Review
Veterinary Sciences
Mehdi Soltani, Bernardo Baldisserotto, Seyed Pezhman Hosseini Shekarabi, Shafigh Shafiei, Masoumeh Bashiri
Summary: Although medicinal herbs and plants do not show strong in vitro antagonism and in vivo disease resistance towards lactococcosis agents in aquaculture, essential oils containing thymol or carvacrol have been found to be more effective. In vivo studies have shown moderate efficacy of extracts in reducing mortality in infected animals and improving immune parameters. Further research is required to fully understand the potential of medicinal herbs in combating lactococcosis.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Renata Catao Egger, Julio Cesar Camara Rosa, Luis Fernando Lara Resende, Santiago Benites de Padua, Fernanda de Oliveira Barbosa, Mariana Taise Zerbini, Guilherme Campos Tavares, Henrique Cesar Pereira Figueiredo
Summary: This study investigated lactococcosis outbreaks in Nile tilapia on Brazilian farms and characterized the isolates through multilocus sequence typing (MLST), virulence to Nile tilapia, and antimicrobial susceptibility. The pathogenicity of L. petauri to Nile tilapia was confirmed, and its rapid expansion was observed. Provisional epidemiological cutoff values were determined for L. petauri for six antimicrobial agents from different drug classes.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Carlos Frances-Cuesta, Ivan Ansari, Jose Francisco Fernandez-Garayzabal, Alicia Gibello, Fernando Gonzalez-Candelas
Summary: Lactococcus garvieae is a well-known pathogen in fish and rarely causes infections in humans and other mammals. This study presents the complete genomic sequence of a clinical L. garvieae strain and compares it with other genomes. The results show that L. garvieae is a highly recombinogenic species with horizontal gene transfers comprising nearly 30% of its genome.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Luna Colagrossi, Valentino Costabile, Rossana Scutari, Marilena Agosta, Manuela Onori, Livia Mancinelli, Barbara Lucignano, Andrea Onetti Muda, Giada Del Baldo, Angela Mastronuzzi, Franco Locatelli, Guglielmo Trua, Mauro Montanari, Claudia Alteri, Paola Bernaschi, Carlo Federico Perno
Summary: This study reports three cases of sepsis in pediatric hematology patients caused by transfusion-associated transmission of L. garvieae. Whole-genome sequencing and metagenomics were used to investigate the genetic characteristics of L. garvieae isolates and the presence of the pathogen in the platelet concentrate. The results highlight the importance of screening platelet components for emerging pathogens and ensuring the safety of blood supply.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Qingyong Zheng, Lu Xiong, Huijun Li, Ming Liu, Jianguo Xu, Xiaofeng Luo
Summary: The purpose of this study is to analyze existing studies related to demoralization through bibliometrics. Relevant literature on demoralization was searched from various databases, and bibliometric analysis was conducted to explore publication trends, author-country collaboration, research hotspots, and future trends. The results showed that there has been a significant increase in research on demoralization since 2000, with the United States being the leading country in terms of publications. There is active collaboration among leading scholars, and major research hotspots include assessing demoralization, demographics and psychological disorders in different disease contexts, and the association and distinction of diverse clinical psychological abnormalities. The impact of COVID-19 on demoralization and subsequent interventions and psychological care may become a future research direction.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Shreesha Rao, Trung Hieu Pham, Sayuj Poudyal, Li-Wu Cheng, Sandra Celenia Nazareth, Pei-Chi Wang, Shih-Chu Chen
Summary: Cage-cultured cobia displayed clinical signs of L. garvieae-induced 'warm water lactococcosis' with haemorrhagic eyes, dorsal darkness, and organ enlargement. Histopathological analysis revealed congestion in affected organs, with isolates confirmed to be L. garvieae.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shahzad Munir, Ayesha Ahmed, Yongmei Li, Pengbo He, Brajesh K. Singh, Pengfei He, Xingyu Li, Suhail Asad, Yixin Wu, Yueqiu He
Summary: Huanglongbing has devastated the citrus industry globally, prompting large-scale research into engineering microbiomes through indigenous endophytes as a sustainable cure. This revolutionary approach is not only applicable to citrus-HLB, but also for tailoring customized solutions for general plant-pathogen systems affected by vascular system-restricted pathogens.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga Kozhar, Mee-Sook Kim, Jorge Ibarra Caballero, Ned B. Klopfenstein, Phil G. Cannon, Jane E. Stewart
Summary: Emerging plant pathogens have increased significantly in the past century. Through genetic analysis, this study provides insights into the genetic relationships, spread pathways and evolutionary history of Phellinus noxius. The study suggests that recent emergence of this pathogen in eastern Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands has likely been driven by both human activities and natural disturbances.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Hamann, Derek Denney, Samantha Day, Elizabeth Lombardi, M. Inam Jameel, Rachel MacTavish, Jill T. Anderson
Summary: The article discusses how climate change factors interact with each other and their impact on plant evolutionary processes. Research shows that climate change has complex effects on population survival and reproduction, especially in the interactions between plants and their mutualists and antagonists.
Article
Fisheries
Muhammad Akmal, Mami Akatsuka, Issei Nishiki, Terutoyo Yoshida
Summary: The study investigated the drug susceptibility and resistance mechanism of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic strains of Lactococcus garvieae serotype II isolated from fish in Japan. The strains showed resistance to erythromycin, lincomycin, and tiamulin, with PCR amplification confirming the presence of the erm(B) gene in all erythromycin-resistant strains. The study also identified a plasmid, pkh2101, in an erythromycin-resistant strain, which shared high similarity with the plasmid pAMbeta1 previously isolated from Enterococcus faecalis DS-5.
JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Giovanni Franzo, Maria Luisa Menandro, Claudia Maria Tucciarone, Giacomo Barbierato, Lorenzo Crovato, Alessandra Mondin, Martina Libanora, Federica Obber, Riccardo Orusa, Serena Robetto, Carlo Citterio, Laura Grassi
Summary: Canine circovirus has been identified recently as a virus affecting both foxes and dogs, with a circulation rate of 2-5% in the Alps region of Northern Italy. Genetic isolation in Alps foxes may prevent frequent transmission events to domestic dogs, possibly due to independent evolution within the fox population. Furthermore, strains of CanineCV in Italian foxes are unexpectedly related to those in the United Kingdom and Scandinavian area, suggesting a long-standing coexistence with the virus in European fox populations.
Review
Plant Sciences
Xiaowei Han, Kenichi Tsuda
Summary: Plants and microbes have co-evolved for over 407 million years after terrestrialization, which is crucial for understanding plant evolution. Recent research advancements in plant and microbial genomics and transcriptomics have expanded our knowledge of plant immune system evolution.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Tehniat F. Ahmed, Affan Ahmed, Fauzia Imtiaz
Summary: Even though the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease remains unsolved, significant advancements have been made in understanding the disease pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria. Researchers have established a common language and framework through exploring the molecular basis of AD and revising diagnostic criteria.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Henry Haekkinen, Dave Hodgson, Regan Early
Summary: This study provides a global assessment of the potential spread of naturalized plants, birds, and mammals to different terrestrial regions. It predicts that there is a significant potential for further spread of naturalized birds in North America, mammals in Eastern Europe, and plants in North America, Eastern Europe, and Australia. The study also identifies introduction history, dispersal, and the spatial distribution of suitable areas as key factors influencing species spread. Natural dispersal plays a more important role in bird spread compared to plant spread, and the transportation by humans is a significant factor in plant spread. However, there are still unanswered questions, particularly regarding the lack of occupation of climatically suitable areas by many birds in North America.
Editorial Material
Ecology
Jessica L. L. Hite, Alaina Pfenning-Butterworth, Stuart K. J. R. Auld
Summary: How hosts respond to and cope with infectious agents can change the environment and alter selective pressures and evolutionary trajectories. However, the understanding of how ecology and (co)-evolution shape disease in natural communities remains limited. This theme issue integrates empirical and field studies from various taxa and ecosystems to shed light on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of host-parasite interactions. The key take-aways are the need for more research in multi-species contexts and the promising advancements and foundational studies that provide a roadmap for understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics in natural settings.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Giulia Alessandri, Federico Fontana, Leonardo Mancabelli, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Chiara Tarracchini, Chiara Argentini, Giulia Longhi, Alice Viappiani, Christian Milani, Francesca Turroni, Douwe van Sinderen, Marco Ventura
Summary: In vitro gut cultivation models were used to study the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the infant gut microbiota, resulting in the optimization of a medium (IGSM) that maintains its biodiversity. The study also evaluated the impact of two pediatric drugs on the taxonomic composition of the infant gut microbiota.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Federico Fontana, Giulia Longhi, Giulia Alessandri, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Leonardo Mancabelli, Chiara Tarracchini, Alice Viappiani, Rosaria Anzalone, Marco Ventura, Francesca Turroni, Christian Milani
Summary: The PDO designation ensures the traceability and restricted geographical area of food production. However, the sensory qualities of dairy products with the same PDO differ between manufacturers. This study analyzed the microbiome of raw milk cheeses in Italy and found that the microbial communities and use of site-specific Natural Whey Cultures (NWCs) had a significant impact on the organoleptic features and bioactive compounds of the cheeses. These findings suggest the need to revise the PDO designation to consider the site-specific microbial metabolism and guarantee the desired qualities of the final product.
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Alessandri, Federico Fontana, Chiara Tarracchini, Sonia Mirjam Rizzo, Massimiliano G. Bianchi, Giuseppe Taurino, Martina Chiu, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Leonardo Mancabelli, Chiara Argentini, Giulia Longhi, Rosaria Anzalone, Alice Viappiani, Christian Milani, Francesca Turroni, Ovidio Bussolati, Douwe van Sinderen, Marco Ventura
Summary: In this study, a B. longum subsp. longum strain with a high similarity to the human gut-associated B. longum subsp. longum taxon was identified and its interactomic features with the host and other intestinal microbes were investigated using in vitro models, revealing extensive cross-talk.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Federico Fontana, Giulia Longhi, Chiara Tarracchini, Leonardo Mancabelli, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Giulia Alessandri, Francesca Turroni, Christian Milani, Marco Ventura
Summary: The correlation between the physical performance of athletes and their gut microbiota has been studied, and it has been found that the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the health status of athletes. The metabolic activity of the microbial population in the large intestine of athletes may influence their physical performance.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Leonardo Mancabelli, Christian Milani, Federico Fontana, Chiara Tarracchini, Giulia Alessandri, Douwe van Sinderen, Francesca Turroni, Marco Ventura
Summary: During infancy, assessing the diversity of gut microbiota in newborns and its association with health and disease is crucial. This study identified eight major Infant Community State Types (ICSTs) dominated by 17 bacterial taxa, which corresponded to geographical origin and infant health status. The study also revealed patterns of multistrain coexistence among ICSTs and provided insights into the mechanistic aspects of the health-gut microbiota interplay in newborns through metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Laura Alagna, Leonardo Mancabelli, Federico Magni, Liliane Chatenoud, Gabriele Bassi, Silvia Del Bianco, Roberto Fumagalli, Francesca Turroni, Davide Mangioni, Guglielmo M. Migliorino, Christian Milani, Antonio Muscatello, Giovanni Nattino, Edoardo Picetti, Riccardo Pinciroli, Sandra Rossi, Tommaso Tonetti, Alessia Vargiolu, Alessandra Bandera, Marco Ventura, Giuseppe Citerio, Andrea Gori
Summary: This study investigated the composition of upper airway microbiota in mechanically ventilated patients with and without ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The results showed that VAP patients had lower microbial diversity compared to non-VAP patients, and a loss of certain genera was observed in VAP patients.
INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE EXPERIMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chiara Tarracchini, Giulia Alessandri, Federico Fontana, Sonia Mirjam Rizzo, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Massimiliano Giovanni Bianchi, Leonardo Mancabelli, Giulia Longhi, Chiara Argentini, Laura Maria Vergna, Rosaria Anzalone, Alice Viappiani, Francesca Turroni, Giuseppe Taurino, Martina Chiu, Silvia Arboleya, Miguel Gueimonde, Ovidio Bussolati, Douwe van Sinderen, Christian Milani, Marco Ventura
Summary: Based on the shotgun metagenomic sequencing data of 12,415 fecal microbiomes, this study reveals the strain-level dynamic changes in the gut microbiota across the human life span. It demonstrates the host sex-related persistence of strains belonging to common maternally-inherited species, such as Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum. Comparative genome analyses and experiments suggest that host-glycan metabolism-related bacterial glycosyl hydrolases may contribute to more efficient colonization in females compared to males. These findings indicate an intriguing ancient sex-specific host-microbe coevolution that drives the selective persistence of key microbial taxa in women.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chiara Tarracchini, Chiara Argentini, Giulia Alessandri, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Leonardo Mancabelli, Federico Fontana, Rosaria Anzalone, Alice Viappiani, Francesca Turroni, Marco Ventura, Christian Milani
Summary: Lactobacillus crispatus displays intra-species micro-diversities at the single nucleotide level, which may contribute to phenotypical diversification. Two specific amino acid substitutions in the type II pullulanase gene sequence explain the differences in growth performances and competition abilities observed in a simulated vaginal environment.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Pivetta, Ludovica Dottori, Federico Fontana, Sophia Cingolani, Irene Ligato, Emanuele Dilaghi, Christian Milani, Marco Ventura, Marina Borro, Gianluca Esposito, Bruno Annibale, Edith Lahner
Summary: This study aimed to assess gender differences in gastric bacterial microbiota between subjects with healthy stomachs and those with autoimmune atrophic gastritis. Results showed that women with healthy stomachs had a higher gastric bacterial abundance and less microbial diversity compared to men. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis seems to reset gender differences in gastric bacterial abundance and reduce biodiversity in males.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Silvia Ruta, Matthew Murray, Zoe Kampff, Brian McDonnell, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Marco Ventura, Massimo Todaro, Luca Settanni, Douwe van Sinderen, Jennifer Mahony
Summary: In this study, the microbial ecology of milk, curd, and whey from five Pecorino Siciliano PDO-producing farms in Sicily were evaluated using metagenomic and microbiological approaches. The diversity of dairy lactococcal and streptococcal isolates, including newly described phage-resistance systems, was analyzed through genotyping tools and whole genome sequencing.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Chiara Argentini, Chiara Tarracchini, Giulia Alessandri, Giulia Longhi, Christian Milani, Douwe van Sinderen, Marco Ventura, Francesca Turroni
Summary: In this study, it was found that increased exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by bifidobacteria is associated with enhanced resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. The genes and expression patterns related to EPS production were also explored. This study provides experimental evidence on how bifidobacterial EPS modulates antibiotic susceptibility.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Leonardo Mancabelli, Giuseppe Taurino, Andrea Ticinesi, Tecla Ciociola, Federica Vacondio, Christian Milani, Federico Fontana, Gabriele Andrea Lugli, Chiara Tarracchini, Giulia Alessandri, Alice Viappiani, Massimiliano Bianchi, Antonio Nouvenne, Alfredo Antonio Chetta, Francesca Turroni, Tiziana Meschi, Marco Mor, Ovidio Bussolati, Marco Ventura
Summary: This study investigated the association between nasopharyngeal microbiota and COVID-19 infection using metagenomics analysis. The results showed a positive correlation between microbial species and disease severity, as well as a sharing of bacterial species between the nasopharyngeal and fecal samples. Additionally, the metabolic analysis suggested an impact of the microbiome on the host's immune response and disease severity.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
