Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ilenys M. Perez-Diaz, Suzanne D. Johanningsmeier, Kartheek Anekella, Christian G. Pagan-Medina, Lesley Mendez-Sandoval, Consuelo Arellano, Robert Price, Katheryne Daughtry, Michelle Borges, Chloe Bream, Lauren Connelly, Susan E. Dieck, Meredith T. Levi, Erin K. McMurtrie, Rickey E. Smith, Jeannette C. Theora, Paige Wendland, Francisco Gomez-Rodriguez, Francisco Noe Arroyo-Lopez
Summary: This study defined the genotypes of Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus pentosus in industrial-scale cucumber fermentations using rep-PCR-(GTG)5, and evaluated their ability to ferment cucumbers under various conditions. It was found that L. pentosus strains were more efficient in cucumber juice fermentation compared to most L. plantarum strains. This research identified genetically diverse L. pentosus strains and one L. plantarum strain as candidates for starter cultures in commercial cucumber fermentations.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zhi-Wei Ye, Tian-Fen Guo, Can Tang, Yue Yuan, Yi Zhao, Jun Lu, Jun-Fang Lin, Li-Qiong Guo
Summary: The cholesterol-lowering mechanisms of marine L. plantarum Lp10 were investigated, revealing that bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity and extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs) adsorption are responsible for cholesterol reduction. Transcriptome analysis showed that EPS adsorption is the main factor for cholesterol reduction independent of bile salt influence. Additionally, co-precipitation of cholesterol and deconjugated bile acids induced by BSH1 and BSH2 played a vital role in cholesterol tolerance and reduction under stress conditions.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oystein H. Opedal, W. Scott Armbruster, Thomas F. Hansen, Agnes Holstad, Christophe Pelabon, Stefan Andersson, Diane R. Campbell, Christina M. Caruso, Lynda F. Delph, Christopher G. Eckert, Asa Lankinen, Greg M. Walter, Jon Agren, Geir H. Bolstad
Summary: Understanding the causes and limits of population divergence in phenotypic traits is important for evolutionary biology and can predict adaptation to environmental change. This study analyzed a large database of plant populations and found that evolutionary divergence scaled positively with genetic variability within populations. Additionally, vegetative traits showed greater divergence compared to reproductive traits. These results suggest that there is predictability and genetic constraints in trait divergence.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guangan Hu, Yang Su, Byong Ha Kang, Zhongqi Fan, Ting Dong, Douglas R. Brown, Jaime Cheah, Karl Dane Wittrup, Jianzhu Chen
Summary: Macrophages exhibit plasticity and can polarize into various phenotypes in response to different stimuli. Through high-throughput screening of a library of around 4000 compounds, researchers identified compounds that can activate human macrophages towards specific polarization states, with some capable of reprogramming macrophages between different states. Transcriptional analysis helped uncover the pathways and targets through which these compounds modulate macrophage activation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hui Xue, Jingjing Meng, Pei Lei, Yongxin Cao, Xue An, Min Jia, Yan Li, Haofeng Liu, Jen Sheen, Xiayan Liu, Fei Yu
Summary: One of the hallmarks of plant senescence is the global transcriptional reprogramming coordinated by multiple transcription factors (TFs). The study reveals that ARF2 and PIF5 are key TFs responsible for transcriptional regulation in the ABS3-mediated senescence pathway. They directly interact and function interdependently to promote senescence, and they share common target genes with ABS3.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Saowalak Adunphatcharaphon, Awanwee Petchkongkaew, Wonnop Visessanguan
Summary: This study evaluated the ZEA removal capacity of plant-derived lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and found that Lactobacillus plantarum BCC 47723 exhibited the highest removal efficiency. Physical and chemical treatments affected the bacterial cell structure and morphology, influencing the adsorption and removal of ZEA. The findings suggest that hydrophobicity is the main mechanism for ZEA removal by L. plantarum BCC 47723, and heat treatment can enhance its efficiency for ZEA reduction, making it a potential organic adsorbent for ZEA reduction in food and feedstuff.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ross Vermeulen, Shelly Deane, Leon Dicks, Johann Rohwer, Anton Du Preez van Staden
Summary: Plantaricin 423 is produced by Lactobacillus plantarum 423 using the biosynthetic operon located on a plasmid. The regulation of class Ila bacteriocins seems to be linked to transition metal homeostasis in the host, as shown by the upregulation of plantaricin 423 in response to manganese privation. This metalloregulatory model may have implications for bacteriocin expression and gene transfer dynamics in a given microbiome.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Tong Si, Jinhao Lu, Yidan Cao, Zhaohui Tang, Dunwei Ci, Xiaona Yu, Xiaojun Zhang, Yuefu Wang, Xiaoxia Zou
Summary: Combined microbial agent (CMA) consisting of AMF and LP significantly enhances peanut salinity tolerance by improving plant growth, photosynthetic capacity, antioxidant system, and regulating stress-responsive pathways and root metabolism.
JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Vincent A. Primo, Yasaman Rezvani, Andrew Farrell, Connor Q. Murphy, Jingjing Lou, Amir Vajdi, Gabor T. Marth, Kourosh Zarringhalam, Marc-Jan Gubbels
Summary: The application of evolve and resequencing (E&R) in lab adaptation of Toxoplasma gondii for over 1,500 generations revealed the evolution of key traits in the extracellular environment, including the fixated non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the P4 flippase gene. Phenotype-associated genes were mapped and validated, highlighting novel mechanisms underlying in vitro virulence traits. Transcriptional reprogramming played a key role in lab adaptation, augmenting T. gondii's in vitro virulence.
Review
Plant Sciences
Aliki Kapazoglou, Eleni Tani, Evangelia V. Avramidou, Eleni M. Abraham, Maria Gerakari, Stamatia Megariti, Georgios Doupis, Andreas G. Doulis
Summary: Plant grafting is an ancient agricultural practice used to improve plant performance. Successful grafting involves compatible genotype interaction and complex molecular mechanisms. Exchange of signals like hormones, nutrients, proteins, and nucleic acids between rootstock and scion affects plant characteristics and performance.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Malick Ndiaye, Bertrand Muller, Komla Kyky Ganyo, Aliou Guisse, Ndiaga Cisse, Myriam Adam
Summary: The study identified stable plant traits such as flag leaf size, phenology, number of grains per panicle, and stem diameter that may be of interest for sorghum breeders aiming to develop dual-purpose varieties.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Masafumi Noda, Narandalai Danshiitsoodol, Takemasa Sakaguchi, Keishi Kanno, Masanori Sugiyama
Summary: Lactobacillus plantarum SN35N secretes negatively charged acidic exopolysaccharide (EPS) which inhibits the catalytic activity of hyaluronidase and shows inhibitory effect against influenza virus and feline calicivirus, making it a promising lead for developing anti-inflammatory and antiviral substances.
BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN
(2021)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
M. Teresa Boquete, Aline Muyle, Conchita Alonso
Summary: Research shows that epigenetic variation in plants plays a crucial role in phenotypic variation and adaptive evolution. The diversity and dynamics of plant epigenomes allow them to rapidly respond to various biotic and abiotic stimuli. However, further studies are needed to generalize the relevance of epigenetic regulation in phenotypic innovation and plant adaptation across taxa.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jiage Ma, Cong Xu, Fei Liu, Juncai Hou, Hong Shao, Wei Yu
Summary: Various stresses can impact probiotics in their ecological niches. Adaptation treatments can significantly improve the heat tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum, inducing changes in fatty acid content in the cell membrane.
CYTA-JOURNAL OF FOOD
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Javier Puy, Carlos P. Carmona, Inga Hiiesalu, Maarja Opik, Francesco de Bello, Mari Moora
Summary: Phenotypic plasticity is crucial for organisms to adapt to local environments. This study found that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis can trigger transgenerational effects in offspring traits related to resource acquisition, as well as influencing offspring AM fungal colonization. Additionally, the study showed that AM symbiosis may improve plants' ability to cope with environmental stress both within and across generations.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Sabrina Strafella, Ignazio Allegretta, Carmine Crecchio
Summary: This research identified 12 bacterial strains with the ability to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphates, potassium, and zinc, and thrive under various environmental conditions. Certain bacterial families were found to be more abundant in NT samples compared to CT, with significant differences in the relative abundance of Pseudomonadaceae. These strains can be recommended as plant growth promoters across a wide range of pH levels, salinity, and temperatures.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Sabrina Strafella, David J. Simpson, Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Maria De Angelis, Michael Ganzle, Fabio Minervini, Carmine Crecchio
Summary: This study isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from wheat rhizosphere to investigate their in vitro plant growth promoting activities, characterized their genes coding for bacteriocin production and found that plant-associated LAB strains showed potential as biofertilizers due to their positive effects on phosphate and potassium solubilization. Furthermore, comparative genomic analysis revealed differences in antifungal activity between LAB strains and Bacillus spp., providing insights for their future applications in agriculture.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Beniamino Leoni, Carmine Crecchio
Summary: In this study, inoculation of durum wheat with PGPB was found to enhance PSII photochemistry efficiency, increase grain yield, and maintain plant growth under stress conditions, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
ACTA PHYSIOLOGIAE PLANTARUM
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Carmine Crecchio, Erik Verbruggen
Summary: The research explores how plant growth-promoting bacterial (PGPB) inoculants and chemical fertilizers affect rhizosphere and root endophytic bacterial communities in durum wheat under environmental stress. Results indicate that endophytic bacterial communities are more sensitive to (bio-) fertilization treatments, particularly influenced by PGPB inoculation, and are associated with improved grain yield and photosynthetic capacity.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mohsen Jamali, Esmaeil Bakhshandeh, Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Carmine Crecchio
Summary: This study examined the potential environmental impacts of wheat residues burning on soil quality in Iran and Italy over the last 50 years. The results showed an increase in global warming potential in Iran and a decrease in Italy, with nitrogen being the main component of nutrient losses in both countries.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta Acin-Albiac, Pasquale Filannino, Rossana Coda, Carlo Giuseppe Rizzello, Marco Gobbetti, Raffaella Di Cagno
Summary: A novel phenomic approach was proposed to track the response of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides to environmental pressure induced by brewers' spent grain-derived saccharides. The study revealed that the bacteria shifted their phenotypes in a species- and strains-dependent way under the environmental pressure exerted by water-soluble BSG-based medium, with metabolic drift being growth phase-dependent. The research also highlighted the preference of different strains for specific sugar metabolisms, suggesting potential applications in transforming BSG into food ingredients.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ali Zein Alabiden Tlais, Andrea Polo, Pasquale Filannino, Vincenzo Cantatore, Marco Gobbetti, Raffaella Di Cagno
Summary: The alteration of honeybees' gut microbiota is directly associated with the occurrence of diseases and decline in honeybee population. Fructophilic lactobacilli are suggested as symbionts for honeybees, and their behavior was investigated under exposure to agrochemicals and plant secondary metabolites. The study found that planktonic cells of Apilactobacillus kunkeei were sensitive to certain agrochemicals, but embedded cells in biofilms showed increased resistance. However, agrochemicals still had a significant inhibitory effect during the initial stages of biofilm formation. The level of susceptibility was strain-specific.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ali Zein Alabiden Tlais, Wilson Jose Fernandes Lemos, Pasquale Filannino, Stefano Campanaro, Marco Gobbetti, Raffaella Di Cagno
Summary: This study provides a new perspective on the bacterial community succession and metabolic functions during sauerkraut fermentation. The species Secundilactobacillus malefermentans was identified as a core member of the microbiome, particularly during the final weeks of fermentation. The composition of phenolic compounds changed throughout the fermentation process and was correlated with changes in the microbiome.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Hamada AbdElgawad, Erik Verbruggen, Shereen Magdy Korany, Emad A. Alsherif, Gerrit T. S. Beemster, Carmine Crecchio
Summary: This study investigated the impact of plant growth-promoting bacterial strains (PGPB) as biofertilisers on the metabolic composition of durum wheat grains. The results showed that the use of a biofertiliser consortium significantly increased the nutrient accumulation in the grains compared to the no fertilisation treatment. The application of PGPB improved the protein, soluble sugar, starch, and lipid contents in the grains, particularly under stress conditions.
PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Emad A. Alsherif, Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Carmine Crecchio, Shereen Magdy Korany, Renato Lustosa Sobrinho, Hamada AbdElgawad
Summary: Through metabolic analysis, this research reveals the defense mechanisms activated by a heavy metals-resistant plant. The study found that nitrogen and carbon metabolisms in the plant were modified to cope with heavy metal toxicity. Additionally, the findings show that the increase in amylase enzyme activity in contaminated soils led to starch degradation to mitigate stress impact.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Esmaeil Bakhshandeh, Fatemeh Hosseini Sanehkoori, Hamidreza Ghorbani, Ghorban Ali Nematzadeh, Mansour Sekrafi, Raoudha Abdellaoui, Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Carmine Crecchio
Summary: There is little agreement on the relationship between key vegetative traits and plant biomass in camelina. This study aimed to quantify this relationship by modeling approaches. A power model could well describe the relationship between plant density and plant biomass, seed production, stem diameter, and siliques number, with high coefficients of determination. Higher numbers of siliques, branches, and seeds per plant can compensate for lower plant density in camelina.
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Giuseppina Maria Fiorino, Ali Zein Alabiden Tlais, Ilario Losito, Pasquale Filannino, Marco Gobbetti, Raffaella Di Cagno
Summary: This study demonstrates that lactic fermentation using selected starters can increase the presence of hydroxy- and oxo-fatty acids in plant matrices. The behavior of 31 strains of lactic acid bacteria during the fermentation of Persian walnuts was investigated, with a focus on the increase of certain fatty acids and the release of hydroxy- and epoxy-fatty acids. The study identified various bacteria strains, including Weissella cibaria, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Enterococcus faecalis, with notable lipolytic activities and the ability to produce hydroxy- and epoxy-fatty acids during walnut fermentation.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Claudia Cappello, Ali Zein Alabiden Tlais, Marta Acin-Albiac, Wilson Jose Fernandes Lemos Junior, Daniela Pinto, Pasquale Filannino, Fabio Rinaldi, Marco Gobbetti, Raffaella Di Cagno
Summary: Our study investigated the effectiveness of 446 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from different sources as potential probiotic candidates for enhancing gastrointestinal digestion. Only 44 high-resistant strains were selected for further food digestibility investigations. After in vitro digestion, fermented matrices by these strains showed additional functional properties by releasing peptides and increasing the release of highly bio-accessible free phenolic compounds.
Article
Plant Sciences
Adriano Sofo, Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Maddalena Curci, Francesco Reyes, Maria J. I. Briones, Judith M. M. Sarneel, Domenico Cardinale, Carmine Crecchio
Summary: Earthworms and soil microorganisms play an important role in soil health, quality, and fertility in agricultural soils. This study investigates the impact of earthworms on soil bacterial community composition, litter decomposition, and plant growth. The results show that the presence of earthworms significantly influenced the structure of the soil bacterial community, enhanced litter decomposition rates, and promoted root growth in broccoli and faba bean. These findings highlight the importance of earthworms and crop identity in shaping soil properties and ecosystem sustainability.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Andrea Polo, Ali Zein Alabiden Tlais, Pasquale Filannino, Alessio Da Ros, Kashika Arora, Vincenzo Cantatore, Olimpia Vincentini, Anja Nicolodi, Renzo Nicolodi, Marco Gobbetti, Raffaella Di Cagno
Summary: Autochthonous strains of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lacticaseibacillus casei were screened for their pro-technological, functional, and sensory properties for fermenting milk for ice cream production. Ice cream fermented with L. casei F14 received the highest sensory scores. Fermented ice cream, with or without hydroxytyrosol, exhibited antiradical and anti-inflammatory features in Caco-2 cell culture. Fermentation with L. casei F14 played a key role, while the addition of hydroxytyrosol further enhanced the antiradical activity. Dietary fiber did not show a protective effect on Caco-2 cells.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)