases. Here, we introduce Microbiome Database of Pulmonary Diseases (MDPD), an open-access, comprehensive systemic catalog of pulmonary diseases by manually curating global studies from 2012 to 2024 (13 years). We have compiled 59 362 runs from 430 BioProjects, encompassing data from 10 body sites related to 19 pulmonary diseases and healthy groups covering 278 distinct sub-groups. MDPD enables users to analyze each BioProject and customize analysis with multiple BioProjects to identify taxonomic profiles and disease group/sub-group specific microbial signatures. The re-analyzed intermediate Biological Observation Matrix files are provided for each BioProject for the accessibility of users for further applications, such as machine learning-based classification. Identified microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses) in MDPD are annotated with several attributes, providing further insights into their disease-causing potential and specificity to certain diseases and body sites. MDPD is freely available at: https://bicresources.jcbose.ac.in/ssaha4/mdpd/.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Chen Y, Xing Z, Sheng J, et al (2026)

Trends in the Application of Multiomics Based on Machine Learning in the Development of Probiotics.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry [Epub ahead of print].

With the rapid development of computational methods and high-throughput multiomics technologies, machine learning (ML) has emerged as an important analytical approach in probiotic research. This review summarizes recent ML-assisted applications across genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, microbiome profiling, and culturomics, and organizes current studies around four functional objectives: probiotic selection, functional prediction, metabolic activity prediction, and probiotic effectiveness optimization. We discuss how ML facilitates the integration of heterogeneous omics data to enable more systematic and quantitative probiotic development and highlight representative analytical tools and workflows. At the same time, key limitations remain, including cross-platform data heterogeneity, imbalanced functional labels, and limited robustness in capturing complex microbial and environmental interactions. Consequently, experimental validation remains essential for ensuring biological relevance. Future progress will rely on standardized multiomics integration and iterative computational-experimental frameworks to support rational probiotic optimization.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Colaco VS, A Boleij (2026)

The gut microbiome as a biomarker and modifiable risk factor in Lynch Syndrome.

Familial cancer, 25(1):.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Yoshioka H, Mary-Huard T, Aubert J, et al (2026)

Integration of proxy intermediate omics traits into a nonlinear two-step model for accurate phenotypic prediction.

TAG. Theoretical and applied genetics. Theoretische und angewandte Genetik, 139(3):.

Intermediate omics traits, which mediate the effects of genetic variation on phenotypic traits, are increasingly recognized as valuable components of genetic evaluation. In particular, rhizosphere microbiota play a crucial role in plant health and productivity; however, their complex interactions with host genetics remain challenging to model. Although two-step modeling frameworks have been proposed to integrate intermediate omics traits into phenotype prediction, existing approaches do not incorporate nonlinear relationships between different omics layers. To address this, we have proposed a two-step phenotype prediction framework that integrates genomic, rhizosphere microbiome, and metabolome (meta-metabolome) data, while explicitly capturing omics-omics nonlinearities. The first step is to predict meta-metabolome traits from genetic and microbial features, thus effectively isolating them from the environmental noise. In this process, intermediate "proxy" omics traits are generated as general biological information to provide robust models. The second step utilizes this "proxy" to enhance the accuracy of the phenotype prediction. We compared a linear mixed model (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction, BLUP) and a nonlinear model (Random Forest, RF) at each step, as demonstrated through simulations and empirical analysis of a multi-omics soybean dataset in which nonlinear modeling captures intricate omics interactions. Notably, our approach enables phenotype prediction without requiring the original meta-metabolome data used in model training, thereby reducing reliance on costly omics measurements. This framework integrates intermediate omics traits into genomic prediction to improve prediction accuracy and provide solutions for deeper insights into plant-microbiome interactions.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Ivanov VA, Hartman WH, M Soheilypour (2026)

Decoding the Microbiome-Disease Axis with Interpretable Graph Neural Networks.

Journal of applied microbiology pii:8507202 [Epub ahead of print].

AIMS: The human gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem whose disruption is implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases, yet translating microbiome research into actionable therapeutics is hindered by a critical trade-off: existing models either prioritize predictive accuracy at the expense of interpretability or sacrifice performance for mechanistic insight, limiting their ability to pinpoint specific disease-driving microbial interactions and taxa.

METHODS AND RESULTS: To address this, we introduce Graph neural network for Interpretable Microbiome (GIM), a graph neural network framework that integrates minimally processed taxonomic metadata as sparse node embeddings within an unweighted complete graph, enabling direct modeling of high-order microbial interactions through message passing. GIM achieves state-of-the-art classification performance on microbiome-disease prediction tasks (e.g. healthy vs. allergic states) while generating finegrained, experimentally validated attributions at the level of taxonomic ranks, driver microbes, and putative microbe-to-microbe interactions.

CONCLUSIONS: By bridging the gap between predictive accuracy and biological interpretability, GIM overcomes a key limitation in current approaches, offering a unified framework to both predict dysbiosis-associated disease states and identify actionable microbial targets for therapeutic intervention. This dual capability represents a critical advance toward precision microbiome engineering and scalable hypothesis generation in translational microbiome research.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Aizpurua O, Martin-Bideguren G, Gaun N, et al (2026)

Grass supplementation to a pellet-based diet fails to enrich gut microbiomes with wild-like functions in captive-bred hares.

Microbiology spectrum [Epub ahead of print].

Reintroducing captive-bred animals into the wild often faces limited success, with the underlying causes frequently unclear. One emerging hypothesis is that maladapted gut microbiota may play a significant role in these challenges. To investigate this possibility, we employed genome-resolved metagenomics to analyze the taxonomic and functional differences in the gut microbiota of 45 wild and captive European hares (Lepus europaeus), as well as to assess the impact of fresh grass supplementation to a pellet-based diet aimed at pre-adapting captive hares to wild conditions. Our analyses recovered 860 metagenome-assembled genomes, with 87% of them representing novel species. We found significant taxonomic and functional differences between the gut microbiota of wild and captive hares, notably the absence of Spirochaetota in captive animals and differences in amino acid and sugar degradation capacities. While grass supplementation induced some minor changes in the gut microbiota, it did not lead to statistically significant shifts toward a more wild-like microbial community. The increased capacity for degrading amino acids and specific sugars observed in wild hares suggests that, instead of bulk grass, dietary interventions tailored to their specific dietary preferences might be necessary for pre-adapting hare gut microbiota to wild conditions.IMPORTANCEThis study sheds light on the role of gut microbiota in the success of reintroducing captive-bred animals into the wild. By comparing the collection of 860 near-complete genomes of wild and captive European hares, we identified significant taxonomic and functional differences, including the absence of key microbial groups in captive hares. Grass supplementation to a pellet-based diet yielded limited success in restoring a microbiota similar to that of wild counterparts, highlighting the need for more tailored approaches to mimic natural diets. With 87% of recovered microbial genomes representing novel species, this research also enriches our understanding of microbial diversity in wildlife. These findings emphasize that maladapted gut microbiota may hinder the survival and adaptation of reintroduced animals, suggesting that microbiome-targeted strategies could improve conservation efforts and the success of animal rewilding programs.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Barr SA, Davis LJ, Vidar W, et al (2026)

Assessing Digestive Transformations of Withania somnifera Extracts via LC-MS/MS Profiling with a Focus on Bioactive Compounds Withaferin A, Withanolide A, Withanoside IV, and Untargeted Metabolomics.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry [Epub ahead of print].

Botanical extracts are widely employed as health care agents but lack the rigorous vetting required for FDA-approved pharmaceuticals. Research on phytochemical bioavailability and transformation has mainly focused on liver metabolism and plasma binding, while gastrointestinal and microbiome metabolism studies remain limited. This study combined digestive in vitro assays with mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and molecular networking to analyze metabolites in Withania somnifera leaf and root extracts, along with three known bioactive reference standards: withaferin A, withanolide A, and withanoside IV. Both withaferin A and withanoside IV underwent significant in vitro transformation, while withanolide A remained stable across conditions. Molecular networking revealed that withanolides in the root extract were largely stable, whereas many in the leaf extract were more labile under the assay conditions. Detailed network analysis also enabled the identification of specific metabolite transformations. These findings support the refinement of in vitro models to better predict in vivo behavior in complex botanical mixtures.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Mekonnen YT, Indio V, Lucchi A, et al (2026)

Detection of Chlamydia ibidis in the neck skin microbiome of broiler carcasses at the end of slaughter.

Italian journal of food safety [Epub ahead of print].

Chlamydia is the etiological agent of chlamydiosis in wild and domestic birds, mammals, and humans. In this study, Chlamydia reads were detected in the microbiome of the neck skin of 76 broiler carcasses collected in the same slaughterhouse at the end of the chilling tunnel. The carcasses originated from four different flocks of female Ross 308, reared in two broiler houses located in Northern Italy. One flock from each poultry house was sampled in 2019 and one flock in 2023. The carcass neck skin microbiome was investigated by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Chlamydia reads displayed a mean relative abundance of 7.38%, with significant differences between carcasses obtained from the two poultry houses, sampled at both sampling times. Chlamydia ibidis was the prevalent species among time points and poultry houses. The zoonotic potential of C. ibidis and foodborne transmission have never been demonstrated. However, it is known that the genus Chlamydia has "spore"-like extracellular forms able to survive for months outside the host. Therefore, the presence of C. ibidis reads on broiler carcasses at the end of the chilling tunnel deserves further investigation. The results of this study highlight the feasibility of microbiome investigations to detect unexpected biological hazards in foods.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Gomez R, Sun W, Shyy M, et al (2026)

Mechanisms Linking Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk.

Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology [Epub ahead of print].

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a group of disorders defined by intermittent closure or narrowing of the upper airway, caused either by mechanical obstruction or dysregulation of the respiratory centers in the brainstem. The effects of SDB on cardiovascular and metabolic health and disease have been an area of growing interest. Many studies have shown mechanistic links between physiological changes seen in SDB and important cardiometabolic outcomes. In particular, SDB induces alterations in autonomic function, swings in intrathoracic pressure, systemic inflammation, sleep fragmentation, and oxidative stress, with diverse effectors including alterations in cellular gene expression, for example, through microRNA and hypoxia-inducible factor 1, changes in the gut microbiome, and many others. Ultimately, these mechanistic pathways have implications on vascular and myocardial dysfunction, hypertension, insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, and weight gain. Several treatment modalities exist for SDB, and are chosen based on the specific disease process and patient preference/tolerance. These therapies result in an improvement in symptoms related to SDB severity and varying levels of cardiometabolic disease risk mitigation. In this review, we will present some important mechanisms of SDB that increase the risk for cardiometabolic disease, and we will discuss therapies and their intended targets.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Luo S, Lou F, Yang P, et al (2026)

Dysregulation of Oral Microbial Eicosapentaenoic Acid Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress Exacerbates Periodontitis via M1 Macrophage Polarization.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) [Epub ahead of print].

The intricate interplay between chronic psychological stress and periodontitis, mediated by oral microbiota and macrophage polarization, remains largely enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that chronic restraint stress (CRS) exacerbates periodontitis by inducing oral microbial dysbiosis and a consequential shift in host metabolism. Clinical observations reveal a significant correlation between depressive symptoms and the severity of periodontitis, which is underpinned by a distinct oral microbiome. Crucially, fecal microbiota transplantation from CRS-exposed mice into germ-free mice was sufficient to transmit the heightened periodontitis phenotype, establishing a causal role for the stress-altered microbiota. Metabolomic profiling identified a depletion of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in stressed, ligature-induced periodontitis mice. Mechanistically, supplementation with EPA ameliorates periodontitis by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the pro-inflammatory M1 polarization of macrophages. Our findings unveil a novel gut-oral axis mediated by microbiota and metabolites under stress, and position the omega-3 fatty acid EPA as a promising therapeutic agent for mitigating stress-aggravated inflammatory disorders.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Zhang Q, Wang W, Yu H, et al (2026)

Research progress on immune tolerance mechanisms in liver metastatic tumors and the "Liver-metastasis-oriented shared-mechanism therapeutic strategy" approach.

Medical review (2021), 6(1):57-74.

Liver metastases pose a serious challenge in the field of systemic cancer treatment, as this organ has a particular microenvironment that favours malignant cells disseminating to settle there. We outline major steps of liver immune tolerance in metastasis including pre-metastatic niche formation, immune evasion during circulation, establishment of an intrahepatic immune desert and metabolism, myeloid cell networks and gut microbiome-mediated coordinated tolerance. We then combine new combination and integrative therapies that are intended to break this tolerance; these include immunochemotherapy regimens, synergistic antiangiogenics and immunotherapies, dual immune checkpoint blockade and myeloid-cell reprogramming, combined locoregional and systemic therapies and new microenvironmental targeting. Each strategy is assessed with regard to its potential disruption of hepatic immune quiescence, improved clinical translation and durable antitumour activity. We suggest a proposed solution termed Liver-metastasis-oriented shared-mechanism therapeutic strategy, which may target multiple metastatic bottlenecks due to similarities. This framework provides a basis for personalizing combination therapies and designing future clinical trials for treating liver metastases, with organ-specific considerations and will be the subject of a commentary.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Jurkovich V, Fischer L, Nagy K, et al (2026)

Targeting selenometabolites in the saliva of dairy cows: size-exclusion chromatography - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based characterization.

Veterinary and animal science, 32:100600.

Selenium supply is an important input for milking cows, and the monitoring of selenium uptake has been carried out through total selenium determination in the blood serum samples or the concentration of selenoprotein P. While the optimum concentrations of these two parameters have already been established, the specific selenium requirement of cows' microbiomes has not been addressed. The oral cavity of cows contains basically the first, front-end microbiome of the animal. However, no information is available on its selenium-dependent/ independent strains, its distribution, and ratio. In any case, saliva would be the only readily accessible source of selenium for the microbiome of the oral cavity. Therefore, our study focused on the total selenium and selenium speciation analyses of saliva of Holstein cows, together with the determination of total selenium in whole blood and serum samples. A two-step feeding experiment was conducted with supplementing the selenite-containing daily ration with the hydroxy-analogue of selenomethionine (R,S-2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid, HMSeBA) at the highest authorized rate in the EU. Size-exclusion chromatography - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used for the speciation of saliva samples that revealed the presence of low molecular weight (LMW) selenometabolites in the 1.78-15.3 µg Se kg[-1] range. The supplementation of HMSeBA did not significantly increase the blood selenium concentrations, and no correlation was found between the LMW selenium concentration and blood selenium concentrations. While the identification of LMW selenometabolites with electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry could not be achieved, a dedicated sample preparation protocol has been suggested for future experiments.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Qin X, Song S, Xiang G, et al (2026)

Microplastics: a potential threat to gut microbiota and antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens.

Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1708036.

The detrimental effects of microplastics on environmental and biological health have been extensively documented, encompassing various aspects such as growth inhibition, metabolic disorders, and organ damage. However, current research predominantly focuses on model organisms, with limited studies investigating their effects on broiler chickens. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of microplastics exposure on the gut microbiota and antioxidant function in broiler chickens. The results indicated that microplastics significantly affect serum biochemical and antioxidant parameters, evidenced by marked increases in AST, ALT, and MDA levels, alongside decreases in SOD and GSH-Px levels. Microbiome analysis revealed a significant decrease in the alpha diversity of the gut microbiota, accompanied by significant alterations in microbial structure. Additionally, metastats analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the relative abundances of one phylum and 12 genera during microplastics exposure, contrasted with a significant decrease in the relative abundances of three phyla and 108 genera. Importantly, microplastics exposure also led to changes in gut microbial function, affecting energy metabolism, coenzyme transport and metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, etc. In summary, our study demonstrates that microplastics can adversely affect the health of broiler chickens by reducing their antioxidant capacity, and causing gut microbial dysbiosis. In light of the increasing pollution from microplastics, this study provides crucial information for assessing the risks posed by microplastics to livestock production. Furthermore, future research should prioritize monitoring the migration of microplastics within the food chain and examining their long-term effects on biological behavior and ecological functions.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Xu L, Wan Q, Yang Q, et al (2026)

Microbial and metabolomic profiling of the upper respiratory tract in children with asthma.

Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1672589.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate characteristic changes in the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome and metabolome in children with asthma and explore their associations with lung function.

METHODS: Children with asthma aged 6 years and above admitted to the Children's Hospital of Soochow University from December 2022 to December 2023 comprised the study group. Age-matched healthy children undergoing physical examinations in the Department of Child Health were recruited as controls. Throat swabs were collected for microbiome detection using 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

RESULTS: (1) Significant differences in alpha and beta diversity were observed among the control group (H), chronic persistent asthma group (CA), and acute exacerbation group (AA). In both CA and AA groups, FVC% predicted (FVC%/Pred) and FEV1% predicted (FEV1%/Pred) were negatively correlated with URT microbiota abundance. Actinobacillus abundance was positively correlated with FEV1%/Pred, FEV1/FVC, FEF25%/Pred, FEF50%/Pred, and FEF75%/Pred. (2) Metabolite differences between CA and AA groups were analyzed, and the top 5 differential metabolites were evaluated for their accuracy as asthma assessment biomarkers. L-carnitine showed an AUC > 0.9, with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 85%. Other differential metabolites, including monoisobutyl phthalate, 4-hexyl-2,5-dimethyloxazole, and dibutyl phthalate, correlated with several lung function indices. The most relevant differential metabolic pathways included arginine biosynthesis, alanine-aspartate-glutamate metabolism, central carbon metabolism in cancer, and D-amino acid metabolism.

CONCLUSION: The URT microbiota in asthmatic children exhibits alterations in composition, structure, and diversity, with lower diversity in acute asthma compared to chronic persistent asthma. At the genus level, some microbiota (Actinobacillus, Fusobacterium) were correlated with FEV1%/Pred, FEV1/FVC, FEF25%/Pred, FEF50%/Pred, FEF75%/Pred. The differential metabolite L-carnitine may be a potential biomarker for asthma assessment.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Liu D, Ma Y, Ma Q, et al (2026)

Clinical pathogen profiles and lung microbiome features in lung infection patients and concurrent cancer: insights from metagenomics next-generation sequencing.

Open life sciences, 21(1):20251220.

Pulmonary infections in immunocompromised cancer patients present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. From Dec 2021 to Aug 2023, 85 patients with pulmonary infection were enrolled and categorized into a cancer group (CP, n = 20) and a non-cancer control group (NCP, n = 18). Pathogen detection was performed using both mNGS and culture and lung microbiome analysis was conducted. mNGS demonstrated a significantly higher pathogen detection rate than culture (P < 0.0001). The CP group exhibited older age (P < 0.001), elevated neutrophil counts (NE) and higher procalcitonin (PCT) levels compared to the NCP group. Furthermore, fungal pathogens were significantly more prevalent in the CP group (P = 0.046). Both cancer status and advanced age were independent influencing factors for the detection of pulmonary fungi. Pulmonary microbiome analysis revealed no significant differences in α-diversity or β-diversity between groups. These findings indicate that mNGS offers superior sensitivity over culture. Cancer-related pulmonary infections present a distinct pathogen profile characterized by a higher prevalence of fungal pathogens. This underscores the need for enhanced clinical vigilance, especially among elderly cancer patients.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Wu F, Zhu B, Feng S, et al (2026)

The Brain-Gut Health Initiative (BIGHI): A Prospective Cohort on Psychiatric Disorders in China.

Research (Washington, D.C.), 9:1142.

Major psychiatric disorders are characterized by substantial clinical heterogeneity and high comorbidity, yet their underlying biological mechanisms are not fully uncovered. The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) offers a cross-system perspective for elucidating the pathophysiology of major psychiatric disorders. The Brain-Gut Health Initiative (BIGHI) was established as the first prospective longitudinal cohort in China dedicated to investigating major psychiatric disorders guided by the framework of MGBA, enabling large-scale, transdiagnostic, and longitudinal analyses of brain-gut interactions. To date, the BIGHI has enrolled over 1,200 participants with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and healthy controls, with multidimensional data collected including clinical symptomatology, neurocognitive performance, electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, peripheral blood biomarkers, and gut microbiome profiles. The studies within the BIGHI reveal (a) brain-gut physiological alterations in psychiatric disorders; (b) systematic relationships among brain function, peripheral physiological markers, and gut microbiome; and (c) brain-gut network patterns with marked interindividual heterogeneity. In future studies, we will expand the BIGHI into a collaborative network and promote data harmonization and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance computational psychiatry as well as its clinical translation.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Gates M, Schumacher SM, Doyle WJ, et al (2026)

Farnesol, the farnesol pathway, and the immune-gut-brain axis.

Frontiers in pharmacology, 17:1718322.

Experimental models and clinical evidence suggest that the gut and the central nervous system (CNS) interact in a multifactorial, bidirectional manner. A third player, the immune system, has recently been identified in these interactions, with research linking the gut microbiome to inflammatory conditions, including those affecting the CNS. The molecular signals involved in communication between the gut, brain, and immune system have been extensively studied. However, no unique signaling pathway has been identified for each component of the immune-gut-brain (IGB) axis to date. In this review, we argue that isoprenoids, and specifically farnesol, are key signaling molecules that link the gut and its microbiota, the immune system, and the CNS. The pharmacological properties of farnesol, an intermediate in the broadly conserved mevalonate pathway, are diverse and encompass quorum sensing and microbial biofilm inhibition, neuroinflammatory protection, and modulation of intracellular calcium (Ca[2+]) signaling pathways. Many of these signaling pathways are implicated in neuron-to-neuron communication and in the responses of immunocompetent cells to immunogenic stimuli. We will first address the biological relevance of the immune-gut-brain axis and the gut microbiome in regulating health and disease. Next, we will review the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which farnesol regulates both the gut microbiota and the host's innate and adaptive immune systems. Finally, we will provide a perspective on the immunoregulatory mechanisms underlying farnesol's protective properties in models of neuroinflammatory diseases. In summary, we propose a review of the most salient studies that establish farnesol as a significant modulator of the immune-gut-brain axis.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Shen S, Li J, Zheng S, et al (2026)

Synergistic carcinogenesis of the nasopharyngeal microbiome and Epstein-Barr virus: mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion.

Frontiers in immunology, 17:1771414.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, but EBV alone is insufficient for tumorigenesis. Recent evidence suggests that the nasopharyngeal microbiome plays a critical, yet underexplored, role in NPC development. This review investigates the synergistic interaction between EBV and the nasopharyngeal microbiome, focusing on microbial dysbiosis and its role in NPC pathogenesis. We highlight significant microbial dysbiosis in NPC patients, characterized by an overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis. These pathogens interact with EBV-infected epithelial cells, amplifying oncogenic signaling through the NF-κB and PI3K/AKT pathways. Crucially, we explore the "SCFA paradox," where microbial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), typically beneficial, act as HDAC inhibitors that paradoxically trigger EBV lytic reactivation in B-cells. Additionally, the microbiome facilitates immune evasion through interactions between F. nucleatum Fap2 and the TIGIT receptor, in synergy with EBV's LMP1 protein. These findings underscore the importance of the microbiome in NPC pathogenesis and highlight the potential for integrating microbial signatures into diagnostic tools. We conclude by discussing precision therapies, such as bacteriophage treatment, and emphasize the role of next-generation models-specifically Air-Liquid Interface organoids-as functional 'patient avatars.' These systems are essential for advancing personalized medicine, as they enable the functional validation of individualized microbial interventions that sequencing alone cannot predict.

RevDate: 2026-03-05
CmpDate: 2026-03-05

Ligezka A, Lynch BA, Saliba M, et al (2026)

Microbiome and Vocalization Biomarkers of Infant Distress, Maternal Depression and Parenting Styles.

Chronic stress (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), 10:24705470261425120.

INTRODUCTION: Psychiatric disorders have their genesis in early life. Standard screening approaches during well child visits for pathological infant distress, maternal depression, and dysfunctional parenting behaviors are likely inadequate. Microbiome measures and infant vocalizations have promise as scalable psychiatric biomarkers for infants. The purpose of this study was to examine associations among infant gut colonization based on microbiome measurements with maternal distress and maternal depressive symptoms in a sample of infants.

METHODS: This study sought to examine infant microbiome correlates of infant distress, parent-infant interactions, maternal distress, and maternal depressive symptoms. We collected (N = 31) microbiome samples, infant vocalizations during vaccination, and behavioral measures during a 4 month well child visit (WCV) and did a battery of clinical assessments to assess for maternal depression, parent-child interactions, family characteristics and family stress. Whole-genome SHOTGUN sequencing was utilized to identify three types of associations: alpha-diversity using Shannon and Inverse-Simpson indexes, beta-diversity using Bray-Curtis and Jaccard distances, and differential abundance using LinDA. Spectral measures of infant cries were also modeled to assess potential relationships with clinical assessments and the microbiome.

RESULTS: There were 19 phyla, 417 genera, and 1246 species identified with taxonomic classification. Maternal distress as measured by PHQ-9 scores obtained when infants were 2 months old were associated with 4 bacterial species (Actinomyces johnsonii, Bilophila wadsworthia, Clostridium dakarense and Ruminococcus flavefaciens; FDR < 0.1) and beta-diversity (p = 0.006-BC; p = 0.005-Jaccard). Infant cries with greater high frequency band power (p < 0.03) and a greater high-to-mid frequency ratio-metrics (p < 0.05) were associated with altered α-diversity of the microbiome. No correlations were present between maternal PHQ-9 at 4 months, PSI-IV and microbiome diversity.

CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that an infant stress (assessed by quality of crying) is associated with lower microbiome diversity. Decreased diversity reflects an unhealthy microbiome. Parental depressive symptoms may also influence infant microbiome. Future interventional studies focused on the quality of the infant-caregiver relationship should examine related changes in intestinal microbiota.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Loublier C, Taminiau B, Seidel L, et al (2026)

Survey on Faecal Microbiota Transplantation and Probiotic Use in Equine Practice in France and Belgium.

Veterinary medicine and science, 12(2):e70854.

BACKGROUND: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotics are used in equine practice. Understanding veterinarians' perceptions and practices is crucial for effective implementation.

OBJECTIVE: (1) Evaluate the prevalence, usage patterns and perceived effectiveness of probiotics and FMT among equine veterinarians in France and Belgium. (2) Assess their knowledge, practices and influencing factors across demographics and settings. (3) Explore links between FMT protocols and treatment satisfaction.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS: An online survey collected demographic data and responses on the use of probiotics and FMT. Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Ninety-six equine veterinarians participated, practicing in Belgium (52.1%), France (39.6%) or both (8.3%). Probiotic use was reported by 82.1%, more frequent in field than clinical practice (odds ratio [OR] = 3.61, 95% CI [1.09, 12.02], p = 0.036) and in France than Belgium (OR = 5.08, 95% CI [1.44, 17.94], p = 0.012). Probiotics were used for chronic diarrhoea (88.0%), acute diarrhoea (67.6%) and inflammatory bowel diseases (45.9%). Most veterinarians (83.3%) defined probiotics well, but 16.7% misidentified non-probiotic products. FMT was used by 76.0%, mainly occasionally and therapeutically, more in clinical than field practice (OR = 4.79, 95% CI [1.03, 22.27], p = 0.046). In theory, 58.3% prioritized infection-free donors, but only 22.5% tested donors before FMT, mostly using coprology (93.8%). Those who tested donors reported higher perceived efficacy (p = 0.0029).

MAIN LIMITATIONS: Potential selection bias, as participation was voluntary. Generalizability might be limited by focus on France and Belgium. Sample size, while informative, should be expanded.

CONCLUSION: Probiotics and FMT were commonly used therapeutically by equine veterinarians in France and Belgium. Although probiotic use was widespread, some misunderstandings remained. FMT protocols varied, with donor faeces often untested. Treatment satisfaction was generally positive but estimated success rates varied. Standardized FMT protocols are needed to improve outcomes and consistency.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Yang J, Xiao Y, Cui J, et al (2026)

A 4-guanidinobutanoic acid-SLC36A1 axis drives a microbiota‒host feedback loop to regulate intestinal homeostasis.

Gut microbes, 18(1):2639216.

The role of gut microbiota‒derived metabolites in regulating the intestinal mucosal barrier remains poorly defined. Here, we identified 4-guanidinobutanoic acid (4-GBA), produced by Bacteroides stercorirosoris, as a critical regulator of intestinal homeostasis. Using untargeted metabolomics, organoid co-cultures, mouse models, and single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrated that 4-GBA enhances intestinal stem cells (ISCs) function and goblet cell differentiation. This promotes Akkermansia muciniphila enrichment through mucus-dependent niche expansion, establishing a microbiota‒host feedback loop. Mechanistically, 4-GBA upregulates the proton-coupled amino acid transporter SLC36A1 and activates the Hedgehog signaling pathway to drive epithelial reprogramming. Clinically, SLC36A1 expression inversely correlates with ulcerative colitis (UC) severity in human samples. Furthermore, the SLC36A1 agonist sarcosine enhances barrier homeostasis and attenuates colitis in mice, highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of this axis in UC. Our findings reveal a novel microbiome-host axis through which a microbial metabolite modulates epithelial function and microbial ecology, offering a potential therapeutic strategy targeting microbiota-epithelial crosstalk for UC management.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Xu Y, Xiao J, Zhuang Y, et al (2026)

Performance, blood parameters, ruminal fermentation and microbial community of dairy cows supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product from dry-off to early lactation.

Journal of animal science pii:8506521 [Epub ahead of print].

Dairy cows experience oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune dysfunction during the transition from dry-off to early lactation. Postbiotics such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP), consisting of nonliving microorganisms with or without their components, have beneficial effects on the production efficiency and immune function of dairy cows. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of SCFP on milk production, milk composition, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, oxidative status, inflammatory responses, and the ruminal microbial community in Holstein dairy cows supplemented from the day of dry-off through early lactation. Two hundred cows were blocked on the basis of parity, BCS, milk yield and the time of dry-off, and were randomly allocated to specific treatment groups within each block. The treatments included the control group (CON, n = 100) receiving basal diets with no SCFP supplementation and the SCFP group (n = 100) receiving basal diets supplemented with 19 g/d of SCFP from d -60 to 60 relative to parturition. Milk yield-monitored for all 100 cows per treatment-was tracked until d 140 postpartum. In parallel, ruminal fluid, feces, milk, and blood samples were collected from a subset of cows (n = 20/treatment) during the treatment period for further analyses. Data were analyzed via the MIXED procedure in SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). The results revealed that the average milk yield of dairy cows in the SCFP group was greater than that in the CON group (43.93 vs. 42.08 kg/d, P = 0.04, n = 100) during the treatment period and remained greater (41.92 vs. 39.98 kg/d, P = 0.04, n = 100) throughout the 140 days postpartum recording period. Cows fed SCFP had significantly lower serum β-hydroxybutyrate and nonesterified fatty acid concentrations than did those in the CON group. Compared with the CON group, the SCFP group presented greater levels of superoxide dismutase and lower malonaldehyde concentrations. The SCFP group also presented a greater total antioxidant capacity prepartum and higher glutathione peroxidase levels postpartum. Additionally, the SCFP group had lower concentrations of proinflammatory factors, such as IL-1β, serum amyloid A, and haptoglobin, throughout the treatment period, indicating a stronger anti-inflammatory capability. Overall, SCFP supplementation improved the ruminal environment, reduced oxidative stress and the inflammatory status, and ultimately increased milk production.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Li L, Chen M, Zhai F, et al (2026)

Foliar Silicon Nanoparticles Induce Coordinated Defense against Cadmium in Rice via Jasmonate-Mediated Metabolic Reprogramming.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry [Epub ahead of print].

Foliar application of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) is a promising strategy for mitigating cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice; however, the systemic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we reveal that foliar SiNPs activate a coordinated defense orchestrated by jasmonate (JA) signaling. 100 mg/L SiNPs reduced grain Cd by 66.58% and increased yield by 38.14%. Driven by this systemic regulation, the defense manifests in two dimensions: (1) internally, SiNP-activated JA signaling promoted Cd sequestration in leaf hemicellulose 2 fraction by 8.94% and regulated key transporter genes (upregulation of OsHMA3; downregulation of OsNramp1, OsZIP1, and OsZIP7); and (2) externally, this shoot-to-root signaling induced rhizosphere metabolic reprogramming (accumulation of secondary metabolites, lipids, and fatty acids) and recruited functional microbes (Desulfovibrio, Gallionellaceae, and Bacillus), resulting in a 17.02% reduction in bioavailable Cd via enriched oxygen-containing functional groups in soil. This work elucidates a novel biogeochemical framework for developing nanotechnology-based strategies for safe rice production in Cd-contaminated fields.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Park DE, Mohammadi A, Nelson SG, et al (2026)

Post-coital dynamics of the penile and cervico-vaginal genital microbiome.

Microbiome pii:10.1186/s40168-026-02364-2 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: The vaginal and penile coronal sulcus microbiome influence reproductive health outcomes and susceptibility to multiple sexually transmitted infections including HIV. There is evidence that genital bacteria are shared between heterosexual partners during sex, but the dynamics of this microbiota exchange remain poorly understood.

RESULTS: Using microbiome characterization from established heterosexual couples, we found that condomless penile-vaginal sex dramatically altered the coronal sulcus microbiome, with transient dominance by Lactobacillus spp. Conversely, condom-protected penile-vaginal sex did not result in significant shifts in overall composition (p = 0.63). Significant changes were observed in the female partner's genital microbiome, including increased Corynebacterium spp. and increased abundance of Bacteria Associated with Seroconversion, Inflammation, and Cells (BASICs) (Prevotella bivia, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, Dialister micraerophilus, Prevotella disiens, Dialister propionicifaciens, Dialister succinatiphilus) in individuals with a colonized male partner. By 72 h post-coitus L. iners cell-normalized abundance remained elevated in the penile microbiome, but other taxa returned to baseline levels. Causal mediation analysis indicated a pH-mediated increase in vaginal Gardnerella at 72 h.

CONCLUSIONS: Condom-protected penile-vaginal sex was associated with minimal genital microbiome changes, whereas condomless penile-vaginal sex among established couples led to extensive exchange of genital microbiota. Most disruptions to the microbiome resolved within 2-3 days, although changes in vaginal pH were associated with longer-lasting increases in Gardnerella abundance. Video Abstract.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Han B, Li X, Li J, et al (2026)

Spatial and cellular composition of lung fibrosis induced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Journal of nanobiotechnology pii:10.1186/s12951-026-04135-5 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: The pulmonary immune system orchestrates lung homeostasis and protects against environmental insults through coordinated actions of immune and structural cells. Traditional Chinese medicine recognized the functional interaction between the lungs and the large intestine more than 2000 years ago, but direct evidence for this relationship in modern biomedical research remains limited. Although inhaled nanomaterials can induce lung fibrosis, the underlying immune mechanisms and their impact on large intestine remain poorly understood. Here, we integrated spatial transcriptomics, mRNA-seq, metabolomics, microbiome profiling, and validation in vitro to investigate how multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) exposure affects pulmonary immune responses and gut homeostasis in mice.

RESULTS: MWCNTs were administered to mice via oropharyngeal aspiration. We integrated spatial transcriptomics, bulk RNA sequencing, serum metabolomics, 16S rRNA microbiome profiling, and macrophage experiments in vitro. This multi-omics approach mapped pulmonary cellular alterations, identified key cell-cell signaling pathways, and examined downstream metabolic and intestinal changes provoked by MWCNTs. The results suggested that inhaled MWCNTs induced distinct spatial reorganization of pulmonary cellular architecture, characterized by macrophage- and fibroblast-enriched clusters associated with localized immune activation. Furthermore, cell-cell communication analysis identified Slamf7-Slamf7 interactions as key drivers of macrophage superactivation evidenced by excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Notably, knockdown of Slamf7 in alveolar macrophages in vitro effectively attenuated the superactivation. The macrophage superactivation altered serum metabolic profiles, particularly in pathways related to energy metabolism and inflammation. Finally, lung injury extended to the distal intestine, where rectal epithelial barrier integrity was compromised, resulting in microbial and metabolic imbalance.

CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the hazardous potential of inhaled MWCNTs based on macrophage superactivation induced by Slamf7 in the lung, providing mechanistic evidence for the lung-gut link described in traditional Chinese medicine. Together, our results identify molecular targets to mitigate nanomaterial immunotoxicity and inform the design and using of safer, surface-engineered MWCNTs.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Liu J, Cao J, Jia L, et al (2026)

Impacts of host genetics on gut microbiome composition in Alzheimer's disease.

Microbiome pii:10.1186/s40168-026-02342-8 [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Host-microbiome interactions play essential roles in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet the host genetic impacts on gut microbial alterations in AD remain poorly understood.

RESULTS: Here, we simultaneously profiled host genotype and gut microbiome in 252 Chinese individuals with varying degrees of cognitive disability. Using the latent Dirichlet allocation topic model, we identified the Anaerostipes-enriched enterosignature (ES-Ana) at the microbial subgroup level as significantly negatively associated with cognitive disability, which could be recapitulated in external cohorts. With the whole-genome sequencing data, we performed microbiome genome-wide association studies for the ES-Ana relative abundance. We prioritized 41 lead genetic variants and confirmed that the high ES-Ana relative abundance showed a negative correlation with the polygenic risk score of AD, indicating its protective effect against AD. Furthermore, we identified 174 ES-Ana-associated genes, which are enriched in AD-related biological functions and phenotypes, and exhibite pervasive underexpression in glial cells during brain aging.

CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study reveals the complex genetic effects on the gut microbiota in AD, and provides novel evidence for the roles of the gut-brain axis in AD. Video Abstract.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Wang X, Tian S, Zhang Y, et al (2026)

Bacteria and phage consortia modulate cecal SCFA production and host metabolism to enhance feed efficiency in ducks.

Microbiome pii:10.1186/s40168-026-02368-y [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota influences poultry health, nutrition, feed efficiency (FE), and overall productivity. However, the relationship between gut microbes, including bacteria and phages, and FE in ducks remains underexplored. To address this, we integrated cecal 16S amplicon, metagenome, microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiling, liver transcriptome, and serum metabolome data to illustrate the contribution of the gut microbiome (bacteria and viruses) to duck FE.

RESULTS: We reconstructed viral genomes and prokaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and annotated their genes using comprehensive databases. Prokaryotic hosts of viruses were also predicted to understand virus-host dynamics within the gut ecosystem. Our results revealed that high-FE ducks have higher concentration of propionate and butyrate in cecum compared with low-FE ducks. The metagenome sequencing revealed distinct cecal microbiota profiles between two groups, with increased relative abundance of representative SCFA producers, especially Paraprevotella sp905215575 and Bacteroides sp944322345, and enhanced SCFA-biosynthesis pathways in high-FE ducks. Virome genome assembly identified two phages encoding auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in pyruvate metabolism, enhancing nutrient availability for host bacteria to produce SCFAs (e.g., temperate phage-encoded pyruvate phosphate dikinase) or exploiting host central metabolic pathways for viral replication (e.g., lytic phage-encoded formate C-acetyltransferase). Furthermore, these representative SCFA-producing bacteria and phage consortia were associated with serum metabolites (including L-histidine and 4-hydroxydecanedioylcarnitine) linked to duck FE.

CONCLUSION: Collectively, these findings provide novel insights into the gut microbial factors regulating FE in ducks, offering potential strategies to optimize poultry nutrition and productivity. Video Abstract.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Srivastava AK, Mishra P, Kumari S, et al (2026)

Post translational modifications as biomarkers of soil microbe responses to nano-pesticides.

Journal of nanobiotechnology pii:10.1186/s12951-026-04231-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Nano-pesticides represent a significant technology advancement in modern agricultural, offering improved target specificity and reduced chemical load. However, their potential to induce subtle, sub-lethal disturbance in soil microbial function remains poorly resolved and is not adequately capture by conventional indicators such as microbial diversity, abundance, or bulk enzymatic activity. The central novelty of this review lies in proposing post-translational modifications (PTMs) as functional, early-warning biomarkers for nano-pesticide induced microbial stress, providing a molecular resolution that bridges exposure and ecological outcome. This review critically examines the current evidence on nano-pesticides-microbiome interaction and PTM-centric framework to interpret microbial responses at the protein regulation level. We highlight phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination regulate microbial stress responses, modulating detoxification enzymes, efflux pumps, and cellular signalling pathways under nanoparticle-induced stress. Unlike prior reviews that emphasize toxicity endpoints or gene-level responses, this work integrates metaproteomic evidence demonstrating PTM enrichment within stress-responsive functional protein groups across real environmental datasets, underscoring their relevance as conserved biomarkers of adaptive and maladaptive responses. By integrating metagenomics with metaproteomic and metabolomics, this review illustrates how PTM profiling enables mechanistic insight into microbial adaptation, functional impairment, and resilience under nano-pesticide pressure. Furthermore, we introduce a systems-level perspective that combines PTM data with computational modelling and AI-assisted bioinformatics to predict microbiome shifts and ecological risk, an approach not previously synthesized within the context of nano-pesticide assessment. Collectively, this review bridges nanomaterial design, microbial molecular regulation, and environmental risk evaluation, and proposes PTM-based assessment as a new paradigm for developing microbiome-safe, eco-compatible nano-pesticides and advancing molecular environmental monitoring strategies.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Xie Y, Wang R, Liu X, et al (2026)

Metagenome-assembled genomes from the gut microbiome of spontaneous diabetic macaques provide insights into microbes associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BMC microbiology pii:10.1186/s12866-026-04902-2 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Tian N, Liu M, Zhao Y, et al (2026)

Gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic reprogramming in pediatric migraine: a multi-omics analysis revealing diagnostic biomarkers.

The journal of headache and pain pii:10.1186/s10194-026-02315-0 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Eldridge N, Spörri L, Kreuzer M, et al (2026)

Uncovering the relationship between the human ocular surface microbiome and gut microbiome.

BMC microbiology pii:10.1186/s12866-026-04878-z [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Mougeot JC, Beckman MF, Henry AA, et al (2026)

Oral dryness related symptoms in radiation-treated head and neck cancer patients: a pilot study of oral microbiome composition and function.

BMC microbiology pii:10.1186/s12866-026-04885-0 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Kim H, Oh S, Hong JS, et al (2026)

Exploratory randomized trial of Weissella cibaria CMU and oral microbiome changes in peri implant mucositis.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-42961-7 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Le Bras A (2026)

Breath as a marker of gut microbiome health.

Lab animal, 55(3):71.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Degraeve AL, Cutignano A, Piscitelli F, et al (2026)

Changes in levels of endocannabinoidome mediators in mice with cancer cachexia: links with steatosis and gut microbial dysbiosis.

BJC reports, 4(1):.

BACKGROUND: Cachexia is a debilitating syndrome associated with involuntary weight loss, often occurring in cancer patients. In both humans and animal models, alterations in endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling occur in association with both metabolic disorders and several types of tumors. The wider signaling system, including the two eCBs, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG), their congeners and other long chain fatty acid amides, as well as their metabolic enzymes and receptors, is known as endocannabinoidome (eCBome). The eCBome is involved, among others, in the control of energy balance and cancer and interacts with the gut microbiome.

METHODS: Using mass spectrometry-based targeted lipidomics, we measured the hepatic and intestinal concentrations of eCBome mediators in mice injected with colon carcinoma 26 (C26) cells, a model of cancer cachexia characterized, among others, by weight loss, hepatic dyslipidemia, and gut microbiome dysbiosis.

RESULTS: We report that, 10 days after C26 cell injection, concomitant with >10% weight loss, eCBome lipids levels, namely 2-AG, AEA, and some of its N-acyl-ethanolamine congeners, as well as N-oleoyl-glycine, N-acyl-serotonins, and N-acyl-taurines (NATs), are altered in intestinal sections and the liver of C26 mice (e.g., hepatic 2-AG -30%, jejunal 2-AG + 30%, jejunal AEA -55%, hepatic N-oleoyl-ethanolamine (OEA) + 223%, hepatic NATs +144%, +141%, +216%). Gut dysbiosis was evident in these mice (PERMANOVA at the family level: R² = 69%, p < 0.001), with altered levels in 3 phyla (mainly the Proteobacteria, +1484%), 12 families, and 12 genera (all with adjusted p < 0.05). Additionally, 2-AG, AEA, OEA, N-arachidonoyl-serotonin, and NAT levels in the liver positively correlated with hepatic total lipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol, whereas N-docosahexaenoyl-ethanolamine and N-docosahexaenoyl-serotonin showed negative correlations. Jejunal AEA negatively, and hepatic OEA and NATs positively, correlated with weight loss. Intestinal eCBome mediators correlated with several cecal microbial taxa, including genera known to include strains beneficial in metabolic disorders, such as Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Dysosmobacter, and Prevotella.

CONCLUSIONS: These observations pinpoint eCBome mediators as new multi-functional players in the hepatic complications and gut dysbiosis accompanying cancer cachexia.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Martins B, Martins J, Castelo-Branco M, et al (2026)

Sex-dependent dysregulation of the gut-brain NPYergic system in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.

Scientific reports pii:10.1038/s41598-026-42601-0 [Epub ahead of print].

The microbiome-gut-brain axis has been increasingly recognized for its role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a key modulator of gut-brain communication, may play a pivotal role in this axis. This study investigated the sex-specific molecular profile of the NPY system in gut-brain communication via a genetic mouse model of ASD, the Nf1[+/-] mice. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess the expression of NPY and its receptor transcripts in the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and intestinal tissue of juvenile male and female Nf1[+/-] mice. Additionally, gut microbiota analysis focused on Lactobacillus species in stool samples. Special emphasis was placed on sex differences, an area underexplored in ASD research. Sex-specific differences in NPY and its receptor expression were observed in both the brain and intestinal tissues of Nf1[+/-] mice. In mutant females, estrous cycle fluctuations were partly associated with changes in the NPY system. Notably, distinct correlations between the brain and intestinal NPY systems were identified in both sexes of wild-type (WT) and Nf1[+/-] mice. Microbiota analysis revealed sex-dependent alterations in Lactobacillus abundance, which correlated with the intestinal NPY system. Importantly, the Y2 receptor exhibited sex-specific expression patterns in both the gut and brain of Nf1[+/-] mice. This study provides novel evidence that the NPY system may play a critical role in gut-brain communication in ASD, with sex-dependent alterations in both the brain and gut. The intestinal Y2 receptor has emerged as a potential molecular biomarker for ASD, underscoring the importance of incorporating sex as a biological variable in future ASD research.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Duan Y, Huang M, Ye L, et al (2026)

Dynamic A-to-I RNA editing in response to gut microbiome in honey bees.

Genome research pii:gr.280291.124 [Epub ahead of print].

ADAR-mediated adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) mRNA editing contributes to the proteomic diversity and behavioral complexity of animals. While recent studies indicate that the gut microbiome influences various aspects of animal behavior, the potential involvement of RNA editing in gut-brain interactions remains unexplored. Comparative transcriptomic analyses were performed between heads of germ-free (GF) versus conventional (CV) honey bees. A total of 1,528 A-to-I editing sites are identified in honey bee heads, among which nonsynonymous editing sites are overrepresented compared to random expectation. Overall editing levels are significantly downregulated in GF compared with CV, but Adar gene is not differentially expressed. However, Adar p.482 Ile>Met auto-recoding site, which is speculated to modulate Adar activity, is identified as a high-confidence differential editing site (DES) with decreased editing level in GF. Quantification of gut microbiota across 12 CV individuals reveals a significant positive correlation between p.482 Ile>Met editing level and Lactobacillus and Bombilactobacillus abundance. Colonization of a single bacterium Lactobacillus or Bombilactobacillus instead of Gilliamella in GF bees successfully restores the Adar p.482 Ile>Met and the global editing level. Our work demonstrates the complex and dynamic transcriptomic diversity exerted by A-to-I RNA editing, and discovers the axis of gut-Lactobacillus/Bombilactobacillus-brain-Adar-global RNA editing, providing an exciting scenario that gut microbiomes could impact RNA editing which might further facilitate phenotypic plasticity of social insects.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

T Pallenberg S, Zamarrón de Lucas E, Párniczky A, et al (2026)

Cystic fibrosis year in review 2025.

Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society pii:S1569-1993(26)00040-8 [Epub ahead of print].

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is being reshaped by CFTR modulators (CFTRm), yet infection, inflammation, and multisystem comorbidities persist. This review of the 2025 CF literature summarizes how CF is evolving into a chronic, heterogeneous condition in the modulator era. First, we discuss the consolidation of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) and next-generation modulators, highlighting durable gains in lung function and survival alongside persistent gaps in eligibility, access, and long-term safety, particularly for individuals with advanced structural lung damage or class I variants. Second, emerging mutation-agnostic therapy strategies are outlined, including ENaC blockade, neutrophil-directed anti-inflammatories like brensocatib, and gene and nucleic acid-based therapeutic approaches . Third, we examine airway infection and inflammation: while ETI reduces pathogen detection and systemic inflammatory markers, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa and heterogeneous neutrophilic endotypes frequently persist, and mucosal immune defects remain incompletely corrected. In this context, bacteriophage therapy has emerged as a candidate for multidrug-resistant infections, while microbiome-focused interventions show limited clinical impact despite clear shifts in microbial communities. Finally, as survival improves, pregnancy, age-related malignancy, and cardiovascular disease are becoming increasingly relevant, necessitating new models of multidisciplinary, lifespan care. Collectively, these developments mark a shift towards equitable, lifelong, system-level management of health in an aging and increasingly diverse CF population.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Hume-Nixon M, Clark S, Ratu T, et al (2026)

The efficacy of a single dose of oral azithromycin in labour to prevent infections in infants and birthing parents in Fiji: secondary outcomes from a randomised controlled trial.

BMJ global health, 11(3): pii:bmjgh-2025-019851.

INTRODUCTION: Our Bulabula MaPei trial of azithromycin administered during labour in Fiji found no evidence of a reduction in the primary endpoint of infant skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) at 3 months of age. Here, we determine the efficacy of this intervention on several secondary outcomes.

METHODS: This randomised controlled trial included healthy pregnant adults presenting to hospital in labour. Prior to delivery, participants were randomly assigned a single dose of 2 g of oral azithromycin or placebo that were identical in appearance to mask treatment allocation, in a 1:1 ratio stratified by ethnicity. Cumulative incidence of infections and antibiotic prescription was compared using an intention-to-treat analysis of complete cases. Adverse events described as proportions by group at specified time points.

RESULTS: From June 2019 to January 2022, we enrolled 2110 pregnant people and their infants (n=2122; azithromycin n=1059; placebo n=1063). At 3 months, the cumulative incidence of infant infections was 13.6% in the azithromycin group compared with 17.3% in the placebo group (risk ratio (RR) 0.79; 95% CI 0.63 to 0.99; p=0.038). Infections among birthing parents, including SSTIs, were reduced with the greatest effect 1 week postdelivery (infections: RR 0.31; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.71; p=0.006, SSTIs: RR 0.25; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.75; p=0.013) but with a diminishing effect up to 6 months postdelivery. There was no effect on the prescription of antibiotics at any time point.

CONCLUSIONS: Intrapartum azithromycin prevents a variety of infections for birthing parents and infants up to 12 months post partum in Fiji. However, further research is required to identify target populations and better characterise potential impacts on antimicrobial resistance and the infant microbiome and resistome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03925480.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Vencek Enriquez M, J Waite-Cusic (2026)

Evaluation of bioprotective starter culture and aging temperature on gas formation by Paucilactobacillus wasatchensis in Gouda cheese using computed tomography imaging.

Journal of dairy science pii:S0022-0302(26)00179-7 [Epub ahead of print].

Late gas defects caused by nonstarter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) present significant economic and quality challenges in semi-hard aged cheeses. Finding practical mitigation strategies to defend against gas-producing NSLAB is important to reduce the economic impact of this defect. Paucilactobacillus wasatchensis is one species of NSLAB associated with late gas defects in Cheddar; however, little is known about its behavior in other semi-hard cheeses. This study investigated the behavior of Pa. wasatchensis in Gouda cheese and explored aging temperature and the use of bioprotective (nisin-producing) cultures to mitigate gas production. Gouda cheese was produced either using conventional or nisin-producing bioprotective starter culture with and without inoculation with Pa. wasatchensis SK0033 into the cheese milk (4 log cfu/mL). All treatment combinations of starter culture and inoculation status were replicated on 2 unique production days. Wheels (n = 4) from each production were randomized for aging at 4°C, 10°C, or 15°C for up to 40 wk. Computed tomography scanning was used as a novel, nondestructive method to observe gas formation and imaging analysis was used to quantify of gas volume within cheese wheels (n = 3/cheese make) throughout aging. Microbiome analysis was performed on selected cheese wheels at the end of aging. The fourth wheel for each treatment was used for intermittent sampling for destructive testing (i.e., pH, water activity, moisture, salt). The highest volume of gas was produced by Pa. wasatchensis in cheese made with the conventional starter at aged at 15°C. Gas volume in these wheels ranged from as low as 0.02% (0.5 wk) to as high as 2.54% (39 wk), which increased over the aging period. Considerable variability in gas volume between wheels from the same cheese make was observed which aligns with industry reports of defect variability at commercial scale. Reduced aging temperature (4°C) delayed but did not prevent gas production caused by Pa. wasatchensis during aging; growth of Pa. wasatchensis at all aging temperatures was confirmed by microbiome analysis. The replacement of the conventional starter with a nisin-producing bioprotective starter effectively prevented growth and gas formation caused by Pa. wasatchensis at all aging temperatures. The presence of nisin in the cheese made with bioprotective starter was confirmed to be active against Pa. wasatchensis using the soft agar overlay method. These findings illustrated the ability of Pa. wasatchensis to cause late gas defects in Gouda and demonstrated the efficacy of a bioprotective starter culture to mitigate this defect.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Austin RR, Fiszman M, Guerra E, et al (2026)

Advancing Whole-Person Health through Informatics: A Narrative Review of Knowledge Resources for Complementary and Integrative Health.

The Journal of nutrition pii:S0022-3166(26)00110-0 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: Complementary and integrative health (CIH) interventions, including nutritional strategies, are widely used to support whole-person health, yet evidence on their efficacy, safety, and mechanisms remains fragmented. This narrative review maps existing CIH knowledge resources, identifies critical gaps, and highlights challenges in interoperability and integration. We propose artificial intelligence-driven informatics strategies to standardize, connect, and leverage these resources, with the goal of advancing discovery, precision nutrition, and personalized approaches to health and well-being.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a narrative review of publicly available knowledge resources on complementary health interventions, focusing on their effectiveness, safety, and biological mechanisms, including the microbiome. Interventions were categorized as nutritional, physical, or psychological. Resources were then classified as knowledge bases, datasets, databases, ontologies, knowledge graphs, platforms, or initiatives, with summaries of their scope, functionality, and contributions.

RESULTS: We identified 47 resources that can support complementary and integrative health informatics (15 knowledge bases, 13 databases, 7 datasets, 4 platforms, 3 initiatives, 3 ontologies, 2 knowledge graphs). Categories included nutritional interventions (32, with 13 on the microbiome), physical interventions (4), psychological interventions (3), and comprehensive or multi-modal resources (7). Most resources (39) were publicly available.

CONCLUSION: Advancing whole-person health requires greater standardization and integration of knowledge resources, which in turn enables more effective application of AI and informatics methods. When well-structured, interoperable resources are coupled with these computational methods, they can unify diverse knowledge domains, advance the science of complementary and integrative health, and accelerate discovery in personalized nutrition.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Rotzetter J, Spörri L, Herzog EL, et al (2026)

A preliminary investigation on the influence of sample storage on the low-abundant ocular surface microbiome.

Journal of microbiological methods pii:S0167-7012(26)00049-7 [Epub ahead of print].

In this study, the impact of sample freezing prior to DNA extraction was investigated on a small sample set (n = 6) to determine whether this affects the composition of the ocular surface microbiome - a low biomass environment. Frozen samples exhibited a reduced detection of Gram-negative bacteria compared to directly processed samples.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Basilicata MG, Scisciola L, Pesapane A, et al (2026)

Volatilomics insights in older adults with diabetes: from metabolic mechanisms to precision geriatric medicine.

Diabetes research and clinical practice pii:S0168-8227(26)00113-0 [Epub ahead of print].

AIMS: This review aims to evaluate the hypothesis that Volatilomics-the comprehensive analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from breath, skin, urine, and other biological matrices-can serve as a non-invasive tool to characterize metabolic alterations associated with aging and diabetes mellitus in older adults, supporting precision geriatric medicine.

METHODS: We conducted a narrative review of experimental and clinical studies investigating VOC signatures in aging individuals with diabetes. The analysis focused on associations between VOC profiles and key biological mechanisms, including oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammaging, and host-microbiome interactions. We also examined analytical technologies and methodologies, such as advanced mass spectrometry platforms, sensor-based devices, and artificial intelligence-driven pattern recognition approaches.

RESULTS: The reviewed evidence suggests that diabetes is associated with distinctive VOC patterns; however, direct evidence specifically derived from geriatric cohorts remains limited. These VOC patterns are associated with glycemic imbalance and age-related metabolic dysfunction and show potential utility for early detection, clinical phenotyping, and individualized monitoring, particularly in frail or multimorbid patients. Technological advances are facilitating translation toward portable and home-based applications.

CONCLUSIONS: Volatilomics represents a promising, non-invasive approach to improve diabetes management in aging populations. Despite its potential, challenges remain, including methodological heterogeneity, limited reproducibility, confounding effects of comorbidities and polypharmacy, and the lack of large longitudinal geriatric cohorts.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Wang J, Zhang Y, Ding Y, et al (2026)

Hydrocarbon subsidy-stress and divergent reduced iron-manganese thresholds shape microbial resilience in anoxic aquifers.

Water research, 296:125670 pii:S0043-1354(26)00352-0 [Epub ahead of print].

The co-occurrence of geogenic metal mobilization and anthropogenic hydrocarbon contamination represents a pervasive hydro-biogeochemical challenge, yet the non-linear mechanisms governing microbial resilience in these multi-stressor aquifers remain poorly constrained. Here, we decode these complex interactions by integrating high-resolution microbiome profiling with an interpretable machine learning framework (XGBoost-SHAP). We identify a "multi-threshold superposition" model for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) that delineates a tri-phasic ecological transition: a progression from carbon limitation to metabolic subsidization, culminating in a toxicity-driven regime shift beyond a mechanistically grounded tipping point (3.485 mg/L). Crucially, we unveil a "Fe(II)-Mn(II) Paradox" wherein geochemically similar metals exert divergent ecological controls. Deviating from the additive toxicity paradigm, elevated Fe(II) (>9.22 mg/L) serves as a redox-mediated buffer against hydrocarbon stress; in contrast, Mn(II) operates as a toxicological synergist, amplifying metabolic and structural impairments beyond predicted additive levels. Mechanistically, this resilience is underpinned by the rare taxa acting as a functional seed bank, which reconfigures network topology from competitive exclusion to cooperative syntrophy. These findings establish the stoichiometric Fe(II)/Mn(II) ratio (threshold: 1.935) as a master regulator of aquifer, providing a quantitative foundation for "precision zoned intervention" strategies-advocating for monitored natural attenuation in iron-buffered zones versus active engineering in manganese-aggravated hotspots.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Zhou Y, González CA, Manquian J, et al (2026)

Microbial communities in coastal seawater during Heterosigma akashiwo and Alexandrium catenella blooms in Chilean Patagonian fjords.

Marine environmental research, 217:107949 pii:S0141-1136(26)00118-2 [Epub ahead of print].

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are recurring events in Chilean coasts where free-living and associated microbiota (also known as HAB holobiont) may play a crucial role for occurrence, monitoring and prediction of HAB. Here, we investigated the associated microbial communities with Heterosigma akashiwo and Alexandrium catenella blooms in the Chilean Patagonia fjords by microscopic observations and rRNA metabarcoding sequencing. By microscopic observations, H. akashiwo and A. catenella cells were accompanied by abundant diatoms (Skeletonema) and athecate dinoflagellates, and diatoms (Thalassiosira and Leptocylindrus) and dinoflagellates (Heterocapsa), respectively. By 16S rRNA- and 18S rRNA-based metabarcoding sequencing, our results not only revealed significant differences in richness, diversity, and taxonomic structure of microbial communities between blooms but also between the studied seawater fractions (1 and 0.2 μm). In 18S rRNA-based communities, H. akashiwo bloom was generally dominated by eukaryotic Stramenopiles, Raphidophyceae_X and Heterosigma, while A. catenella bloom was dominated by eukaryotic Alveolata and protists Syndiniales (Dino-Group-I) at the phylum, order, and genus level, respectively. Proteobacteria (Rhodobacteriales), Bacteroidota (Flavobacteriales) and Cyanobacteria (Synechococcales) were dominant taxa in the structure of 16S rRNA-based communities in both blooms and both seawater fractions. Our study also suggested a high and differentiated interaction between 16S rRNA- and 18S rRNA-based microbial communities in both blooms, with the bacteria Blastopirellula and the dinoflagellate Dino-Group-I-Clade-1 as keystone taxa in A. catenella bloom.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

González-González A, Soria-Utrilla V, Fontalba-Romero MI, et al (2026)

The Role of Butyrate in People with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Related Metabolic Comorbidities: A Systematic Review.

Current obesity reports, 15(1):.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide and is strongly linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Growing evidence highlights the role of the gut–liver axis, particularly microbial metabolites such as the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate, in MASLD pathophysiology. However, clinical data on butyrate levels and the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria in MASLD patients remain inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically synthesize human evidence evaluating the associations between butyrate levels and butyrate-producing gut bacteria with MASLD presence and severity, as well as related metabolic comorbidities.

METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Embase from inception to April 7, 2025, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO registration CRD420251162439). Eligible studies included observational human research assessing fecal or plasma SCFA concentrations and/or the abundance of butyrate-producing taxa in adults with MASLD and related metabolic disorders. Study quality was appraised using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, and results were narratively synthesized due to heterogeneity across methods and outcomes.

RESULTS: From 233 records, seven studies met inclusion criteria (2020–2025; n = 1,185). Most were cross-sectional or case–control designs of moderate to high quality (NOS 6–8/9). Individuals with MASLD generally exhibited lower fecal or serum butyrate concentrations and reduced abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Eubacterium, and other butyrate-producing bacteria versus controls. These alterations were associated with hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, inflammation, and adverse metabolic profiles - higher BMI, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Geographic and sex-related differences were also reported.

CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review suggests that reduced butyrate availability and alterations in butyrate-producing gut taxa are associated with MASLD presence and severity and with adverse metabolic traits. However, substantial methodological heterogeneity and the observational design of available studies preclude causal inference. Larger, well-phenotyped, multicentre studies using standardized SCFA quantification, dietary and medication ascertainment, and functional microbiome profiling are needed to validate these findings and clarify their diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13679-026-00694-8.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Ringold SM, Cermak SA, Labus JS, et al (2026)

Sensory Over-Responsivity in Autism: A Bidirectional Brain-Gut-Microbiome Model.

Journal of autism and developmental disorders [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Cheah AS, Tan JW, Jaafar F, et al (2026)

Precision Microbiome Modulation: Exploring Lactobacillus spp. as A Targeted Strategy for Type 2 Diabetes Management.

Current nutrition reports, 15(1):.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The International Diabetes Federation projects a prevalence of 783.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by 2045. The escalation in healthcare expenditure and adverse effects of current drugs necessitate a clinically effective and low-cost alternative therapeutic option with minimal health complications. Lactobacillus spp., a well-studied gut probiotic has shown promising antidiabetic effects against T2DM in several randomized controlled trials. However, the exact mechanisms of Lactobacillus spp. in regulating the glycaemic profile are not well elucidated, limiting the optimization of probiotic-based interventions. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the various antidiabetic mechanisms of Lactobacillus spp., with a focus on their integration into precision medicine approaches.

RECENT FINDINGS: Lactobacillus spp. supplementation alleviates insulin resistance in T2DM by modulating glucose metabolism and transport, exerting anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects as well as restructuring gut microbiota. Lactobacillus spp. also enhance the functional properties of food by increasing the antioxidant capacity and improving glucose metabolism. Despite these promising effects, clinical translation is challenged by strain-specific survivability in the gastrointestinal tract and safety concerns. Thus, leveraging precision medicine via tailoring treatments based on individual microbiome profiles, genetic backgrounds and metabolic phenotype may unravel the full therapeutic potential of targeted Lactobacillus spp. for T2DM treatment. This approach can be reached by integrating multi-omics profiling and artificial intelligence technologies.

SUMMARY: Lactobacillus spp. may act as adjunctive support in the management T2DM rather than stand-alone therapies in T2DM management, as their efficacy is dependent on appropriate dietary interventions and metabolic context. Altogether, integrating Lactobacillus spp. into personalized treatment frameworks offers a promising avenue for developing more targeted, effective and safe interventions for T2DM.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Stefanelli LF, Cattarin L, Martino FK, et al (2026)

Microbiome alterations and their potential impact on infection risk in chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease: a narrative review.

International urology and nephrology [Epub ahead of print].

Chronic kidney disease [CKD] is associated with profound alterations of both gut microbiota composition and functions, commonly referred to as gut dysbiosis. These changes are driven by several factors such as dietary restrictions, medications, and uremia, which further contribute to patients with CKD to their pro-inflammatory and immunocompromised state. Recent evidence suggests that dysbiosis may also increase susceptibility to infections, which remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in CKD patients. In this review, we aimed at examining the features of the altered gut microbiome in patients with CKD, its potential role in promoting infection risk, and current therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota to mitigate CKD-related complications.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Lee S, Kim H-L, Raza S, et al (2026)

Gut microbial community structure, metabolic signature, and resistome in dyslipidemia: implications for cardiovascular disease management.

Microbiology spectrum [Epub ahead of print].

Dyslipidemia, characterized by abnormal blood lipid levels, constitutes a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence indicates that the gut microbiota influences lipid metabolism, although findings across studies have been inconsistent. In this cross-sectional investigation, we analyzed the composition of gut microbiota, associated metabolic pathways, predicted gut metabolites, and the resistome in 1,384 participants (including 895 individuals with dyslipidemia and 489 controls) through shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Our findings demonstrated that Bacteroides caccae was enriched among dyslipidemia cases, potentially contributing to inflammation and altered lipid metabolism. Conversely, Coprococcus eutactus and Coprococcus catus, recognized producers of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) involved in lipid regulation, as well as Blautia obeum, known to be positively affected by SCFAs, were more prevalent in the control group. Additionally, we identified an enrichment of the gene family responsible for dTDP-beta-D-fucofuranose biosynthesis, associated with bacterial pathogenicity, in dyslipidemia cases, with Bacteroides stercoris serving as a major contributor. Dyslipidemia cases also exhibited depletion of glycogen and peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathways, which may compromise energy storage and immune function, alongside decreased levels of pseudouridine, a molecule involved in RNA metabolism. Furthermore, a marginal increase in abundance of antibiotic-resistance genes, tetQ, was observed in dyslipidemia cases, suggesting a potential link between the gut resistome and metabolic dysregulation. These results offer novel insights into the role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of dyslipidemia and underscore potential microbiome-targeted interventions for metabolic disease management.IMPORTANCEDyslipidemia, characterized by abnormal blood lipid levels, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a role in lipid metabolism, although findings across studies have varied. This study analyzed the gut microbiota, metabolic pathways, predicted gut metabolites, and antimicrobial resistance genes in 1,384 participants using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Individuals with dyslipidemia exhibited an imbalance in gut bacteria, including an increase in Bacteroides caccae, a species associated with inflammation, and a decrease in short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria such as Coprococcus eutactus and Blautia obeum, which support metabolic health. Furthermore, we identified significant changes in microbial metabolic pathways related to energy storage and immune function, as well as an increased abundance of tetracycline resistance genes (tetQ), suggesting a potential link between dyslipidemia and antimicrobial resistance. Our study provides a comprehensive overview of dyslipidemia-associated gut microbial alterations, highlighting potential mechanistic links and therapeutic targets.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Mambuque E, Del Amo-de Palacios A, Huete SG, et al (2026)

Beyond bacilli: integrating the microbiome into the TB research agenda.

Gut microbes, 18(1):2638004.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious killer, with growing evidence that the human microbiome-particularly in the gut and lungs-shapes susceptibility, progression, and treatment outcomes. Over the past decade, studies have reported that TB-associated dysbiosis, which is more common in the gut than in the lung, is often marked by the loss of short-chain fatty acid-producing taxa and the expansion of opportunistic microbes. However, findings are frequently confounded by diet, antibiotic exposure, comorbidities, geography, and methodological variability. Most research has relied on compositional profiling, offering limited insight into functional mechanisms. This narrative review synthesizes recent evidence, emphasizing the need to integrate multiomics approaches-metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics-and experimental validation to uncover causal links between microbiome alterations and TB pathogenesis or therapy response. We discuss potential clinical applications, including microbiome-based diagnostics (such as stool-based microbial or metabolite signatures for TB risk stratification), prognostic indicators (such as gut microbiome recovery predicting immune normalization during therapy), and adjunctive interventions (including microbiome-derived products to reduce drug-induced liver injury or fecal microbiota transplantation, which has been shown to be safe in people with HIV on stable ART) to mitigate drug toxicity or enhance immune recovery. Key priorities include methodological standardization, confounder control, mechanistic studies, and the inclusion of high-burden settings. By moving beyond descriptive surveys toward functional, translational research, integrating insights from different microbiome methods into TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment could redefine the clinical research agenda and open new avenues for precision medicine in this global disease.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Wang E, Yan H, Kong Z, et al (2026)

Gamma irradiation and heat exposure generate temperature-responsive microbiota shifts in predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae).

Journal of economic entomology pii:8505695 [Epub ahead of print].

The growing urgency of climate change, particularly the rising frequency and severity of extreme heat events, has spotlighted the need for the thermal resilience of natural enemy in pest management. To understand the plasticity of predatory mite in response to thermal adaptation, 3 irradiated strains of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot were induced by Cobalt-60 gamma rays to evaluate the thermotolerance. We integrated both DNA- and RNA-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore whether irradiation and heat stress could impact the microbiome of the predatory mites. Our findings revealed that irradiation enhanced the heat tolerance of predatory mites without compromising fecundity or predation efficiency. Unexpectedly, irradiation had minimal impacts on overall microbial diversity, whereas RNA-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing unveiled irradiation strain-specific enrichment of stress-responsive taxa (e.g., Bacillus sp.), while no such specific enrichment was observed at the DNA level. Furthermore, heat stress significantly restructured the microbiome of P. persimilis, particularly enriching Limnobacter thiooxidans. Methodologically, the DNA/RNA microbial profiles highlighted divergent functional partitioning: Gammaproteobacteria dominated at DNA level, while transcriptionally active Actinobacteria prevailed in RNA level. In conclusion, these results establish a "host-microbiota co-regulation" paradigm for resistance breeding, offering a sustainable pathway to reinforce biological control systems against global warming challenges.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Wang Y, OuYang J, Zhang H, et al (2026)

The Efficacy of Gut Microbiome-Modulating Therapies on Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Clinical and translational gastroenterology pii:01720094-990000000-00550 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: Gut microbiome-modulating therapies are potential strategies for managing liver cirrhosis (LC), yet head-to-head comparisons to determine the optimal intervention are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate and rank the therapeutic efficacy of these therapies on liver function and disease progression in patients with LC.

METHODS: We searched major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 1, 2000, to December 30, 2024. Interventions included probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) versus placebo or standard care. Primary outcomes were hepatic function indicators; secondary outcomes included inflammatory markers. Data were analyzed using random-effects frequentist network meta-analyses. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD420251000506).

RESULTS: Seventeen studies comprising 1051 individuals were included. Synbiotics demonstrated the most significant efficacy among all interventions, showing superior reduction in blood ammonia levels compared to placebo (Mean Difference (MD): -5.57), probiotics, and prebiotics. Prebiotics showed significant differences in lowering endotoxin levels compared to placebo (MD: -3.29) and probiotics. Furthermore, relative to placebo, prebiotics significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (MD: -2.30) and interleukin-6 levels (MD: -4.60).

CONCLUSIONS: This network meta-analysis advances current knowledge by establishing an evidence-based hierarchy of efficacy. Synbiotics are most effective for reducing blood ammonia, whereas prebiotics demonstrate superior efficacy in lowering endotoxin and inflammatory markers. These results support a personalized therapeutic approach: prioritizing synbiotics for patients with hyperammonemia, and prebiotics for those characterized by systemic inflammation. Future high-quality RCTs are needed to standardize specific strain combinations.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Wang D, Han J, Wang X, et al (2026)

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus B6 alleviates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease by suppressing intestinal LPS synthesis and regulating lipid metabolism.

Frontiers in endocrinology, 17:1755982.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become a global epidemic with an unclear etiology and no effective therapeutic options. Disruption of the gut-liver axis driven by intestinal dysbiosis is closely implicated in MAFLD pathogenesis, making gut microbiota-targeted probiotic interventions promising preventive strategies.

METHODS: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus B6, a probiotic strain isolated from homemade Bulgarian fermented milk, synthesizes immunomodulatory macromolecules and regulates the intestinal flora. In the present study, we comprehensively investigated the colonization ability and MAFLD-alleviating effects of L. rhamnosus B6 in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced murine MAFLD model using an integrated approach encompassing metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics, serum biochemical assays, and liver histopathological analysis.

RESULTS: Supplementation with L. rhamnosus B6 markedly decreased the relative abundance of Cupriavidus, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Enterobacteriacea, and inhibited the predicted lipopolysaccharide (LPS) synthesis pathway, thereby suppressing the inflammatory response. Furthermore, L. rhamnosus B6 intervention elevated unsaturated fatty acid levels by modulating lipid metabolic pathways, specifically mitochondrial β-oxidation of long-chain saturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and sphingolipid metabolism, while downregulating predicted myo-inositol degradation pathways, collectively contributing to MAFLD alleviation. In vitro, the metabolites of L. rhamnosus B6 exerted potent inhibitory activity against LPS-producing bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica).

DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate that L. rhamnosus B6 is a promising probiotic for MAFLD alleviation via dual mechanisms of attenuating inflammation and regulating lipid metabolism. This study provides compelling evidence for the specific protective effects of L. rhamnosus B6 against MAFLD and offers a novel probiotic-based therapeutic strategy for MAFLD.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Zou Q, Zhang W, Xie H, et al (2026)

Inflammatory bowel disease through the lens of microbe-host interactions: immunomodulation, metabolic effects, and genetic susceptibility in microbiota dysbiosis.

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 16:1745929.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease-unclassified, is a complex intestinal disease influenced by microbial factors, genetic and environmental. IBD has become a global disease with an increasing prevalence, endangering human health worldwide. Through its interactions with host immunity, bacterial metabolites, and genetic components, the intestinal microbiome plays a crucial role in initiating and advancing IBD. Treatment for IBD includes not only corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, antibiotics, TNF-α, α4β7 integrins, IL-12/23 antibodies, and small molecule antibodies, but also complementary and alternative medical therapies such as probiotics and prebiotics. This review primarily explores the relationship between dysbiosis of the microbiota and IBD, including the immune system, metabolites, and genetics related to microorganisms, to provide a deeper and more systematic understanding of the mechanisms linking microbial imbalance to IBD.

RevDate: 2026-03-06
CmpDate: 2026-03-06

Tang X, Man C, Liu Z, et al (2026)

Research on microbial communities in tumor microenvironments: cutting-edge dynamics and future trends from a bibliometric perspective.

Frontiers in immunology, 17:1745842.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, researchers have identified numerous potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets applicable to cancer immunotherapy, among which the role of tumor-internal microorganisms in the tumor microenvironment has been explored. However, this field is still in its early stages of development, facing limitations such as the unclear mechanisms of interaction between tumor-internal microorganisms and host immunity, as well as significant variations in microbial profiles among different tumor types and patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the research hotspots and development trends of tumor-internal microorganisms through bibliometric methods and to construct a systematic knowledge map.

METHODS: This study retrieved publications related to tumor-internal microorganisms from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) prior to December 22, 2025. Subsequently, the selected literature was analyzed using VOSviewer (v.1.6.20), CiteSpace (v.6.4.1R), and SCImago Graphica. In addition, we integrated PubMed data to assess status and trends in preclinical and clinical studies of intratumoral microbiota interventions for anti-tumor therapy efficacy.

RESULTS: From the Web of Science database, we retrieved 1,278 relevant articles. Since 2012, the number of papers published on the intratumoral microbiota has shown an overall upward trend. China and the United States are the two major countries in this field. Keyword analysis shows that "tumor microbiome," "gut microbiome," "cancer," and "Fusobacterium nucleatum" are frequent terms. 11 keyword groups have been identified, among which "tumor immunotherapy" and "immune microenvironment" form two important groups. A total of 69 preclinical and clinical studies has intervened in intratumoral microbiota and affected anti-tumor treatment outcomes. Among them, 25 studies involving Fusobacterium nucleatum account for a large proportion. However, most of these studies are still at the basic or preclinical stage, and clinical translation evidence is limited.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Zhang YW, Li RY, Wu Y, et al (2026)

Gut microbiota and bone aging: Focusing on the gut-X axis modes.

Journal of orthopaedic translation, 57:101064.

UNLABELLED: As studies have continuously advanced, cross-linking interplay between various organs in aging individuals have continuously emerged as research hotspots. The role of gut microbiota in bone aging-related diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration, has been extensively probed. This review first summarized the inseparable association between gut microbiota and osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration, which then explored potential mechanisms of gut-X axis through neuromodulation (microbiota-gut-brain-bone axis), immunomodulation (Th17 and Treg balance), endocrine regulation (gut-derived hormones and 5-HT), metabolite-mediated regulation (SCFAs), bacterial extracellular vesicles, and changes in microbial niche and gut microbiome-associated biomarkers. Moreover, potential intervention strategies including diet, probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and physical activity were summarized to enhance clinical translation applicability. This review creatively exhibited integrated concept of "gut-X axis" to explore common, patterned mechanisms underlying "gut-bone axis", "gut-joint axis", and "gut-disc axis". Furthermore, it delves into potential mechanisms by which this shared pattern regulates bone aging-related diseases and prospectively outlines therapeutic strategies for bone aging based on this axis.

This review presents crucial role and regulatory significance of gut-X axis modes in common bone-aging related diseases. By anchoring the gut-X axis as intervention targets, the thinking of gut microbiota and its related metabolites in basic studies and clinical prevention and treatment of bone aging-related diseases might be expanded, and its clinical application transformation and development could be innovated.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Lin F, Xu Y, Lin S, et al (2026)

Unraveling volatile and microbial dynamics of Pukeng tea with different storage times using metabolomics, chemometrics, and microbiome analysis.

Food chemistry: X, 34:103692.

Pukeng tea (PKT), a traditional Chinese dark tea, has been consumed for centuries, yet its volatile and microbial dynamics remain unclear. This study integrated metabolomics, chemometrics, and microbiome analysis to explore PKTs with 3-20 years of storage. HS-SPME-GC-MS identified 189 volatiles, mainly alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. PCA and PLS-DA revealed distinct metabolite patterns, with 46 differential volatiles, such as 1-butanol and 1-penten-3-ol, characterized as potential discriminants among PKT samples. Microbiota analysis showed 11 dominant bacterial genera, shifting from Firmicutes in early storage to Actinobacteriota in later stages, while Aspergillus dominated fungal communities. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between dominant microbes such as Staphylococcus and Saccharopolyspora and aroma-active volatiles, suggesting microbial contributions to PKT's evolving flavor. This study provides the first integrated characterization of volatile and microbial diversity in PKT, offering insights into quality control, product authentication, and functional microbe discovery for the sustainable development of traditional dark teas.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Maisto L, Telegrafo C, Rubino F, et al (2026)

Multifaceted human gut microbiome data associated with health and nutrition.

Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1722500.

The microbiome, also considered the hidden organ, is a fundamental ecosystem directly associated with the disease and health status of the human body. With the availability of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, a growing number of studies from clinical and experimental (observation and intervention) samples are constantly revealing new findings on the relationship between human organs and their microbiomes. In such a context, diet and nutrition are among the key factors influencing microbiome composition, richness, and functional behavior. In this review, we illustrate how microbiome-related data and associated metadata are in recent times scattered across primary and specialized databases with different levels of curation, annotation, and standardization, limiting, to some extent, the possibility of deep data discovery, reuse, alignment, and harmonization. Therefore, we describe the way Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data principles would enhance the onset of novel scientific hypotheses and potential microbiome-targeted therapies by improving the standardization policies in data sources. Accordingly, using advanced semantic classification and data mining technologies based on suitable and comprehensive ontologies, annotations of studies present in source databases or in scientific literature would further improve the data and metadata enrichment, integration and alignment relevant to microbiome data associated with health, disease and nutrition.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Wang M, Li X, Liu X, et al (2026)

Restaurant occupational exposure affects the profiles of oral and gut pathobiomes and resistomes.

Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1771459.

INTRODUCTION: Restaurant occupational exposure refers to contact with food-processing environments, raw materials, and customers, which may influence the composition of the human microbiome. Differences and associations between human oral and gut pathobiome and their resistomes under restaurant occupational exposure remain unclear. We conducted a comprehensive metagenomic analysis of paired oral and fecal samples from Front-of-House (FOH) workers and Back-of-House (BOH) workers to elucidate the effects of occupational exposure in the restaurant environment on oral and gut pathobiome, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factors (VFs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs).

METHODS: We collected the oral and fecal samples from 35 FOH and 37 BOH workers across 24 Chinese restaurants in Zhengzhou, Henan, China. The diversity and relative abundances of microbial species, ARGs, VFs, and MGEs were compared. Clonal strains from paired oral and fecal samples were analyzed. The serovars of Salmonella were determined using the ucgMLST. Finally, we used the O2PLS method to explore relationships among ARG subtypes, bacterial communities (species-level), MGEs (subtype-level), and plasmids.

RESULTS: The gut microbiome acts as the primary reservoir, exhibiting greater alpha diversity and a higher burden of pathogens/resistomes (including high-risk Rank_I genes). In contrast, the oral microbiome was more sensitive to occupational differences. Significant beta diversity variations in microbiomes, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), and virulence factors were observed exclusively in oral samples. Notably, Salmonella Typhimurium was significantly more prevalent in the oral cavity of BOH workers (R [2] = 0.032, p = 0.047), indicating their potential role as intermediaries in foodborne pathogen transmission. Strain-level analysis confirmed that clonal strains of the opportunistic pathogen and probiotics were shared between the oral cavity and the gut. O2PLS analysis identified plasmids as the main correlates of ARGs.

DISCUSSION: While the gut serves as the primary reservoir for pathogens/resistomes, restaurant occupational exposure distinctly shapes oral microbial/resistome profiles, underscoring the critical need for reinforced hygiene management, particularly for BOH workers, to mitigate pathogen and resistance transmission.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Wang S, Ding Y, Cai C, et al (2026)

16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequencing reveals bile microbiome features in gallstone disease and their links to blood lipid subtypes.

Frontiers in microbiology, 17:1741489.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone disease (GSD) represents a major global health burden with complex pathophysiology involving bile microbiome dysbiosis and metabolic dysfunction. Although previous studies have examined bile microbial communities, the relationship between bile microbiome composition and specific lipid phenotypes remains incompletely understood.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 28 adults undergoing cholecystectomy for radiologically and pathologically confirmed gallstones. Bile samples were collected intraoperatively and subjected to 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid V3-V4 region sequencing. Patients were stratified by lipid subtypes based on contemporary dyslipidaemia guidelines. Microbial diversity, community structure and differential abundance analyses were performed alongside machine learning classification.

RESULTS: The bile microbiome exhibited distinct compositional patterns between the hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) and non-HTG (NTG) groups, with key phyla (Proteobacteria, Firmicutes) showing group-specific abundance trends and alpha diversity indices reflecting reduced evenness in HTG. Beta diversity analyses demonstrated mild-to-moderate separation between groups, and the linear discriminant analysis effect size technique identified discriminatory taxa with potential functional relevance. Random forest classification achieved moderate accuracy in predicting lipid subtypes based on microbial features.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed associations between bile microbiome composition and systemic lipid metabolism in GSD, suggesting potential mechanistic links through bile acid metabolism and farnesoid X receptor-fibroblast growth factor 19 signaling pathways.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Qin SD, Zhang YW, JZ Wang (2026)

Evaluating the association between oral microbiota and cardiovascular diseases: evidence from Mendelian randomization analysis.

Journal of geriatric cardiology : JGC, 23(1):36-44.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested a potential role of the oral microbiome in the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the association between oral microbiota and cardiovascular disease risk, including atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, and hypertension.

METHODS: We analyzed GWAS data from East Asian populations' oral microbiome, involving 2,017 tongue and 1,915 saliva samples from 2,984 individuals with whole-genome sequencing. Additionally, we sourced cardiovascular disease GWAS data from NBDC, including atrial fibrillation (8,180 cases, 28,621 controls), myocardial infarction (14,992 cases, 146,214 controls), chronic heart failure (10,540 cases, 168,186 controls), and systolic blood pressure (145,505 individuals).

RESULTS: Several oral microbiota taxa were found to be significantly associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes. Specific microbiota, such as Centipeda, Corynebacterium, and Pseudomonas E, were negatively correlated with heart failure. In contrast, taxa like Neisseria D and Actinomyces were associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction. Additionally, certain oral microbiota showed correlations with changes in blood pressure, highlighting their potential role in hypertension.

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the oral microbiota may influence the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, providing new insights into the potential impact of oral health on cardiovascular risk.

RevDate: 2026-03-05

Fan W, Tan T, Yang C, et al (2026)

Indole-acetaldehyde from Rothia mucilaginosa activates the PXR/NRF2 axis to enhance alveolar macrophage phagocytosis and protect against ARDS.

Respiratory research, 27(1):.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in therapeutic strategies, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mortality remains high. Growing evidence links respiratory microbiome composition to ARDS outcomes. This investigation sought to elucidate how colonizing bacteria and their metabolites influence ARDS pathogenesis.

METHODS: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with pulmonary infections was analyzed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to identify characteristic bacteria. Bacterial culture supernatants were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS) to identify metabolites. A murine ARDS model was established through intratracheal LPS instillation. Single-cell sequencing datasets from the GEO database were analyzed to reveal differential cell populations and functional alterations in murine ARDS. Potential molecular mechanisms were explored through molecular docking, RNA-seq analysis, Western boltting, and targeted gene knockdown in murine and cellular model.

RESULTS: R. mucilaginosa demonstrated enrichment in patients without ARDS (nARDS). The bacterial culture supernatant conferred substantial protection in murine models, whereas viable bacteria showed minimal efficacy. LC-MS analysis identified indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld) as the predominant metabolite in the supernatant. Single-cell sequencing suggested that resident alveolar macrophages (RAMs) were pivotal cells in murine ARDS model. IAAld enhanced RAMs phagocytosis, facilitating neutrophil and LPS clearance. Mechanistic studies revealed that IAAld likely activated PXR signaling, promoted NRF2 nuclear translocation, and upregulated the phagocytosis-related gene CD36. Targeted PXR knockdown eliminated these protective effects.

CONCLUSION: The respiratory commensal R. mucilaginosa synthesizes IAAld, which—independent of bacterial colonization per se—ameliorates ARDS through PXR/NRF2/CD36 axis activation, thereby enhancing macrophage phagocytic function. These findings suggest that therapeutic targeting of microbial metabolites represents a novel ARDS treatment paradigm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-026-03551-3.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Ren L, Wang Z, Yang Z, et al (2026)

Microbial succession and machine learning for postmortem interval estimation in bromadiolone-poisoned cadavers.

AMB Express, 16(1):.

UNLABELLED: Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a major challenge in forensic investigations. Although microbial succession has emerged as a promising biological clock, the impact of xenobiotic exposure on internal microbial communities during decomposition remain poorly understood. Here, we established a bromadiolone-poisoned rat model and systematically sampled gut and anus swabs at 6 h intervals over 96 h postmortem period. Bromadiolone exposure produced dose-dependent effects on decomposition, with high-doses delaying the progression, potentially by altering tissue integrity or microbial activity. 16 S rRNA sequencing revealed that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla during decomposition, followed by Bacteroidota, Desulfobacterota, and Actinobacteriota. Notably, microbial community dynamics were driven more strongly by anatomical location than by toxicant exposure, highlighting the critical role of sampling site. Furthermore, five machine-learning algorithms were evaluated for PMI prediction. GB regression outperformed RF, RR, SV, and LR, achieving an R[2] of 0.954 and an RMSE of 5.6 h. Feature analysis identified Proteus mirabilis and Morganella morganii as dominant positive biomarkers, while gut-associated taxa (e.g., Lactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus) declined over time. Together, these results demonstrate that bromadiolone exposure induces site-specific perturbations in microbial community, the underlying successional dynamics remain sufficiently robust to support accurate PMI estimation. The GB model provides both predictive accuracy and biological interpretability, highlighting the importance of incorporating anatomical location and toxicological stress into microbiome-based PMI estimation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13568-026-02023-7.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Zhang B, Liu Y, Zhou D, et al (2026)

The role of quorum sensing in rhizosphere community regulation during bacterial wilt pathogen invasion.

Frontiers in plant science, 17:1685007.

Bacterial wilt, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is a major threat to solanaceous crops worldwide. The onset of this disease is frequently associated with disruptions in the rhizosphere microbial community. Quorum sensing (QS), a key mechanism for microbial communication, plays a critical role in regulating microbial interactions and maintaining community structure. However, whether and how QS is involved in reshaping the rhizosphere microbiome during R. Solanacearum infection remains poorly understood. In this study we compared QS-related genes, signaling pathways, and network structures in metagenomes of healthy and wilt-infected rhizospheres. The results show QS-related genes of the plant beneficial bacterial were significantly down-regulate, whereas QS-related genes of pathogenic R. Solanacearum were up-regulated in wilt-infected rhizosphere. The up-regulated QS genes of pathogens belong to eight QS signaling pathways (AI-1, GABA, PapR, NprX, Phr, cCF10, and DSF). Network analysis showed a simplified structure in the wilt-infected rhizosphere. It is also found the number of connectors in the QS gene co-occurrence network was reduced in wilt-infected rhizosphere network. This is due to the upregulation of QS system allows the pathogen to mediate the rhizosphere microbial ecology network, and leads to destabilization of rhizosphere community. These findings demonstrate that QS system contributes to bacterial wilt infection by suppressing the QS-based interactions among plant beneficial microbes, thereby triggering community function disruption.

RevDate: 2026-03-04
CmpDate: 2026-03-04

Wang X, He J, Ding G, et al (2026)

Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Multi-Omics for Predicting Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response and Resistance.

Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare, 19:572089.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have reshaped oncology, yet overall response rates remain modest and resistance is common, driven by tumor heterogeneity and evolving tumor-immune crosstalk. Established biomarkers (PD-L1, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability) provide incomplete prediction. Multi-omics profiling across genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenomic, metabolomic and microbiomic layers offers a systems-level view of malignant and immune states, uncovering determinants of ICI efficacy such as lineage plasticity, stromal remodeling, immunometabolic reprogramming and microbiome-associated immune modulation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is uniquely positioned to fuse these heterogeneous data, learn non-linear cross-layer signatures, and enable interpretable predictions using approaches such as SHAP and Grad-CAM. Representative models link routine histology or imaging to molecular phenotypes, stratify patients beyond single biomarkers, and may nominate rational combinations that target oncogenic pathways, lactate-driven immune suppression, or the gut microbiome. In this narrative review, we synthesize recent AI-multi-omics advances for response modeling, immune-relevant tumor subtyping, and clinical translation, including radiomics/pathomics integration and liquid-biopsy-based monitoring, as well as emerging applications in toxicity risk prediction. We also discuss barriers to implementation-platform heterogeneity, limited prospective validation, bias, interpretability and cost-and outline future directions, including single-cell and spatial multi-omics integration, federated learning and generative modeling to improve robustness and equity of precision immunotherapy.

RevDate: 2026-03-04

Popova PV, Loboda AA, Liaudanski A, et al (2026)

Maternal Gut Microbiome as a Predictor of Insulin Therapy Requirement in Gestational Diabetes.

Journal of diabetes science and technology [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) often requires pharmacological intervention beyond lifestyle modification to achieve optimal glycemic control. This study aimed to develop machine learning models that integrate clinical and gut microbiome data to predict the need for insulin therapy (IT) in women with GDM.

METHODS: We characterized 205 pregnant women with GDM from the Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms of Developing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and its Effects on the Fetus study, collecting clinical parameters, lifestyle questionnaires, self-monitored blood glucose records, and gut microbiome profiles based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Gradient-boosting models were trained to predict IT, basal insulin (BI), and prandial insulin (PI) requirements. Model discrimination was assessed using repeated stratified five-fold cross-validated area under the curve-receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) (nested cross-validation). Feature importance and interpretability were evaluated with SHapley Additive exPlanations and permutation analyses. Differential microbial abundance was analyzed by ANCOM-BC2 (analysis of composition of microbiomes with bias correction, version 2), and metabolic pathways were predicted via PICRUSt2.

RESULTS: Women requiring insulin were older and had higher pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose, 1-hour oral glucose tolerance test glucose, and glycated hemoglobin than diet-treated women (P < .05 for all). Adding microbiome data improved AUC-ROC for IT prediction from 0.63 (95% CI = 0.43, 0.83) to 0.70 (0.50, 0.89), BI from 0.77 (0.59, 0.95) to 0.82 (0.65, 0.99), and for PI from 0.69 (0.50, 0.88) to 0.70 (0.51, 0.89). Key influential features included glycemic markers, BMI, and microbial taxa, such as Phascolarctobacterium faecium, Alistipes ihumii, Cloacibacillus evryensis, Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans, and Methanosphaera stadtmanae, and the predicted microbial metabolic pathway PWY-5823.

CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that integrating gut microbiome characteristics with clinical data improves the prediction of insulin treatment needs in GDM, particularly for BI initiation.

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ESP Quick Facts

ESP Origins

In the early 1990's, Robert Robbins was a faculty member at Johns Hopkins, where he directed the informatics core of GDB — the human gene-mapping database of the international human genome project. To share papers with colleagues around the world, he set up a small paper-sharing section on his personal web page. This small project evolved into The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project.

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In 1995, Robbins became the VP/IT of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. Soon after arriving in Seattle, Robbins secured funding, through the ELSI component of the US Human Genome Project, to create the original ESP.ORG web site, with the formal goal of providing free, world-wide access to the literature of classical genetics.

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Although the methods of molecular biology can seem almost magical to the uninitiated, the original techniques of classical genetics are readily appreciated by one and all: cross individuals that differ in some inherited trait, collect all of the progeny, score their attributes, and propose mechanisms to explain the patterns of inheritance observed.

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In reading the early works of classical genetics, one is drawn, almost inexorably, into ever more complex models, until molecular explanations begin to seem both necessary and natural. At that point, the tools for understanding genome research are at hand. Assisting readers reach this point was the original goal of The Electronic Scholarly Publishing Project.

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Usage of the site grew rapidly and has remained high. Faculty began to use the site for their assigned readings. Other on-line publishers, ranging from The New York Times to Nature referenced ESP materials in their own publications. Nobel laureates (e.g., Joshua Lederberg) regularly used the site and even wrote to suggest changes and improvements.

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When the site began, no journals were making their early content available in digital format. As a result, ESP was obliged to digitize classic literature before it could be made available. For many important papers — such as Mendel's original paper or the first genetic map — ESP had to produce entirely new typeset versions of the works, if they were to be available in a high-quality format.

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Early support from the DOE component of the Human Genome Project was critically important for getting the ESP project on a firm foundation. Since that funding ended (nearly 20 years ago), the project has been operated as a purely volunteer effort. Anyone wishing to assist in these efforts should send an email to Robbins.

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With the development of methods for adding typeset side notes to PDF files, the ESP project now plans to add annotated versions of some classical papers to its holdings. We also plan to add new reference and pedagogical material. We have already started providing regularly updated, comprehensive bibliographies to the ESP.ORG site.

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Along with papers on classical genetics, ESP offers a collection of full-text digital books, including many works by Darwin and even a collection of poetry — Chicago Poems by Carl Sandburg.

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ESP now offers a large collection of user-selected side-by-side timelines (e.g., all science vs. all other categories, or arts and culture vs. world history), designed to provide a comparative context for appreciating world events.

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