Article
Microbiology
Chang Liu, Hua Zhang, Xian Peng, Meghan S. Blackledge, Robert E. Furlani, Haoting Li, Zhaoming Su, Roberta J. Melander, Christian Melander, Suzanne Michalek, Hui Wu
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a major concern in public health, and new alternatives to combat biofilm-driven infections are needed. A 2-aminoimidazole derivative has been identified to inhibit biofilm formation in Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus by targeting a key transcriptional regulator. This compound shows promise as a new anti-infective agent that can attenuate virulence in bacterial infections.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Melissa Y. Chen, Alexandra Alexiev, Valerie J. McKenzie
Summary: Host-associated microbial biofilms play an important role in protecting against pathogen establishment. The diversity of bacteria, thickness of biofilms, and richness of inhibitory bacteria can collectively reduce the success of pathogen establishment.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Congwen Wang, Zhangkai Liu, Wanying Yu, Xuehua Ye, Linna Ma, Renzhong Wang, Zhenying Huang, Guofang Liu
Summary: Soil microbial communities in grasslands are affected by degradation levels, with degradation influencing fungal community structure more significantly than bacterial community structure. Soil properties, such as nutrients and texture, are major drivers of fungal community composition and structure, while soil pH plays a larger role in bacterial community. This study emphasizes the importance of managing and restoring degraded grasslands by prioritizing soil fungal community.
Article
Ecology
Michael J. Bottery, Jessica L. Matthews, A. Jamie Wood, Helle Krogh Johansen, Jon W. Pitchford, Ville-Petri Friman
Summary: The study found that multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia can provide high levels of antibiotic protection to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but is ineffective against another antibiotic. The level of exposure protection against different carbapenems is determined by differences in antibiotic efficacy and inactivation rate.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caroline Doose, Soizic Morin, Laura Malbezin, Jacky Vedrenne, Claude Fortin
Summary: This study investigates the effects of Th on microbial communities of periphytic biofilms. The presence of Th modified the diatom and bacterial community structures, reducing diversity and increasing cell density. The changes in diatom and bacterial communities could explain the higher number of individual diatoms and micromeiofauna observed in Th-exposed conditions.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wei Jie Ng, Ching Thong Tan, Sungwoo Bae
Summary: This study found that exposing bacterial biofilms to sub-lethal concentrations of monochloramine disinfection can lead to resistance development, with mixed bacterial biofilms being more prone to developing resistance.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Faizan Ahmed Sadiq, Mette Burmolle, Marc Heyndrickx, Steve Flint, Wenwei Lu, Wei Chen, Jianxin Zhao, Hao Zhang
Summary: Most bacterial species exist in the form of surface-adhered communities or biofilms in various environments. Researchers are now focusing on studying multispecies biofilms and revealing interspecific interactions due to the coexistence of numerous bacterial species. Emergent properties in multispecies biofilms are triggered by bacterial social interactions, which are important for controlling and manipulating microbial communities.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luke Lear, Daniel Padfield, Tirion Dowsett, Maia Jones, Suzanne Kay, Alex Hayward, Michiel Vos
Summary: The accumulation of plastics in the marine environment has detrimental consequences for ecosystems and wildlife. This study found that marine plastics are rapidly colonised by a wide diversity of bacteria, including pathogenic species. The presence of pathogenic bacteria increased over time, indicating a potential risk to health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Joanna Tannous, Casey M. Cosetta, Milton T. Drott, Tomas A. Rush, Paul E. Abraham, Richard J. Giannone, Nancy P. Keller, Benjamin E. Wolfe
Summary: Using an antibacterial Penicillium isolate and a cheese rind microbial community, this study demonstrates that a fungal specialized metabolite can regulate the diversity of bacterial communities. It reveals the role of global regulators in controlling bacterial community assembly and highlights the ecological function of fungal specialized metabolites.
Article
Biology
Julia A. Boyle, Anna K. Simonsen, Megan E. Frederickson, John R. Stinchcombe
Summary: Priority effects occur when the order of species arrival affects the final community structure. In the case of mutualists interacting with hosts in different orders, the outcome can be influenced by the interaction order, with hosts receiving high-quality mutualists early better tolerating low-quality symbionts later.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianfeng Yang, Yumin Duan, Yaru Guo, Zelin Li, Xinhua Ni, Jiatao Zhang, Mukesh Kumar Awasthi, Huike Li
Summary: The study found that grass-waste management affects the soil organic carbon (SOC) and microorganism community structure, especially the relationship between fungal community structure and SOC chemical components. Microaggregates contain higher alkyl C and lower aromatic C, supporting greater microbial diversity and richness, with a higher contribution to fungal communities.
Article
Microbiology
Haoxuan Zeng, Marc Stadler, Wolf-Rainer Abraham, Mathias Muesken, Hedda Schrey
Summary: The fungal human pathogens, Candida auris and Candida albicans, have various virulence mechanisms, including the formation of biofilms and the development of (pseudo)hyphae to protect against harsh conditions and facilitate invasion of host tissues. Increasing rates of antifungal resistance in these pathogens pose a challenge for effective treatment. This study found that rubiginosin C, derived from the ascomycete Hypoxylon rubiginosum, effectively inhibited biofilm formation and hyphal development in both C. auris and C. albicans without harming host cells. Rubiginosin C is a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention in the future.
Article
Microbiology
Robin Mesnage, Simona Panzacchi, Emma Bourne, Charles A. A. Mein, Melissa J. J. Perry, Jianzhong Hu, Jia Chen, Daniele Mandrioli, Fiorella Belpoggi, Michael N. N. Antoniou
Summary: This study investigated the effects of glyphosate and its commercial herbicide formulations on the gut microbiota of rats. The results showed that Roundup formulations had dose-dependent effects on bacterial and fungal diversity, while glyphosate alone only affected bacterial diversity. Moreover, glyphosate and its Roundup formulations caused profound changes in the gut microbiome composition, potentially influencing the long-term toxicity, carcinogenicity, and multigenerational effects of glyphosate-based herbicides.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Osmel Fleitas Martinez, Harry Morales Duque, Octavio Luiz Franco
Summary: The uncontrollable spread of superbugs requires new approaches to microbial-antibiotic resistance. Peptidomimetic compounds have the potential to be anti-virulence drugs, overcoming the limitations of natural peptide-based drugs and showing promise in disrupting pathogen virulence.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Liangliang Liu, Yuanyuan Yan, Huanxin Ding, Jun Zhao, Zucong Cai, Chuanchao Dai, Xinqi Huang
Summary: The study reveals a direct relationship between soil properties and plant health status, with the fungal community composition being most important for predicting plant health. Microbiome disease-suppressive activity in soils with low disease incidences (LDS) could be transferred to soils with high disease incidences (HDS). Certain fungal genera like Acremonium, Mycothermus, and Chryseolinea are identified as potential disease-suppressive agents.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Ildiko Kasza, Jens-Peter Kuehn, Henry Voelzke, Diego Hernando, Yaohui G. Xu, John W. Siebert, Angela L. F. Gibson, C. -L. Eric Yen, David W. Nelson, Ormond A. MacDougald, Nicole E. Richardson, Dudley W. Lamming, Philip A. Kern, C. M. Alexander
Summary: This study looks at the distinct strategies used by mammals to maintain body temperature, focusing on the role of skin-associated adipose tissues in heat production and conservation. The research found that different adipose depots in mice and humans play varying roles in regulating heat production, with implications for thermal defense. Furthermore, the study highlights the unique regulation of dermal white adipose tissue in mice and the direct heat-producing ability of human skin-associated fat depots as alternatives to brown adipose tissues.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Surgery
David G. Greenhalgh, Robert Cartotto, Sandra L. Taylor, Jeffrey R. Fine, Giavonni M. Lewis, David J. Smith, Michael A. Marano, Angela Gibson, Lucy A. Wibbenmeyer, James H. Holmes, Julie A. Rizzo, Kevin N. Foster, Anjay Khandelwal, Sarah Fischer, Mark R. Hemmila, David Hill, Ariel M. Aballay, Edward E. Tredget, Jeremy Goverman, Herbert Phelan, Carlos J. Jimenez, Anthony Baldea, Rajiv Sood
Summary: ABRUPT study aimed to investigate the resuscitation practices of burn patients with albumin or crystalloids and design a future trial. The study found that albumin use was associated with older age, larger and deeper burns, and more severe organ dysfunction at presentation.
Article
Immunology
Emily F. Eix, Chad J. Johnson, Kayla M. Wartman, John F. Kernien, Jennifer J. Meudt, Dhanansayan Shanmuganayagam, Angela L. F. Gibson, Jeniel E. Nett
Summary: Candida auris can efficiently colonize the skin of patients, leading to nosocomial outbreaks. However, other Candida species, including those closely related to C. auris, do not show the same high growth in the skin microenvironment. This study provides two ex vivo skin models for C. auris colonization, which can be used to compare clinical isolates and genetically mutated strains.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
James H. Holmes, Leopoldo C. Cancio, Jeffrey E. Carter, Lee D. Faucher, Kevin Foster, Helen D. Hahn, Booker T. King, Randi Rutan, Janice M. Smiell, Richard Wu, Angela L. F. Gibson
Summary: This analysis examines the safety data of two clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of StrataGraft in patients with deep partial-thickness burns. The results show that StrataGraft is well-tolerated by patients and offers a safe alternative to autograft for this type of burn.
Article
Cell Biology
J. Z. Alex Cheong, Aiping Liu, Clayton J. Rust, Collin L. Tran, Sameeha E. Hassan, Lindsay R. Kalan, Angela L. F. Gibson
Summary: This study evaluated the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), a wound cleansing agent, in human skin using clinically relevant models. The results showed that CHG significantly affected the metabolic activity of skin explants and had persistent cytotoxicity, impairing wound healing in vivo. CHG also had limited antimicrobial activity, with viable bacterial cells residing deep within wound tissue even after CHG application.
WOUND REPAIR AND REGENERATION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Mary Hannah Swaney, Shelby Sandstrom, Lindsay R. Kalan
Summary: The skin microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health, and cobamide sharing may mediate dynamics within skin microbial communities.
Article
Surgery
Jocelyn C. Zajac, Aiping Liu, Adam J. Uselmann, Christie Lin, Sameeha E. Hassan, Lee D. Faucher, Angela L. F. Gibson
Summary: The study demonstrated the potential of SWIG in identifying burn necrosis and determining the interface between viable and nonviable tissue, while highlighting the inconsistencies and lack of standardization in ICGA for evaluating burn injuries.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizabeth C. Townsend, Lindsay R. Kalan
Summary: Research has focused on identifying the balanced skin microbiome and developing therapeutics, but this ideal balance may not exist. The skin microbiome changes with age due to various factors. Local skin physiology, genetics, microbe-host interactions, and microbe-microbe interactions determine the precise composition of the skin microbiome for individuals. This review examines the factors that shape the skin microbiome throughout life and discusses the impact of disruptions to this balance on dermatological diseases and overall health.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Rauf Salamzade, Mary Hannah Swaney, Lindsay R. Kalan
Summary: In this study, comparative genomics was used to investigate the genetic traits that differentiate a phylogenetically related group of Corynebacterium, the Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum species complex. The study found that different species within the complex are associated with specific body sites and that one species increases in abundance during atopic dermatitis flares.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mary Hannah Swaney, Amanda Nelsen, Shelby Sandstrom, Lindsay R. Kalan
Summary: The microorganisms living on human skin have adapted to the challenging conditions that usually hinder microbial growth. They have developed a preference for high concentrations of sweat, while the preference for sebum varies among different bacterial species. These findings provide insights into the composition of skin microbiomes and underscore the importance of studying microorganisms in their natural environment.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Sarah R. Beattie, Taiwo Esan, Robert Zarnowski, Emily Eix, Jeniel E. Nett, David R. Andes, Timothy Hagen, Damian J. Krysan
Summary: New antifungal therapies are needed for various fungal infections, including biofilms and drug-resistant strains. A novel keto-alkyl-pyridinium scaffold has been identified with broad spectrum activity against medically important fungi. This class of molecules shows potential for non-systemic applications.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Rauf Salamzade, J. Z. Alex Cheong, Shelby Sandstrom, Mary Hannah Swaney, Reed M. Stubbendieck, Nicole Lane Starr, Cameron R. Currie, Anne Marie Singh, Lindsay R. Kalan
Summary: A bioinformatics tool called lsaBGC was developed to analyze and compare biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in bacterial taxa. By using lsaBGC, new insights into the evolution and diversity of BGCs in skin microbiomes were discovered. The tool identified the presence of a specific BGC in Staphylococcus aureus but its absence in Staphylococcus epidermidis. Additionally, novel single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) within BGCs of the Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum complex were identified.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)