Review
Plant Sciences
Elvira Hoerandl
Summary: The term Geographical parthenogenesis refers to the fact that asexual organisms usually occupy larger and more northern distribution areas than their sexual relatives and tend to colonize previously glaciated areas. While research in the last decade has shed some light on the question, the causal factors behind this phenomenon are still unclear. Uniparental reproduction and ecological factors like cold tolerance and epigenetic flexibility appear to play important roles in the success of apomictic plants, rather than genotypic diversity. Classical evolutionary theories like the Red Queen hypothesis have not been supported by studies on plants. The association of sexuality with abiotic stresses and the constraints on the origin of apomixis remain enigmatic. Future research directions are proposed.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaowei Mu, Yiwen Zhu, Yu Wang, Shuang Qu, Yichun Huang, Liang Zheng, Shun Duan, Bingran Yu, Meng Qin, Fu-Jian Xu
Summary: A novel cationic polysaccharide conjugate, Dex-g-PSS30, disrupts bacterial membranes and efflux pumps, enhancing antibiotic accumulation and restoring efficacy. In a mouse model, Dex-g-PSS30 reduces inflammatory reactions, showing excellent biological absorption and degradation capabilities, providing a new treatment strategy for multidrug-resistant bacteria.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna Navarro, Isabella Sanseverino, Francesca Cappelli, Armin Lahm, Magdalena Niegowska, Marco Fabbri, Valentina Paracchini, Mauro Petrillo, Helle Skejo, Sara Valsecchi, Rosalba Pedraccini, Stefano Guglielmetti, Stefano Frattini, Gabriella Villani, Teresa Lettieri
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the bacterial diversity and background level of antibiotic resistance in two freshwater ecosystems with low anthropogenic impact. The results showed higher bacterial load in the Tiber River compared to the Variola River. The presence of resistant bacteria was detected, especially in the Tiber River, which showed resistance to all antibiotics tested, while the Variola River showed variable resistance to two or more antibiotics. The dominant resistance gene identified was blaTEM, conferring resistance to f3-lactam antibiotics, present in 58% of isolates, compared to only 9% for mefA/E conferring resistance to macrolides. f3-lactam resistance was detected in isolates showing resistance to additional antibiotics such as macrolides, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
William S. Pearman, Grant A. Duffy, Xiaoyue P. Liu, Neil J. Gemmell, Sergio E. Morales, Ceridwen Fraser
Summary: This study examines the coupled biogeography of the model macroalga Durvillaea and its microbiome using a combination of genotyping by sequencing (host) and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (microbiome). The results show that the host and microbiome exhibit shared biogeographical structure arising from different processes, with host biogeography showing geographical distance decay and the microbiome showing environmental distance decay. The abundance of microbes is linked to environmental selection, and as microbes become less common, ecological processes shift towards neutral processes.
Article
Ecology
Diane S. Srivastava, A. Andrew M. MacDonald, Valerio D. Pillar, Pavel Kratina, Vanderlei J. Debastiani, Laura Melissa Guzman, Mark Kurtis Trzcinski, Olivier Dezerald, Ignacio M. Barberis, Paula M. de Omena, Gustavo Q. Romero, Fabiola Ospina-Bautista, Nicholas A. C. Marino, Celine Leroy, Vinicius F. Farjalla, Barbara A. Richardson, Ana Z. Goncalves, Bruno Corbara, Jana S. Petermann, Michael J. Richardson, Michael C. Melnychuk, Merlijn Jocque, Jacqueline T. Ngai, Stanislas Talaga, Gustavo C. O. Piccoli, Guillermo Montero, Kathryn R. Kirby, Brian M. Starzomski, Regis Cereghino
Summary: This study examines the influence of environmental gradients on species composition and trait-based assembly patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrates in tropical bromeliads.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nachiket P. Marathe, Didrik H. Grevskott, Francisco Salva-Serra, Priyank S. Nimje, Cecilie S. Svanevik, Bjorn Tore Lunestad, Edward R. B. Moore
Summary: This study found clinically-important multidrug-resistant conjugative plasmids in seawater samples from Bergen harbor. These plasmids carry various resistance genes and virulence factors, posing a potential risk of transmission to human microbiota. The results highlight the need for surveillance of antibiotic resistance, as suggested by the World Health Organization, even in low prevalence settings like Norway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Winston E. Anthony, Carey-Ann D. Burnham, Gautam Dantas, Jennie H. Kwon
Summary: This review discusses the gut as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance and pathogen colonization, with a focus on beta-lactam and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance. It also explores the use of functional metagenomics and long-read sequencing technologies to detect and understand antimicrobial resistance genes within the gut microbiome, as well as the potential for future microbiome-directed methods for detecting and preventing infections.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
George Hajishengallis, Richard J. Lamont, Hyun Koo
Summary: Oral microbial communities form complex spatial structures and regulate their collective function and adaptability through sophisticated physical and chemical signaling systems. The balance or dysbiosis of these communities, influenced by intra-community interactions, host and environmental factors, plays a crucial role in oral diseases such as periodontitis and dental caries. Dysbiosis in oral polymicrobial communities also has systemic effects, partly due to the colonization of oral pathogens in extra-oral tissues.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Katarzyna Grudlewska-Buda, Justyna Bauza-Kaszewska, Natalia Wiktorczyk-Kapischke, Anna Budzynska, Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska, Krzysztof Skowron
Summary: Antibiotic resistance and multidrug resistance have been confirmed in major foodborne pathogens, including Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Concerningly, new antibiotic-resistant food pathogens unrelated to food contamination or considered epidemiologically insignificant have also been reported. Thorough monitoring of strains isolated from food is necessary to understand the existing mechanisms of resistance.
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Cristina Uruen, Carla Garcia, Lorenzo Fraile, Jan Tommassen, Jesus Arenas
Summary: Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen causing severe infections in pigs and humans, resulting in economic losses. The lack of effective vaccines has led to extensive antibiotic use, leading to the emergence of resistance. The genetic mechanisms of resistance in S. suis are diverse, involving target modification, antibiotic inactivation enzymes, and mutations in antibiotic targets. S. suis forms microcolonies on host tissues, which contribute to antibiotic tolerance and the rapid acquisition of multidrug resistance.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Stephen J. Kassinger, Monique L. van Hoek
Summary: Tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis has been historically developed into a biological weapon. In order to optimize patient treatment and potentially develop new antimicrobials, understanding the genetically encoded determinants of antibiotic resistance in Francisella is crucial. Research has been conducted on both the experimental and bioinformatic aspects of antibiotic resistance in Francisella, as well as the difference in phenotypic resistance between planktonic and biofilm forms of the bacteria.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucas Dantas Lopes, Stephanie L. L. Futrell, Emily E. E. Wright, Gerasimos J. J. Danalatos, Michael J. J. Castellano, Tony J. J. Vyn, Sotirios V. V. Archontoulis, Daniel P. P. Schachtman
Summary: This study analyzed the bacterial diversity in soil samples from the U.S. Corn Belt using 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that soil depth had a major impact on the phylogenetic diversity of bacteria, while geographic location had a greater influence on the taxonomic diversity. The study also found that the distance-decay effect was stronger in the subsoil layers compared to the topsoil. Overall, this comprehensive study provides insights into important aspects of soil bacterial biogeography.
Editorial Material
Biology
Carolina Oliveira de Santana, Pieter Spealman, Gabriel G. Perron
Summary: The global spread of antibiotic resistance may be caused by various factors, not only the previous assumption of antibiotic overuse in agriculture and medicine.
Article
Biology
Tereza Stachurova, Nikola Sykorova, Jaroslav Semerad, Katerina Malachova
Summary: Wastewater is a serious source of antibiotic resistance spread in the environment. This study monitored the fate and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment plants and dams, and found increased concentrations of tetracycline and ampicillin along with an increase in multidrug-resistant strains. These strains, mostly identified as Aeromonas sp., exhibited high resistance to ampicillin and carried two or more ARGs, suggesting their potential role in the spread of multidrug resistance through wastewater in the environment.
Article
Biology
Lea Pradier, Stephanie Bedhomme
Summary: Antibiotic consumption alone does not fully explain the persistence of antibiotic resistance, as shown by the widespread presence of aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme (AME) genes in bacteria from various ecological contexts. This study demonstrates that the prevalence of AME-carrying bacteria is influenced by ecological factors more than antibiotic use. Analysis of resistome compositions reveals the importance of exchanges between soil, wildlife, and human samples in the dissemination of AME genes. Intervention strategies should consider both reducing antibiotic use and controlling exchanges between ecosystems.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jean Damascene Harindintwali, Leilei Xiang, Fang Wang, Scott X. Chang, Zhiliang Zhao, Zhi Mei, Zhongjun Jia, Xin Jiang, Yong-guan Zhu, James M. Tiedje
Summary: The extensive use of organic chemicals has led to the distribution of hydrocarbon contaminants in many ecosystems worldwide. Bacteria and archaea play a dominant role in transforming these contaminants into methane through a syntrophic process. The resulting methane is then oxidized by anaerobic bacteria and archaea in the presence of electron acceptors, contributing to the reduction of methane emissions and climate change mitigation. However, the specific pathways and syntrophic partners involved in this process are still poorly understood.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yanshuang Yu, Zhenchen Xie, Jigang Yang, Ruixiang Yang, Yuanping Li, Yongguan Zhu, Yanlin Zhao, Qiue Yang, Jichen Chen, Hend A. Alwathnani, Renwei Feng, Christopher Rensing, Martin Herzberg
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer in bacterial adaptation to arsenic and antimony-contaminated environments.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xi-Mei Xue, Hong-Yu Wang, Xin-Wei Yu, Shilin Hu, Li-Jie Huang, Hui-Cheng Yang, Like Gong, Kai Yang, Hong-Bo Li, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The metabolism and bioavailability of arsenosugars in edible seaweeds are influenced by gut microbiota. It was found that mice with disrupted gut microbiota excreted significantly higher levels of total arsenic in urine and lower levels in feces after consuming nori compared to normal mice. Arsenic speciation analysis revealed that phosphate arsenosugars in nori were mostly converted to arsenobetaine, while sulfonate arsenosugar in kelp remained intact in feces.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yiyue Zhang, Jian-Qiang Su, Hu Liao, Martin F. Breed, Haifeng Yao, Huayuan Shangguan, Hong-Zhe Li, Xin Sun, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Our study investigated the role of urbanization in promoting invasive species carrying human bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. We found that gut bacterial communities, antibiotic resistance genes, and potential antibiotic-resistant pathogens in giant African snails were significantly higher than in native snails and soils. The study highlights the high diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the gut of giant African snails, suggesting their potential role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaole Yin, Xi Chen, Xiao-Tao Jiang, Ying Yang, Bing Li, Marcus Ho-Hin Shum, Tommy T. Y. Lam, Gabriel M. Leung, Joan Rose, Concepcion Sanchez-Cid, Timothy M. Vogel, Fiona Walsh, Thomas U. Berendonk, Janet Midega, Chibuzor Uchea, Dominic Frigon, Gerard D. Wright, Carlos Bezuidenhout, Renata C. Picao, Shaikh Z. Ahammad, Per Halkjaer Nielsen, Philip Hugenholtz, Nicholas J. Ashbolt, Gianluca Corno, Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Helmut Buergmann, Heike Schmitt, Chang-Jun Cha, Amy Pruden, Kornelia Smalla, Eddie Cytryn, Yu Zhang, Min Yang, Yong-Guan Zhu, Arnaud Dechesne, Barth F. Smets, David W. Graham, Michael R. Gillings, William H. Gaze, Celia M. Manaia, Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht, Pedro J. J. Alvarez, Martin J. Blaser, James M. Tiedje, Edward Topp, Tong Zhang
Summary: Surveillance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental sectors is increasingly conducted to complement studies in human and animal sectors. However, comparing and synthesizing results from different studies using different test methods and bioinformatic analysis approaches pose substantial challenges. This article suggests a universal unit (ARG copy per cell) for reporting biological measurements of ARGs in order to improve comparability. By comparing commonly used quantification units, this study proposes a step towards standardization.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhenguang Lv, Min Xu, Ying Liu, Regin Ronn, Christopher Rensing, Song Liu, Shenghan Gao, Hao Liao, Yu-Rong Liu, Wenli Chen, Yong-Guan Zhu, Qiaoyun Huang, Xiuli Hao
Summary: Phagotrophic protist communities in long-term Cu-contaminated soils have important impacts on Cu-resistant bacterial populations. Certain communities, such as Cercozoa and Amoebozoa, increase the relative abundance of Cu-resistant bacteria, while the relative abundance of Ciliophora decreases. Phagotrophs positively influence the relative abundance of Cu-resistant and -sensitive ecological clusters, contributing to the abundance of the Cu resistance gene (copA).
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoting Fan, Jianqiang Su, Shuyidan Zhou, Xinli An, Hu Li
Summary: The global rise in antibiotic resistance among pathogenic microorganisms poses a significant threat to human health. Fresh vegetables have been identified as an important pathway for the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from the environment to humans. This study found that plant cultivars significantly influence the abundance and composition of bacteria and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the phyllosphere. The relative abundance of potential bacterial pathogens was higher in the phyllosphere compared to soils. Furthermore, the patterns of ARGs were significantly correlated with the patterns of potential bacterial pathogens. These findings highlight the importance of controlling the risk of foodborne ARGs and suggest the need for more agricultural and hygiene protocols.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Rui Zhou, Gui-Lan Duan, Pablo Garcia-Palacios, Guang Yang, Hui-Ling Cui, Ming Yan, Yue Yin, Xing-Yun Yi, Lv Li, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: This study revealed the regulatory role of environmental factors and genotype in shaping the microbiome composition of wild soybean leaves. It also identified the contribution of genotype and environmental factors to the foliar microbiome composition, as well as the core microbiota thriving on all soybean populations.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dong Zhu, Yiyue Zhang, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The prevalence of pathogens in the environment poses a serious health risk to humans. Human activity and global climate change have significant impacts on the distribution and dispersal of human pathogens in soil ecosystems. The identification of human pathogens in soil ecosystems, such as the gut of invasive animals and the plastisphere, highlights the need for effective monitoring and prediction of their dispersal. Further research is necessary to understand the global distribution of human pathogens in soil ecosystems and their potential health risks in the Anthropocene.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hang Wang, Jin-Feng Qi, Rong Qin, Kai Ding, David W. Graham, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: An analysis of genotype and phenotype profiles of antibiotic resistance in animal feces from eight Chinese farms reveals that intensively reared animals have higher levels of antibiotic resistance than those living in small-scale and free-range ways. This has implications for environmental health, as animal feces can be a major source of antibiotic resistance in the environment.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Ke-Qing Xiao, Yao Zhao, Chao Liang, Mingyu Zhao, Oliver W. Moore, Alba Otero-Farina, Yong-Guan Zhu, Karen Johnson, Caroline L. Peacock
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongteng Zhang, Huihuang Chen, Hans-Peter Grossart, Lei Jin, Xue Yan, Xiaofei Gao, Haihan Zhang, Yuanyuan Xue, Jun Yang
Summary: This field study reveals the depth-specific responses of bacteria in a subtropical deep reservoir to typhoon events. The findings show that typhoon events significantly increase bacterial diversity and alter community composition, with a more persistent effect on free-living bacteria compared to particle-attached bacteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Longji Zhu, Ruilong Li, Kai Yang, Fei Xu, Chenshuo Lin, Qinglin Chen, Dong Zhu, Qian Sun, Yong-Guan Zhu, Li Cui
Summary: This study systematically investigated the microbiomes, ARGs, and community assembly processes of five types of MPs in an urbanizing watershed, quantifying the health risks of ARGs in plastisphere and exploring the driving mechanisms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yichao Wu, Chengxia Fu, Caroline L. Peacock, Soren J. Sorensen, Marc A. Redmile-Gordon, Ke-Qing Xiao, Chunhui Gao, Jun Liu, Qiaoyun Huang, Zixue Li, Peiyi Song, Yongguan Zhu, Jizhong Zhou, Peng Cai
Summary: Cooperative interactions between free-living and biofilm-forming bacteria are found to drive spatial segregation and enable species coexistence in a microfluidic chip environment, promoting their respective dominance in segregated microhabitats. This active spatial segregation is induced by cooperative interactions, improving the fitness of both biofilm and planktonic populations. The study also shows that free-living Arthrobacter induces surface colonization and receives benefits from public goods secreted by biofilm-forming strains.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li Cui, Yuhan Xin, Kai Yang, Hongzhe Li, Fengjiao Tan, Yulong Zhang, Xingrui Li, Zhi Zhu, Jun Yang, Shuh-Ji Kao, Bin Ren, Yong-Guan Zhu, Florin Musat, Niculina Musat
Summary: In this study, a synergistic approach combining single-cell Raman microspectroscopy and stable isotope probing was developed to track metabolic interactions in active microbial assemblages. This approach allowed for the temporal tracking of intercellular and interspecies metabolite exchange in living cells, providing comprehensive metabolic profiling and advancing our understanding of microbial interactions.