Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Dan Nicolae Paduraru, Daniel Ion, Mihai Cristian Dumitrascu, Razvan Petca, Aida Petca, Florica Sandru, Octavian Andronic, Georgiana Radu, Alexandra Bolocan
Summary: Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive bacterium that can cause various gastrointestinal diseases, with the most severe being pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. Its high-end spores may be responsible for recurrent disease and transmission in the community. Treatment options range from oral antibiotics to extensive surgical interventions, with risk factors including overuse of antimicrobials and comorbidities.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Edwin Esau Hernandez-Arvizu, Teresa Monserrat Silis-Moreno, Jose Alejandro Garcia-Arredondo, Angelina Rodriguez-Torres, Jose Antonio Cervantes-Chavez, Juan Mosqueda
Summary: Anti-microbial peptides play a crucial role in the defense mechanisms of various organisms. In this study, a cathelicidin-like peptide called Aquiluscidin was identified for the first time in Crotalus aquilus, exhibiting remarkable inhibitory activity against multiple bacteria. It has the potential to be a candidate for further antimicrobial research.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kumar Sachin Singh, Rishabh Sharma, Poli Adi Narayana Reddy, Prashanthi Vonteddu, Madeline Good, Anjana Sundarrajan, Hyeree Choi, Kar Muthumani, Andrew Kossenkov, Aaron R. Goldman, Hsin-Yao Tang, Maxim Totrov, Joel Cassel, Maureen E. Murphy, Rajasekharan Somasundaram, Meenhard Herlyn, Joseph M. Salvino, Farokh Dotiwala
Summary: Isoprenoids are essential for maintaining cellular functions and IspH is a crucial enzyme in their synthesis pathway. Through structure-guided design, a class of IspH inhibitors with nanomolar potency were identified, showing efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria while being relatively non-toxic to mammalian cells. These prodrugs also induce expansion and activation of human V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells, suggesting a potential strategy to limit antibiotic-resistant bacterial populations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yancong Zhang, Amrisha Bhosle, Sena Bae, Lauren J. McIver, Gleb Pishchany, Emma K. Accorsi, Kelsey N. Thompson, Cesar Arze, Ya Wang, Ayshwarya Subramanian, Sean M. Kearney, April Pawluk, Damian R. Plichta, Ali Rahnavard, Afrah Shafquat, Ramnik J. Xavier, Hera Vlamakis, Wendy S. Garrett, Andy Krueger, Curtis Huttenhower, Eric A. Franzosa
Summary: This article investigates the role of microbial communities and their associated bioactive compounds in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It systematically identifies potentially bioactive protein families involved in gut inflammation during IBD and validates their bioactivity using a combination of metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metaproteomics. The results provide candidate microbial proteins that interact with the host immune system in IBD, expanding our understanding of potentially bioactive gene products in chronic diseases.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Piano, Federico Biagioli, Giuseppe Nicolosi, Claudia Coleine, Anna Poli, Valeria Prigione, Andrea Zanellati, Rosangela Addesso, Giovanna Cristina Varese, Laura Selbmann, Marco Isaia
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbance on natural ecosystems is increasing, affecting all components of the ecosystems. A metacommunity framework is needed to understand the response of different biocoenosis types to human disturbance. Through advanced molecular techniques, sediment communities of Fungi, Bacteria, and Archaea in Italian show caves were investigated to unravel the effects of tourism on their diversity and identify changes in the driving forces of community composition. The study showed that cave tourism directly affects the community of Bacteria and indirectly influences Fungi and Archaea.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos Arellano-Caicedo, Pelle Ohlsson, Martin Bengtsson, Jason P. Beech, Edith C. Hammer
Summary: This study investigated the impact of spatial habitat complexity on microbial growth and substrate degradation, showing that complex habitats increased bacterial abundance and substrate degradation while reducing fungal growth. The results suggest that microbial activity and resource use efficiency are enhanced in confined spaces, potentially influencing nutrient cycling and soil organic carbon storage.
Review
Immunology
Jing Zhang, Ling Chen, Yang Yang, Xiao Liu, Yuan Yuan, Shi-rong Song, Yue Zhao, Jian Mao
Summary: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics of late-onset sepsis (LOS) caused by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in preterm neonates and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers. The results showed that LOS caused by Gram-negative bacteria in preterm neonates had higher levels of CRP and lower platelet counts. Therefore, platelet count and CRP values may be useful biomarkers to differentiate sepsis caused by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in preterm neonates.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Antonella Migliaccio, Maria Stabile, Maria Bagattini, Maria Triassi, Rita Berisio, Eliana De Gregorio, Raffaele Zarrilli
Summary: Resveratrol can reverse tolerance and restore susceptibility to CHX and BZK in the majority of microorganisms causing HAI. The efflux pump inhibitor reduced the MIC and MBC of CHX and BZK in most strains, while resveratrol dose-dependently decreased the MIC and MBC of the biocides.
Article
Soil Science
Ihsan Muhammad, Jun Wang, Upendra M. Sainju, Shaohong Zhang, Fazhu Zhao, Ahmad Khan
Summary: Cover crops enhance soil microbial community biomass and affect community structure compared to no cover crops, with responses varying depending on soil type, climatic conditions, and cover crop types. Incorporating cover crop residue into the soil can increase certain microbial parameters but decrease others.
Article
Microbiology
Nowrosh Islam, Misha Kazi, Katie N. Kang, Jacob Biboy, Joe Gray, Feroz Ahmed, Richard D. Schargel, Cara C. Boutte, Tobias Dorr, Waldemar Vollmer, Joseph M. Boll
Summary: Beta-lactam antibiotics disrupt the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria, leading to lysis and death. Many Gram-negative bacteria show tolerance to bactericidal antibiotics, which is associated with treatment failure and the development of true resistance. This study investigates the tolerance mechanisms of Acinetobacter baumannii, a multidrug-resistant pathogen. The findings suggest that outer membrane integrity and peptidoglycan recycling play significant roles in meropenem tolerance in A. baumannii.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guocheng Xie, Sijia Gao, Jinzhao Ou, Meng Zhu, Man Wu, Xiaoyan Ju, Zhuang Li, Ye Tian, Zhongwei Niu
Summary: By conjugating peptides onto tobacco mosaic virus, the resulting nanoparticles show significantly enhanced antibacterial effects against Gram-negative bacteria. The high osmotic pressure and reactive oxygen species generated by the peptide-TMV cause the death of Escherichia coli, while also downregulating biofilm-related genes to inhibit biofilm formation. This study opens up new possibilities for combating Gram-negative bacteria-related infections.
Review
Microbiology
Claire Maher, Karl A. Hassan
Summary: Gram-negative bacteria are resistant to antibiotics due to their cell envelope's permeability barrier. Understanding the role of different components in the envelope is crucial for developing new broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junke Zhang, Peidong Su, Huihuang Chen, Meng Qiao, Bo Yang, Xu Zhao
Summary: The hydroxyl radical-dominated electrochemical process is a highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and byproduct-free disinfection technology. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria show different responses in the OH-dominated disinfection system, including variations in disinfection efficiency, sublethal injury, and subcellular damage. The coexistence of E. coli and S. aureus inhibits their disinfection efficiencies. The cell wall and cell outer membrane play a crucial role in the resistance to OH-dominated disinfection, with S. aureus exhibiting higher resistance due to its thick and stable structure of peptidoglycan.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Antonio Rodriguez, Mercedes Ibanez, Roland Bol, Nicolas Brueggemann, Agustin Lobo, Juan Jose Jimenez, Liliane Ruess, M-Teresa Sebastia
Summary: Fairy rings can shape soil microbial communities by altering soil conditions, with changes in soil potassium content being closely related to changes in PLFA composition. An environmental stress indicator corresponds to changes in soil moisture.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aliya Fazal, Sajida Ara, Muhammad Tayab Ishaq, Kalsoom Sughra
Summary: The study focuses on the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using vegetable peels, with an ecofriendly approach and low fabrication temperature. It also explores the antibacterial efficacy of the nanoparticles, showing a more significant biocidal effect on Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive bacteria. The research highlights the potential of utilizing biowaste for the production of useful products.
ARABIAN JOURNAL FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Fauzy Nasher, Aidan J. Taylor, Abdi Elmi, Burhan Lehri, Umer Z. Ijaz, Dave Baker, Richard Goram, Steven Lynham, Dipali Singh, Richard Stabler, David J. Kelly, Ozan Gundogdu, Brendan W. Wren
Summary: RrpA and RrpB play important roles in the survival of Campylobacter jejuni under redox stress. RrpA positively regulates mdaB, which contributes to protection from redox stress, while RrpB negatively regulates cj1555c (renamed nfrA), which encodes a flavin reductase.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Fauzy Nasher, Brendan W. Wren
Summary: This study reveals that Acanthamoeba enhances the invasiveness of Campylobacter jejuni into human epithelial cells and Acanthamoeba cells. Additionally, the invasiveness and survivability of Campylobacter jejuni strains within Acanthamoeba spp. are host-cell-dependent.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rochellys Diaz Heijtz, Pierre Gressens, Jonathan R. Swann
Summary: A novel therapeutic approach that targets neuroactive microbial metabolites in the gut shows promising results in improving behavior and safety in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aarti Kathrani, Sandi Yen, Jonathan R. Swann, Edward J. Hall
Summary: This study investigated the effects of a hydrolyzed protein diet on the fecal microbiota in feline chronic enteropathy (CE). The results show that the fecal microbiome of cats with CE differs from control cats, and the hydrolyzed protein diet has a significant impact on the fecal microbiota of cats with CE, with differences between responders and non-responders.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giorgia Caspani, Miranda Green, Jonathan R. Swann, Jane A. Foster
Summary: The interaction between the immune system and the brain is crucial for neuronal development. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in immune system development and function. This study found that in the absence of T-cells, the developmental trajectory of the gut microbiota and the host's metabolic profile were altered.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Correction
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Seppo Salminen, Maria Carmen Collado, Akihito Endo, Colin Hill, Sarah Lebeer, Eamonn M. M. Quigley, Mary Ellen Sanders, Raanan Shamir, Jonathan R. Swann, Hania Szajewska, Gabriel Vinderola
NATURE REVIEWS GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Luise Marino, Simone Paulson, James J. Ashton, Charlotte Weeks, Aneurin Young, John V. P. Pappachan, John R. Swann, Mark J. Johnson, R. Mark Beattie
Summary: This scoping review summarizes the published data on changes in urinary metabolites during metabolic maturation in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) and identifies potential pathways for therapeutic intervention. The review highlights that there are significant gaps in our understanding of metabolic maturation in CHD infants, particularly in relation to growth. The surgical intervention for CHD infants has an impact on the developing biochemical phenotype and can affect pathways involved in immunomodulation, energy, gut microbiota, and lipid metabolism, which may be used to predict neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
CARDIOLOGY IN THE YOUNG
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fauzy Nasher, Burhan Lehri, Megan F. Horney, Richard A. Stabler, Brendan W. Wren
Summary: The study reveals a new host-pathogen interaction between Campylobacter jejuni and Acanthamoebae, confirming that amoebae play a crucial role in the persistence, adaptability, and potential transmission of C. jejuni.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Victor Ribay, Arnab Dey, Benoit Charrier, Clement Praud, Joris Mandral, Jean-Nicolas Dumez, Marine P. M. Letertre, Patrick Giraudeau
Summary: Hyperpolarized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods, particularly Dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (d-DNP), greatly enhance the sensitivity of detecting C-13 NMR signals. This study demonstrates the first application of d-DNP-enhanced C-13 NMR analysis of biofluid (urine) at natural abundance, providing unprecedented resolution and sensitivity. Accurate quantitative information on multiple targeted metabolites can be obtained through a standard addition procedure.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Helen J. Jones, Claire D. Bourke, Jonathan R. Swann, Ruairi C. Robertson
Summary: Childhood undernutrition is a global health burden that affects metabolism, immunity, and endocrine systems. The gut microbiome plays a role in mediating these pathways, causing poor early life growth. Studies show the alterations in gut microbiome of undernourished children and its impact on intestinal function, host metabolism, and immune response. This article discusses the emerging pathophysiological pathways influenced by the early life gut microbiome and explores potential microbiome-targeted therapies for child undernutrition.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Physiology
Colleen S. Deane, Jonathan R. Swann
EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Natasa Giallourou, Jason Arnold, Elizabeth T. Rogawski McQuade, Muyiwa Awoniyi, Rose Viguna Thomas Becket, Kenneth Walsh, Jeremy Herzog, Ajay S. Gulati, Ian M. Carroll, Stephanie Montgomery, Pedro Henrique Quintela, Angela M. Faust, Steven M. Singer, Anthony A. Fodor, Tahmeed Ahmad, Mustafa Mahfuz, Esto Mduma, Thomas Walongo, Richard L. Guerrant, R. Balfour Sartor, Jonathan R. Swann, Margaret N. Kosek, Luther A. Bartelt
Summary: Giardia lamblia is a common intestinal pathogen in children in low- and middle-income countries. Although it is associated with growth restriction in children, the mechanism behind it is unclear. Unlike other pathogens, Giardia rarely causes chronic inflammation in infected children. The authors propose a new paradigm that Giardia-mediated growth faltering is contingent upon a convergence of this intestinal protozoa with nutritional and intestinal bacterial factors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
J. R. Swann, R. Diaz Heijtz, J. Mayneris-Perxachs, A. Arora, J. Isaksson, S. Bolte, K. Tammimies
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may play a role in the development of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the metabolic contribution of the microbiota and the relative importance of genetics and environment in ADHD. In this study, metabolomic profiling of urine and fecal samples from a Swedish twin cohort revealed sex-specific patterns in the metabolic phenotype of individuals with ADHD. The findings suggest that metabolic disturbances in ADHD may be influenced by both gut microbial and host metabolic processes, with a stronger genetic influence.
Article
Psychiatry
Simone Zuffa, Patrick Schimmel, Ayoze Gonzalez-Santana, Clara Belzer, Jan Knol, Sven Bolte, Terje Falck-Ytter, Hans Forssberg, Jonathan Swann, Rochellys Diaz Heijtz
Summary: Evidence suggests that the microbiota-gut-brain axis is involved in the neurobiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study examined the development of the fecal microbiota and metabolome in infants with and without a family history of ASD. It was found that infants at elevated-likelihood of ASD had a different microbial composition, with lower levels of Bifidobacterium and higher levels of Clostridium and Klebsiella species compared to low-likelihood infants. The study also revealed a correlation between certain microbes and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, which may have implications for behavioral variability later in life.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Catriona Ling, Christian J. Versloot, Matilda E. Arvidsson Kvissberg, Guanlan Hu, Nathan Swain, Jose M. Horcas-Nieto, Emily Miraglia, Mehakpreet K. Thind, Amber Farooqui, Albert Gerding, Karen van Eunen, Mirjam H. Koster, Niels J. Kloosterhuis, Lijun Chi, YueYing ChenMi, Miriam Langelaar-Makkinje, Celine Bourdon, Jonathan Swann, Marieke Smit, Alain de Bruin, Sameh A. Youssef, Marjon Feenstra, Theo H. van Dijk, Kathrin Thedieck, Johan W. Jonker, Peter K. Kim, Barbara M. Bakker, Robert H. J. Bandsma
Summary: Severe malnutrition leads to structural and functional changes in the intestine, increasing the risk of infection and mortality. This study reveals the mechanisms underlying malnutrition enteropathy, including dysregulation of autophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis, as well as abnormalities in reactive oxygen species. The findings suggest that nicotinamide supplementation and modulation of SIRT1 and mTORC1 pathways may ameliorate malnutrition enteropathy in children with severe malnutrition.