Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoxiao Cheng, Jiannong Xu, Geoffrey Smith, Yanyan Zhang
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of conventional wastewater treatment processes on the removal of antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria, finding that chlorination resulted in an increased number of ARB in disinfection effluent, while secondary treatment increased the relative abundance of ARGs. The metagenomic analysis revealed a significant shift in dominating bacterial genera harboring ARGs along the treatment train.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bo Yuan, Yanwen Ma, Jingyao Ren, Guochun Ding, Ningcong Zhou, Jinsong Liang, Ying Sun
Summary: In this study, metagenomics was used to analyze the environmental risk of sheep feces from three stocking modes. The results showed that captivity mode had a higher abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and offensive virulence factors in feces compared to half-pen stocking and grazing modes. Potential pathogenic antibiotic resistant bacteria were identified in sheep feces, suggesting a higher environmental risk. High stocking density was also found to cause increased harm to the environment.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhiguo Su, Donghui Wen
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a critical health concern across Earth's habitats. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in various ecosystems by analyzing microbial genomes. The findings reveal that species from the Enterobacteriaceae family are the major hosts of ARGs and identify several priority species for surveillance and control.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Nayeem Ahmad, Ronni Mol Joji, Mohammad Shahid
Summary: Antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to humanity and its environment, and the misuse of antibiotics in human, animal, and environmental sectors contributes to its spread. Antibiotics are used to treat infections in humans and promote growth in food-producing animals, leading to the transmission of antibiotic resistant infections from animals to humans. Antibiotics can enter the environment through various sources, including human and veterinary wastes. The soil serves as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes, and there are concerns about the potential health hazards of environmental antibiotic residues. The One Health approach aims to address antibiotic resistance in an interconnected and multi-sectoral manner, by implementing surveillance, overcoming resource challenges, and executing action plans at national and international levels. Implementing One Health can help prevent the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance and promote a healthier world.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Celia P. F. Domingues, Joao S. Rebelo, Francisco Dionisio, Teresa Nogueira
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a significant threat to public health, as excessive use of antibiotics leads to the emergence of multi-drug resistance. Our large-scale analysis of bacterial genomes revealed that over 95% of the genomes contain genes associated with resistance to various antimicrobial classes. Additionally, we found unexpected co-occurrences of resistance genes in plasmids, increasing the potential for resistance dissemination.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cong Zhang, Xin Zhao, Can Wang, Israel Hakizimana, John C. Crittenden, Azhar Ali Laghari
Summary: This study investigates the effects of ARB disinfection on the risk of HGT, with an electrochemical flow-through reactor (EFTR) being used to inactivate E. coli and remove ARGs. Results show that EFTR effectively reduces ARGs concentration and decreases HGT frequency, making it a promising technology for preventing the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Alexander Crits-Christoph, Haley Anne Hallowell, Kalia Koutouvalis, Jotham Suez
Summary: The global increase in antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria is a significant public health threat. The gut microbiome acts as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that can be transferred to bacterial pathogens through horizontal gene transfer. Advances in metagenomic sequencing have allowed for the identification of modulators of the resistome, including live microbial therapeutics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yifei Xu, Lin Zhu, Shanguo Chen, Haiyan Wu, Ruiqi Li, Jing Li, Jun Yuan, Tao Wen, Chao Xue, Qirong Shen
Summary: In recent years, the excessive use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry husbandry has led to the accumulation of residual antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in livestock manure. Composting can effectively reduce the risk of ARGs in manure. This study found that the potential risk of ARGs in compost was significantly lower than in manure, suggesting that composting is an effective method for reducing ARGs.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Pedro Blanco-Picazo, Clara Gomez-Gomez, Marc Tormo, Maria Dolores Ramos-Barbero, Lorena Rodriguez-Rubio, Maite Muniesa
Summary: This study analyzed viral sequences from different types of food samples and found antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in these viral sequences, suggesting that the transmission of resistance by phage particles may contribute to the emergence of resistant strains along the food chain.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Enzong Xiao, Weimin Sun, Zengping Ning, Yuqi Wang, Fande Meng, Jinmei Deng, Wenjun Fan, Tangfu Xiao
Summary: The study found that metal(loid) selection plays an important role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in mine soil ecosystems. Metal(loid)-induced coselection is mainly associated with resistance-nodulation-division (RND) antibiotic efflux. Metal(loid)s impose coselection pressure on multiple ARGs residing on mobile genetic elements (MGEs), promoting the dissemination of the antibiotic resistome.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinyi Shuai, Yujie Sun, Lingxuan Meng, Zhenchao Zhou, Lin Zhu, Zejun Lin, Hong Chen
Summary: The study found that swimming pools contain a higher abundance of ARGs, with bather loads contributing to their increase, and dermal contact being identified as the main exposure route for ARGs. Furthermore, the burden of ARGs intake via dermal contact during swimming was higher than that via ingestion.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Tao He, Rui-Cheng Wei, Lili Zhang, Lan Gong, Lei Zhu, Jili Gu, Yu-Lin Fu, Yang Wang, De-Jun Liu, Ran Wang
Summary: The emergence of high-level tigecycline resistance tet(X) variant genes poses a new transferable resistance crisis to food safety and human health, with these genes being widely present in samples from layer manures, soils, and lettuce. The detection rate of tet(X)/(X2) was the highest, and tet(X)/tet(X2) and tet(X3) were more abundant in manured soils and lettuce samples.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jing Wu, Jun-Hua Zhou, Dong-Feng Liu, Jie Wu, Ru-Li He, Zhou-Hua Cheng, Hui-Hui Li, Wen-Wei Li
Summary: Previous studies focused on direct interactions of plastics with microorganisms, but ignored their ecotoxicity effects on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study reveals that environmentally relevant concentrations of phthalates (PAEs) significantly enhance the transfer of ARGs among environmental microorganisms. The interaction between PAEs and cell membrane phospholipids lowers membrane fluidity and increases permeability, facilitating gene transfer. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species and overexpression of conjugation-associated genes under PAE stress also contribute to enhanced gene transfer. This study provides important insights into the environmental risks of plastics and the control of ARG spreading.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wei Sun, Xun Qian, Xiaojuan Wang, Jie Gu
Summary: Anaerobic digestion is a common method for disposing and recycling livestock manures. However, this process can contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from manures to soils. In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of enrofloxacin, a commonly used antibiotic, on the persistence and transfer of ARGs during cattle manure digestion. They found that enrofloxacin significantly increased the abundance of certain ARGs and played a role in facilitating the transfer of plasmid-mediated resistance genes. The results indicate the high persistence of ARGs in anaerobic digestion systems and highlight the importance of residual antibiotics in increasing the dissemination of resistance genes.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Changlong Gou, Yuqiong Wang, Xiqing Zhang, Rongzhen Zhong, Yunhang Gao
Summary: The addition of Chlorotetracycline (CTC) to cattle manure composting systems hindered the removal of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) and increased the relative abundance (RA) of certain ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). High levels of CTC had a more persistent effect on bacterial community and Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were identified as the main hosts for ARGs based on network analysis. The presence of CTC increased the risks of spreading ARGs in compost products.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karl Alex Hedin, Vanessa Emily Rees, Hongbin Zhang, Vibeke Kruse, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: This study established a robust mouse model for studying the colonisation of Saccharomyces boulardii, finding that antibiotic treatment significantly increased the colonisation levels and duration of S. boulardii in mice. The findings suggest that the antibiotic cocktail used in the study is an advantageous tool for studying S. boulardii-based probiotics and advanced microbiome therapeutics.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sailesh Malla, Eric van der Helm, Behrooz Darbani, Stefan Wieschalka, Jochen Foerster, Irina Borodina, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: The lack of an active export system limits the accumulation and purification of intracellular products in industrial bio-based production processes. In this study, a novel L-lysine exporter belonging to the uncharacterized EamA superfamily was identified using metagenomic functional selection. This exporter significantly improved L-lysine tolerance and enhanced the yield and production of L-lysine in an industrial strain. This approach allows for the discovery of novel exporters and can be used to increase the productivity of bioprocesses with toxicity limitations.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hitesh P. Gelli, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: Using cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) is an effective strategy to improve drug absorption. Among the 9 most promising CPPs studied, 4 of them significantly increased the paracellular permeability of the intestinal barrier without compromising cellular health. Furthermore, these 4 CPPs also affected the growth of the majority of tested commensal strains.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Max van't Hof, Omkar S. Mohite, Jonathan M. Monk, Tilmann Weber, Bernhard O. Palsson, Morten O. A. Sommer
Summary: The study developed an updated metabolic model, iHM1533, of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) with extended representation of secondary metabolites. The model was validated and improved, and it successfully predicted targets for optimizing secondary metabolite production. This model provides a better understanding of the metabolic capabilities of EcN and aids future metabolic engineering efforts.
BMC BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Jonathan I. I. Silverberg, Lars E. E. French, Richard B. B. Warren, Bruce Strober, Kim Kjoller, Morten O. A. Sommer, Philippe Andres, Jakob Felding, Anne Weiss, Deniz Tutkunkardas, Tine Skak-Nielsen, Emma Guttman
Summary: This study examined the PDE4 enzymatic activity and anti-inflammatory effects of orismilast in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The results showed that orismilast selectively and potently inhibited PDE4 and demonstrated broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory activity. These findings support the clinical development of oral orismilast as a novel treatment option for chronic inflammatory skin diseases.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Richard B. B. Warren, Bruce Strober, Jonathan I. I. Silverberg, Emma Guttman, Philippe Andres, Jakob Felding, Deniz Tutkunkardas, Kim Kjoller, Morten O. A. Sommer, Lars E. E. French
Summary: This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of orismilast for psoriasis treatment. The phase 2a trial found that orismilast significantly improved the condition of patients with psoriasis. The phase 1 trial tested new formulations to minimize gastrointestinal adverse reactions.
JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rebecca M. Lennen, Hyun Gyu Lim, Kristian Jensen, Elsayed T. Mohammed, Patrick V. Phaneuf, Myung Hyun Noh, Sailesh Malla, Rosa A. Borner, Ksenia Chekina, Emre Ozdemir, Ida Bonde, Anna Koza, Jerome Maury, Lasse E. Pedersen, Lars Y. Schoning, Nikolaus Sonnenschein, Bernhard O. Palsson, Alex T. Nielsen, Morten O. A. Sommer, Markus J. Herrgard, Adam M. Feist
Summary: This study used an automated platform to evolve Escherichia coli to grow optimally in the presence of 11 industrial chemicals and uncovered the tolerance mechanisms. The results showed that cells are tolerized through frequent mutation of membrane transporters, cell wall-associated proteins, transcription and translation machineries, and stress signaling proteins. Osmotic stress plays a significant role in tolerance, and pre-tolerized starting isolates can greatly enhance the subsequent production of chemicals.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip Wismer, Sarah Aparecida Soares, Kasper Alnor Einarson, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of virtual reality (VR) behaviometrics for assessing compliance and physical laboratory skills. By employing machine learning and classical statistics, significant behavioral predictors were identified from a logistic regression model, accurately classifying students and biopharma company employees as experts or novices in pH meter handling tasks with 77% accuracy. Specifically, the game score and number of interactions in VR tasks requiring practical skills were found to be performance predictors. The study offers biopharma companies and academic institutions the potential to assess performance using an automatic, reliable, and simple alternative to traditional in-person assessment methods. Integrating this assessment into training tools eliminates the need for tedious post-training evaluations.
Article
Immunology
Anne Weiss, Rodinde Hendrickx, Eva Stensgaard, Mads Jellingso, Morten O. A. Sommer
Summary: Immunocompromised patients, including dialysis and kidney transplant patients, have faced an increased risk of mortality due to COVID-19 despite available countermeasures. Additional protection measures are necessary for this vulnerable population.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Troels Holger Vaaben, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: Advanced microbial therapeutics, which engineer microbial cells to produce and deliver therapeutics in the human body, offer precise and self-regulating treatment options. This study characterized sensors in probiotic Escherichia coli that respond to physiological conditions and molecules found in the human body, demonstrating their functionality in vivo and their potential for advanced microbiome therapeutics.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Karl Alex Hedin, Vibeke Kruse, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer
Summary: The human gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in human health and microorganisms engineered for therapeutic purposes have emerged as a novel approach to managing diseases. To prevent the spread of these microorganisms outside the treated individual, safe and robust biocontainment strategies are necessary.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Akanksha Rajput, Siddharth M. Chauhan, Omkar S. Mohite, Jason C. Hyun, Omid Ardalani, Leonie J. Jahn, Morten O. A. Sommer, Bernhard O. Palsson
Summary: Lactobacillaceae is an important microbial family in the food industry. Through a comprehensive pangenome analysis, we found the characteristics of core, accessory, and rare genomes, as well as a richness of biosynthetic gene clusters.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarunas Tumas, Trine Sundebo Meldgaard, Troels Holger Vaaben, Sara Suarez Hernandez, Annemette Tengstedt Rasmussen, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Sine Reker Hadrup, Morten O. A. Sommer
Summary: In this study, we optimized the delivery of biologically active IL-2 using engineered E. coli Nissle 1917. The engineered strain showed high biological activity of microbially produced IL-2 (mi-IL2) in vitro and demonstrated strong immune cell activation in a 3D tumor spheroid model. Furthermore, the engineered strain selectively colonized tumors in a murine CT26 tumor model and resulted in a modest reduction in tumor growth rate and increased levels of IL-2 in the tumor. This study provides a workflow for researchers interested in utilizing E. coli Nissle for microbial therapy against cancer.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Chrysoula Dimopoulou, Mareike Bongers, Mikael Pedersen, Martin Bahl, Morten O. A. Sommer, Martin F. Laursen, Tine R. Licht
Summary: We successfully transferred the ability to produce the health-beneficial microbial metabolite indole lactic acid (ILA) into Escherichia coli, and demonstrated its expression in vitro and in vivo. The expanding knowledge of gut microbiota's metabolic activities and their impact on health has led to growing interest in engineered probiotics. Tryptophan metabolites, especially ILA, are potential therapeutic agents with multiple beneficial effects. Our study engineered an E. coli strain that produces ILA and showed its robust production in a mouse model, offering efficient options for therapeutic interventions against gastrointestinal inflammation.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Valeria Iannone, Ambrin Farizah Babu, Johnson Lok, Carlos Gomez-Gallego, Giuseppe D'Auria, Ruben Vazquez-Uribe, Troels Holger Vaaben, Mareike Bongers, Santtu Mikkonen, Maija Vaittinen, Ida Tikkanen, Mikko Kettunen, Anton Klavus, Ratika Sehgal, Dorota Kaminska, Jussi Pihlajamaki, Kati Hanhineva, Hani El-Nezami, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer, Marjukka Kolehmainen
Summary: This study found that Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 expressing aldafermin, combined with dietary changes, can alleviate symptoms of MASLD, including reducing body weight, liver steatosis, plasma aspartate aminotransferase, and plasma cholesterol levels. RNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis revealed the downregulation of amino acid metabolism and related receptor signaling pathways, which may be implicated in the reduction of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2023)