@article {pmid41651145,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Sun, T and Li, L and Wang, M and Hu, B and Chen, Z and Hu, S},
title = {Synergistic effects of carbon dots and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on mitigating PFAS stress and reinforcing the purification performance of constructed wetlands.},
journal = {Environmental research},
volume = {295},
number = {},
pages = {123952},
doi = {10.1016/j.envres.2026.123952},
pmid = {41651145},
issn = {1096-0953},
abstract = {Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are highly persistent pollutants that disrupt plant-microbe interactions and compromise the performance of constructed wetlands (CWs). Here, we demonstrate a synergistic strategy combining carbon dots (CDs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to alleviate PFAS-induced stress and enhance CW remediation efficiency. CD amendment markedly improved plant physiological performance under PFAS exposure, increasing photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant enzyme activities, while simultaneously facilitating AMF colonization. Under high PFAS concentrations, the AMF-CDs treatment increased AMF colonization density by 33.3-100% relative to AMF alone, indicating substantial protection of symbiotic functionality. Metagenomic and community analyses revealed that the AMF- CDs combination reshaped the rhizosphere microbiome, enriching taxa such as Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes, and Campylobacterota that are functionally linked to nitrogen cycling, PFAS transformation, and metabolic resilience. These microbial shifts enhanced nutrient turnover and strengthened redox coupling processes critical for pollutant degradation. Consequently, the AMF-CDs system achieved pronounced improvements in water quality, with total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and NH4[+]-N removal efficiencies elevated by 34.3-158.3% compared with untreated controls. This study provides the first evidence that CDs function as nano-bridging agents that stabilize the root-microbe interface, reinforce AMF-plant symbiosis, and drive microbial community specialization toward pollutant degradation. The AMF-CDs synergistic mechanism offers a sustainable and scalable nano-bio strategy for restoring PFAS-contaminated ecosystems and advancing next generation constructed wetland technologies.},
}

@article {pmid41651116,
year = {2026},
author = {Graber, LC and Moreau, CS},
title = {Insect-microbiome interactions in a changing world.},
journal = {Current opinion in insect science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {101495},
doi = {10.1016/j.cois.2026.101495},
pmid = {41651116},
issn = {2214-5753},
abstract = {Humans have greatly altered the Earth and its environments through activities such as agriculture, industry, and urbanization. In recent years, the impact of anthropogenic global change on insect populations has become a topic of increased interest, with much written for both scientists and the public on how insect populations are in decline due to climate change, land use change, and exposure to chemical pollution. Additionally, many insects host microbial symbionts, which some insect species rely on for a wide range of physiological needs such as nutrient acquisition, detoxifying diet substrate, or reproduction. This review summarizes recent experimental and observational studies on the effects of anthropogenic global change on insect microbial symbioses from multiple ecosystems and continents, with a focus on the impacts of climate change and habitat loss and degradation. Each of these modes of change has been demonstrated to affect the composition of insect microbial communities, with reduction of species diversity within microbial communities (alpha diversity) as the most common result. Results of experimental study on heat stress response in bacterial symbionts suggest that warming temperatures often associated with climate change may have direct impacts on symbiont mortality, as symbionts tend to be more sensitive to thermal stress than free-living bacteria. Habitat loss and degradation impact insect microbial symbionts via the changed microbiomes of host food and environmental substrate. Chemical pollution associated with habitat degradation has altered the microbiomes of insects, though some insects may be able to detoxify chemical pollutants with symbiotic microbial taxa. While early research has shown that human-induced climate change can have negative impacts on insect symbionts, there is still much to learn about how the changing world will impact insect microbiomes and how this in turn will impact entire ecosystems at a global scale.},
}

@article {pmid41650968,
year = {2026},
author = {Naragon, TH and Viliunas, JW and Yousefelahiyeh, M and Brückner, A and Wagner, JM and Okamoto, KE and Ryon, HM and Collinson, D and Kitchen, SA and Wijker, RS and Sessions, AL and Parker, J},
title = {Symbiotic entrenchment through ecological Catch-22.},
journal = {Cell},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2025.12.041},
pmid = {41650968},
issn = {1097-4172},
abstract = {Why symbiotic organisms evolve irreversible dependencies on hosts is an outstanding question. We report a biological stealth device in a beetle that permits infiltration of ant societies. Via transcriptional silencing, the beetle switches off biosynthesis of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs)-body surface pheromones that function pleiotropically as a waxy desiccation barrier. Silencing transforms the beetle into a chemical blank slate onto which ant CHCs are transferred via grooming behavior, leading to perfect chemical mimicry and acceptance into the colony. Silencing is irreversible, however, forcing the beetle into a chronic dependence on ants to both maintain mimicry and prevent desiccation. We show that evolutionary reversion of the silencing mechanism would render the beetle detectable to ants; conversely, reversion of the beetle's attraction to ants would render it desiccation prone. Symbiotic entrenchment can thus arise from epistasis between symbiotic traits, locking lineages into a Catch-22 that obstructs reversion to living freely.},
}

@article {pmid41650653,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, B and Kuo, CH and Liu, CH and Lee, YK and Kao, JK and Fan, CH and Wu, FC and Liu, LL and Chiu, K and Chen, YY},
title = {Differential metabolomic shifts in jellyfish tissues exposed to artificial light spectra.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {1017},
number = {},
pages = {181454},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181454},
pmid = {41650653},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {This study aimed to determine how different light spectra affect the growth and metabolism of the upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea andromeda, which relies on symbiotic algae for energy. Jellyfish were reared for 60 days under seven light conditions-red, yellow, white, blue, green, ultraviolet (UV), or complete darkness-while monitoring survival, growth, and metabolic changes. White, blue, and green lights yielded the highest growth and 100% survival. By contrast, red and yellow light produced moderate growth, whereas UV or darkness caused severely stunted growth and high mortality. Untargeted metabolomic profiling (UHPLC-MS/MS) detected ~380 metabolites, with amino acids and fatty acids comprising the major metabolite classes. Different spectra induced distinct metabolic profiles: bell tissues under white and blue/green light showed broader metabolic shifts (e.g., upregulated osmolyte and amino acid pathways), while tentacle tissues maintained more stable profiles enriched in unsaturated fatty acid metabolism. These findings demonstrate that light spectrum significantly shapes jellyfish physiology and metabolism, advancing our understanding of cnidarian photobiology. Optimizing spectral exposure (e.g., using green or blue light) could enhance jellyfish health in aquaculture and inform strategies to mitigate jellyfish blooms under artificial lighting conditions.},
}

@article {pmid41650214,
year = {2026},
author = {Bisot, C and Galvez, LO and Kahane, F and van Son, M and Turcu, B and Broekman, R and Lin, KK and Bontenbal, P and Winter, MK and Kokkoris, V and West, SA and Godin, C and Kiers, ET and Shimizu, TS},
title = {Carbon-phosphorus exchange rate constrains density-speed trade-off in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal growth.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {123},
number = {6},
pages = {e2512182123},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.2512182123},
pmid = {41650214},
issn = {1091-6490},
support = {0029//Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)/ ; 101076062//EC | European Research Council (ERC)/ ; 834164//EC | Horizon Europe | Excellent Science | HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council (ERC)/ ; 0029//Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP)/ ; NA//Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment (TGF)/ ; NA//Arthur J. Schmitt Foundation (Schmitt Foundation)/ ; NA//Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (PGAFF)/ ; NA//Ammodo Foundation/ ; NA//Hefner Foundation/ ; NA//Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF)/ ; NA//Bezos Earth Fung/ ; 202.012//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)/ ; SPI.2023.2//Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)/ ; },
mesh = {*Mycorrhizae/growth & development/metabolism ; *Carbon/metabolism ; *Phosphorus/metabolism ; Symbiosis/physiology ; Machine Learning ; },
abstract = {Symbiotic nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their host plants varies widely depending on their physical, chemical, and biological environment. Yet dissecting this context dependency remains challenging because we lack methods for tracking nutrients such as carbon (C) and phosphorus (P). Here, we developed an approach to quantitatively estimate C and P fluxes in the AM symbiosis from comprehensive network morphology quantification, achieved by robotic imaging and machine learning based on roughly 100 million hyphal shape measurements. We found that rates of C transfer from the plant and P transfer from the fungus were, on average, related proportionally to one another. This ratio was nearly invariant across AM fungal strains despite contrasting growth phenotypes but was strongly affected by plant host genotype. Fungal phenotype distributions were bounded by a Pareto front with a shape favoring specialization in an exploration-exploitation trade-off. This means AM fungi can be fast range expanders or fast resource extractors, but not both. Manipulating the C/P exchange rate by swapping the plant host genotype shifted this Pareto front, indicating that the exchange rate constrains possible AM fungal growth strategies. We show by mathematical modeling how AM fungal growth at fixed exchange rate leads to qualitatively different symbiotic outcomes depending on fungal traits and nutrient availability.},
}

*Mycorrhizae/growth & development/metabolism
*Carbon/metabolism
*Phosphorus/metabolism
Symbiosis/physiology
Machine Learning

@article {pmid41649704,
year = {2025},
author = {Lv, C and Huang, YZ and Luan, JB},
title = {Correction: Insect‒microbe symbiosis-based strategies offer a new avenue for the management of insect pests and their transmitted pathogens.},
journal = {Crop health},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {3},
pmid = {41649704},
issn = {2948-1945},
}

@article {pmid41649656,
year = {2025},
author = {Huang, Z and Qi, F},
title = {Engineering strigolactone signaling: toward crops that resist parasites without sacrificing symbiosis.},
journal = {Crop health},
volume = {3},
number = {1},
pages = {13},
pmid = {41649656},
issn = {2948-1945},
support = {32400234//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024M762854//China Postdoctoral Science Foundation/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41649480,
year = {2026},
author = {Becerra-Rivera, VA and Ide, AA and Reyes-González, AR and Dunn, MF},
title = {Divergent and overlapping roles of homospermidine and spermidine in Sinorhizobium meliloti physiology and symbiotic performance.},
journal = {Microbiology (Reading, England)},
volume = {172},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/mic.0.001668},
pmid = {41649480},
issn = {1465-2080},
mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology/metabolism/growth & development ; *Spermidine/metabolism/analogs & derivatives ; *Symbiosis ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Mutation ; Biofilms/growth & development ; Nitrogen Fixation ; },
abstract = {Unlike most rhizobia, Sinorhizobium meliloti produces spermidine (Spd) in addition to putrescine (Put) and homospermidine (HSpd) as soluble intracellular polyamines. To investigate their roles, we analysed S. meliloti Rm8530 mutants lacking hss (homospermidine synthase, smc04016) or casdh (carboxyspermidine dehydrogenase, smb21630), as well as a double mutant. Biochemical and phenotypic characterization confirmed that hss and casdh are responsible for HSpd and Spd synthesis, respectively, and showed that these structurally similar molecules exert both distinct and overlapping physiological functions. The hss and hss casdh mutants exhibited reduced swimming motility, which was fully restored by HSpd or hss complementation, but not by Spd or casdh. In contrast, swarming motility defects in the double mutant were rescued by either gene or polyamine. Biofilm formation and exopolysaccharide production were largely unaffected. The hss mutant grew normally in minimal medium and formed effective symbioses with alfalfa, whereas the casdh mutant showed slightly delayed growth and reduced nitrogen fixation. The double mutant displayed a pronounced growth lag and significantly lower plant biomass and nitrogen fixation. The expression of hss and casdh was lower in the quorum-sensing-competent strain Rm8530 than in the quorum sensing-deficient strain 1021, with hss expressed about tenfold higher than casdh despite Spd being more abundant in the cells. These results highlight complementary and partially interchangeable roles of spermidine and homospermidine across S. meliloti growth and symbiotic functions.},
}

*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology/metabolism/growth & development
*Spermidine/metabolism/analogs & derivatives
*Symbiosis
Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Medicago sativa/microbiology
Mutation
Biofilms/growth & development
Nitrogen Fixation

@article {pmid41649168,
year = {2026},
author = {Guha, S and Bledsoe, RB and Sutherland, J and Epstein, B and Fry, GM and Venugopal, V and Sankari, S and Polo, AG and Levin, G and Geddes, B and Young, ND and Tiffin, P and Burghardt, LT},
title = {Mutations in legume genes that influence symbiosis create a complex selective landscape for rhizobial symbionts.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrag005},
pmid = {41649168},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {In the mutualism between leguminous plants and rhizobia bacteria, rhizobia live inside root nodules, creating potential for host genes to shape the rhizobial selective environment. Many host genes that affect symbiosis have been identified; however, the extent to which these genes affect selection acting on rhizobia is unknown. In this study, we inoculated 18 Medicago truncatula symbiotic mutants (including mutants that alter Nodule Cysteine-Rich (NCR) peptide production, plant defence, and nodule number regulation) with a mixture of 86 Sinorhizobium meliloti strains. Most mutations resulted in reduced host benefits, but the effects on rhizobial benefit (i.e., relative strain fitness) varied widely, revealing widespread host-by-strain fitness interactions. Genome-wide association analyses identified variants on rhizobial replicons pSymA and pSymB as important in mediating strain fitness responses to host mutations. Whereas most top variants affected rhizobial fitness with one host mutation (limited effect variants), nine affected fitness across six or more host mutations. These pervasive variants occurred primarily on pSymA, the symbiotic replicon, and include fixL and some metabolic genes. In contrast to the limited effect variants, variants with pervasive positive effects on strain fitness when host genes were mutated tended to adversely affect fitness in wild-type hosts. Competition assays across Medicago genotypes confirmed a pervasive role for one candidate (malonyl-CoA synthase), and AlphaFold multimer modelling suggests that many rhizobial top candidates could interact with host NCR peptides. Our results reveal how host genetic mutations alter strain fitness, setting the stage for improving rhizobial inoculants and breeding legume hosts better adapted to multi-strain environments.},
}

@article {pmid41648569,
year = {2026},
author = {Gabandé-Rodríguez, E and Gómez de Las Heras, MM and Ramírez-Ruiz de Erenchun, P and Simó, C and García-Cañas, V and Inohara, N and Berenguer-López, I and Enríquez-Zarralanga, V and Fernández-Almeida, Á and Oller, J and Soto-Heredero, G and Carrasco, E and Delgado-Pulido, S and Escrig-Larena, JI and Francos-Quijorna, I and Justo-Méndez, R and Aranda, JF and Poulton, J and Lechuga-Vieco, AV and Enríquez, JA and Núñez, G and Mittelbrunn, M},
title = {Butyrate extends health and lifespan in mice with mitochondrial deficiency.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.64898/2026.01.13.699287},
pmid = {41648569},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Mitochondrial diseases progressively lead to multisystemic failure with treatment options remaining extremely limited. To investigate novel strategies that alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction, we have generated an ubiquitous and tamoxifen-inducible knockout mouse model of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), a nuclear-encoded protein involved in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance - Tfam [fl/fl] Ub [Cre-ERT2] (iTfamKO) mice. Systemic TFAM deficiency triggers mitochondrial decline in a myriad of tissues in adult mice. Consequently, iTfamKO mice manifest multiorgan dysfunction including lipodystrophy, sarcopenia, metabolic alterations, kidney failure, neurodegeneration, and locomotor dysregulation, which result in the premature death of these mice. Interestingly, iTfamKO mice display intestinal barrier disruption and gut dysbiosis, with diminished levels of microbiota-derived short-fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate. Mice with a deficient proof-reading version of the mtDNA polymerase gamma (mtDNA-mutator mice) phenocopy the dysfunction of the intestinal barrier and bacterial dysbiosis with reduced levels of butyrate, suggesting that different mouse models of mitochondrial dysfunction share deficient generation of butyrate. Transfer of microbiota from healthy control mice or administration of tributyrin, a butyrate precursor, delay multiple signs of multimorbidity extending lifespan in iTfamKO mice. Mechanistically, butyrate supplementation recovers epigenetic histone acylation marks that are lost in the intestine of Tfam deficient mice. Overall, our findings highlight the relevance of preserving host-microbiota symbiosis in disorders related to mitochondrial dysfunction.},
}

@article {pmid41648409,
year = {2026},
author = {Oakes, C and Beilinson, V and McFall-Ngai, MJ and Pachter, L},
title = {Uniform pre-processing of bacterial single-cell RNA-seq.},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.64898/2025.12.04.692398},
pmid = {41648409},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {Bacteria are highly heterogeneous, even under controlled conditions, making single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) essential for studying microbial diversity and symbiosis. Since its first application in 2015, bacterial scRNA-seq has expanded, but different assays depend on distinct, custom, in-house preprocessing making it difficult to analyze data as part of a unified workflow. The kallisto-bustools suite of tools has enabled uniform pre-processing of eukaryotic scRNA-seq while also reducing time and resource demands for pre-processing, but is not optimized for bacterial scRNA-seq. We adapt kallisto-bustools to be suitable for reads generated from operons, as well as for a much shorter gene length distribution, and show that it can efficiently and accurately quantify bacterial scRNA-seq. Our work provides a scalable foundation for uniform pre-processing of microbial single-cell transcriptomics.},
}

@article {pmid41648390,
year = {2026},
author = {Riedmuller, KC and Dyer, JE and Ottesen, EA},
title = {Large temperature excursions have modest impacts on community composition in the high diversity gut microbiome of omnivorous American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana).},
journal = {bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.64898/2026.01.21.700893},
pmid = {41648390},
issn = {2692-8205},
abstract = {UNLABELLED: Microbial residents of ectothermic hosts are exposed to variations in temperature that have the potential to impact their physiology and the host-microbe symbiotic relationship. In this experimental warming study, laboratory populations of American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) were kept at a baseline low room temperature of 20-22°C or a high temperature of 30°C for two weeks. We quantified bacterial load and performed high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess the hindgut microbiome's response to a near 10°C shift in environmental temperature. We report modest impacts of temperature on cockroach gut microbiome composition. The high temperature treatment induced increases in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Euryarchaeota phyla as well as the Lactobacillaceae and Enterococcaceae families. We also observed increased interindividual variability. There were no significant differences in the dominant Bacteroidota or Firmicutes phyla and no significant losses or reductions in taxa or bacterial load, respectively. This suggests that the gut community of American cockroaches is largely resilient to prolonged increases in temperature and has implications for the cockroach to withstand the impacts of climate change.

IMPORTANCE: Insects, as with most animals, often harbor microbial symbionts that play an essential role in host health and nutrition. As insects are ectotherms, these microbial symbionts are subject to the same temperature fluctuations as their hosts, potentially impacting host temperature responses. Here, we demonstrate that the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) gut microbiome exhibits only modest changes following an ∼10°C increase in environmental temperature. This contrasts with studies in other insects, whose microbiota were highly responsive to temperature variation. This work illustrates that the microbiota of insects may vary in their sensitivity to long-term temperature shifts, providing a more comprehensive understanding of potential variability in insect responses to climate change.},
}

@article {pmid41648010,
year = {2025},
author = {Chen, K and Hao, H and Zhang, K and Li, K and Li, Y and Andrews, M and Zhang, H and Feng, Z and Zhang, J},
title = {motA-mediated flagellar motility modulates biofilm formation and competitive nodulation in Mesorhizobium ciceri USDA 3378.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1743961},
pmid = {41648010},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {The introduced rhizobial inoculum M. ciceri USDA 3378 demonstrates a significant competitive advantage over the indigenous M. muleiense CCBAU 83963 for nodulating chickpea in newly established planting areas in China. Previous genomic analyses revealed that USDA 3378 possesses a greater number of genes related to cell movement and flagella production compared to CCBAU 83963. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the expression of the flagella-associated gene motA (flagellar motor protein) significantly changed under symbiotic conditions. Although the genome of M. ciceri USDA 3378 contains the motA gene, its biological function within this strain has not been previously reported. In this study, we constructed a motA mutant (ΔmotA-3378) in USDA 3378 using homologous recombination and biparental conjugation methods to assess the differences in bacterial structure, growth, motility, exopolysaccharide synthesis, biofilm formation, and competitive nodulation ability between the wild type and the mutant. Experimental results showed that the ΔmotA-3378 mutant was unable to produce flagella, leading to reduced motility, diminished biofilm formation, and lower exopolysaccharide production. In competitive nodulation with wild-type USDA 3378, the ΔmotA-3378 mutant's nodule occupancy was 40.43 %. Furthermore, its competitive nodulation advantage against CCBAU 83963 decreased from 100 % (achieved by wild-type USDA 3378) to 94.6 %. These findings indicate that the motA gene plays a crucial role in the motility, exopolysaccharide synthesis, biofilm formation, and competitive nodulation ability of M. ciceri USDA 3378.},
}

@article {pmid41646833,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Wang, Y and Druzhinina, IS and Vasco, F and Zhong, D and Peng, L and Yao, J and Yuan, Z and Martin, FM},
title = {Ecological genomics of saprotrophy to biotrophy transitions in the genus Clitopilus (Fr. ex Rabenh.) P. Kumm. (Agaricales, Entolomataceae).},
journal = {IMA fungus},
volume = {17},
number = {},
pages = {e179417},
pmid = {41646833},
issn = {2210-6340},
abstract = {Transitions between saprotrophic and biotrophic lifestyles represent pivotal evolutionary events in fungal ecology; however, the genomic and physiological mechanisms underlying such shifts remain poorly understood. The agaric genus Clitopilus (Basidiomycota, Entolomataceae) offers a valuable model system, with most species being soil saprotrophs. Clitopilus cf. baronii Consiglio & Setti exhibits genomic signatures suggesting incipient biotrophic capacity. Here, we investigated the genomic and eco-physiological properties of seven strains representing five Clitopilus species to identify traits associated with lifestyle transitions. ITS-based phylogeny combined with ecological metadata revealed potential facultative biotrophy in multiple taxa from the section Scyphoides. Physiological profiling showed that all strains utilized mannitol and sucrose poorly, preferred organic nitrogen compounds, and produced variable amounts of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in vitro in a strictly tryptophan-dependent manner. Enzymatic assays revealed substantial variations in the nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition capabilities among the strains. Comparative genomics of high-quality assemblies identified a pleuromutilin biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) across all strains, although synteny analysis revealed considerable structural variation and putative gene loss, indicating that genomic plasticity potentially affects antibiotic production. Principal component analysis of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) across 25 fungal genomes partitioned Clitopilus strains into two distinct groups: one resembling saprotrophic white-rot basidiomycetes, the other matching biotrophic ectomycorrhizal and endophytic taxa. This first comprehensive genomic analysis of Clitopilus revealed that nutritional specialization, phytohormone production, and CAZyme repertoire remodeling collectively signal an ongoing evolutionary transition from saprotrophy to plant-associated lifestyles in multiple lineages. These findings provide a rare genomic window into the early stages of symbiosis evolution, offering insights into how free-living fungi acquire the molecular toolkit for mutualistic partnerships.},
}

@article {pmid41646635,
year = {2026},
author = {Iriart, V and Kubota, N and Ashman, TL},
title = {Can the right partner mitigate harm? Rhizobial strains vary in their mediation of herbicide stress in a plant-rhizobia mutualism.},
journal = {Evolution letters},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {54-64},
pmid = {41646635},
issn = {2056-3744},
abstract = {Agriculture has intensified the presence of chemical stressors in the rhizosphere-the region surrounding roots where critical plant-microbe interactions occur, such as those between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Particularly, rhizospheric pesticide exposure can disrupt the efficacy of the plant-rhizobia mutualism and reduce plant productivity. However, it is unknown whether genetic variation in plants (GP), rhizobia (GR), or interactions between them and the pesticide environment (E), i.e., GP or R [Formula: see text] E, or GP [Formula: see text] GR [Formula: see text] E, could mitigate these negative outcomes. We grew two genotypes of the leguminous plant Trifolium pratense in symbiosis with each of eight genetic strains of its rhizobial partner Rhizobium spp. symbiovar trifolii. We exposed symbionts to the contemporary synthetic auxin herbicide dicamba or a control in the rhizosphere, and evaluated the symbiotic interaction and plant growth. Our results provide new evidence that rhizobial genetic variation drives herbicide impacts on mutualism outcomes through GR [Formula: see text] E interactions. Rhizospheric herbicide delayed rhizobial colonization of plants via root nodule formation, but its effects on the number of nodules and fixed nitrogen produced varied depending on rhizobial strain. Similarly, while herbicide exposure reduced plant size on average, the degree of this effect was mediated by rhizobial partner, suggesting that rhizobia could potentially function as an "extended genotype" for defense against herbicide damage. As the use of herbicides, particularly synthetic auxins, continues to escalate, our findings have important implications for how certain rhizobia could be selected to improve plant fitness in the face of these anthropogenically-released chemicals.},
}

@article {pmid41645593,
year = {2026},
author = {Koszalinski, R and Wilson, C and Schaefer, AM},
title = {Underpinning Human Health Outcomes of Harmful Algal Bloom Exposure Research: An Analysis of the Relationship and Applicability of the Bureaucratic Caring Theory.},
journal = {Scandinavian journal of caring sciences},
volume = {40},
number = {1},
pages = {e70199},
doi = {10.1111/scs.70199},
pmid = {41645593},
issn = {1471-6712},
support = {00007298//Florida Department of Health/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Harmful Algal Bloom ; *Empathy ; *Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Female ; Nursing Theory ; },
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Caring is a transpersonal concept within the context of the expression from clinical practitioners or researchers to an individual, family, community and policy development. The connections between human health outcomes and the environment are profoundly relevant in harmful algal bloom (HAB) research. Nurses are responsible for integrating science and environmental health into nursing education, research and practice for collaboration, community engagement and policy changes to address patient needs and mitigate adverse environmental changes and health impacts. A theoretical framework is required to guide this work.

DESIGN: An analysis of the Bureaucratic Caring Theory (BCT). BCT is a holographic theory that harmonises a dialectical synthesis of thesis (spiritual-ethical) and antithesis (bureaucracy) into a broader meaning of truth or symbiosis.

RESULTS: BCT supports (1) co-creation of improved conditions for the community, (2) fostering self-consciousness and an understanding of health to existing Physical, Educational, Legal, Technological, Educational, Economic and Political dimensions unified by Spiritual-cultural meaning and (3) the study of existing theories and models to communicate community member needs and the response of the nursing profession.

DISCUSSION: A theoretical framework was needed to guide practice, education, and research in HAB Human Health Outcomes research. The underpinning of HAB research with BCT aligns with nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research with interprofessional scientists and has significant health care implications.

CONCLUSION: We propose the application of BCT which identifies the seven dimensions of the theory and the 8th central dimension of spiritual-ethical caring to enhance continued scientific inquiry, increased attention to environmental health education, and knowledgeable, caring practice to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, and the impact of environmental health policy development.},
}

Humans
*Harmful Algal Bloom
*Empathy
*Environmental Exposure
Male
Female
Nursing Theory

@article {pmid41645552,
year = {2026},
author = {Frei Dit Frey, N and Spallek, T},
title = {CLE peptides in plant-biotic interactions.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70958},
pmid = {41645552},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {273134146//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; 424122841//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; ANR-PRC SYMPA-PEP//Agence Nationale de la Recherche/ ; },
abstract = {Plant-biotic interactions are driven by the exchange of molecules. Small peptide hormones like CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION (CLE) peptides play central regulatory roles in these interactions. CLEs determine the extent of symbiotic interaction to balance costs and benefits for the host. In parasitic interactions, CLEs regulate the formation of feeding sites by plant pathogenic nematodes and promote the formation of haustoria in parasitic plants. By reviewing recent findings on CLE functions, their receptors, and responses across different biotic interactions, we provide insights into the increasingly complex roles of CLEs in plant development and nutrient signaling.},
}

@article {pmid41645294,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, ZY and Wei, GF and Hou, LY and Zhang, GZ and Li, XD and Li, M and Meng, L and Wu, GY and Xu, J and Zhou, YX and Sun, C and Dong, LL},
title = {Effects of developmental stage-driven fungal community shifts on biomass and metabolite accumulation in Gastrodia elata.},
journal = {Environmental microbiome},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s40793-026-00860-4},
pmid = {41645294},
issn = {2524-6372},
support = {CI2023E001TS03-04-01//grants from the Scientific and technological innovation project of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science/ ; 2024SF-ZDCYL-03-10//Shaanxi Province Key R&D Plan/ ; HJSYF2024(31)//Nuclear Technology R&D Program/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fungal communities play crucial roles in plant development and metabolite accumulation, especially in fully mycoheterotrophic medicinal plants like Gastrodia elata. While the importance of fungal symbiosis in G. elata is recognized, how fungal community dynamics evolve across its entire growth cycle and how they influence biomass and bioactive compound accumulation remain largely unclear.

RESULTS: High-throughput sequencing combined with multi-omics analyses revealed that developmental progression significantly shapes fungal diversity and composition, thereby influencing biomass and metabolite accumulation in G. elata. These effects are mediated by stage-specific selective recruitment and dynamic remodeling of fungal communities in both rhizome and rhizosphere compartments. Structural equation modeling indicated that developmental stage, fungal α-diversity, and community structure exert both direct and indirect effects on biomass and the accumulation of bioactive compounds. High-resolution association network analyses further identified key functional fungal groups, particularly wood and soil saprotrophs, as major contributors to seed stem biomass regulation. Notably, the symbiotic fungus Armillaria showed the strongest positive correlation with gastrodin accumulation, while wood saprotrophs and plant pathogens also significantly influenced its levels.

CONCLUSIONS: This study systematically elucidates the dynamic changes in fungal communities across different developmental stages of G. elata and their effects on biomass and bioactive metabolite accumulation. Our findings highlight the central role of microbe-plant-metabolite interactions in regulating biomass and bioactive metabolite production, offering valuable insight for optimizing the cultivation and quality of medicinal plants through microbiome-targeted strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41645277,
year = {2026},
author = {Ramírez, GA and Bar-Shalom, R and Perez, T and Epchtien, RE and Furlan, A and Romeo, R and Gavagnin, M and Garber, AI and Lalzar, M and Steindler, L},
title = {Diel transcriptional dynamics of a marine sponge and its microbiome in a natural environment.},
journal = {Animal microbiome},
volume = {8},
number = {1},
pages = {12},
pmid = {41645277},
issn = {2524-4671},
support = {GBMF9352//Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation/ ; 933/23//Israel Science Foundation/ ; },
}

@article {pmid41645059,
year = {2026},
author = {Elhai, J},
title = {Genomes of N2-fixing endosymbionts of unicellular eukaryotes and host-independence.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12864-026-12517-0},
pmid = {41645059},
issn = {1471-2164},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The projected 2.7-fold increase in population in sub-Saharan Africa by the end of the century demands consideration as to how agricultural output can keep pace. Augmenting nitrogen inputs is a practical necessity, but this must be accomplished in such a way that avoids the environmental costs of past advances and also places the resource in the hands of those who will be the most affected. Biological nitrogen fixation might play an important role. The realization that certain algae are able to provide for their own nitrogen needs by fixing atmospheric N2 raises the possibility that an endosymbiont responsible for the nitrogen might be transferred to crop plants. For this to take place, it is necessary that the endosymbionts be (or be made to be) sufficiently independent of their hosts so that they may establish themselves in crop plants appropriate to African agriculture.

RESULTS: Genomes from six endosymbionts from diatoms within the family Rhopalodiaceae were analyzed. They were compared to genomes from free-living cyanobacteria and to those of the nitroplast UCYN-A and chromatophore from Paulinella, to which they are related. Unlike the latter two endosymbionts, the six from Rhopalodia encode all the enzymes considered that underlie metabolic processes and provide the energy to power N-fixation. Some of the endosymbionts also appear able to synthesize cofactors essential for central metabolism. The analysis points to possible carbon sources the endosymbionts might take up from their hosts, including glycerol and chitobiose. Possible routes of nitrogen export to the host were also examined.

CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of genome analysis, some of the Rhopalodian endosymbionts appear to be metabolically independent of their hosts, except for requiring a carbon source. However, the choice of carbon source and the likely means of nitrogen export are not compatible with crop plants. Genetic modification would surely be necessary for any prospect of propagation of an endosymbiont in a plant of agricultural importance, and significant questions must first be answered in the laboratory. To this end, the endosymbiont of Epithemia clementina may be best suited for such investigations, eventually after transfer to the model diatom Phaeodactyllum tricornutum.},
}

@article {pmid41644692,
year = {2026},
author = {Rojas-Jimenez, K and Morera-Huertas, J and de Bedout-Mora, M and Loria-Vinueza, B and Zúñiga-Orozco, A and Molina-Mora, JA and Solís-Ramos, L and Blanco, MA and Valverde-Barrantes, OJ},
title = {Exploring symbiotic legume-rhizobia relationships across tropical species.},
journal = {World journal of microbiology & biotechnology},
volume = {42},
number = {2},
pages = {75},
pmid = {41644692},
issn = {1573-0972},
}

@article {pmid41643674,
year = {2026},
author = {Gao, JP and Xia, C and Chiu, CH and Chen, Q and Jiang, S and Wu, X and Liang, W and Sun, J and Jhu, MY and Wen, J and Wang, E and Murray, JD and Oldroyd, GED},
title = {An NSP2-MYB module orchestrates flavonoid biosynthesis and nodule symbiosis.},
journal = {Current biology : CB},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2026.01.013},
pmid = {41643674},
issn = {1879-0445},
abstract = {Flavonoids, produced by the plant under nutrient stress, are required to initiate the legume-rhizobia symbiosis through the activation of rhizobial nod genes. Notwithstanding the central role of flavonoids in nodulation, their transcriptional regulation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the nodulation signaling pathway 2 (NSP2) is required for transcriptional activation of flavonoid biosynthesis genes during nodulation in Medicago truncatula. Furthermore, MYB40, a legume-specific MYB transcription factor, is induced by rhizobia in the root epidermis. MYB40 directly binds to flavonoid biosynthetic gene promoters and is required for normal levels of nodulation. Biochemical and genetic evidence reveal that NSP2, not NSP1, interacts with MYB40 during rhizobial infection to strongly upregulate the symbiotic gene chalcone O-methyltransferase 1 in a manner dependent on MYB40 binding sites. Moreover, the overexpression of MYB40 and a microRNA-resistant NSP2 variant enhances nodulation under suboptimal rhizobial availability, suggesting this module fine-tunes symbiosis efficiency. Additionally, flavonoid regulation by NSP2 and MYB40 appears to facilitate arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization under nutrient starvation. Together, our findings establish an NSP2-MYB40 module that integrates symbiotic signaling with metabolic reprogramming, representing an evolutionary innovation for optimizing nitrogen acquisition in dynamic environments.},
}

@article {pmid41642524,
year = {2026},
author = {Tang, Y and Tsuda, K},
title = {Bioinformatics Workflow for Co-Transcriptome Analysis of Plant-Bacterial Interactions.},
journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)},
volume = {3012},
number = {},
pages = {181-223},
pmid = {41642524},
issn = {1940-6029},
mesh = {*Computational Biology/methods ; *Plants/microbiology/genetics ; Workflow ; *Gene Expression Profiling/methods ; *Transcriptome ; *Bacteria/genetics ; Symbiosis/genetics ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics ; },
abstract = {Transcriptomic profiling of plant-bacterial interactions provides critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying parasitism, commensalism, and mutualism. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) enables the simultaneous analysis of plant and bacterial transcriptomes during colonization; however, integrated computational workflows specifically tailored for co-transcriptome analysis remain limited. Here, we present a step-by-step bioinformatics pipeline for analyzing co-transcriptome landscapes in plant-bacterial interactions. This workflow includes: (1) quality control and processing of raw RNA-seq data from both plant host and in-planta bacterial populations; (2) statistical analyses for differential gene expression; (3) prediction of orthologous bacterial genes and functional annotation of bacterial transcripts using the KEGG database; (4) integration and comparative analysis across multiple bacterial strains; and (5) correlation-based analysis of transcriptional dynamics between plants and bacteria. Designed for researchers with basic familiarity with command-line tools and R programming, this pipeline enables comprehensive analysis of plant-bacterial transcriptional interplay and facilitates hypothesis generation in both pathogenic and symbiotic contexts.},
}

*Computational Biology/methods
*Plants/microbiology/genetics
Workflow
*Gene Expression Profiling/methods
*Transcriptome
*Bacteria/genetics
Symbiosis/genetics
*Host-Pathogen Interactions/genetics

@article {pmid41649662,
year = {2024},
author = {Lv, C and Huang, YZ and Luan, JB},
title = {Insect‒microbe symbiosis-based strategies offer a new avenue for the management of insect pests and their transmitted pathogens.},
journal = {Crop health},
volume = {2},
number = {1},
pages = {18},
pmid = {41649662},
issn = {2948-1945},
support = {No. 32225042//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {With the continuous growth of global agricultural production, pest control has become a critical factor in ensuring crop health and increasing agricultural output. In view of the safety of food and ecology, the development of more environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches for pest management is desirable. All insects are colonized by microorganisms on the insect cuticle or in the body. These resident microorganisms can promote insect fitness, impact the transmission of plant pathogens, or protect insects against natural enemies and adverse environments. Thus, insect‒microbe symbiosis-based strategies provide a new avenue for the management of insect pests and their transmitted pathogens. This review summarizes developments in the field of pest control approaches based on insect‒microbe symbiosis and proposes future directions. First, we introduce insect symbiotic microorganisms and their functions. This review discusses the application of insect-microbe symbiosis-based pest control strategies, including the application of native or engineered symbionts, the utilization of bioactive substances produced by symbiotic microorganisms, and the development of an insect symbiosis disruption strategy. Despite the great potential of this novel pest-control strategy, many challenges remain, such as the stability of symbiotic bacteria, their environmental adaptability, and their impact on non-target organisms. Finally, the review concludes by suggesting future directions, including improving the targeting specificity of symbiotic bacteria, enhancing their environmental adaptability, and developing integrated pest management strategies that combine this means with others to achieve more sustainable and effective pest control.},
}

@article {pmid41641322,
year = {2026},
author = {Pope, RE and Ballmann, P and Whitworth, L and Prade, RA},
title = {Regulation of extracellular vesicles for protein secretion in Aspergillus nidulans.},
journal = {Microbial cell (Graz, Austria)},
volume = {13},
number = {},
pages = {28-43},
pmid = {41641322},
issn = {2311-2638},
abstract = {Fungi were among the first eukaryotes to transition from aquatic to terrestrial life, developing multicellular hyphae, polar growth, and expanded secretomes for nutrient processing, defense, and symbiosis. We present a reliable method for purifying and characterizing extracellular vesicles (EVs) from Aspergillus nidulans and demonstrate that the induction of xylanase C is associated with increased EV release and EV-associated enzymatic activity. Using a mCherry reporter replacing xylanase C, we generalized this effect, showing that reporter induction increases EV production and reporter loading into EVs. This phenomenon primarily depends on the signal peptide (SP), suggesting that the induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)- trafficked proteins has a pronounced effect on EV production and cargo loading. We speculate that EV biogenesis may originate at the ER, where ER-translated proteins could be selectively loaded into vesicles and subsequently trafficked directly to the plasma membrane or through multivesicular bodies (MVBs). EV secretion is minimal in the first 24-48 hours but increases later in growth, coinciding with biofilm formation. This timing allows A. nidulans to modify the secretome, adapting it to new nutrient sources.},
}

@article {pmid41637916,
year = {2025},
author = {Trindade, LM and Borges, AD and Carvalho, RDO and Gomes, BF and da Silva, MT and Sette, NSV and Rogério, L and Cavalcanti, GG and Garcia, APV and Cassali, GD and Azevedo, VA and Cardoso, VN and Maurício, SF and Rodrigues, LB and Valdés, ST and da Silva, RG and Generoso, SV},
title = {Preoperative symbiotic supplementation modulates the intestinal microbiota of patients with colorectal cancer: Evidence from a randomized clinical trial.},
journal = {Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)},
volume = {145},
number = {},
pages = {113080},
doi = {10.1016/j.nut.2025.113080},
pmid = {41637916},
issn = {1873-1244},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing major surgeries, such as intestinal resections for colorectal cancer (CRC), present an increased risk of developing gut dysbiosis, which may be related to postoperative complications. However, biotherapeutic agents, such as symbiotics, are able to maintain intestinal homeostasis. We therefore explored the impact of preoperative symbiotic supplementation on the intestinal microbiota (IM) of patients with colorectal cancer undergoing surgical treatment.

METHODS: This was a single-center, parallel, triple-masked, randomized clinical trial carried out at Federal University of Minas Gerais Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04874883) comprised of adult patients diagnosed with CRC for tumor resection surgery. Patients were randomized to receive two sachets (6 g each) of symbiotic (S group) or maltodextrin (C group) twice a day for 4-10 d prior to surgery. All patients underwent nutritional and anthropometric assessments, as well as food consumption, bowel function, and digestive complaint assessments during the pre- and postoperative periods. Stools were collected before treatment (T1), after surgery (T2), and before hospital discharge (T3) to assess IM diversity and short-chain fatty acids. Normal tissue and tumor tissue fragments were collected during surgery for evaluation.

RESULTS: A total of 46 patients were enrolled in the study, with 23 subjects in each group. No differences were seen between the groups regarding clinical or infectious complications (P > 0.05). The IM of stools collected at T2 showed a significant increment for the phylum Firmicutes, family Bacillaceae, and genus Blautia in the S group compared with the C group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in those patients with infectious complications, the relative abundance of the Proteobacteria phylum was significantly lower in the S group compared with the C group (P < 0.05). Higher butyrate production was found at T2 and T3 in the S group, while acetate and propionate production were increased at T2 (P < 0.05). Additionally, the S group showed increased mucus production in the tumor tissue (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Preoperative symbiotic supplementation in patients with CRC undergoing tumor resection positively altered IM diversity, and increased short-chain fatty acid and mucus production.},
}

@article {pmid41636527,
year = {2026},
author = {Bruger, EL and Bazurto, JV},
title = {Beneath the surface: expanding the known repertoire of methylotrophic metabolism.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0211625},
doi = {10.1128/aem.02116-25},
pmid = {41636527},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Although the metabolic pathways that allow the utilization of one-carbon compounds as sole sources of carbon and energy (methylotrophy) are well characterized, this understanding has been substantially refined and expanded in recent years. The paradigm-shifting discovery of the lanthanide-dependent methanol dehydrogenase, XoxF, established the biological relevance of rare-earth metals and revealed that methylotrophy required reassessment. We now know that XoxF is broadly distributed among bacteria and may actually constitute an ancestral form by which methylotrophy initially evolved, as well as the predominant form in which it now exists in nature. A new study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology (C. R. Mineo, J. Jiang, and N. C. Martinez-Gomez, 91:e01304-25, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01304-25) extends this knowledge to characterize a heretofore undemonstrated methylotrophic pathway architecture among nitrogen-fixing plant symbionts of the Sinorhizobium and Bradyrhizobium genera. Their metabolic strategy proceeds via XoxF, complete oxidation to carbon dioxide, and the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle to assimilate the oxidized carbon. The authors designate this the "XoxF-CBB pathway," which appears to be well-conserved across these groups of bacteria. Their streamlined pathway represents a unique connection between autotrophy and methylotrophy that, when paired with XoxF, could constitute an underappreciated, but prevalent, variation on methylotrophy. The study highlights the need to remain open-minded about methylotrophic pathway configurations in bacteria, as well as informing the ways in which we should consider seeking to isolate novel methylotrophs. Finally, the pathway's presence in nodule-forming bacteria raises new questions about how methylotrophy shapes their physiology in both free-living soil conditions and plant-symbiotic associations.},
}

@article {pmid41636391,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, L and Li, Y and Ye, S and Wei, C and Yan, Z and Yang, H and Zhu, H and Stacey, G and Cao, Y},
title = {A Specific Sinorhizobium Flagellin Suppresses Legume Nodulation Through Immune Activation.},
journal = {Plant biotechnology journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pbi.70576},
pmid = {41636391},
issn = {1467-7652},
support = {2024ZD040790//Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project/ ; 32090063//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; NSF-IOS-2048410//US National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program/ ; },
abstract = {Bacterial flagellin-activated immunity plays a crucial role in shaping plant-microbe interactions, leading to either parasitism, mutualism, or commensalism. In the legume-rhizobium symbiosis, while it has been hypothesized that rhizobial infection involves avoidance of plant immunity following flagellin perception, direct evidence supporting this regulation remains unclear. Here, we conducted bioinformatic analyses of flagellin variations across the genus Sinorhizobium and identified a specific variant of the flagellin-derived peptide, flg22[Sin]-II (clade II flg22 from Sinorhizobium genus), which acts as an immunity elicitor during nodulation. Flg22[Sin]-II, but not flg22[Sin]-I or flg22[Sin]-III, activates immune responses, including reactive oxygen species production, MPK phosphorylation, and immunity-related gene expression in soybean, with Tyr-7 being critical for the immune activation. Three different Sinorhizobium mutants knocking out the flagellin that produces flg22[Sin]-II enhanced nodulation across three diverse legume species, highlighting how beneficial microbes modulate host immunity to optimize symbiotic interactions. Soybean gmfls2a gmfls2b double mutant lacking both flagellin receptors, GmFLS2a and GmFLS2b, exhibited an increased nodule number following S. fredii HH103 inoculation and showed reduced expression of immune-related genes in nodules. Rather than complete immune evasion, the retention of an immune-activating flagellin epitope by Sinorhizobium likely represents a sophisticated coevolutionary strategy to actively modulate host responses, ensuring symbiotic homeostasis and preventing detrimental over-colonisation.},
}

@article {pmid41635646,
year = {2026},
author = {Fifer, JE and Speare, KE and Leinbach, SE and Hendricks, SF and Davies, SW and Rose, NH and Burkepile, DE and Adam, TC and Hofmann, GE and Strader, ME},
title = {Rapid Evolution in a Coral Population Following a Mass Mortality Event.},
journal = {Evolutionary applications},
volume = {19},
number = {2},
pages = {e70198},
pmid = {41635646},
issn = {1752-4571},
abstract = {Globally, corals face an increased frequency of mass mortality events (MMEs) as populations experience repeated marine heatwaves which disrupt their obligate algal symbiosis. Despite greater occurrences of MMEs, the relative roles of the environment, host, and symbiont genetic variation in survival, subsequent recovery, and carry-over effects to the next generation remain unresolved. High-resolution temporal and spatial whole genome sequencing of corals before, after, and several years following an MME reveal that host genetics have an impact on bleaching and mortality and that selected alleles important for adaptation persist through the next generation, demonstrating rapid evolution in this coral population. Bleaching resistance and survival following the bleaching event were highly polygenic, and allele frequency shifts show reef habitat specificity, emphasizing the spatial complexity of environmental selection and how it shapes population recovery following an MME. This study reveals how MMEs reshape the genomic landscape and the spatial and temporal distribution of genomic diversity within coral populations facing severe threats from global change.},
}

@article {pmid41635081,
year = {2026},
author = {Hong, K and Yang, X and Tan, Y and Liu, Y and Xia, Q and Zeng, L and Zou, L and Wan, K and Zhang, Y and Kang, S and Huang, T and Lv, W and Jia, R and Wei, Y and Chen, Q and Wang, Y and Zhao, Y and Wu, Y and Yu, J and Zhang, H and Wang, B and Yan, J and Chu, J and Tang, X and Zhang, Y and Bucher, M and Wang, Y and Xue, L and Wang, Q and Li, J and Xiong, G},
title = {Presymbiotic activation of karrikin signaling creates a permissive state for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by derepressing the NSP1-NSP2-SLR1 transcriptional complex in rice.},
journal = {Molecular plant},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2026.01.014},
pmid = {41635081},
issn = {1752-9867},
abstract = {The establishment of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis (AMS) is crucial for the survival of many terrestrial plants in nutrient-poor environments. This symbiotic relationship begins with complex chemical communication that reprograms transcriptional responses in host plants to facilitate the symbiotic relationship. However, the precise mechanisms regulating mutual recognition and commitment between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and host plants remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified the NSP1-NSP2-SLR1-SMAX1 module as a central regulatory hub operating downstream of the phosphate starvation response (PSR), gibberellin (GA), and karrikin (KAR) signaling pathways to control presymbiotic transcriptional responses necessary for AMS establishment. Phosphorus starvation upregulate the transcription of NSP1 and NSP2, which control the expression of genes involved in strigolactone production and mycorrhizal factor recognition. We found that SLR1, the DELLA protein in the GA signaling pathway in rice, interacts with NSP2 and enhances the transcriptional activity of the NSP1-NSP2 complex. Additionally, SLR1 interacts with SMAX1, a repressor of the KAR signaling pathway. The presence of AMF activates the KAR signaling pathway, which relieves the SMAX1-mediated repression of the transcriptional activity of NSP1-NSP2-SLR1, thereby triggering a transcriptional host response signatures at the presymbiotic stage of AMS. Our findings reveal the function of the NSP1-NSP2-SLR1-SMAX1 module in integrating multiple signals to establish a permissive state for AMS in rice. While activation of the KAR signaling pathway by AMF is necessary, it alone is not sufficient to ensure successful root mycorrhizal colonization; activation of the common symbiosis signaling pathway (CSSP) by AMF is also required. This study advances our understanding of how molecular communication between AMF and host plants orchestrates for the establishment of AMS.},
}

@article {pmid41635060,
year = {2026},
author = {Zeng, Z and Luan, L and Li, P and Zheng, J and Wang, X and Zhou, S and Jiang, Y},
title = {Protist predation stimulates peanut productivity by promoting the diversity of rare nitrogen-fixing bacteria.},
journal = {The New phytologist},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/nph.70952},
pmid = {41635060},
issn = {1469-8137},
support = {42425704//National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars/ ; 2023YFD1900300-3//National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 42477313//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 42577325//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2025J010024//Outstanding Youth Science Foundation of Fujian Province/ ; BK20242111//Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province/ ; },
abstract = {The root nodule symbiosis between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) acts as an important nitrogen source in terrestrial ecosystems. NFB in soil are affected by top-down predation in the food web. However, how protist predation affects abundant and rare sub-communities of NFB remains virtually unknown, limiting the exploitation of soil food webs to promote plant productivity. Here, a 10-yr field experiment combined with a glasshouse experiment was conducted to explore the effects of protist predation on abundant and rare NFB under organic material amendments. Our results revealed that organic material amendments increased the diversity of rare NFB and phagotrophic protists, but decreased the relative abundance of abundant NFB Correlation analysis combined with the glasshouse experiment suggested that protist predation decreased the relative abundance of NFB abundant taxa, but increased the diversity of rare taxa, which further promoted the cytokinin content and decreased the ethylene content in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) roots. Subsequent changes in plant hormones regulated the expression of genes involved in rhizobial infection, nodule organogenesis, and bacteroid differentiation, thereby promoting nodulation and increasing peanut yield. Overall, our findings provide unique insights into the interactions between phagotrophic protists and NFB, highlighting their links with plant productivity via predation-stimulated symbiotic nitrogen fixation.},
}

@article {pmid41634543,
year = {2026},
author = {Rabeh, M and Shahrokh, S and Akbari, M and Ansari, N and Siavash, M and Yazdi, M},
title = {The spectrum of nasal colonization: frequency and resistant patterns in diabetes versus non-diabetes population.},
journal = {BMC microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12866-026-04751-z},
pmid = {41634543},
issn = {1471-2180},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The nasal cavity serves as a primary contact site and is a common location for colonization by symbiotic, opportunistic, and potentially pathogenic bacteria. Diabetic patients are more susceptible to colonization by opportunistic microorganisms due to impaired immune function, altered normal flora, and increased exposure to healthcare. This study aimed to investigate the nasal colonization of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Enterobacteriaceae) bacteria in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals, assessing phenotypic traits including antibiotic resistance and biofilm production, as well as investigating the presence of resistant genes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, nasal swabs were collected from 150 diabetic and 150 non-diabetic individuals. Isolates were identified and evaluated phenotypically (Antibiotic resistance using the disk diffusion method and biofilm formation by the microtiter plate method) and genotypically (resistance genes including mecA, blaCTX, blaSHV, and blaTEM) by PCR.

RESULTS: The rate of S. aureus colonization was higher in diabetics (18.7%) than in non-diabetics (12.7%) and MRSA colonization was significantly higher in diabetics (8% vs. 1.3%). High antibiotic resistance was not observed except for tetracycline (nearly 50%) in S. aureus isolates from both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of MDR S. aureus between the diabetic (32.1%) and non-diabetic (31.6%) groups. Enterobacteriaceae colonization was 3.3% in diabetics and 7.3% in non-diabetics. Although none were phenotypically ESBL-positive, blaCTX, blaTEM, and blaSHV genes were present in about 40% of the isolates.

CONCLUSION: Nasal MRSA colonization was more common among diabetic patients than non-diabetics. The findings of this study highlight the need for ongoing monitoring of nasal colonization of MRSA in different populations and settings, which may lead to the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies to control infections caused by nasal colonization.},
}

@article {pmid41633503,
year = {2026},
author = {Scabbio, E and Santoiemma, G and Cavaletto, G and Biedermann, PHW and Ranger, CM and Gugliuzzo, A and Cambronero-Heinrichs, JC and Rassati, D},
title = {Three-dimensional gallery system reconstruction reveals more frequent intraspecific than interspecific interactions in ambrosia beetles.},
journal = {Proceedings. Biological sciences},
volume = {293},
number = {2064},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1098/rspb.2025.2280},
pmid = {41633503},
issn = {1471-2954},
support = {//University of Padua/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; Female ; *Coleoptera/physiology ; *Weevils/physiology ; },
abstract = {Ambrosia beetle gallery systems are typically excavated into the xylem of host trees by a single mated female and are generally considered to function as independent units. However, field observations suggest that interactions among gallery systems may also occur. Using X-ray tomography to obtain three-dimensional reconstructions of ambrosia beetle galleries in flood-stressed and ethanol-injected trees, we found that intersections, where two or more galleries excavated by different females merge at one or more points, and intrusions, where a female begins excavating her gallery from within a gallery previously abandoned by another female of a larger species, are recurrent phenomena. We also observed that intraspecific intersections were generally more frequent than interspecific ones, regardless of tree treatment. These intraspecific intersections may represent a potential mechanism for cross-fertilization among the offspring of different founding females, thereby potentially increasing opportunities for outbreeding in these otherwise inbreeding species. Interspecific intersections, which could potentially facilitate lateral transfer of symbionts, occurred less frequently than expected, suggesting that ambrosia beetles may actively avoid such interactions. Overall, our study highlights that interactions among gallery systems may play a key role in shaping ambrosia beetle communities and their symbiotic networks, warranting further investigation.},
}

Animals
Female
*Coleoptera/physiology
*Weevils/physiology

@article {pmid41632429,
year = {2026},
author = {Yin, H and Wang, C and Zhao, K and Zhao, J and Chen, L and Zhang, H and Cao, S and Liu, J},
title = {Probiotic Lactobacillus johnsonii RS-7 Alleviates Intestinal Inflammation Via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway.},
journal = {Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41632429},
issn = {1867-1314},
support = {25zx7108//Southwest University of Science and Technology/ ; },
abstract = {Developing novel probiotics can help in preventing livestock diarrhea and associated intestinal diseases. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are symbiotic intestinal bacteria, which contribute to gastrointestinal tract health. An LAB strain, designated L. johnsonii RS-7, was isolated from the feces of healthy adult pigs and was resistant to acidic conditions and bile salts. In vitro evaluation showed significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting its potential application in alleviating intestinal inflammation. An artificially induced colitis model was established in mice to investigate the efficacy of L. johnsonii RS-7. Results indicated that mice administered water containing 3% DSS developed pronounced colitis symptoms, characterized by weight loss, elevated disease activity index, shortened colon length, microvilli shedding, tight junction disruption, reduced goblet cell counts, suppression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, and impaired gut microbiota diversity. These suggest that oral administration of L. johnsonii RS-7 significantly alleviated colitis symptoms. In summary, L. johnsonii RS-7 acted as a probiotic by inhibiting activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.},
}

@article {pmid41631719,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, L and Chen, Y and Zhu, R and Shi, K and Tu, T and Han, Q and Chen, X},
title = {NF-YAc-stimulated WOX5 expression reprograms cortical cells for nodule primordium initiation in soybean.},
journal = {Journal of experimental botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jxb/erag051},
pmid = {41631719},
issn = {1460-2431},
abstract = {Reprogramming of differentiated root cortical cells into proliferative stem cells is the prerequisite for legume nodule organogenesis, yet the molecular trigger that confers stem-cell identity upon these cortical cells remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that, in soybean (Glycine max), the canonical root stem-cell regulator WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX gene WOX5 is activated by rhizobia specifically in cortical cells that will give rise to nodule primordia. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the three WOX5 homologs, wox5abc mutants reduced nodule number and attenuated nitrogenase activity, attributable to a decrease in primordium density rather than impaired rhizobia infection. Promoter dissection identified a 442 bp legume-specific promoter fragment within the WOX5a promoter that is both necessary and sufficient for primordium-specific expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays revealed that this promoter fragment is directly bound by the symbiosis-responsive transcription factor NF-YAc to activate expression of WOX5a. Loss of NF-YAc phenocopied wox5abc, and NF-YAc overexpression failed to rescue nodulation in wox5abc mutants. Collectively, our findings reveal that NF-YAc-mediated activation of WOX5 initiates a de novo stem-cell niche in root cortical cells, providing the critical developmental trigger for nodule primordium initiation in soybean.},
}

@article {pmid41631036,
year = {2025},
author = {Bi, Y and Zhang, Q and He, Y and Ding, Y and Tian, H and Zeng, F and Lyu, K and Li, H and Lyu, S and Fan, Y},
title = {Creation and resistance evaluation of a new soybean germplasm rich in betalain.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1743684},
pmid = {41631036},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {The betalain biosynthesis system (RUBY) exhibits a stable cross-species coloration advantage in plant genetic transformation. As a visually detectable genetic marker (visible to the naked eye), the color marker holds enormous application potential in positive selection of transgenic plants, identification of hybrids between different plant varieties, haploid selection, and other research. However, when applying the RUBY to plant-microbe interaction research, it is necessary to clarify whether the biosynthesis of betalain and its accumulation in plant tissues and organs alter the plant-microbe interaction processes, including symbiotic or antagonistic relationships. In this study, RUBY transgenic soybean was created. There were no significant differences in nodule number, fresh weight, and dry weight of nodule between the RUBY transgenic line and wildtype soybean after inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The biosynthesis and accumulation of betalain did not affect the infection and colonization of rhizobia. The RUBY transgenic line and wildtype soybean were inoculated with Phomopsis longicolla. The results showed that the biosynthesis and accumulation of betalain did not alter the infection and spread of P. longicolla. In field experiments, investigations found that the number of adult brown planthoppers and their eggs attached to the leaves of the RUBY transgenic line was extremely significantly lower than that of the wildtype soybean. This indicates that betalain accumulation may endow soybean with a repellent effect against herbivorous insects. This work revealed that the heterologous biosynthesis and accumulation of betalain in soybean neither affect the nodulation ability of soybean with rhizobia, nor interfere with the infection of soybean by pathogenic bacteria, but also reduce the damage caused by brown planthoppers to soybean. Analysis of the field investigation data on agronomic traits indicated that transgenic soybeans with low betalain content, exerted no adverse effects. In contrast, the transgenic soybean with high betalain content, exhibited negative impacts on node number on main stem, plant height, and yield.},
}

@article {pmid41629797,
year = {2026},
author = {Metwally, RA and Azb, MA and El-Demerdash, MM and Abdelhameed, RE},
title = {Priority impacts of plant growth promoting fungi and proline under NaCl stress: boosting chickpea plants tolerance and performance.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-08096-7},
pmid = {41629797},
issn = {1471-2229},
abstract = {Soil salinity threatens global agriculture by impairing plant growth, crop productivity, and soil health. This study was conducted to assess the impact of salinity on chickpea performance at the vegetative stage and the possible ameliorating role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and proline applications. A greenhouse experiment with 30 pots (5 replicates × 6 treatments) subjected half the treatments to 200 mM NaCl, AMF was applied at sowing, and proline was sprayed two weeks post-planting. Total pigments dramatically decreased [49.18%] in salt-stressed chickpea. Biomass, protein and carbohydrate metabolism were also affected. For instance, plant height and total fresh weight (TFW) showed inhibitions of 37.83% and 72.19% as compared to control. Conversely, chickpea under salt stress had an increased accumulation of H2O2 (13.12 mg/g DW) and higher electrolyte leakage (54.72%), however, proline or AMF supplementation decreased their levels. Also, the total protein content and antioxidant enzymes were higher in salt-stressed treatments. Under stress, the total carbohydrate contents in chickpea leaves were significantly enhanced by AMF inoculation (23.44%) and proline application (19.43%), when compared to the control. Moreover, salinity led to distortion of chickpea leaf anatomy including a decrease in upper and lower epidermis thickness, vessel numbers, as well as degradation of palisade and spongy parenchyma. Salinity also disrupted ion balance, increasing Na[+] and decreasing K[+] (lower K[+]/Na[+] ratio), which elevated H2O2 levels and membrane leakage. These results revealed that AMF as a symbiotic microorganism and proline as a well-known osmoprotectant perform several tasks to alleviate NaCl stress by decreasing Na[+] uptake, H2O2 content and membrane leakage. Subsequently, an enhancement in growth criteria, pigment fraction and carbohydrates was achieved with their applications under NaCl stress. Most obviously their applications maintained the chickpea leaf anatomy. As an innovative approach, we propose that AMF inoculation or proline application can reverse salinity-induced damage, offering a pathway to enhance crop tolerance in salt-affected regions.},
}

@article {pmid41627504,
year = {2026},
author = {Ranjithkumar, V and Ajithkumar, V and Gayathri, G},
title = {Symbiotic weaponry: the role of bacterial mediators in aphid-plant defense conflicts.},
journal = {Archives of microbiology},
volume = {208},
number = {4},
pages = {158},
pmid = {41627504},
issn = {1432-072X},
}

@article {pmid41627043,
year = {2026},
author = {Tan, Y and Liang, J and Yi, Q},
title = {Study on geographic differentiation and environment-host synergistic assembly mechanism of root-associated fungal communities in Paphiopedilum purpuratum.},
journal = {Microbiology spectrum},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0257325},
doi = {10.1128/spectrum.02573-25},
pmid = {41627043},
issn = {2165-0497},
abstract = {The orchid-fungus symbiosis is fundamental to orchid survival and reproduction; however, the diversity patterns and assembly mechanisms of the root-associated mycobiota in Paphiopedilum purpuratum remain inadequately characterized. We utilized high-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 2 region to investigate the composition, diversity, sources, and assembly processes of the endophytic fungal communities across eight geographically distinct populations, with complementary profiling of rhizosphere soil fungi. Our results indicated that Ascomycota constituted the dominant phylum within the root mycobiota, while core taxonomic groups exhibited pronounced geographic differentiation at both family and genus levels. Significant inter-population disparities in α-diversity metrics reflected underlying community compositional divergence. Environmental variables, particularly longitude, exerted a stronger influence on community structure than biotic factors. Approximately 44.05% of root fungal operational taxonomic units were soil-derived, and the host plant selectively enriched fungal taxa, most of which possessed unknown trophic modes. Community assembly processes were compartment-specific: the root endophytic mycobiota was primarily governed by stochastic ecological drift, whereas the rhizosphere communities were predominantly shaped by deterministic dispersal limitation. This compartment-specific assembly was evidenced by the prevalence of stochastic processes (|βNTI| < 2) in the root endosphere, contrasting with the dominance of deterministic processes (|βNTI| > 2) in the rhizosphere. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed higher connectivity and robustness in the endophytic mycobiota. The interaction network between orchid mycorrhizal fungi and other root-associated soil fungi formed an efficient and stable functional system whose complexity showed population-specific differentiation. Collectively, our findings demonstrate clear geographic divergence in the root fungal communities of P. purpuratum and underscore a synergistic environment-host assembly mechanism, thereby providing critical ecological insights for informing conservation strategies for this endangered orchid.IMPORTANCEThis study investigates the root-associated fungal communities of the endangered orchid Paphiopedilum purpuratum across its geographical distribution. We identified clear geographical differentiation in community composition and diversity, predominantly driven by abiotic factors-particularly longitude-rather than biotic factors. A key finding reveals that 44% of root fungal taxa originate from the soil, indicating active host-mediated selection. A fundamental dichotomy in assembly mechanisms was observed: stochastic ecological drift dominated within roots, whereas deterministic dispersal limitation prevailed in the rhizosphere. Co-occurrence networks demonstrated that the root fungal community is highly connected and robust, suggesting a stable functional system. Our findings elucidate the synergistic roles of environment and host in shaping fungal assembly, providing novel insights into orchid-fungus symbiosis with theoretical implications for mycorrhizal ecology and practical relevance for conservation strategies.},
}

@article {pmid41626866,
year = {2026},
author = {Nozaki, H and Matsuzaki, R and Takahashi, K and Ueki, N and Higashiyama, T and Kawachi, M and Tanabe, Y},
title = {Distribution of rickettsial endosymbionts and their possible transmission within the Pleodorina japonica (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae) population.},
journal = {Journal of phycology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jpy.70131},
pmid = {41626866},
issn = {1529-8817},
support = {24K08946//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; },
abstract = {The green alga Pleodorina japonica is an interesting volvocine species that harbors abundant rickettsial endosymbionts ("MIDORIKO") within its cytoplasm. However, the diversity and transmission of these endosymbionts within the species remain unclear. In this study, we examined the presence or absence of "MIDORIKO" and the genetic diversity in 21 culture strains of the host P. japonica population from various localities in Japan. Genomic polymerase chain reactions using "MIDORIKO"-specific primers and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-staining demonstrated that only five of the 21 strains harbored "MIDORIKO." The 16S ribosomal DNA sequences of "MIDORIKO" from these five strains (1148 bp) were identical to each other and distinct from the sequences of the rickettsial endosymbionts harbored by other algal species and protists, suggesting that "MIDORIKO" from P. japonica is specific to P. japonica. The phylogenetic results for the 21 host strains, which were resolved based on three nuclear genes encoding oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 1, F1F0 ATP synthase subunit beta and actin disagreed significantly. None of the three gene phylogenies supported the close relationship of the five "MIDORIKO"-harboring strains. A recombination test using the three concatenated genes provided strong evidence of recombination. Therefore, gene flow by sexual reproduction has likely occurred in the natural habitats of P. japonica. The transmission of "MIDORIKO" among different P. japonica genotypes could also be considered to occur via sexual reproduction, although it is likely infrequent via that method given the sporadic nature of "MIDORIKO" within the P. japonica population. Although P. japonica exhibits homothallic sexual reproduction, the present genetic data demonstrate that it is undoubtedly a biological species.},
}

@article {pmid41626864,
year = {2026},
author = {Mendonça, IRW and Oliveira, MC},
title = {Microbiota associated with benthic Sargassum (Fucales, Phaeophyceae): From morphological structures to geographically dispersed populations.},
journal = {Journal of phycology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/jpy.70129},
pmid = {41626864},
issn = {1529-8817},
support = {2018/17843-4//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 2020/09406-3//Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo/ ; 142189/2018-9//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; 304776/2022-0//Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico/ ; 001//CAPES/ ; },
abstract = {Seaweed-associated microbiota distribution is influenced by factors such as symbiosis, season, life cycle, environmental conditions, and geographic location. This study investigated how microbial communities vary across different parts of benthic Sargassum thalli from nine locations spanning three regions over 600 km apart along Brazil's coast, with sites in each region within 20 km of each other. Using 16S rDNA gene sequencing of the V4 region, we identified 16,802 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), with 1169 shared across thallus structures and 1100 shared across regions. Our analysis showed that microbial communities varied both along the thallus and between regions, though communities were similar within regions less than 20 km apart. Among thallus structures, the holdfast had the most distinct microbiota, differing from the phylloid and receptacle. This pattern was consistent across Brazil's coastline and has also been observed in studies from Singapore and Portugal. The holdfast microbiota was marked by an unidentified Alphaproteobacteria, along with sulfur-cycling families Desulfocapsaceae and Desulfosarcinaceae. Phylloids and receptacles were mainly associated with photosynthetic cyanobacteria. We also identified shared taxonomic biomarkers across Sargassum species from Asia, Europe, and South America. These results suggest that the microbiota are more influenced by the thallus structure than by geographic location. These consistent patterns across Sargassum species from different continents-Asia, Europe, and South America-support the hypothesis of microbiota specialization within morphological niches.},
}

@article {pmid41626782,
year = {2026},
author = {Walser, ON and Pathak, E and Banuelos, AI and Rossbach, S},
title = {Lanthanide-Dependent Methanol Dehydrogenase XoxF Confers a Competitive Advantage to Sinorhizobium meliloti During Symbiosis with Medicago sativa.},
journal = {Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1094/MPMI-08-25-0110-R},
pmid = {41626782},
issn = {0894-0282},
abstract = {The recent discovery of the lanthanide(Ln)-dependent methanol dehydrogenase (Ln-MDH) XoxF has expanded the spectrum of bacteria recognized for methylotrophic metabolism. Many bacteria, including rhizobia, have historically escaped being categorized as methylotrophs because they exclusively produce XoxF-type Ln MDHs and entirely lack the long-studied calcium-dependent methanol dehydrogenase MxaFI. We report that the XoxF-type Ln-MDH encoded by the smb20173 gene is the sole methanol dehydrogenase that supports methylotrophic growth of Sinorhizobium meliloti. The lanthanides that consistently supported growth of S. meliloti in minimal media with methanol included lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium. Based on genome, whole-transcriptome, and mutant phenotype analyses, we propose a metabolic model for Ln-dependent methylotrophy in S. meliloti wherein oxidation of one-carbon compounds, such as methanol, generate the reducing power needed to assimilate carbon via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. By investigating how these newfound insights about lanthanides reshape our understanding of the methylotrophic capabilities of rhizobia, we explored how methanol produced by plants has the potential to create a nutritional niche in the rhizosphere. Using a Medicago sativa (alfalfa) nodule occupancy assay, we found that a xoxF mutant strain was outcompeted by the wild-type strain only when lanthanides were available, suggesting that Ln-dependent methylotrophy promotes an efficient rhizobia-legume symbiosis.},
}

@article {pmid41626691,
year = {2026},
author = {Nguyen, TNG and Kamal, MM and Lin, CL and Leu, JY},
title = {Splicing regulation and intron evolution in the short-intron ciliate model of endosymbiosis Paramecium bursaria.},
journal = {Nucleic acids research},
volume = {54},
number = {3},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/nar/gkag063},
pmid = {41626691},
issn = {1362-4962},
support = {AS-IA-110-L01//Academia Sinica/ ; AS-GCS-113-L03//Academia Sinica/ ; //National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan/ ; 113-2326-B-001-002//NSTC/ ; 112-2628-B-001-009//NSTC/ ; 113-2811-B-001-065//NSTC/ ; //Institute of Molecular Biology/ ; //Academia Sinica/ ; },
mesh = {*Introns/genetics ; *Symbiosis/genetics ; *Paramecium/genetics ; *RNA Splicing ; *Evolution, Molecular ; Chlorella/genetics/physiology ; Spliceosomes/genetics/metabolism ; Alternative Splicing ; },
abstract = {The integration of symbionts into host cells during endosymbiosis significantly alters gene expression and cell physiology. Though alternative splicing facilitates cellular adaptation through rapid modulation of gene expression and protein isoform diversity, its regulatory role during endosymbiosis remains poorly understood. Paramecium bursaria, which harbors hundreds of Chlorella variabilis algae within its cytoplasm, offers a powerful model to study splicing during endosymbiosis, especially given its exceptionally short introns (median ∼24 nt). Using time-course RNA sequencing of symbiotic and aposymbiotic cells, we found that splicing, especially of 5' proximal introns, enhances gene expression. Moreover, we identified 883 genes with differentially spliced introns, particularly enriched in transmembrane transporters essential for establishing nutrient exchange between a host cell and algal symbionts. Splicing regulation correlated with expression changes in conserved spliceosome components, implicating that these factors act as splicing enhancers or repressors during symbiosis. By exploring intron orthology across ciliates, we found that conserved introns exhibited more efficient splicing, characterized by lower GC content and uniform length, suggesting that intron evolution favors features that optimize expression. Our study reveals how splicing contributes to host adaptation during endosymbiosis and highlights the evolutionary dynamics of short introns in eukaryotes.},
}

*Introns/genetics
*Symbiosis/genetics
*Paramecium/genetics
*RNA Splicing
*Evolution, Molecular
Chlorella/genetics/physiology
Spliceosomes/genetics/metabolism
Alternative Splicing

@article {pmid41626682,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, F and Singh, J and Kumar, A},
title = {Symbiotic Advantage Beyond Root Architecture: How AMF Levels the Playing Field for Phosphorus Uptake in Sorghum.},
journal = {Plant, cell & environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70425},
pmid = {41626682},
issn = {1365-3040},
}

@article {pmid41626677,
year = {2026},
author = {Bristy, SA and Hossain, MA and Hasan, MI and Mahmud, SMH and Moni, MA and Rahman, MH},
title = {An integrated complete-genome sequencing and systems biology approach to predict antimicrobial resistance genes in the virulent bacterial strains of Moraxella catarrhalis.},
journal = {Briefings in functional genomics},
volume = {25},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bfgp/elaf027},
pmid = {41626677},
issn = {2041-2657},
mesh = {*Moraxella catarrhalis/genetics/pathogenicity/drug effects ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics ; *Systems Biology/methods ; *Genome, Bacterial ; *Whole Genome Sequencing ; Humans ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Virulence/genetics ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; },
abstract = {Moraxella catarrhalis is a symbiotic as well as mucosal infection-causing bacterium unique to humans. Currently, it is considered as one of the leading factors of acute middle ear infection in children. As M. catarrhalis is resistant to multiple drugs, the treatment is unsuccessful; therefore, innovative and forward-thinking approaches are required to combat the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To better comprehend the numerous processes that lead to antibiotic resistance in M. catarrhalis, we have adopted a computational method in this study. From the NCBI-Genome database, we investigated 12 strains of M. catarrhalis. We explored the interaction network comprising 74 antimicrobial-resistant genes found by analyzing M. catarrhalis bacterial strains. Moreover, to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the AMR system, clustering and the functional enrichment analysis were assessed employing AMR gene interactions networks. According to the findings of our assessment, the majority of the genes in the network were involved in antibiotic inactivation; antibiotic target replacement, alteration and antibiotic efflux pump processes. Additionally, rpoB, atpA, fusA, groEL and rpoL have the highest frequency of relevant interactors in the interaction network and are therefore regarded as the hub nodes. These hub genes only reflects their centrality in cellular function, rather than direct or selective targets for antimicrobial development without reservation. Finally, we believe that our findings could be useful to advance knowledge of the AMR system present in M. catarrhalis via a series of phenotypic assays including MIC testing, and gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR) to confirm the functional expression of AMR genes.},
}

*Moraxella catarrhalis/genetics/pathogenicity/drug effects
*Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics
*Systems Biology/methods
*Genome, Bacterial
*Whole Genome Sequencing
Humans
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
Virulence/genetics
Gene Regulatory Networks

@article {pmid41626549,
year = {2025},
author = {Dong, Z and Chen, C and Liao, C and Chen, XM},
title = {Integrating large language models and affective computing for human-machine symbiosis in intelligent driving.},
journal = {Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.))},
volume = {6},
number = {12},
pages = {101014},
pmid = {41626549},
issn = {2666-6758},
}

@article {pmid41626324,
year = {2025},
author = {Yu, L and Zhang, M and Zhang, S and Chen, M and Yuan, M and Huang, J and Chen, W and Zhang, Y},
title = {Root enhancement improves rhizosphere nutrient availability and promotes growth in flue-cured tobacco.},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1728181},
pmid = {41626324},
issn = {1664-462X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Enhancing root development can profoundly reshape rhizosphere symbioses that influence nutrient uptake and plant growth. However, the mechanisms linking root optimization, rhizosphere microbial assembly, and nutrient dynamics in flue-cured tobacco remain insufficiently understood.

METHODS: A field experiment was conducted using flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. Yunyan 87) to compare an enhanced-root treatment (nutrient-bag seedling system under alternating moisture) with conventional floating seedling cultivation. Root traits, rhizosphere nutrient availability, soil enzyme activities, microbial community composition, plant nutrient accumulation, and mediation relationships among root traits, rhizosphere environment, and plant growth were evaluated.

RESULTS: The enhanced-root treatment significantly increased root length and root volume (up to 65.6% and 51.5%, respectively). Rhizosphere function was improved, as indicated by higher available phosphorus (+51.7%) and urease activity (+29.6%). Microbial community composition shifted toward beneficial taxa, including enrichment of Rhizobiaceae and Actinobacteria. These changes were associated with greater nutrient acquisition, increasing total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium accumulation by 13-14%. Mediation analysis further demonstrated that the rhizosphere environment fully mediated the positive effects of root optimization on plant growth, supporting a causal chain of "root system → rhizosphere symbiosis → plant performance."

DISCUSSION: Structural and functional enhancement of roots strengthens plant-microbe symbiosis and promotes nutrient cycling, thereby improving tobacco growth and nutrient accumulation. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for root-based strategies to enhance tobacco productivity while supporting soil ecological function.},
}

@article {pmid41625063,
year = {2025},
author = {Krumsvik, RJ and Klock, K and Bratteberg, MH},
title = {Symbiotic intelligence in dental trauma diagnostics-an exploratory case study.},
journal = {Frontiers in oral health},
volume = {6},
number = {},
pages = {1687841},
pmid = {41625063},
issn = {2673-4842},
abstract = {Dental trauma in children is common and requires prompt diagnosis, which can be challenging in remote or isolated settings with limited access to emergency dental care. This exploratory case study investigates whether OpenAI's o3 can support dental trauma diagnostics in primary incisors, building on prior pretesting of GPT-4 on summative dental education exams (2023) and multimodal dental trauma analyses (2024), and focusing on o3's multimodal capability and reliability in 2025 with expert assessment ("human in the loop") prior to a supervisor seminar with students and supervisors (N = 84). Preliminary findings indicate that GPT-4 performed well on sample exams (2023), and that 7/10 multimodal analyses of dental injuries were accurate (2024); in the 2025 case, o3 correctly identified pulp necrosis in tooth 51 and uncomplicated enamel/dentin fractures in teeth 51 and 61, consistent with IADT guidance. Human expert involvement contributed essential validation, particularly for treatment decisions and ethical considerations. Overall, the study illustrates how symbiotic intelligence-purposeful collaboration between human and AI-may enhance learning outcomes in scenario-based simulations in remote areas, while requiring active human involvement and multiple validation communities.},
}

@article {pmid41623620,
year = {2025},
author = {Tanin, SM and Nuotclà, JA and Biedermann, PHW},
title = {The social context in bark beetle - fungus bioassays: a case study in European fir engraver bark beetles and their fungal associates.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1717396},
pmid = {41623620},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Certain species of bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are among the most aggressive herbivorous forest insects due to their mass aggregation behavior and symbiosis with filamentous fungi. These characteristics help them overwhelm the natural defenses of the healthy trees they attack, and consequently, they are classified as primary pest species. Despite their important role in the beetles' success, the community of fungal symbionts and their key mutualist taxa are only well understood for a few symbionts in a small number of bark beetle species. Recent developments have shown that key mutualists can be identified using in vitro olfactory or gustatory bioassays. However, these assays have only tested mixed-sex groups of beetles. This introduces potential biases compared to individual assays due to the known tendency of these beetles to aggregate.

METHODS: This study focuses on the poorly studied fungal symbionts of European fir bark beetles in the genus Pityokteines, specifically P. vorontzowi and P. curvidens. We used a newly developed, two-tier bioassay to evaluate the attraction of beetles to olfactory and gustatory fungal cues in a specific order to identify essential mutualists. Additionally, we are the first to investigate whether testing individual beetles or mixed- or same-sex groups influences the outcome of such bioassays.

RESULTS: Our results show that Pityokteines beetles responded more strongly to physical contact with the fungus than to volatiles alone. Of the five commonly isolated species, only Geosmithia sp. and Ophiostoma piceae were attractive. Females responded to volatile cues, while males did not. Both sexes preferred to bore their feeding tunnels in these two fungi but were repelled by one of the other species, Graphilbum fragrans. The social context significantly impacted the beetles' behavior: same-sex groups exhibited the strongest response to the offered fungal cues, while mixed-sex groups demonstrated the weakest response.

CONCLUSION: In summary, we identified key fungal species in Pityokteines bark beetles that now need to be assessed individually for their function(s). Most importantly, our results suggest that previous studies should be reassessed because sex and social context must be considered when conducting such bioassays.},
}

@article {pmid41623618,
year = {2025},
author = {Alimu, A and Zhong, X and Gao, Y and Lu, Y},
title = {Elimination of Arsenophonus increases susceptibility to sulfoxaflor in Aphis gossypii.},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1708122},
pmid = {41623618},
issn = {1664-302X},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is a globally significant agricultural pest that harbors diverse microbial symbionts. Beyond their well-known roles in nutrition, these microbial partners are increasingly recognized for their potential to modulate host detoxification pathways and influence insecticide susceptibility. While sulfoxaflor is a primary insecticide for controlling A. gossypii, the extent to which the predominant secondary symbiont, Arsenophonus, mediates susceptibility to this chemical remains largely unexplored.

METHODS: In this study, we investigated the role of Arsenophonus in modulating host sulfoxaflor susceptibility and the underlying molecular mechanisms. We established an Arsenophonus-infected A. gossypii line (A-infected) and an antibiotic-cured, Arsenophonus-deleted line (A-deleted). To ensure identical genetic backgrounds and eliminate residual antibiotic effects, the A-deleted line was maintained for 10 generations under antibiotic-free conditions, with symbiont status confirmed by PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. We then compared sulfoxaflor susceptibility, analyzed protein levels of detoxification enzymes, performed comparative transcriptomic analysis, and validated key candidate genes using RNA interference (RNAi).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Bioassays revealed that the elimination of Arsenophonus significantly increased susceptibility to sulfoxaflor. This hypersensitivity was metabolically associated with reduced protein levels of mixed-function oxidases (MFOs) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). Comparative transcriptomic analysis identified multiple differentially expressed cytochrome P450 genes, including CYP380C44, CYP380C45, CYP6J1, CYP6CY14, CYP6CY21, CYP4CJ1, and CYP4C1. Functional verification demonstrated that RNAi-mediated silencing of CYP380C44 in the A-infected line significantly increased sulfoxaflor mortality. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that the secondary symbiont Arsenophonus modulates the host response to sulfoxaflor by regulating P450-mediated metabolic pathways. Identifying CYP380C44 as a critical effector gene highlights the Arsenophonus-P450 axis as a potential molecular target for developing novel pest control strategies that exploit symbiotic vulnerabilities.},
}

@article {pmid41623059,
year = {2026},
author = {Mathevet, R and Mounet, C},
title = {Governing biodiversity: solidarity, justice and reciprocity in wildlife management.},
journal = {Comptes rendus biologies},
volume = {349},
number = {},
pages = {1-25},
doi = {10.5802/crbiol.190},
pmid = {41623059},
issn = {1768-3238},
mesh = {Animals ; *Animals, Wild ; *Conservation of Natural Resources/methods/legislation & jurisprudence ; *Biodiversity ; France ; Humans ; *Social Justice ; Ecosystem ; Hunting ; Environmental Justice ; },
abstract = {In the current epoch of profound anthropogenic transformations of ecosystems, managing wildlife cannot be reduced to simple technical adjustments in response to social tensions or conflicts. This article proposes a shift in perspective based on three principles-ecological solidarity, interspecies reciprocity and environmental justice-to reconsider the conditions of coexistence between humans and wildlife. These principles are not limited to damage prevention; they can also open up political spaces for diverse living beings and their relations. We therefore present a framework for analyzing socio-ecological viability consisting of four dimensions: ecological interdependence, ethical-political commitment, relationship quality, and institutional arrangement fairness. Through three case studies in France involving wolves (Canis lupus), wild boars (Sus scrofa) and greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus), we examine three contrasting management strategies: conflict and polarization, pragmatic hunting and symbiotic negotiation-processes of mutual adjustment in shared environments. These cases do not describe fixed management regimes, but rather shifting configurations that reveal forms of power, situated knowledge and animal agency. Our analysis reveals the necessity of a wildlife governance that is more attentive to attachments, yet also more demanding in terms of reciprocity, and capable of recognizing the contributions of non-humans to shared environments. Transitioning from a logic of compensation to a policy of co-viability therefore necessitates supporting practices that foster a shared habitability and habitable futures for humans and other living beings alike.},
}

Animals
*Animals, Wild
*Conservation of Natural Resources/methods/legislation & jurisprudence
*Biodiversity
France
Humans
*Social Justice
Ecosystem
Hunting
Environmental Justice

@article {pmid41622876,
year = {2026},
author = {Abbas, D and Haider, K and Ghafar, MA and Ullah, F and Ali, MY and Khan, KA and Galian, J and Hou, M},
title = {Effect of the gut microbiota on insect reproduction: mechanisms and biotechnological prospects.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70601},
pmid = {41622876},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 32172413)/ ; },
abstract = {The insect gut microbiota functions as a multifunctional symbiotic system that plays a central role in host reproduction. Through the production of bioactive metabolites, gut microbes interact with host hormonal pathways, immune signaling, and molecular regulatory networks, thereby shaping reproductive physiology and fitness. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding how gut microbiota regulate insect reproduction. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that microbial metabolites contribute to nutrient metabolism and the provision of essential cofactors, modulate hormone signaling pathways involved in reproductive development, and participate in pheromone biosynthesis that affects mating behavior. These processes impact both female and male reproductive functions through coordinated interactions among metabolism, endocrine regulation, and chemical communication. In females, microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and vitamins regulate insulin/TOR and juvenile hormone signaling, promoting ovarian development, vitellogenin synthesis, and oviposition. In males, gut bacteria influence spermatogenesis, sperm motility, and pheromone production, which are critical for mating success and fertility. Overall, these findings provide a mechanistic foundation for applied strategies, including Wolbachia-based population suppression, probiotic supplementation to enhance sterile insect technique (SIT) performance, and microbial manipulation of pheromone production for pest control. In addition, dietary conditions and environmental stressors can reshape gut microbial composition and metabolic activity, leading to changes in reproductive outcomes. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the complex interactions between insect gut microbiota and reproductive physiology. Key insights include: (i) the role of microbial metabolites in regulating mating behavior, oviposition, and offspring development; (ii) the potential of microbiota-based strategies for pest control, such as Wolbachia-mediated population suppression and probiotic enhancement of SIT; and (iii) the impact of external factors, including diet and environmental conditions, on reproduction through microbiota-mediated pathways. These findings deepen our understanding of insect-microbe symbiosis and its implications for evolutionary biology and sustainable pest management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41622335,
year = {2026},
author = {Ota, C and Bamba, M and Sato, S and Tsuchimatsu, T},
title = {Soil microbial composition and abundance influence the growth of Lotus japonicus.},
journal = {Journal of plant research},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {41622335},
issn = {1618-0860},
abstract = {In mutualistic symbiosis between plants and bacteria, the abundance and composition of symbiotic bacterial groups in the soil microbiota can be important for plant growth. Here, we focused on the nitrogen-fixing mutualism between Lotus japonicus and nodule bacteria to investigate whether and how much the abundance of symbiotic rhizobia in the soil microbiota of natural environments contributes to variations in host plant growth. An inoculation experiment of soil microbiota revealed extensive variations in plant growth phenotypes, even between microhabitats. We found that the local presence of L. japonicus and the relative abundance of Mesorhizobium bacteria showed positive correlations with plant growth supported by both 16S amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenome analyses. Among bacteria investigated, the abundance of Mesorhizobium was most strongly associated with plant growth phenotypes, supporting its role as the primary symbiotic rhizobia in natural environments. Given the specificity and the selectivity of plants for favorable rhizobia, legume-rhizobia interactions could trigger a positive plant-soil feedback that enriches favorable rhizobia into the soil surrounding legume plant habitats.},
}

@article {pmid41621781,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, E},
title = {Deciphering Plant-Microbe Symbioses: A Molecular Blueprint for Precision Agriculture.},
journal = {Journal of molecular biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {169668},
doi = {10.1016/j.jmb.2026.169668},
pmid = {41621781},
issn = {1089-8638},
abstract = {Symbioses between plants and microbes such as mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia, provide critical advantages in plant nutrient acquisition and stress resilience, and thereby underpin agricultural sustainability. However, plants coexist with a myriad of soil microbes, including mutualists, pathogens and commensals, and so must accurately differentiate between beneficial, detrimental, and neutral partners to optimize tradeoffs between growth and defense. Since 2013, our research group has been dedicated to addressing fundamental questions in plant-microbe symbioses. Our work encompasses the exchange of nutrients and signals between symbionts, and the differentiation between mutualistic and pathogenic microbes within the rhizosphere microbiome. We first discovered fatty acids as the main carbon source supplied by plants to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and later revealed the phosphate starvation response-centered regulatory network that controls the root and AM fungi phosphorus uptake pathways. In addition, we identified the receptors that recognize Myc factors and have made inroads on revealing the mechanisms underlying how plants distinguish symbiotic and immune signals. The legume-rhizobium symbiosis is understood to have evolved from arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Related to this, our group identified the Nod factor co-receptor, MtLICK1/2, and revealed that a SHR-SCR module specifies legume cortical cell fate to enable root nodulation. Collectively, our work has provided fundamental insights into the two most agriculturally important plant-microbe symbioses, thereby paving the way for innovative strategies that harness these interactions to advance sustainable agriculture.},
}

@article {pmid41621545,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, L and Wei, W and Sun, X and Li, X and Wen, X and Mao, B and Hao, R and Qiu, W and Li, H},
title = {Competitive nitrogen/phosphorus scarcity triggers multi-pathway nitrogen removal and phosphorus-stress response in microalgae-bacterial symbiosis: poly-metabolic synergy enhancement mechanisms.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {445},
number = {},
pages = {134138},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134138},
pmid = {41621545},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {This study elucidates the metabolic remodeling and synergistic mechanisms of the microalgae-bacteria symbiosis (MABS) under competitive nitrogen and phosphorus stress. Compared with the control, MABS increased removal efficiencies of total nitrogen, NH4[+]-N, NO3[-]-N, and total phosphorus by 5.9, 5.1, 1.5, and 1.7 times, respectively, while enhancing microalgal triacylglycerol production by 17.5%. Microalgae preferentially assimilated NH4[+]-N and dominated phosphorus uptake, whereas the bacterial community strengthened denitrification through functional specialization, carbon metabolism optimization, and electron transport chain (ETC) remodeling. Specifically, bacterial carbon metabolism shifted from the conventional tricarboxylic acid cycle toward a frdABCD-dependent branch that supplies reducing power, accompanied by the enrichment of electron carrier ubiquinone-10 and upregulation of ETC complexes III/IV. Symbiotic bacteria further promoted more efficient ATP synthesis in microalgae, synergizing with improved carbon fixation and lipid-directed carbon partitioning. These findings reveal the metabolic plasticity and cross-kingdom coordination that underpin high-rate nutrient removal and lipid accumulation in MABS.},
}

@article {pmid41620541,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Han, S and Zhang, W and Shen, W and Dong, B and Wang, N},
title = {Microbial Mediators of Pine Defense Resistance: Stage-Specific Gut Symbionts Enable Acantholyda posticalis to Overcome Terpenoid Barriers.},
journal = {Microbial ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1007/s00248-025-02641-x},
pmid = {41620541},
issn = {1432-184X},
support = {SDAIT-24//Modern Agricultural Technology Industry System of Shandong province/ ; ZR2022MC198//Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province/ ; 2023TSGC0345//Science and Technology of Small and Medium Enterprises Innovation Ability Enhancement in Shandong Province/ ; },
abstract = {Acantholyda posticalis (Matsumura) is a globally significant forest pest that inflicts substantial economic losses through its feeding activity on Pinus species. As an oligophagous insect, A. posticalis relies critically on its gut microbiota to overcome the defensive secondary metabolites of pine needles, particularly α- and β-pinene terpenoids. This study investigated the dynamic compositional changes of gut bacterial communities across different developmental stages of A. posticalis and characterized their functional roles in host adaptation. Through traditional culturing methods, two pinene-degrading bacterial strains-Klebsiella variicola and Enterobacter hormaechei-were isolated from the larval gut. In vitro assays demonstrated their significant capacity to degrade the two pinenes. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed stage-specific bacterial enrichment patterns. Functional prediction suggested these microbial communities participate in critical metabolic processes, including phosphotransferase systems, GST activity, and detoxification pathways. This work advances understanding of insect-microbe symbiosis in oligophagous systems and proposes novel strategies for ecologically sustainable A. posticalis control through manipulation of its gut microbiota.},
}

@article {pmid41619978,
year = {2026},
author = {Ke, D and Hou, S and Zhou, Z},
title = {GmIFS interacts with GmNFR1α and plays a positive role in soybean legume-rhizobia symbiosis.},
journal = {Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {113011},
doi = {10.1016/j.plantsci.2026.113011},
pmid = {41619978},
issn = {1873-2259},
abstract = {Soybean (Glycine max) serves as a vital source of plant protein and edible oil, while also functioning as a key soil-enriching crop. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation between soybean and rhizobia is crucial for sustainable green agriculture. Nod factor (NF) is a signaling molecule for the establishment of a symbiotic relationship between rhizobia and soybean. The soybean NF receptor GmNFR1α plays a pivotal role in nodulation; however, its signaling pathway remains incompletely characterized. In previous studies, using GmNFR1α as bait, we identified the isoflavone synthase GmIFS2 as an interactor through screening a soybean root/nodule yeast AD-cDNA library. Yeast two-hybrid, luciferase complementation imaging (LCI) in tobacco, and in vitro pull-down assays confirmed the interaction between GmIFS2 and the kinase domain of GmNFR1α (GmNFR1α-pk). Symbiotic phenotyping revealed that the ifs1/2 double mutant significantly inhibited the infection process of rhizobia, leading to a remarkable reduction in the number of soybean nodules and shoot/root dry weights. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of roots and nodules from ifs1/2 versus wild-type plants demonstrated substantial alterations in genes related to isoflavonoid synthesis, plant-pathogen interactions, and MAPK signaling pathways, alongside significant changes in key enzymes, transcription factors, and metabolites within isoflavonoid and nitrogen metabolism pathways. The study demonstrates that GmNFR1α can directly form a heteromeric complex with the soybean isoflavone synthase GmIFS2, positively regulating symbiotic nodulation between soybeans and rhizobia. The research findings further complement and elucidate the nodulation signaling pathway mediated by GmNFR1α, providing new molecular evidence for the symbiotic interaction mechanism between soybeans and rhizobia.},
}

@article {pmid41618562,
year = {2026},
author = {Shelake, RM and Waghunde, RR and Kim, JY},
title = {Coevolution of plant-microbe interactions, friend-foe continuum, and microbiome engineering for a sustainable future.},
journal = {Molecular plant},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2026.01.010},
pmid = {41618562},
issn = {1752-9867},
abstract = {The coevolution of plant-microbe (PM) associations over approximately 450 million years has been a fundamental driver of terrestrial life, giving rise to mutualistic, commensal, and pathogenic relationships along a dynamic friend-foe continuum. The need to adapt to the host environment has driven the convergent evolution of common strategies among mutualists and pathogens, enabling them to evade or modulate the plant immune system. This review synthesizes PM coevolution within a deep-time, three-pillar framework: organellogenesis, root evolution, and immune gatekeeping, linking ancient endosymbiotic events (mitochondria, chloroplast, and nitroplast) to contemporary holobiont-level phenotypes and biotechnological applications. We organize the friend-foe continuum around a coevolution-guided cost-benefit and tipping-point framework, using identified molecular switches and evolutionary constraints to derive actionable design rules for engineering PM associations. Moving beyond a descriptive toolbox of technologies, we integrate recent breakthroughs to analyze how four principal axes: host and microbial genetics, evolutionary dynamics, environmental and ecological conditions, and metabolic switches define the thresholds that govern microbial lifestyle transitions. Finally, we propose specific, testable strategies for PM coevolution-informed crop improvement, distinguishing near-term feasible targets from long-term speculative goals in nitrogen utilization, synthetic microbial communities, immune receptor engineering, modulation of plant memory, and microbiome-integrated breeding through genome editing, synthetic biology, AI, and microbiome engineering. Together, these approaches extend existing syntheses into a predictive, evolution-informed framework that transforms coevolutionary principles into a functional blueprint for sustainable and resilient agriculture.},
}

@article {pmid41618275,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Q and Li, Y and Li, K and Huang, X and Ahmat, M and Yan, Y and Huang, X and Yao, H and Cui, W and Hou, M},
title = {Candolleomyces candolleanus P9 from Altay Glycyrrhiza: β-glucosidase-mediated biotransformation.},
journal = {Microbial cell factories},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12934-026-02947-6},
pmid = {41618275},
issn = {1475-2859},
support = {2022B02042//Key Research and Development Task Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; 2022B02056-2//sub tasks of the Key Research and Development Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/ ; xjnkywdzc-2025003-06-04//sub tasks of Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Stabilization Support Program/ ; },
abstract = {Endophytic fungi establish a symbiotic relationship with their host plants, actively engaging in the hosts' physiological and metabolic processes. They can directly or indirectly transform plant metabolites, thereby playing a crucial role in the host's overall health and functioning. In this study, we isolated and identified an endophytic fungus, Candolleomyces candolleanus P9 strain, which produces β-glucosidase from Ural Glycyrrhizae Radix in Altay, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. In addition, the enzyme production conditions of strain P9 were optimized using a wheat bran concentration of 30.6 g/L, beef extract concentration of 11.2 g/L, inoculum size of 2.6%, pH 7.23, at 30 °C, with shaking at 150 rpm, and a fermentation duration of 6 days. Under these conditions, the β-glucosidase activity of strain P9 increased by 13.6-fold compared to the initial level. On this basis, the efficiency of converting diurea-based urea into diurea-based elements was further optimized. The optimized results were as follows: conversion time 12 h, temperature 37℃, liquiritin concentration 0.8 mg/mL, pH value 7.5, and the conversion rate reached 93.09%. In addition, the antibacterial and antioxidant effects of the fermentation broth of the P9 strain after biotransformation were significantly better than those of commercial β-glucosidase and control group. In summary, fermentation with the β-glucosidase-producing Candolleomyces candolleanus P9 strain is a potential method for converting liquiritin into liquiritigenin of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.},
}

@article {pmid41617724,
year = {2026},
author = {Dong, Z and Sun, MS and He, YD and Zhou, L and Xiang, W and Li, X and Huang, P and Zeng, JG},
title = {Fungal photobiont and microbiome genome composition in the Cladonia uncialis tripartite symbiosis.},
journal = {Scientific data},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1038/s41597-026-06624-6},
pmid = {41617724},
issn = {2052-4463},
abstract = {As symbiotic complexes formed through the association of bacteria or algae with fungi, lichens exhibit exceptional adaptability to extreme environments and function as pioneer species in rocky habitat ecological succession. The absence of high quality chromosome-level genome has constrained investigations into lichen adaptive evolution, while functional contributions of symbiotic bacterial communities remain inadequately explored. This study presents the chromosome-level genome assembly of the mycobiont Cladonia uncialis, comprising 28 chromosomes with a total size of 43.49 Mb, generated through integrated PacBio HiFi and Hi-C methodologies. We characterized the symbiotic microbiota using integrated short and long-read sequencing and constructed 31 metagenome-assembled genomes. The community was dominated by Ascomycota (41.16%), Proteobacteria (17.61%), and Bacteroidota (14.20%). Long-read sequencing significantly enhanced detection sensitivity for low-abundance taxa. This study provides essential genomic resources and comprehensive profiles of the symbiotic microbiota, enabling mechanistic exploration of adaptive evolution within lichen symbiotic systems under extreme environmental conditions.},
}

@article {pmid41616777,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, H and Hou, L and Lan, L and Zhang, R and Wang, DJ and Feng, H and Chen, CY and Ye, JJ and Oyebanji, OO and Chukwuma, EC and Chen, SY and Tong, YX and Yang, JB and Yang, J and Murray, JD and Soltis, PS and Soltis, DE and Zhang, XW and Li, DZ and Yi, TS and Wang, E},
title = {Evolution of root nodule symbiosis via paleopolyploidy and modular pathway rewiring.},
journal = {Cell host & microbe},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2026.01.001},
pmid = {41616777},
issn = {1934-6069},
abstract = {The evolution of root nodule symbiosis (RNS), a key innovation for plant nitrogen acquisition, has long been studied but lacks a mechanistic, gene-level evolutionary framework. Here, we reconstruct the gene regulatory network underlying RNS (GRN-RNS) at single-gene resolution using comparative genomic and phylogenomic analyses of 10 newly sequenced and published genomes across all RNS families. We discover that symbiosis-related gene families originated from γ paleohexaploidy in core eudicots, fueling the molecular foundation for network assembly. The initial GRN-RNS emerged at the crown node of the nitrogen-fixing clade through the recruitment and rewiring of genes from three pathways: arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, nitrate response, and stress response. In legumes, GRN-RNS was further refined to enable symbiosome formation via convergent recruitment of modules for cell wall remodeling and kinase signaling. Our work resolves the temporal and regulatory architecture of RNS, providing a unifying framework to understand the evolution of this complex trait.},
}

@article {pmid41616063,
year = {2026},
author = {Nosaki, S and Noda, M and Onoda, H and Ito, M and Suzaki, T},
title = {The root nodule symbiosis regulator NIN exhibits broad DNA binding specificity conferred by an NLP-inherited motif.},
journal = {Science advances},
volume = {12},
number = {5},
pages = {eaeb8825},
pmid = {41616063},
issn = {2375-2548},
mesh = {*Symbiosis/genetics ; *Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; Amino Acid Motifs ; Protein Binding ; *Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/genetics ; *Lotus/genetics/metabolism ; *Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics/chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics ; Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism ; Mutation ; *DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; },
abstract = {Nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS) occurs in some eudicots, including legumes, and is regulated by the transcription factor NODULE INCEPTION (NIN), derived from the NIN-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) family. However, how the NIN protein acquired RNS-specific functions remains unclear. We identify a previously undescribed motif in Lotus japonicus NIN, located downstream of the RWP-RK domain, which we term the FR. This motif broadens NIN's DNA binding specificity by stabilizing the RWP-RK dimer interface. nin mutants lacking the FR motif show defective nodulation and impaired nitrogen fixation. Arabidopsis NLP2 carries a NIN-type FR and shares key features with NIN. Furthermore, the NIN-type FR had already emerged before the divergence of gymnosperm and angiosperm lineages, suggesting that a specific molecular feature of NIN involved in RNS regulation was inherited from ancestral NLPs prior to the emergence of RNS.},
}

*Symbiosis/genetics
*Plant Proteins/metabolism/genetics/chemistry
Amino Acid Motifs
Protein Binding
*Root Nodules, Plant/metabolism/genetics
*Lotus/genetics/metabolism
*Transcription Factors/metabolism/genetics/chemistry
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Nitrogen Fixation/genetics
Arabidopsis/genetics/metabolism
Mutation
*DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism/genetics

@article {pmid41615162,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, Y and Koga, R and Moriyama, M and Fukatsu, T},
title = {Disruption of methionine synthesis repressor makes Escherichia coli mutualistic to host stinkbug.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e0388325},
doi = {10.1128/mbio.03883-25},
pmid = {41615162},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Degenerative genome evolution is widely found among obligatory bacterial mutualists, as observed in plant-sucking hemipteran insects whose symbiont genomes are highly reduced and specialized for provisioning of essential amino acids. Originally, such symbionts must have been derived from environmental free-living bacteria. It is elusive, however, what evolutionary changes are involved in the early stages of such elaborate mutualistic associations. Here, we addressed this evolutionary question using the experimental symbiotic system consisting of the stinkbug Plautia stali and the model bacterium Escherichia coli. In E. coli, metJ encodes a repressor of the methionine synthesis pathway, and its disruption upregulates production of the essential amino acid methionine. We found that, when metJ-disrupted E. coli was inoculated to P. stali, the insects exhibited significantly elevated hemolymphal methionine levels and improved adult emergence rates, demonstrating that the single-gene mutation makes E. coli mutualistic to P. stali. In comparison with mutualistic E. coli single-gene mutants that upregulate another essential amino acid tryptophan, the phenotypic effects on P. stali were somewhat different: the adult emergence rate was improved by both the methionine-overproducing and tryptophan-overproducing E. coli mutants, whereas the adult body color was improved by the tryptophan-overproducing E. coli mutant only. When we generated a double mutant E. coli ΔmetJΔtnaA and inoculated it to P. stali, the adult emergence rate was not improved but rather attenuated, uncovering non-additive fitness consequences of these single-gene mutations. These results provide insights into what genetic changes may have facilitated the early evolution of the insect-microbe mutualism.IMPORTANCEWhat is the evolutionary origin of elaborate bacterial mutualists entailing drastic genome reduction, specialized metabolism, and uncultivability? This question is important but challenging to address, because the evolution of such symbiotic associations occurred in the past and cannot be observed directly. However, the recent development of an experimental symbiotic system consisting of the stinkbug Plautia stali as host and the model bacterium Escherichia coli as symbiont has opened an avenue to empirically investigate the evolution of host-microbe mutualism. We demonstrated that, strikingly, single-gene mutations of E. coli that upregulate the production of methionine and tryptophan make the non-symbiotic bacterium mutualistic to P. stali, plausibly via provisioning of the essential amino acids that complement the nutritional requirements of the plant-sucking insect host. Our finding provides insight into what genetic changes of the symbiont side can be involved in the early evolution of the host-microbe mutualism.},
}

@article {pmid41615103,
year = {2026},
author = {Oliveira, RJ and Santos, A and Zanuncio, JC and Zanetti, R},
title = {Climatic factors and Euplatypus parallelus populations in teak plantations in the Amazon biome.},
journal = {Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia},
volume = {85},
number = {},
pages = {e297602},
doi = {10.1590/1519-6984.297602},
pmid = {41615103},
issn = {1678-4375},
mesh = {Animals ; Brazil ; *Weevils/classification/physiology ; Population Density ; Seasons ; *Climate ; Forests ; Temperature ; },
abstract = {Damage caused by insect pests, such as the ambrosia beetle Euplatypus parallelus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is important to forest plantations, like teak. This beetle bores galleries into the trunk of Tectona grandis, where it cultivates symbiotic fungi and staining the wood. However, the effects of climatic factors on its populations are poorly understood. This study aimed to correlate the occurrence of E. parallelus with climatic factors in a 258.09 ha T. grandis plantation, established in October 2014, in São José dos Quatro Marcos (MT), Brazil. Ethanol-baited traps were systematically installed to monitor the pest. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) with negative binomial distribution were used to analyze the relationship between the number of insects collected and environmental variables. Precipitation and temperature were significant and included in the final model, unlike distance from traps to native vegetation, wind speed, relative humidity, and solar radiation. The abundance of E. parallelus increased with rising maximum and medium temperature and precipitation. The results indicate that temperature and precipitation are critical factors for predicting outbreaks of E. parallelus and should therefore be incorporated into monitoring and IPM programs. Including these variables strengthens the identification of critical sampling periods, the strategic placement of traps, and the calibration of action thresholds. It also guides climate-sensitive silvicultural practices and management guidelines, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change.},
}

Animals
Brazil
*Weevils/classification/physiology
Population Density
Seasons
*Climate
Forests
Temperature

@article {pmid41615023,
year = {2026},
author = {Martínez, LT and Escalona, M and Toffelmier, E and Miller, C and Sahasrahbudhe, R and Marimuthu, MPA and Nguyen, O and Chumchim, N and Beraut, E and Sacco, S and Seligmann, W and Fairbairn, CW and Cooper, RD and Shaffer, HB and Purcell, J and Sachs, JL},
title = {Chromosome-Level Reference Genome of a Foundational California Native Legume, Acmispon strigosus.},
journal = {The Journal of heredity},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jhered/esag007},
pmid = {41615023},
issn = {1465-7333},
abstract = {Acmispon is a legume genus that has diversified within the California Floristic Province. Acmispon species live in a variety of habitats including coastal sage scrub, deserts, grasslands, and woodlands, and form symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Here, we report the first, chromosome-level assembly of Acmispon strigosus (Strigose bird's-foot trefoil or Strigose lotus) as part of the California Conservation Genomics Project (CCGP). Consistent with the reference genome pipelines of the CCGP, we used Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Hi-C chromatin-proximity sequencing technology to produce a de novo assembled genome. The assembly is 519 Mb in length, with a contig N50 of 22.97 Mb, scaffolded into seven pseudo-chromosomes. Using the NCBI egapx pipeline, we annotated a total of 21 347 genes resulting in a protein BUSCO completeness score of 91.5%. This is the first genome assembled for Acmispon and among the first genomic resources available for a native California legume. The assembly BUSCO completeness score of 94.8% makes it one of the most complete genomes for the tribe Loteae (Fabaceae). Generating whole genome sequences will contribute to our general understanding of nitrogen-fixing legume's adaptations to diverse soil and environmental conditions, interactions with nitrogen fixing Bradyrhizobium and Mesorhizobium symbionts, and the degrading effects of pollution-induced nitrogen deposition to the legume-rhizobium symbiosis in California. These data will also help to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among Acmispon spp., which remain unresolved.},
}

@article {pmid41614833,
year = {2025},
author = {Khalil, HB and Zakherah, HA and Alhassan, FA and Salah, MM and Kamel, AM and Mohamed, AY and Alsahoud, HA and Metwaly, FH and Mostafa, SA},
title = {Wheat Plasma Membrane Receptors: Orchestrating Immunity and Bridging to Crop Improvement.},
journal = {Current issues in molecular biology},
volume = {48},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/cimb48010002},
pmid = {41614833},
issn = {1467-3045},
support = {KFU254660//King Faisal University/ ; },
abstract = {The plant plasma membrane serves as the primary interface for perceiving extracellular signals, a function largely mediated by plasma membrane receptors (PMRs). In wheat (Triticum aestivum), the functional characterization of these receptors is impeded by the species' large, hexaploid genome, which results in extensive gene duplication and functional redundancy. This review synthesizes current knowledge on wheat PMRs, covering their diversity, classification, and signaling mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on their central role in plant immunity. We highlight the remarkable structural and functional diversification of PMR families, which range in size from 10 members, as seen in the case of wheat leaf rust kinase (WLRK), to over 3424 members in the receptor-like kinase (RLK) family. Furthermore, we reviewed the role of PMRs in being critical for detecting a wide array of biotic stimuli, including pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), herbivore-associated molecular patterns (HAMPs), and symbiotic signals. Upon perception, PMRs initiate downstream signaling cascades that orchestrate defense responses, including transcriptional reprogramming, cell wall reinforcement, and metabolic changes. The review also examines the complex cross-talk between immune receptors and other signaling pathways, such as those mediated by brassinosteroid and jasmonic acid receptors, which underpin the delicate balance between growth and defense. Finally, we bridge these fundamental insights to applications in crop improvement, delineating strategies like marker-assisted selection, gene stacking, and receptor engineering to enhance disease resistance. After identifying key obstacles such as genetic redundancy and pleiotropic effects, we propose future research directions that leverage multi-omics, systems biology, and synthetic biology to fully unlock the potential of wheat PMRs for sustainable agriculture.},
}

@article {pmid41613836,
year = {2025},
author = {Miao, F},
title = {The anthropomorphization of AI and the concept of Buddhist compassion in human-machine interaction.},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
volume = {16},
number = {},
pages = {1583565},
pmid = {41613836},
issn = {1664-1078},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: With the advancement of anthropomorphic technologies and affective computing, the symbiosis of values between robots and humans has emerged as a crucial research topic. Against the backdrop of global cultural diversity, the four immeasurables-Metta (ci), Karuna (bei), Mudita (xi), and Upekkha (she)-in Buddhism offer a more adaptable and flexible ethical framework compared to other religious doctrines for guiding robotic development.

METHODS: By comparing with other religious ethics, it demonstrates the unique feasibility of Buddhist compassion in shaping robots' goodness-oriented behavior.

RESULTS: Taking Guanyin, a quintessential symbol of compassion in Buddhism, as the moral archetype, the study proposes a design philosophy centered on equality, reciprocity, and responsibility. An illustrative case of elderly care robots showcases the practical application of this framework.

DISCUSSION: Challenges related to artificial compassion implementation and cultural disparities are also analyzed. The paper concludes that the cultural adaptability of Buddhist compassion in a cross-cultural context renders it a viable solution for harmonious human-robot symbiosis, integrating technological innovation with profound ethical wisdom.},
}

@article {pmid41613569,
year = {2026},
author = {Duffy, SL and Kennington, WJ and Richards, ZT and Thomas, L},
title = {Concordant Patterns of Population Genetic Structure and Symbiont Communities in a Broadcasting Spawning Coral Along a Western Australian Fringing Reef.},
journal = {Ecology and evolution},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {e72585},
pmid = {41613569},
issn = {2045-7758},
abstract = {The degree of connectivity across ecosystems is a key determinant of resilience, directly influencing recovery potential after disturbance and long-term ecosystem stability. In reef-building corals, there is added complexity to these processes because both the coral host and their symbiotic dinoflagellates determine resilience. Given these complexities, we investigated the connectivity of a broadcast spawning coral and its associated algal symbiont communities along the Ningaloo Reef Marine Park and Muiron Island Management Area. Using reduced representation sequencing and DNA metabarcoding in 158 colonies of Acropora cf. tenuis across 14 sampling sites, we detected significant spatial genetic structure in the coral host consistent with a pattern of isolation by distance (IBD). Spatial Autocorrelation analyses revealed that the genetic neighbourhood extends up to 50 km suggesting that this coral species has multiple demographically independent populations across Ningaloo Reef. Symbiont communities were dominated by Cladocopium and followed a similar IBD pattern of between-site differences in community composition. We did not identify a significant correlation between host genetic diversity and symbiont community diversity at the colony level. However, spatial patterns of genetic differentiation between sample sites for the host and symbiont community composition were significantly associated suggesting that connectivity along a fringing reef system for both coral hosts and their symbionts is driven by similar biogeographic factors.},
}

@article {pmid41612704,
year = {2026},
author = {Huang, Y and Guo, L and Fan, F and Zhao, X and Lu, Y and Jiao, M and Hou, Y},
title = {Bacteriocyte-specific antimicrobial peptides regulate the Rhynchophorus ferrugineus-Nardonella symbiosis and represent novel targets for symbiosis-based pest control.},
journal = {Pest management science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1002/ps.70604},
pmid = {41612704},
issn = {1526-4998},
support = {//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Many beetles require tyrosine supplementation from endosymbiotic bacteria for exoskeleton synthesis. Weevils harbor the ancient endosymbiont Nardonella within specialized bacteriocytes, a mutualistic association maintained for >125 million years in which the bacterium exclusively preserves tyrosine biosynthetic capability. The red palm weevil, one of the world's most destructive invasive pests causing widespread devastation to palm industries across continents, depends on its Nardonella endosymbiont for survival. Disrupting this obligate symbiosis represents a promising pest control strategy, yet the molecular mechanisms maintaining host-symbiont homeostasis remain poorly understood. Although antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been implicated in symbiont regulation in some insects, their functions in this ancient weevil-Nardonella association remain unknown.

RESULTS: We identified two novel bacteriocyte-specific AMPs, RfAMP1 and RfAMP2. Unlike canonical immune AMPs, RfAMPs exhibited expression patterns that paralleled endosymbiont dynamics and responded specifically to symbiont presence rather than pathogenic infections. Both peptides localized to Nardonella membranes and cytoplasm. RNAi-mediated knockdown of either RfAMP1 or RfAMP2 resulted in endosymbiont escape into midgut tissues and increased endosymbiont abundance within bacteriocytes. At subinhibitory concentrations, RfAMPs significantly increased bacterial membrane permeability. Loss of RfAMP function through RNAi disrupted symbiotic homeostasis, impaired tyrosine biosynthesis and severely compromised larval survival.

CONCLUSIONS: RfAMPs regulate endosymbiont homeostasis and spatial confinement, essential for tyrosine provisioning and host fitness. These findings reveal molecular mechanisms underlying the ancient weevil-Nardonella mutualism and highlight potential targets for red palm weevil management through symbiosis disruption. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.},
}

@article {pmid41612166,
year = {2026},
author = {Bellabarba, A and Fagorzi, C and Bacci, G and Decorosi, F and Checcucci, A and Pacini, GC and Bekki, A and Mimoune, AEH and Azim, K and Hafidi, M and Mengoni, A and Pini, F and Viti, C},
title = {Genomic and Phenotypic Bases of Salt Tolerance in Sinorhizobium meliloti: Candidate Traits for Bioinoculant Development Addressing Saline Soils.},
journal = {Microbial biotechnology},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {e70304},
doi = {10.1111/1751-7915.70304},
pmid = {41612166},
issn = {1751-7915},
support = {//Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area/ ; },
mesh = {*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology/isolation & purification/drug effects ; *Salt Tolerance/genetics ; Soil Microbiology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Medicago sativa/microbiology ; Soil/chemistry ; Phenotype ; Sodium Chloride/metabolism ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Symbiosis ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; },
abstract = {Soil salinity poses a major challenge to the legume-rhizobia symbiosis development, thereby affecting sustainable agriculture. Selecting NaCl-tolerant strains and enhancing the native strains' fitness under salt stress are essential steps for the restoration of marginal areas. In this work, 49 Sinorhizobium meliloti strains, the rhizobial species forming symbiotic nitrogen-fixing associations with alfalfa-including 21 de novo-sequenced field isolates-were subjected to a thorough in vitro screening for salt tolerance at progressively higher NaCl concentrations. Field isolates showed genome-based geographical clustering but contrasting salt tolerance abilities. Indeed, genome-wide association (GWA) analysis on the strains' whole-genome sequencing data indicated several loci associated with the variability in salt tolerance. Candidate genes were involved in various processes including cell wall organisation, LPS biosynthesis, quorum sensing, and carbohydrate transport and metabolism. The relationship with carbohydrate metabolism was further confirmed by Phenotype Microarray analysis which indicated salt-tolerant strains having enhanced capacity in carbon source usage. These findings reveal synergistic pathways underlying salt tolerance and suggest candidate traits (e.g., quorum sensing, carbohydrate synthesis and modification) for developing bioinoculants to enhance legume performance in saline soils.},
}

*Sinorhizobium meliloti/genetics/physiology/isolation & purification/drug effects
*Salt Tolerance/genetics
Soil Microbiology
Genome, Bacterial
Medicago sativa/microbiology
Soil/chemistry
Phenotype
Sodium Chloride/metabolism
Genome-Wide Association Study
Symbiosis
Carbohydrate Metabolism

@article {pmid41611504,
year = {2026},
author = {He, H and Liu, W and Wang, C and Zhu, Y and Zhang, W and Kong, Z and Wang, L},
title = {[Fuctions of the aspartic proteasegene AhAP12 in peanut nodulation].},
journal = {Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology},
volume = {42},
number = {1},
pages = {330-342},
doi = {10.13345/j.cjb.250392},
pmid = {41611504},
issn = {1872-2075},
support = {2021YFD1600600//the National Key Research and Development Program of China/ ; 202204051001020//the Special Fund for Science and Technology Innovation Teams of Shanxi Province/ ; 2021xG003 and 2022xG0014//the High-level Talent Start-up Funds of Shanxi Agricultural University/ ; 202105D121010-23 and 202204010910001-33//the Independent Research and Development Project of Shanxi HouJi Laboratory/ ; },
mesh = {*Arachis/genetics/microbiology/enzymology/physiology ; Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology ; *Plant Root Nodulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; *Aspartic Acid Proteases/genetics/metabolism ; *Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Symbiosis/genetics ; Root Nodules, Plant/genetics ; Rhizobium/physiology ; },
abstract = {Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of China's important oilseed and economic crops, and its symbiotic nitrogen fixation system formed with rhizobia has significant agricultural and ecological value. The aspartic protease family plays a crucial role in plant stress resistance and hormone signal transduction, while its function in leguminous plants for nodular nitrogen fixation remains unclear. This study identified a specifically expressed aspartic protease family gene, AhAP12, which rapidly responded to rhizobial infection in peanut nodules through bioinformatics analysis. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that AhAP12 was localized to both the nucleus and cell membrane. Moreover, overexpression of AhAP12 in peanut hairy roots significantly increased nodule formation, while silencing AhAP12 markedly reduced nodulation, which indicated that AhAP12 positively regulated peanut nodulation. Further expression analysis revealed that AhAP12 might influence the nodulation process by regulating the expression of multiple key nodulation-related genes, including AhNIN and AhHK. This study is the first to elucidate the role of AhAP12 in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, providing new theoretical insights into the molecular mechanisms of nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Additionally, it offers valuable genetic resources for breeding new peanut varieties with enhanced nodulation efficiency and improved nitrogen utilization.},
}

*Arachis/genetics/microbiology/enzymology/physiology
Nitrogen Fixation/genetics/physiology
*Plant Root Nodulation/genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
*Aspartic Acid Proteases/genetics/metabolism
*Plant Proteins/genetics/metabolism
Symbiosis/genetics
Root Nodules, Plant/genetics
Rhizobium/physiology

@article {pmid41610853,
year = {2026},
author = {Weiler, BA and Kron, N and Bonacolta, AM and Vermeij, MJA and Baker, AC and Del Campo, J},
title = {Temporal transcriptional rhythms govern coral-symbiont function and microbiome dynamics.},
journal = {Cell host & microbe},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.chom.2026.01.004},
pmid = {41610853},
issn = {1934-6069},
abstract = {Diel rhythms align physiological processes with light/dark cycles, driving predictable oscillations in gene expression and protein activity through tightly controlled transcriptional-translational feedback loops. This study presents in situ transcriptomic analyses of the stony coral Pseudodiploria strigosa and its photosymbionts, Breviolum sp., at key daily time points. P. strigosa shows precise transcriptional control: dawn triggers a molecular reset marked by RNA metabolism and protein turnover; midday emphasizes anabolic and phosphate-regulated pathways; dusk reflects transitional lipid and amino acid metabolism; and midnight reveals stress responses, mRNA catabolism, and mitochondrial organization. Photosymbionts display subtler diel patterns, with photoprotection at dawn, metabolite transport and nitrogen cycling through midday/dusk, and cell cycle and ion homeostasis at night. Microbial communities show time-dependent restructuring of co-occurrence networks, driving diel-related functional consequences like changes in microbial metabolism. These findings present a system-level molecular framework of diel regulation across the coral-photosymbiont-microbe holobiont, revealing time-specific transcriptional control of coordinated function and homeostasis.},
}

@article {pmid41610732,
year = {2026},
author = {Chen, S and Li, H and Ning, M and Yu, BYM and Wu, S and Cheng, WY and Li, Y and Yeung, WF},
title = {The association between gut microbiota and insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.},
journal = {Sleep medicine reviews},
volume = {86},
number = {},
pages = {102236},
doi = {10.1016/j.smrv.2026.102236},
pmid = {41610732},
issn = {1532-2955},
abstract = {Emerging evidence suggests interactions between gut microbiota and sleep regulation, but specific associations with insomnia remain unclear. This systematic review evaluated alterations in gut microbiota in patients with insomnia compared with healthy controls. A systematic literature search was performed on eight databases from inception to June 2025. Case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies examining gut microbiota in adults with insomnia versus healthy controls were included. Fourteen studies encompassing 9036 participants (58.4 % female) were included. Alpha diversity was reduced in patients with insomnia in most of the included studies, among which observed species significantly decreased (SMD: 0.90, 95 % CI: 1.39, -0.40, k = 5). Beta diversity analysis revealed a consistently distinct microbial community structure between individuals with insomnia and healthy controls. Taxonomically, insomnia correlated with shifted Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratios. Meta-analyses revealed alterations in key genera, including significantly decreased Faecalibacterium and Lachnospira, and significantly increased Blautia and Eubacterium hallii. Changes in gut microbiota were also correlated with inflammatory markers and metabolic disturbances. In summary, gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with insomnia and characterized by reduced microbial diversity and altered bacterial composition. These findings suggest potential applications for microbial biomarkers in insomnia diagnosis and subtyping, and the development of personalized microbiota-targeted interventions.},
}

@article {pmid41609689,
year = {2026},
author = {Christensen, SM and Kaltenpoth, M and Vogel, H and Vannette, RL},
title = {Streptomyces anthophorae sp. nov. and Streptomyces nidicola sp. nov., novel actinobacteria isolated from a solitary bee.},
journal = {International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology},
volume = {76},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1099/ijsem.0.007029},
pmid = {41609689},
issn = {1466-5034},
mesh = {Animals ; *Streptomyces/classification/isolation & purification/genetics ; Bees/microbiology ; *Phylogeny ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Genome, Bacterial ; Base Composition ; Fatty Acids/chemistry/analysis ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; California ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Diaminopimelic Acid/analysis ; },
abstract = {Six novel actinobacterial strains (BH034[T], BH055, BH097, BH104, BH105 and BH106[T]) were isolated from developing brood in nests of the solitary bee species Anthophora bomboides from Bodega Bay, California, USA. Phylogenetic analysis based on a five-gene multilocus sequence alignment and whole-genome data positions all six strains within the genus Streptomyces, with close relation to Streptomyces endophyticus YIM 65594[T] and Streptomyces fractus MV32[T]. Through genetic and chemotaxonomic analysis, five of the isolates (BH034[T], BH055, BH097, BH104 and BH105) were found to be a clade representing one species [>96% average nucleotide identity (ANI)], whereas BH106[T] was a distinct species (<93% ANI with each of the other isolate genomes). Within this species (BH034[T]-BH105), the genomes comprised on average 9.6 Mb (±0.4 Mb), encoded 8,640 (±349) predicted genes and had a G+C content of 70.9 (±0.07) mol%. The type strain, BH034[T], contained iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 as major fatty acids and contained ll-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall. The remaining strain, BH106[T], represents a distinct species; its genome comprised 9.4 Mb, encoded 8,426 predicted genes and had a G+C content of 70.7 mol%; the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0, and the cell wall also contained ll-diaminopimelic acid. Functional genomic analysis revealed multiple secondary metabolite gene clusters in the bee-associated Streptomyces strains, several of which were found to be absent in closely related Streptomyces species. Based on genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strains BH034-BH105 and BH106 represent two novel species within the genus Streptomyces, for which the names Streptomyces anthophorae sp. nov. (type strain BH034[T]=NRRL B-65741[T]=DSM 119658[T]) and Streptomyces nidicola sp. nov. (type strain BH106[T]=NRRL B-65742[T]=DSM 119659[T]) are proposed.},
}

Animals
*Streptomyces/classification/isolation & purification/genetics
Bees/microbiology
*Phylogeny
DNA, Bacterial/genetics
Genome, Bacterial
Base Composition
Fatty Acids/chemistry/analysis
Bacterial Typing Techniques
Multilocus Sequence Typing
Sequence Analysis, DNA
California
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Diaminopimelic Acid/analysis

@article {pmid41608563,
year = {2026},
author = {Li, Z and Ji, X and Cong, X and Gao, Y and Gao, J},
title = {Recent advances in nanoparticles targeting TGF-β signaling for cancer treatment.},
journal = {Theranostics},
volume = {16},
number = {7},
pages = {3507-3540},
pmid = {41608563},
issn = {1838-7640},
mesh = {*Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism/antagonists & inhibitors ; Humans ; *Neoplasms/drug therapy ; *Signal Transduction/drug effects ; *Nanoparticles/administration & dosage ; Animals ; *Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage ; *Drug Delivery Systems/methods ; },
abstract = {Multiple therapies blocking TGF-β signaling have been investigated in preclinical and clinical trials over the past few decades; nevertheless, the outcomes of clinical trials are disappointing due to the double-faced systemic effects of TGF-β and the complexity of the tumor microenvironment. Intelligent nanodelivery systems engineered with responsive stimuli and targeting capabilities address the Janus-faced biology of TGF-β through spatially precise inhibition. Nanoparticles targeting TGF-β reciprocally create a positive feedback loop that enhances the penetration and delivery efficiency of nanoparticles because of the role of TGF-β in remodeling the tumor microenvironment. This review first outlines the function of TGF-β signaling, summarizes various tools for suppressing TGF-β signaling and provides an exhaustive emphasis on advanced nanoparticles targeting TGF-β. This review elucidates the symbiotic interplay between TGF-β blockade and nanoparticles, where nanomaterial-based strategies refine the specificity of TGF-β targeting, while the blockade of TGF-β reciprocally enhances the efficiency of nanoparticle-mediated delivery. Additionally, current challenges and future directions are highlighted to guide the future development of TGF-β blockade strategies and nanoparticles for antitumor therapy.},
}

*Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism/antagonists & inhibitors
Humans
*Neoplasms/drug therapy
*Signal Transduction/drug effects
*Nanoparticles/administration & dosage
Animals
*Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage
*Drug Delivery Systems/methods

@article {pmid41607111,
year = {2026},
author = {Brandes, J and Halitschke, R and Fischer, K and Baldwin, IT and Franken, P},
title = {Genetic and environmental regulation of arbuscular mycorrhizal responsiveness in petunia: Implications for breeding and trait selection.},
journal = {Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/plb.70185},
pmid = {41607111},
issn = {1438-8677},
support = {//Thüringer Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und Digitale Gesellschaft/ ; },
abstract = {Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi enhance plant nutrition and stress tolerance, yet their agricultural use remains limited because symbiotic outcomes are unpredictable. Mycorrhizal responsiveness (AM-responsiveness)-the host's growth response to AMF inoculation-offers a potential breeding target. We investigated variation in AM-responsiveness among Petunia hybrida, P. axillaris, P. exserta and P. inflata, and explored its genetic and environmental determinants. Plants were inoculated with Rhizoglomus irregulare and analysed for biomass, AMF colonization, phosphate uptake, phosphate transporter expression and accumulation of the foliar biomarker 11-carboxyblumenol C-glucoside. Species differed strongly in colonization intensity, biomass and biomarker accumulation. Based on contrasting AM-responses between P. axillaris and P. exserta, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from these parents was used to assess AM-responsiveness as a quantitative trait under variable environmental conditions. The RILs showed transgressive segregation for biomass responses, confirming a heritable component, while strong genotype × environment (G × E) interactions demonstrated environmental dependency. These results highlight AM-responsiveness as a genetic trait suitable for breeding but emphasize the need to account for environmental variation. Foliar blumenols proved effective non-destructive indicators of colonization, supporting their potential in high-throughput screening for mycorrhizal traits.},
}

@article {pmid41607035,
year = {2026},
author = {Poddar, S and Sahoo, S and Chandra, Y and Shrivastava, S and Kotamraju, S and Saha, B},
title = {Metadherin with Stromal-Immune Cues Drives CD36-Dependent Lipid Reprogramming and Metastasis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Insights from a Hetero-Spheroid Model.},
journal = {Advanced healthcare materials},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e04890},
doi = {10.1002/adhm.202504890},
pmid = {41607035},
issn = {2192-2659},
support = {BT/HRD/35/02/2006//DBT Ramalingaswami Re-Entry/ ; FBR070306//CSIR, India/ ; },
abstract = {Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits altered lipid metabolism, driven by the tumor microenvironment's cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). CD36, a fatty acid translocase, is crucial in this metabolic adaptation of cancer cells. Despite its importance, what controls CD36-mediated lipid flow is still unclear. This study identifies metadherin (MTDH), an oncogene, as a critical regulator of CD36-dependent lipid exchange and TNBC progression. Using engineered spheroid models that mimic tumor microenvironment with MTDH-Wt and MTDHΔ7 overexpressing TNBC cells co-cultured with CAFs and TAMs, we observed increased lipid uptake, enhanced EMT, and aggressive metastatic features driven by MTDH-CD36 signaling. Further analyses, including advanced microscopy and transcriptomics, revealed that MTDHΔ7 overexpression in TNBC cells in the presence of stromal-immune cells, amplifies lipid metabolic pathways, promotes stemness, and pro-metastatic signaling. Intriguingly, increased formation of tunnelling nanotube-like structures, indicative of metabolic rewiring, was observed in Lv.MTDHΔ7-MDA-MB-231[CAF-TAM] heterotypic spheroids. These changes were reversed by sulfosuccinimidyl oleate (SSO; CD-36 inhibitor) treatment. Moreover, SCID mice bearing Lv.MTDH-Wt/Δ7-MDA-MB-231cells[CAF-TAM] heterotypic spheroids led to accelerated breast tumor growth and lipid-driven metastasis. Importantly, SSO administration significantly reduced lipid accumulation and tumor aggressiveness, confirming CD36 as a functional mediator of MTDH-driven lipid reprogramming. Our findings establish MTDH as a master regulator of lipid reprogramming through CD36, a process further amplified by CAF-TAM interactions, which creates a lipid-rich tumor microenvironment fuelling TNBC aggressiveness. This study reveals crucial mechanistic insights into how stromal-immune cells induce lipid symbiosis and highlights the MTDH-CD36 axis as a promising therapeutic target for future combination therapies in aggressive, metabolically reprogrammed TNBC.},
}

@article {pmid41606705,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, B and Zheng, G and Jiang, H and Wang, T and Liu, G and Zhang, Z and Lu, X and Liang, C and Tian, J},
title = {Flavonoid-Mediated Recruitment of Bradyrhizobium Enhances Maize Root Development and Nutrient Acquisition in Maize-Soybean Intercropping Systems.},
journal = {Plant, cell & environment},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/pce.70420},
pmid = {41606705},
issn = {1365-3040},
support = {2021YFF1000504//National Key Research and Development Programme of China/ ; 2023ZD04072//Scientific and Technological Innovation 2030 - Major Project/ ; 32302662//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Intercropping between legumes and cereals enhances nutrient acquisition. However, the mechanisms by which legume-associated microbes influence non-legume root development remain unclear. Bradyrhizobium, traditionally recognised as a legume symbiont, may also perform non-symbiotic roles in shaping cereal root architecture and nutrient uptake. We investigated how soybean-maize intercropping recruits Bradyrhizobium through flavonoid exudation and how this bacterium modulates maize flavonoid metabolism, root growth, and nutrient acquisition. Pot intercropping experiments were conducted with maize grown alone or with soybean. Root exudates, rhizosphere microbial communities, and soil nutrient profiles were analysed, and Bradyrhizobium isolates were tested for flavonoid responses and maize inoculation effects. Intercropping markedly enriched Bradyrhizobium in the maize-soybean interaction-zone rhizosphere. Soybean roots released 5-8 times more flavonoids than maize, which recruited Bradyrhizobium and enhanced soil phosphate availability and nutrient-cycling potential. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium promoted maize root elongation and nutrient uptake. Transcriptomic analyses revealed activation of the phenylpropanoid-flavonoid pathway, repression of flavonol biosynthesis, and induction of auxin-responsive and nutrient transport genes, suggesting that Bradyrhizobium stimulates maize root growth via a flavonoid-auxin regulatory module. Soybean-derived flavonoids recruit Bradyrhizobium to maize rhizospheres, where the bacterium enhances maize root development and nutrient acquisition, uncovering a cross-species microbial mechanism underlying legume-cereal intercropping benefits.},
}

@article {pmid41606480,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, Y and Zhai, Y and Zhang, Q and Zhang, Y and Li, Y and Tang, S and Wang, J and Lu, H},
title = {Endophytic Alternaria oxytropis modulates host metabolism and enhances stress resilience in locoweed independent of swainsonine biosynthesis.},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-08257-8},
pmid = {41606480},
issn = {1471-2229},
support = {No.2023YFD1801100//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; No. 32072929//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Locoweed toxicity is attributed to swainsonine-producing endophytic fungus Alternaria oxytropis, yet the broader ecological significance of fungal metabolites beyond swainsonine remains poorly understood. Here, we integrated untargeted metabolomics with biochemical assays to compare the effects on the plant of the wild-type Alternaria oxytropis endophyte with endophyte-free plants and plants colonised by swnR-silenced strains. Across four symbiotic systems, 3,008 metabolites were identified, with significant alterations enriched in terpenoid backbone, flavonoid, and amino acid metabolism. Fungal-colonized plants exhibited elevated accumulation of sesquiterpene lactones and flavonoid glycosides-metabolites with known allelopathic, antimicrobial, and antioxidant functions. Notably, swnR-silenced symbionts maintained enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, particularly catalase, despite a marked reduction in swainsonine levels. Growth parameters remained unaffected, indicating that metabolic reprogramming occurred without fitness costs. Our findings reveal that A. oxytropis endophytes modulate host secondary metabolism and oxidative defense independently of swainsonine biosynthesis. This dual role-conferring toxicity while enhancing ecological competitiveness-offers new insight into locoweed persistence and provides a potential strategy for mitigating toxicity while preserving adaptive benefits in host-endophyte symbiosis.},
}

@article {pmid41605787,
year = {2026},
author = {Inagaki, M and Kamiya, S and Okamura, A and Miura, A and Kayano, Y and Tanaka, A and Takemoto, D},
title = {Cdc25-Mediated Activation of the Small GTPase RasB Is Essential for Hyphal Fusion and Symbiotic Infection of Epichloë festucae.},
journal = {Molecular plant pathology},
volume = {27},
number = {1},
pages = {e70210},
doi = {10.1111/mpp.70210},
pmid = {41605787},
issn = {1364-3703},
support = {//NOVARTIS Foundation (Japan) for the Promotion of Science/ ; //Toyoaki Scholarship Foundation/ ; 23117719//the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; 16KT0145//the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)/ ; },
mesh = {*Epichloe/pathogenicity/physiology/genetics/enzymology ; *Hyphae/physiology ; *Symbiosis/genetics/physiology ; *Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics ; Mutation/genetics ; *ras Proteins/metabolism ; Lolium/microbiology ; },
abstract = {Epichloë festucae is a filamentous endophytic fungus that symbiotically colonises the intercellular spaces of aerial tissues in perennial ryegrass without causing disease symptoms. This mutualistic association enhances host resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Balanced and coordinated growth of E. festucae with its host is essential for the establishment and long-term maintenance of the symbiotic relationship. Various E. festucae mutants defective in symbiosis with host plants have been isolated, and notably, many of these symbiosis-defective mutants also lack hyphal fusion ability under culture conditions, supporting a close functional connection between signal transduction required for hyphal fusion and symbiosis establishment. Using a plasmid insertional mutagenesis approach, we identified cdc25 as an essential regulator of hyphal fusion in E. festucae. cdc25 encodes a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that activates the small GTPase Ras. The Δcdc25 strain lost both hyphal fusion ability and the capacity to infect host plants. Yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that Cdc25 specifically interacts with RasB, one of five Ras proteins in E. festucae. Expression of constitutively active (CA) RasB in the Δcdc25 strain restored both hyphal fusion and host infection, whereas expression of CA-RasB in the ΔmpkB strain failed to rescue its defect in hyphal fusion, suggesting that the Cdc25-RasB signalling module acts upstream of the MAPK cascade. In pathogenic fungi, this signalling module is known to regulate infection-related morphogenesis. These findings indicate that E. festucae has evolutionarily repurposed the conserved Cdc25-RasB module to coordinate hyphal fusion and maintain a stable mutualistic interaction with its host.},
}

*Epichloe/pathogenicity/physiology/genetics/enzymology
*Hyphae/physiology
*Symbiosis/genetics/physiology
*Fungal Proteins/metabolism/genetics
Mutation/genetics
*ras Proteins/metabolism
Lolium/microbiology

@article {pmid41603534,
year = {2026},
author = {Catacora-Grundy, A and Kramer, N and Jakobsen, SL and Kühl, M and Decelle, J and Wangpraseurt, D},
title = {Intra-colony light gradients drive variation in coral symbiont morphology and carbon storage.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/ismejo/wrag006},
pmid = {41603534},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Light availability plays a central role in shaping the photophysiology and energy metabolism of photosymbiotic organisms such as reef-building corals. Although light varies greatly within coral colonies, the effects of this spatial heterogeneity on the subcellular organization and energy storage of symbiotic algae (Symbiodiniaceae) remain poorly understood. Here, we combined microscale measurements of light and oxygen across both light-exposed upper regions and shaded basal regions of a Favites abdita colony with three-dimensional cellular imaging using Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM). Our multi-scale approach revealed subcellular heterogeneity among symbiont populations, suggesting different cell cycle stages and physiological states across a spatial stratification in the coral. Subcellular morphometrics revealed that symbiont cells at the top of the colony were twice more voluminous than those at the shaded base with similar plastid volume occupancy. Compared to symbionts at the top of the colony, symbionts in the basal region accumulated nearly three times more starch relative to their cell volume. These findings show that light gradients within coral colonies shape symbiont morphology and energy storage patterns, with important implications for coral stress tolerance and resilience.},
}

@article {pmid41603457,
year = {2026},
author = {Malinski, KH and Madalone, OF and Kingsolver, JG and Willett, CS},
title = {The role of a viral symbiont in the thermal mismatch of host-parasitoid interactions.},
journal = {The Journal of experimental biology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1242/jeb.251637},
pmid = {41603457},
issn = {1477-9145},
support = {IOS-2029156//Directorate for Biological Sciences/ ; Graduate Student Seed Grant//Triangle Comparative and Evolutionary Medicine Center, Duke University/ ; },
abstract = {High temperature events are becoming more severe with climate change, altering species interactions and ecological networks. Symbionts can influence the thermal tolerance of their hosts, yet the mechanisms underlying these effects are poorly understood. We tested the impact of a high temperature event on the molecular interactions among a caterpillar host, Manduca sexta, its parasitoid wasp, Cotesia congregata, and the wasp's symbiotic virus. As in many host-parasitoid systems, high temperatures are lethal to developing parasitoids, but not hosts. Typically the parasitoid's viral symbiont immunosuppresses M. sexta. Here we show that elevated temperatures led to an impairment of this immunosuppression, persisting for days after the event ended. Viral gene expression in the host was altered by heat, with distinct expression patterns tied to the virus's genomic architecture. Specifically, viral transcription varied according to the gene's position on viral circular genomic segments: genes located on circles known to integrate into host DNA exhibited increased or unchanged expression following high temperature exposure, while genes on non-integrating circles showed marked reductions in expression. These results demonstrate that high temperatures can disrupt parasitic immunosuppression, which could help explain the lower thermal tolerance of parasitoids relative to hosts. The genomic structure of the viral symbiont may be associated with these effects, but additional research is needed to evaluate this hypothesis. Our findings highlight the importance of complex interactions between environmental temperature, microbial symbionts, and host immunity in the ecological responses of host-parasitoid systems to high temperature events.},
}

@article {pmid41202842,
year = {2026},
author = {Berasategui, A and Salem, H},
title = {Plant Pathogens Moonlighting as Beneficial Insect Symbionts.},
journal = {Annual review of entomology},
volume = {71},
number = {1},
pages = {471-495},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013411},
pmid = {41202842},
issn = {1545-4487},
mesh = {Animals ; *Symbiosis ; *Insecta/microbiology/physiology ; *Plants/microbiology ; *Plant Diseases/microbiology ; Herbivory ; *Host-Pathogen Interactions ; *Insect Vectors/microbiology/physiology ; },
abstract = {Herbivorous insects can shape the epidemiology of disease in plants by vectoring numerous phytopathogens. While the consequences of infection are often well-characterized in the host plant, the extent to which phytopathogens alter the physiology and development of their insect vectors remains poorly understood. In this review, we highlight how insect-borne phytopathogens can promote vector fitness, consistent with theoretical predictions that selection should favor a mutualistic or commensal phenotype. In doing so, we define the metabolic features predisposing plant pathogens to engage in beneficial partnerships with herbivorous insects and how these mutualisms promote the microbe's propagation to uninfected plants. For the vector, the benefits of co-opting microbial pathways and metabolites can be immense: from balancing a nutritionally deficient diet and unlocking a novel ecological niche to upgrading its defensive biochemistry against natural enemies. Given the independent origins of these tripartite interactions and a number of convergent features, we also discuss the evolutionary and genomic signatures underlying microbial adaptation to its dual lifestyle as both a plant pathogen and an insect mutualist. Finally, as host association can constrain the metabolic potential of microbes over evolutionary time, we outline the stability of these interactions and how they impact the virulence and transmission of plant pathogens.},
}

Animals
*Symbiosis
*Insecta/microbiology/physiology
*Plants/microbiology
*Plant Diseases/microbiology
Herbivory
*Host-Pathogen Interactions
*Insect Vectors/microbiology/physiology

@article {pmid41082399,
year = {2026},
author = {Ravenscraft, A and Coon, KL},
title = {Transient Microbes in Insects: Fleeting but Functional.},
journal = {Annual review of entomology},
volume = {71},
number = {1},
pages = {253-273},
doi = {10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013446},
pmid = {41082399},
issn = {1545-4487},
mesh = {Animals ; *Insecta/microbiology ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Many insects' gut microbiota derive partly or wholly from environmental sources. These microbes may be transient, passing through in a matter of hours, days, a developmental stage, or a host generation. There is increasing recognition of the presence of transient microbes in the insect gut, but it is often assumed that these microbes are commensal and serve no function for their hosts. Here, we explore different definitions of microbial transience and review results from diverse insect systems showing that transience does not always preclude, and in some cases enables, important contributions of environmentally acquired microbes to host fitness. Moving past the assumption that microbes must always be tightly associated with a host to serve beneficial functions will help us develop a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the functions of the gut microbiota in insects and other animals.},
}

Animals
*Insecta/microbiology
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Symbiosis

@article {pmid41601388,
year = {2026},
author = {Brearley, FQ},
title = {Testing the importance of ectomycorrhizas and nutrients for the growth of dipterocarp seedlings in Borneo.},
journal = {American journal of botany},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {e70155},
doi = {10.1002/ajb2.70155},
pmid = {41601388},
issn = {1537-2197},
support = {ORP-1//British Ecological Society/ ; },
abstract = {PREMISE: A number of ecologically important tropical trees form symbiotic ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal associations including the Dipterocarpaceae, that dominate lowland forests of South-east Asia. Whilst numerous pot-based studies have focused on the importance of EcMs for dipterocarp seedling growth and performance, few field studies have been undertaken.

METHODS: In a 20-month field experiment in Malaysian Borneo, two species with contrasting light requirements-shade-tolerant Hopea nervosa and the more light-demanding Parashorea tomentella-were subjected to the factorial addition of fungicide (to reduce EcM colonization) and nutrients.

RESULTS: Fungicide addition reduced EcM colonization by a small but significant percentage. Reductions in foliar nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll concentrations in both species and in calcium and magnesium concentrations in H. nervosa did not translate into reduced biomass in either species. When given additional nutrients, H. nervosa had no increase in foliar nutrient concentrations or biomass, but P. tomentella had an increase in foliar nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations and more than doubled its biomass. When nutrients were added but EcM reduced, P. tomentella did not increase in biomass.

CONCLUSIONS: EcM fungi can play an important role in influencing dipterocarp seedling mineral nutrition, and P. tomentella may require EcMs to effectively utilize additional mineral nutrient sources. The importance of nutrient uptake for biomass production is less clear and may be confounded by the use of fungicide to control EcM colonization.},
}

@article {pmid41601343,
year = {2026},
author = {Yang, Q and Yan, J and Yang, Q},
title = {Metabolic reprogramming of efferocytosis in the tumour microenvironment: From apoptotic-cell clearance to therapeutic targeting.},
journal = {Clinical and translational medicine},
volume = {16},
number = {2},
pages = {e70601},
doi = {10.1002/ctm2.70601},
pmid = {41601343},
issn = {2001-1326},
support = {82360604//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; 2024YNLCYXZX0326//Yunnan Provincial Health Commission Clinical Medicine Center Research Project/ ; 2024YNLCYXZX0339//Yunnan Provincial Health Commission Clinical Medicine Center Research Project/ ; 202501AY070001-217//Yunnan Fundamental Research Kunming Medical University Projects/ ; YDYXJJ2025-0056//Yunnan University Medical Research Foundation/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Tumor Microenvironment/immunology/physiology ; *Apoptosis/physiology ; *Phagocytosis/physiology ; *Neoplasms/metabolism/immunology ; Animals ; Metabolic Reprogramming ; Efferocytosis ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Efferocytosis is a critical physiological process in which phagocytes clear apoptotic cells to maintain tissue homeostasis. However, within the tumour microenvironment (TME), this process is systematically hijacked by tumour cells, transforming it into a key pathological mechanism that drives immunosuppression, tumour progression and therapeutic resistance.

KEY FINDINGS: This review systematically elucidates the central role of metabolic reprogramming in this functional reversal, emphasising that efferocytosis is essentially an immunometabolic intersection process precisely regulated by metabolism. By releasing various metabolites such as ATP, lactate, adenosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), apoptotic tumour cells not only recruit tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) but also metabolically pre-program their functions, inducing polarisation towards a pro-tumourigenic M2-like phenotype. During the recognition stage, tumour cells exploit metabolic abnormalities, such as glycosylation and lipid oxidation, to modify surface 'eat-me/don't-eat-me' signals, thereby hijacking macrophage recognition and engulfment programs. Upon completion of engulfment, systemic reprogramming of amino acid, lipid and glucose metabolism occurs within macrophages. These metabolic alterations synergistically lock their immunosuppressive phenotype and establish a metabolic symbiosis between the tumour and stromal cells.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on these mechanisms, this review further explores translational strategies targeting the efferocytic-metabolic axis, aiming to reprogram the immunosuppressive efferocytosis into immune-activating events to overcome TME-mediated immunosuppression and enhance current therapeutic efficacy. By deeply dissecting the metabolic regulatory networks of efferocytosis, we aim to pave new directions for cancer immunotherapy, achieving a paradigm shift from 'metabolic hijacking' to 'metabolic interventional therapy'.},
}

Humans
*Tumor Microenvironment/immunology/physiology
*Apoptosis/physiology
*Phagocytosis/physiology
*Neoplasms/metabolism/immunology
Animals
Metabolic Reprogramming
Efferocytosis

@article {pmid41601318,
year = {2026},
author = {Muñoz-Hernández, J and Peralta-Maraver, I and Cavieres, G and Gutiérrez-Cortés, I and Rezende, EL and Rivera, DS},
title = {Phylosymbiosis and functional redundancy in the Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) gut microbiome and its implications for host fitness.},
journal = {Journal of insect science (Online)},
volume = {26},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jisesa/ieaf114},
pmid = {41601318},
issn = {1536-2442},
support = {11190637//Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico/ ; 21241747//Universidad Mayor Doctoral Fellowship and the ANID National Doctoral Fellowship/ ; },
mesh = {Animals ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; *Drosophila/microbiology/physiology/genetics/growth & development ; *Symbiosis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis ; Chile ; *Genetic Fitness ; Female ; Phylogeny ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiome plays a fundamental role in host ecophysiology. Numerous studies have examined microbiome composition and functionality to understand the ecological and evolutionary factors shaping host-microbe interactions. However, the consequences of these patterns for animal ecology remain poorly understood. Here, we examined how variations in the gut microbiome influence fitness differences among Drosophila species sharing a common dietary niche. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we analyzed the gut microbial taxonomy and predicted functional profiles of 4 Drosophila species collected in central Chile. Our results revealed a strong signal of phylosymbiosis in the microbial taxonomy, while functionality was highly redundant across the studied fly species. Functional biomarkers analysis indicated that the gut microbiome supports the nutritional requirements of D. simulans (Sturtevant), D. hydei (Sturtevant), and D. repleta (Wollaston); whereas, this was less evident in D. melanogaster (Meigen). To assess the potential contribution of the microbiome to host performance, we compared egg-to-adult viability between 2 species with the greatest physiological divergence: D. simulans and D. hydei. Notably, D. simulans exhibited significantly higher egg viability and shorter development time than D. hydei. Strikingly, the D. simulans microbiome contained more taxonomic and functional biomarkers previously demonstrated to enhance fly fitness, whereas the D. hydei microbiome harbored taxa and functions potentially detrimental to host performance. These findings suggest that the gut microbiome contributes to host fitness and may shape the evolutionary ecology of Drosophila species, with broader implications for community dynamics, including interspecific competition and species displacement.},
}

Animals
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
*Drosophila/microbiology/physiology/genetics/growth & development
*Symbiosis
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/analysis
Chile
*Genetic Fitness
Female
Phylogeny

@article {pmid41601046,
year = {2026},
author = {Wen, FF and Ma, QL and Guo, HR and Huang, Y and Zhang, X and Yao, YT and Li, DW and Yang, WD and Li, HY and Zou, LG},
title = {Unveiling zinc oxide nanoparticle toxicity in Symbiodinium kawagutii: Proteomic insights and coral reef implications.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology and environmental safety},
volume = {309},
number = {},
pages = {119615},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.119615},
pmid = {41601046},
issn = {1090-2414},
mesh = {*Zinc Oxide/toxicity ; Coral Reefs ; *Dinoflagellida/drug effects/metabolism/growth & development/physiology ; Proteomics ; *Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Photosynthesis/drug effects ; Animals ; *Metal Nanoparticles/toxicity ; Symbiosis/drug effects ; Anthozoa ; *Nanoparticles/toxicity ; Proteome/metabolism ; },
abstract = {Zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO), widely used as inorganic UV filters, are increasingly released into coastal waters, yet their mechanistic impacts on coral symbionts remain insufficiently resolved. Here, we evaluated nZnO toxicity in Symbiodinium kawagutii, a critical symbiotic alga in coral reefs, using proteomic profiling and cellular analyses. Results reveal that nZnO exposure significantly suppresses algal growth, disrupts photosynthesis, and induces oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage. Proteomic data indicate downregulation of essential photosynthetic proteins and upregulation of stress response proteins, reflecting profound metabolic disruptions. Cells also increased extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production; together with evidence of surface association and zinc accumulation, this suggests a defensive response that may modulate particle-cell interactions and Zn[2+] dynamics. Collectively, these results indicate that nZnO can impair key physiological functions of S. kawagutii that underpin coral-algal symbiosis, supporting the need to incorporate nanomaterial contaminants into coastal monitoring and ecological risk assessment frameworks.},
}

*Zinc Oxide/toxicity
Coral Reefs
*Dinoflagellida/drug effects/metabolism/growth & development/physiology
Proteomics
*Water Pollutants, Chemical/toxicity
Oxidative Stress/drug effects
Photosynthesis/drug effects
Animals
*Metal Nanoparticles/toxicity
Symbiosis/drug effects
Anthozoa
*Nanoparticles/toxicity
Proteome/metabolism

@article {pmid41600440,
year = {2026},
author = {Suo, L and Wang, D and Zhou, W and Peng, X},
title = {Weighted Sum-Rate Maximization and Task Completion Time Minimization for Multi-Tag MIMO Symbiotic Radio Networks.},
journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {26},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/s26020644},
pmid = {41600440},
issn = {1424-8220},
abstract = {Symbiotic radio (SR) has recently emerged as a promising paradigm for enabling spectrum- and energy-efficient massive connectivity in low-power Internet-of-Things (IoT) networks. By allowing passive backscatter devices (BDs) to coexist with active primary link transmissions, SR significantly improves spectrum utilization without requiring dedicated spectrum resources. However, most existing studies on multi-tag multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) SR systems assume homogeneous traffic demands among BDs and primarily focus on rate-based performance metrics, while neglecting system-level task completion time (TCT) optimization under heterogeneous data requirements. In this paper, we investigate a joint performance optimization framework for a multi-tag MIMO symbiotic radio network. We first formulate a weighted sum-rate (WSR) maximization problem for the secondary backscatter links. The original non-convex WSR maximization problem is transformed into an equivalent weighted minimum mean square error (WMMSE) problem, and then solved by a block coordinate descent (BCD) approach, where the transmit precoding matrix, decoding filters, backscatter reflection coefficients are alternatively optimized. Second, to address the transmission delay imbalance caused by heterogeneous data sizes among BDs, we further propose a rate weight adaptive task TCT minimization scheme, which dynamically updates the rate weight of each BD to minimize the overall TCT. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed framework significantly improves the WSR of the secondary system without degrading the primary link performance, and achieves substantial TCT reduction in multi-tag heterogeneous traffic scenarios, validating its effectiveness and robustness for MIMO symbiotic radio networks.},
}

@article {pmid41600372,
year = {2026},
author = {Zhang, B and You, X and Liu, Y and Xu, J and Xu, S},
title = {Multi-Level Perception Systems in Fusion of Lifeforms: Classification, Challenges and Future Conceptions.},
journal = {Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)},
volume = {26},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/s26020576},
pmid = {41600372},
issn = {1424-8220},
support = {2024YFC3406302//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; 12204273//the National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; ZR2024MF107//the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China/ ; 2017YFA0701302//the National Key R&D Program of China/ ; },
mesh = {Humans ; *Brain-Computer Interfaces ; *Perception/physiology ; },
abstract = {The emerging paradigm of "fusion of lifeforms" represents a transformative shift from conventional human-machine interfaces toward deeply integrated symbiotic systems, where biological and artificial components co-adapt structurally, energetically, informationally, and cognitively. This review systematically classifies multi-level perception systems within fusion of lifeforms into four functional categories: sensory and functional restoration, beyond-natural sensing, endogenous state sensing, and cognitive enhancement. We survey recent advances in neuroprosthetics, sensory augmentation, closed-loop physiological monitoring, and brain-computer interfaces, highlighting the transition from substitution to fusion. Despite significant progress, critical challenges remain, including multi-source heterogeneous integration, bandwidth and latency limitations, power and thermal constraints, biocompatibility, and system-level safety. We propose future directions such as layered in-body communication networks, sustainable energy strategies, advanced biointerfaces, and robust safety frameworks. Ethical considerations regarding self-identity, neural privacy, and legal responsibility are also discussed. This work aims to provide a comprehensive reference and roadmap for the development of next-generation fusion of lifeforms, ultimately steering human-machine integration from episodic functional repair toward sustained, multi-level symbiosis between biological and artificial systems.},
}

Humans
*Brain-Computer Interfaces
*Perception/physiology

@article {pmid41598957,
year = {2026},
author = {Negri, I and Toledo, ME},
title = {Evolution of Insect Pollination Before Angiosperms and Lessons for Modern Ecosystems.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010103},
pmid = {41598957},
issn = {2075-4450},
abstract = {Insect pollination, a critical ecological process, pre-dates the emergence of angiosperms by nearly 200 million years, with fossil evidence indicating pollination interactions between insects and non-angiosperm seed plants during the Late Paleozoic. This review examines the symbiotic relationships between insects and gymnosperms in pre-angiosperm ecosystems, highlighting the complexity of these interactions. Fossil records suggest that the mutualistic relationships between insects and gymnosperms, which facilitated plant reproduction, were as intricate and diverse as the modern interactions between angiosperms and their pollinators, particularly bees. These early pollination systems likely involved specialized behaviors and plant adaptations, reflecting a sophisticated evolutionary dynamic long before the advent of flowering plants. The Anthropocene presents a dichotomy: while climate change and anthropogenic pressures threaten insect biodiversity and risk disrupting angiosperm reproduction, such upheaval may simultaneously generate opportunities for novel plant-insect interactions as ecological niches are vacated. Understanding the deep evolutionary history of pollination offers critical insight into the mechanisms underlying the resilience and adaptability of these mutualisms. The evolutionary trajectory of bees-originating from predatory wasps, diversifying alongside angiosperms, and reorganizing after mass extinctions-exemplifies this dynamic, demonstrating how pollination networks persist and reorganize under environmental stress and underscoring the enduring health, resilience, and adaptability of these essential ecological systems.},
}

@article {pmid41598908,
year = {2026},
author = {González-Peña, R and Hidalgo-Martínez, DO and Laredo-Tiscareño, SV and Huerta, H and de Luna-Santillana, EJ and Adame-Gallegos, JR and Rodríguez-Alarcón, CA and Rubio-Tabares, E and García-Rejón, JE and Muñoz-Ramírez, ZY and Tangudu, C and Garza-Hernández, JA},
title = {Characterization of the Bacteriome of Culicoides reevesi from Chihuahua, Northern Mexico: Symbiotic and Pathogenic Associations.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010052},
pmid = {41598908},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {419- 395 24-23//Secretaría de Ciencia, Humanidades, Tecnología e Innovación (SECIHTI)/ ; SIP20250075//Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado from Instituto Politécnico Nacional/ ; },
abstract = {Culicoides biting midges are vectors of veterinary and zoonotic pathogens, yet the bacteriome of several species remains unexplored. Culicoides reevesi, a poorly studied species in northern Mexico, represents an opportunity to investigate microbial associations that may influence vector biology. Adults of C. reevesi were analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, followed by functional prediction with PICRUSt2. Heatmaps and pathway summaries were generated to highlight dominant taxa and functions. The bacteriome was dominated by Pseudomonadota, followed by Actinomycetota, Bacillota, and Bacteroidota. Symbiotic taxa such as Asaia and Cardinium were identified alongside potentially pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium avium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Functional predictions indicated metabolic versatility, with abundant pathways related to aerobic respiration, the TCA cycle, amino acid biosynthesis, and quorum sensing. Despite all samples being collected from the same site and date, apparent differences in bacterial composition were observed across pools, suggesting microhabitat or host-related variability. This study provides the first taxonomic and functional baseline of the C. reevesi bacteriome. The detection of both symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria highlights the dual ecological role of the microbiome in host fitness and pathogen transmission potential. In conclusion, we suggest that these microbial associations influence vector physiology and competence, providing a basis for future microbiome-based control strategies. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating microbiome analyses into entomological surveillance and vector control strategies in endemic regions.},
}

@article {pmid41598897,
year = {2025},
author = {Nie, Y and Yu, G and Hu, H},
title = {Niche Differentiation and Predicted Functions of Microbiomes in a Tri-Trophic Willow-Gall (Euura viminalis)-Parasitoid Wasp System.},
journal = {Insects},
volume = {17},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/insects17010043},
pmid = {41598897},
issn = {2075-4450},
support = {32560120//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Chalcidoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), the most important natural enemies of parasitoids, serve as a pivotal factor in the regulation and management of pest populations. Microbiotas mediate interactions among plants, herbivores, and natural enemies and shape host immunity, parasitoid development, and gall formation; however, the niche-specific diversity and functions of tritrophic parasitoid-host-gall systems remain unclear. Focusing on leaf galls induced on twisted willow (Salix matsudana f. tortuosa) by the willow-galling sawfly Euura viminalis and on two chalcidoids, Eurytoma aethiops and Aprostocetus sp., we profiled bacterial and fungal microbiomes across plant surfaces, gall lumen, host larval tissues, and parasitoids using HTAS. Fungal diversity peaked on parasitoids but was depleted in the gall lumen and host tissues; bacterial richness showed the opposite trend, peaking in the gall lumen and decreasing on parasitoids. In networks contrasted by kingdom, fungi showed positive interface-hub connectivity (Cladosporium, Alternaria), whereas bacteria showed negative hub-mediated associations (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter), indicating habitat-specific replacements: exposed niches favored transport, two-component, secretion-motility and energy functions, whereas the gall lumen reduced transport/motility but selectively retained N/S metabolism; and in host tissues, information processing and nitrogen respiration were highlighted. These results inform microbiome-guided parasitoid biocontrol.},
}

@article {pmid41597716,
year = {2026},
author = {Liu, Y and Li, D and Li, Y and Wang, X and Zhang, W and Wen, X and Liu, Z and Feng, Y and Yin, W and Yang, C and Zhang, X},
title = {Characterization of Seed Endophytic Microbiota in Pinus massoniana.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14010199},
pmid = {41597716},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2022ZD04016//STI 2030－Major Projects/ ; CAFYBB2020SZ008//Fundamental Research Funds of Research Institute of Forest New Technology, CAF/ ; },
abstract = {Seed endophytic microbiota are crucial for plant early development and stress resistance. Pinus massoniana is a key ecological and economic tree species in China, yet it is severely threatened by pine wilt disease (PWD). However, the community composition of P. massoniana seed endophytic microbiota and the persistent symbiosis formed via vertical transmission in seeds remain unclear. We analyzed the endophytic bacterial and fungal microbiota of P. massoniana seeds from four geographic regions using high-throughput 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing to characterize community structure, diversity, and functional potential, providing a basis for endophytic microbiota-based strategies to enhance resistance to PWD. Results showed that both alpha and beta diversity analyses indicated that seed endophytic microbial communities of P. massoniana differed among regions. Bacterial communities were dominated by Pseudomonadota (phylum), Gammaproteobacteria (class), and the genera Klebsiella, norank_f_Pectobacteriaceae, and Lactobacillus. Fungal communities were primarily composed of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota (phylum), Sordariomycetes (class), and the genera Rosellinia, Aspergillus, and Coniophora. Correlation network analysis revealed that fungal networks were characterized by a higher proportion of positive correlations, whereas bacterial networks were more complex. Notably, several genera detected in seeds, including Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Trichoderma, have also been reported in mature P. massoniana tissues, indicating a potential for putative vertical transmission from mother plants. Functional prediction further suggested that these taxa were enriched in pathways related to terpenoid and polyketide metabolism and saprotrophic functions, which have been implicated in PWD resistance and have been previously reported to exert nematode-suppressive or plant growth-promoting effects. Overall, this study elucidates the community structure and ecological characteristics of seed endophytic microbiota in P. massoniana and identifies potentially beneficial microbial taxa, providing potential support for the future utilization of P. massoniana endophytic microbiota in PWD research.},
}

@article {pmid41597691,
year = {2026},
author = {Ye, Y and Zhao, Y and Wang, N and Tang, R and Huang, Z and Li, S and Li, M and Zhang, C and Jiang, F},
title = {Deciphering Molecular Pathways of Bletilla striata Seeds Symbiotic Germination with Tulasnella sp. bj1.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14010174},
pmid = {41597691},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2021ZX008//the financial support of the Science and Technology Plan of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province/ ; },
abstract = {Orchid seed germination requires symbiotic association with mycorrhizal fungi that provide essential nutrients for germination and subsequent growth. Extensive research has elucidated the pivotal role of the mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella sp. in the modulation of seed germination and growth processes in Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reiehb.f. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this symbiosis remain poorly characterized. Our integrated transcriptomic-metabolomic analysis of symbiotic germination revealed that co-cultivation of Tulasnella sp. bj1 with B. striata seeds significantly downregulates the expression of plant-derived flavonoid biosynthetic genes, with flavonoid degradation potentially alleviating germination and growth inhibition. The bj1 strain modulates indoleacetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis in B. striata by upregulating the expression of plant-derived tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) in the tryptophan pathway and hydrolytic enzymes (NtAMI) in the indoleacetamide pathway, with elevated IAA potentially contributing to seed germination and growth. Moreover, bj1 suppresses the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic pathway of B. striata by downregulating key plant-derived biosynthetic genes, concurrently promoting the accumulation of 12-hydroxyjasmonic acid-a metabolite associated with plant immune regulation that may favor colonization and symbiotic establishment with B. striata seeds. Additionally, bj1 induces the expression of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes, potentially improving carbon source utilization to support protocorm development. In conclusion, bj1 modulates the immune response of B. striata seeds, facilitating the establishment of a symbiotic relationship. Subsequently, the germination and growth of B. striata seeds are enhanced through reduced flavonoid accumulation, increased IAA synthesis, and improved carbon source utilization. Consequently, this investigation provides a crucial foundation for elucidating mechanisms governing symbiotic germination in B. striata.},
}

@article {pmid41597634,
year = {2026},
author = {Nishu, SD and No, JH and Wee, GN and Lee, TK},
title = {A Drought-Activated Bacterial Symbiont Enhances Legume Resilience Through Coordinated Amino Acid Metabolism.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14010114},
pmid = {41597634},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {2020R1C1C1006249//National Research Foundation of Korea/ ; },
abstract = {Drought stress severely impacts agricultural productivity, yet mechanisms underlying microbial enhancement of plant drought tolerance remain poorly understood. This study investigated whether Sphingobacterium nripensae DR205 exhibits drought-specific plant growth promotion through conditional metabolic activation. We combined plant cultivation experiments, genome sequencing, and comparative transcriptomics to evaluate DR205 responses under normal and drought conditions with or without root exudates. DR205 showed minimal growth promotion under normal conditions but enhanced plant biomass by 74-344% specifically under drought stress. Genome analysis revealed complete pathways for both stress tolerance (osmolyte biosynthesis and antioxidant systems) and plant interaction (IAA production and nutrient mobilization). Transcriptomics uncovered dramatic metabolic reprogramming under drought, with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) biosynthesis genes shifting from 27-fold suppression under root exudates to 17-fold upregulation under drought. Lysine biosynthesis showed similar drought-specific activation patterns. Critically, drought signals overrode plant signals maintaining BCAA activation regardless of root exudate presence and ensuring metabolic investment in plant support occurred specifically during water deficit. This conditional mutualism represents a novel bacterial strategy where plant support is selectively activated during environmental stress. These findings challenge conventional PGPR paradigms and offer new approaches for developing climate-resilient agricultural systems through targeted application of stress-responsive beneficial microbes.},
}

@article {pmid41597618,
year = {2026},
author = {Yuan, X and Qin, H and Wang, Y and Wu, S and Zhang, Z and Fan, M and Li, L and Tian, L and Fu, Y},
title = {Coupled Effects of Tree Species and Understory Morel on Modulating Soil Microbial Communities and Nutrient Dynamics.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14010099},
pmid = {41597618},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {SZKJXM202215//Suzhou Science and Technology Plan Project 2022/ ; 2023AH040313//Anhui University Scientific Research Project 2023/ ; },
abstract = {Morel mushrooms (Morchella spp.) are highly prized for their culinary and economic value. Understory cultivation, leveraging the symbiotic relationship between morels and trees, has gained increasing popularity. However, the effects of this practice on belowground microbial communities and nutrient dynamics remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined how understory cultivation of morels (Morchella sextelata) under five different tree species affects soil bacterial and fungal communities, as well as nutrient availability and mineral element content. The results revealed that soil physicochemical properties responded variably to morel cultivation under different tree species. Notably, understory morel cultivation reduced soil NO3[-]-N by 38-67% across tree species, whereas NH4[+]-N remained stable, reflecting the distinct nutrient preference of Morchella and associated trees, and suggesting targeted nitrate fertilization could mitigate nitrogen limitations. Understory cultivation significantly increased soil mineral elements, with Zelkova serrata (Z. serrata) showing the highest concentrations, elevating available potassium (AK), calcium (ECa), manganese (AMn) and boron (AB) by approximately 20%, 13%, 30%, and 168%, highlighting its potential for soil quality improvement. Microbial community composition was also significantly altered, with fungal communities exhibiting more pronounced shifts than bacterial communities, likely due to their closer ecological associations with morels. Importantly, Z. serrata markedly promoted microbial-mediated soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation, driven by mineral binding, root secretions and soil pH value. These findings enhance understanding of belowground effects of morel understory cultivation, revealing that select tree species like Z. serrata can improve soil quality and nutrient cycling, while targeted nitrate fertilization supports sustaining morel cultivation systems.},
}

@article {pmid41597611,
year = {2025},
author = {Ghareeb, RY and Eid, SM and Alfy, H and Elsheikh, MH},
title = {Repercussions of Symbiotic Bacteria Associated with Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Their Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles on Immune Responses at Root-Knot Nematode Suppression.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14010092},
pmid = {41597611},
issn = {2076-2607},
abstract = {Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) of the Meloidogyne genus impact various plants, including crops, fruits, and vegetables. Few chemical control options exist globally, and many nematicides are banned due to health and environmental risks. This study tested a new nematicidal agent, the symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus indica, which was molecularly identified (PV845100). Cell-free culture supernatants of Xenorhabdus spp. and their biogenic Ag-NPs were used in nematicidal assays. Meloidogyne incognita showed high mortality rates of 95.3%, 74.6%, and 72.6% after 72 h of treatment with the X. indica filtrate at three concentrations. At the same concentrations, biogenic Ag-NPs resulted in 82.0%, 90.0%, and 85.3% mortality rates, respectively. After 72 h, hatchability decreased by 53%, 74.6%, and 72.6% for the X. indica filtrate and 82.0%, 90.0%, and 85.3% for Ag-NPs. Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) revealed that Mi-Ache1 expression was lower in M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2s) treated with the filtrate and Ag-NPs after 72 h compared to controls. Mi-Ache2 expression was also decreased, but only slightly. Furthermore, both the X. indica filtrate and biogenic Ag-NPs were safe in human lung (WI-38) and skin (HFB4) cell lines. These findings suggest that bacterial filtrates and their biogenic Ag-NPs could serve as cost-effective, environmentally friendly alternatives to commercial nematicides.},
}

@article {pmid41597576,
year = {2025},
author = {Wang, L and Zhao, Y},
title = {The Response of Substrate Microbial Communities to the Addition of Mineral Nutrients During the Growth Period of Straw Mushroom Volvariella volvacea.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14010056},
pmid = {41597576},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {No. 2024YFD1200204//National Key R&D Program of China/ ; No. 21N51900500//Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology/ ; 2020-02-08-00-12-F01479//Shanghai Agricultural Commission Program/ ; KFKT2023-03//the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding/ ; },
abstract = {Volvariella volvacea were grown on an abandoned cotton-based substrate, which was divided into two conditions: a group with added nutrients (N3P3) and a control group (CK). Using metagenomic sequencing technology, the study investigated the effect of nutrient addition during the growth process of V. volvacea on the microbial community and metabolic pathways of the substrate. The study found that the main bacteria in the N3P3 group were Proteus and Microsporidium, while in the CK group, Bacillus marinosus and Microsporidium globosa were more common. At all stages of V. volvacea growth, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated. Metabolic function analysis showed that the N3P3 group significantly increased amino acid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, genetic information processing, and cellular processes, while reducing the contents of pathogenic and saprophytic symbiotic fungi. Nitrogen metabolism, phosphorus metabolism, and carbon metabolism were closely related to the growth of V. volvacea, and nutrient addition significantly improved microbial community diversity and metabolic levels, which can be used as a substrate optimization formula. This is of great significance for the development of sustainable agriculture.},
}

@article {pmid41596418,
year = {2026},
author = {Wang, J and Zeng, NK and Zhang, X},
title = {Tuber Inoculation Drives Rhizosphere Microbiome Assembly and Metabolic Reprogramming in Corylus.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {27},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27020768},
pmid = {41596418},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {2019RC185 and 320RC597//Natural Science Foundation of HainanProvince/ ; (2024)171//Project of Science and Technology Programs of Guizhou Province/ ; Gui(2024)TG12//Project of Central Government Financial Fund for Forest Reform and Development/ ; },
mesh = {*Rhizosphere ; *Microbiota ; Mycorrhizae/physiology ; Symbiosis ; Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism ; Metabolomics/methods ; *Plant Tubers/microbiology/metabolism ; Soil Microbiology ; Metabolic Reprogramming ; },
abstract = {To elucidate the potential of integrated multi-omics approaches for studying systemic mechanisms of mycorrhizal fungi in mediating plant-microbe interactions, this study employed the Tuber-inoculated Corylus system as a model to demonstrate how high-throughput profiling can investigate how fungal inoculation reshapes the rhizosphere microbial community and correlates with host metabolism. A pot experiment was conducted comparing inoculated (CTG) and non-inoculated (CK) plants, followed by integrated multi-omics analysis involving high-throughput sequencing (16S/ITS), functional prediction (PICRUSt2/FUNGuild), and metabolomics (UPLC-MS/MS). The results demonstrated that inoculation significantly restructured the fungal community, establishing Tuber as a dominant symbiotic guild and effectively suppressing pathogenic fungi. Although bacterial alpha diversity remained stable, the functional profile shifted markedly toward symbiotic support, including antibiotic biosynthesis and environmental adaptation. Concurrently, root metabolic reprogramming occurred, characterized by upregulation of strigolactones and downregulation of gibberellin A5, suggesting a potential "symbiosis-priority" strategy wherein carbon allocation shifted from structural growth to energy storage, and plant defense transitioned from broad-spectrum resistance to targeted regulation. Multi-omics correlation analysis further revealed notable associations between microbial communities and root metabolites, proposing a model in which Tuber acts as a core regulator that collaborates with the host to assemble a complementary micro-ecosystem. In summary, the integrated approach successfully captured multi-level changes, suggesting that Tuber-Corylus symbiosis constitutes a fungus-driven process that transforms the rhizosphere from a competitive state into a mutualistic state, thereby illustrating the role of mycorrhizal fungi as "ecosystem engineers" and providing a methodological framework for green agriculture research.},
}

*Rhizosphere
*Microbiota
Mycorrhizae/physiology
Symbiosis
Plant Roots/microbiology/metabolism
Metabolomics/methods
*Plant Tubers/microbiology/metabolism
Soil Microbiology
Metabolic Reprogramming